《How Zombies Survive in the Apocalypse》 Chapter 1 Brownsville Road, penetrating the southern part of Pittsburgh. An old motorcycle roared through, emitting a rough exhaust sound resembling the cough of a terminal patient. Behind the handlebars was a man. The yellowed white coat, commonly known as a doctor¡¯s gown, fluttered in the brisk wind. Wearing the white coat like a jacket, he also had a black military vest and jeans inside. Combined with the leather gloves on his hands, it was quite a distinctive outfit. However, his face was hidden behind a black motorcycle helmet. Creak- The man, Aiden, parked his motorcycle on one side of a small street. His gaze turned towards the sky. It was noon, with the intense sunlight pouring down to the point of dazzling. Despite the pleasant weather, the atmosphere around the deserted storefronts where he stood was anything but cheerful. On the road, overturned car bodies were visible. Beyond them, a collapsed building groaned under the scattered broken glass. Inside what used to be a famous restaurant building, nothing could be seen except dust and darkness. But Aiden, after scanning the surroundings briefly, only retrieved a small package from behind his motorcycle and silently took a few steps forward. He headed a block further into the storefront area. There, amidst the desolation, stood a single brick house that maintained its original shape. The door was not torn, and the building was a modest one-story structure, adorned with a dark curtain of metal material covering the windows from the inside. The entrance featured a massive iron door reminiscent of a vault. Additionally, a formidable iron fence surrounded the house, giving it a menacing feel, distinct from the neglected buildings. Advancing towards the building, he stopped exactly five meters from the iron door. ¡°...Is anyone there?¡± Following, a deep, cavernous voice echoed, creeping out from the helmet. Soon, someone responded to his voice. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve brought the goods.¡± Aiden placed the small package he had brought on the ground. Then, stepping back five meters with another package in hand, he waited in silence. The building¡¯s interior echoed with the resonating sound of a heavy man¡¯s voice. ¡°Got it. Just wait a moment.¡± The rattling sound of metal quietly echoed. Meanwhile, there were also faint, whispered noises between the two people. Knowing this but still maintaining silence, Aiden continued to stand there. Only he knew where the gaze inside the black helmet was directed. Clunk! A hefty metallic sound of unlocking came from the iron door. The 15cm-thick iron door slowly twisted open, and a woman walked out from within. Rebecca Lewis. A red-haired Caucasian woman in her forties with noticeable red hair. She approached Aiden, or rather, the small package on the ground, holding a gun in one hand. There was a subtle tension in her gaze. ¡°...¡± Behind Rebecca, another woman aimed a rifle towards the outside. The black muzzle nonchalantly observed Aiden. Rebecca, with an escort of that gun, slightly trembling, unpacked the goods on the ground with her shaky hands. Among them were a few cans, clean tissue, and a box of 5.56mm bullets. ¡°These are the requested items. Is everything in order?¡± ¡°...Yes.¡± ¡°Then leave my compensation and go back.¡± ¡°Is this correct?¡± Rebecca picked up the items and placed them where the package had been. What lay there was a 200ml blood pack. Aiden nodded without saying a word. Rebecca took the items and returned to the building, leaving Aiden to move. As he was about to turn around with the blood pack tucked inside his vest. ¡°Wait a moment.¡± Rebecca spoke up again. She was looking at him, her hand on the iron door. ¡°Is there something else you need?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that...¡± For a brief moment, a hesitating expression appeared in Rebecca¡¯s eyes. However, she shook it off with determination, surprising Aiden with an unexpected question. ¡°Are you a doctor?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you used to be a doctor? The thing hanging around your neck.¡± Rebecca pointed at Aiden¡¯s name tag. It displayed the full name ¡®Aiden Lee,¡¯ along with a faded photo, and his specialization as a surgeon at the Pittsburgh Medical Center. ¡°Wait, Rebecca!¡± The one from inside the iron door grabbed Rebecca¡¯s shoulder. A Latina woman in her twenties with brown skin, Diana, stood there. Although Diana seemed to be trying to stop Rebecca with a bewildered face, Rebecca paid no attention and continued speaking. ¡°If you¡¯re a doctor, there¡¯s something I want to discuss.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°My daughter is sick.¡± ¡°Sick?¡± A hint of sarcasm crept into Aiden¡¯s voice. Due to the name tag he carried around, he had received unreasonable requests several times. However, Rebecca¡¯s response was sharper than he expected. ¡°It¡¯s not what you¡¯re thinking! My daughter hasn¡¯t been bitten!¡± ¡°So, you want medicine?¡± ¡°Examination... to start with. We don¡¯t even know what medicine she needs.¡± ¡°...¡± Aiden fell silent for a moment. While finding medicine was something he could do anytime, directly seeing the patient was an entirely different issue. But Rebecca seemed more desperate than he anticipated. ¡°Please! My 10-year-old has been vomiting blood for a week! At this rate...¡± Aiden silently observed Rebecca as she pleaded. Even without knowing who her daughter was. Seeing Diana behind Rebecca, who was also silently chewing her lip, it was evident that the child was in a serious condition. ¡°Fine.¡± So Aiden nodded. In response, a glimmer of hope appeared on Rebecca¡¯s face, but Aiden cut it off immediately. ¡°But there¡¯s a condition.¡± ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a demand. It¡¯s a matter of whether you can accept it or not.¡± Aiden¡¯s hands moved upward. Whether there was a gun in those hands, or if Diana¡¯s rift pointed at him again, Aiden grabbed his helmet with empty hands. Coolly, he took it off, and the faces inside it made the two women involuntarily frown. ¡°So, the rumors were true.¡± Rebecca was met with murky eyes that showed no glimmer of emotions. His distinct facial features weren¡¯t menacing, but the faded greenish skin and scars scattered across his face proved that what Rebecca was looking at was an unmistakable zombie face. Aiden casually spoke. ¡°Do you still want my examination?¡± Rebecca shivered at his still low, almost guttural voice. However, she didn¡¯t back down. Instead, she gritted her teeth and shouted towards the corpse. ¡°Yes! Whether it¡¯s death from illness or turning into a zombie, that¡¯s what it is.¡± ¡°Rebecca!¡± ¡°Quiet, Diana! This is about my daughter and my problem.¡± Ignoring her colleague, Rebecca, armed with a gun, walked towards Aiden again after throwing the gun away. Watching Rebecca approach, Aiden frowned uncomfortably. ¡°...Rash judgments, no matter what. Did you go crazy and want to die?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard a lot of rumors about you. They say that if you make a deal, you never break the contract.¡± ¡°Rumors are just rumors. Especially 90% of what those junk dealers gossip about is nonsense.¡± ¡°And the remaining 10%?¡± ¡°That¡¯s even more nonsense.¡± Aiden pulled out his gun as Rebecca approached. Rebecca halted, and Diana, holding a rifle, urgently placed her finger on the trigger. In this tense situation, Aiden calmly spoke. ¡°Don¡¯t come any closer than this.¡± ¡°What do you suggest? How will you examine my daughter?¡± ¡°...¡± Even in the face of the gun, Rebecca¡¯s concern for her daughter was evident. Threats weren¡¯t effective. Knowing that a prolonged conversation with such an opponent wouldn¡¯t be beneficial, Aiden put his gun away, well aware that words were exhausted. ¡°Just wait here for a moment.¡± He returned to his motorcycle. As Aiden approached the motorcycle, Rebecca followed him, protesting loudly. ¡°You! Trying to escape-¡° ¡°I¡¯m not running away.¡± What Aiden took from the motorcycle was a gray bag. Seeing the red cross drawn on it, Rebecca widened her eyes. It was too similar to the bags doctors carried when they went out on rounds. ¡°First, listen to the explanation. Your daughter is vomiting blood?¡± ¡°...Yes.¡± ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°She had a severe cough. So, for the past two months...¡± Rebecca detailed how long her daughter had been ill and the symptoms she had suffered in front of Aiden. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t have just left it alone. Have you tried anything?¡± ¡°We gave her a few types of cold medicine we barely found. But... she didn¡¯t get better at all.¡± ¡°I see. I want to see the patient myself.¡± Rebecca heaved a heavy sigh but nodded in agreement. ¡°Okay. Stay by the door. I¡¯ll bring the child.¡± Soon, Rebecca brought a small girl in front of Aiden. A beautiful blonde girl with green eyes. Originally, she might have been quite cute, but now, due to the illness, she looked pitiful with a faded impression. ¡°...¡± The girl looked at the large figure in front of her, Aiden. Fear immediately filled her eyes, but that was all. Even if she knew the danger of walking corpses as she lived in this world, her weakened state indicated she couldn¡¯t react properly. In front of the girl, Aiden took out a stethoscope. He hung it around his ears and extended the stethoscope towards Rebecca, indicating her assistance in the examination. ¡°...Tuberculosis.¡± Aiden murmured as he listened to the rough breathing through the stethoscope, as if grinding on asphalt. ¡°Tuberculosis?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a guess. Let me make it clear in advance; don¡¯t expect a 100% diagnosis from me.¡± ¡°...I know.¡± Even though Rebecca admitted that she couldn¡¯t be certain, her face still showed her disappointment. In this world, where there were no hospitals or pharmacies left, what remained were just remnants, and verifying a clear disease had become a challenging task. ¡°Can it be cured?¡± ¡°If it¡¯s tuberculosis, yes.¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rebecca¡¯s face lit up at Aiden¡¯s words. ¡°But it¡¯s not an easy task. Antibiotics need to be taken continuously for at least 9 months.¡± ¡°9... 9 months?¡± ¡°If you need antibiotics, I¡¯ll bring them immediately. You¡¯ll be prepared to pay the price, right?¡± Rebecca nodded, and Aiden put the stethoscope back into his bag, standing up. The examination was over; there was no other reason for him to stay here. Just as he stood up to leave, Rebecca¡¯s voice reached him. ¡°When will you come back?¡± Aiden, who momentarily paused at her question, thought for a moment. There was undoubtedly a large hospital nearby, now turned into ruins. Even though zombies roamed there, it was still possible to get a few cans of antibiotics. ¡°...I will come back tomorrow at noon.¡± ¡°Okay. And... thank you.¡± Aiden looked back slightly at Rebecca¡¯s thank you, nodded once, and got on the motorcycle. Then he put on his helmet and, with the sound of an old engine, ran down the same quiet road as when he came here. Chapter 2 Some time later. Screech! The motorcycle that Aiden was riding came to a stop in front of a church. It was a church with a white cross adorned on the facade, constructed on a base of light brown bricks, seemingly luxurious. Although the wooden door leading into the church had been torn apart and was nowhere to be seen, the cross, hanging in the center, continued to silently watch over the empty city. Aiden¡¯s gaze, however, was focused on the road passing in front of the church, rather than the grand cross. It was a section where a 4-lane road narrowed down to 2 lanes. Several vehicles were entangled and overturned there. There was no way to drag the motorcycle through this mess. ¡°Tsk...¡± Aiden lightly clicked his tongue and unfolded a crumpled map. Fortunately, if this path led to the university hospital, his destination wasn¡¯t too far. So, he hid the motorcycle between the overturned cars and set foot on the ground. The blood pack he received earlier was carefully placed in the bag attached to the motorcycle. In his hand, he held a long shotgun, with a pistol, magazines, and a dagger strapped to his waist. This time, he pulled out another map, studying it in detail. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Unlike the previous map, this one was chaotic, covered with various markings and scribbles. However, this map didn¡¯t depict terrain but rather dangers. ¡°Well... not exactly the damn gang territory.¡± Aiden muttered as he looked at the map. But those crazy bastards don¡¯t even have control over themselves. So, concluding that he won¡¯t encounter them just because it¡¯s not their territory would be a big mistake. And there was more. The fanatics who claim to be everywhere and nowhere, shouting about the end of the world, were another story altogether. In other words, a fight could break out at any moment. Aware of this, Aiden, armed and ready, set out on the motorcycle once more. Thud! He easily crossed over the overturned vehicles that now only left ashes. There, within the upside-down driver¡¯s seat, a charred corpse was visible. However, the corpse didn¡¯t move. So Aiden paid it no attention. He continued to traverse several cars blocking the way. Only then did the open road reveal itself once again. Another obstacle, which looked like a large weed growing on the road, was wandering along the stretch of road. ¡°Kiii...¡± Zombies. When Aiden appeared, they all turned their creaky heads and glared at him. Aiden, without paying them attention, tried to walk down the road, receiving that stinging, rotten glare. But right after that he frowned. Clearly, with his helmet off, Aiden¡¯s appearance was no different from an ordinary zombie. However, his gait was quite different from other zombies that ran around like mad dogs.His movements were clearly closer to those of a human than a zombie, as he held the gun tightly. Maybe because of that. ¡°Kiaaa!¡± Without any warning, the zombie standing closest to him, like a stone statue, moved. As if stung, the creature thrust its teeth into Aiden¡¯s arm. In response, a green, disgusting liquid burst from Aiden¡¯s arm, entering the zombie¡¯s mouth. ¡°Quak! Kakk!¡± The zombie gnashed its teeth as if it had consumed something inedible. Aiden roughly pushed him away. ¡°This stupid bastard... !¡± Seeing his torn clothes on the zombie¡¯s teeth, Aiden cursed. But he couldn¡¯t easily shoot or swing a knife. No matter how stupid the corpses were, they had at least some sense of hostility. This meant that if you attacked the same zombie right in front of other zombies, you could be attacked by them. ¡°Kii...¡± When the zombie stepped back, Aiden spat out his frustration and continued walking. A 13-story building made of brown brick. The university hospital, his destination, was visible. There were still numerous corpses wandering around the area. Seeing the scene, it seemed that the incident hadn¡¯t happened recently. ¡°...Fine.¡± To shake off the unpleasant incident that had just occurred, he intentionally spoke with a loud voice. Even though the zombies around him looked at him, sensing the foul-smelling green liquid and a pungent odor, they turned their heads away. Aiden squeezed through the zombies and entered the brown building. Beyond the large entrance was a large space that was probably used as the hospital¡¯s lobby. A space with reception desks lined up in a straight line and long chairs for people waiting. There, Aiden tried to find a map of the building. The first place he had to stop by was the hospital¡¯s pharmacy. Originally a place that made medicine for patients, it was the easiest place to find antibiotics. If there would be nothing, he¡¯ll have to search the medicine warehouse somewhere in the hospital. Of course, a hospital warehouse of this size may have more than enough medicines. But generally, getting into such a warehouse is much more difficult than getting into a pharmacy. Fighting with a large iron door or a door that opens with an electronic key was an effort that Aiden wanted to avoid, as he hadn¡¯t come because he needed a lot of medicine right away. ¡°313... Okay, to the right?¡± After checking the structure of the building on the map, he headed up the stairs. Even though the sun was shining brightly outside, the building was dark like a cave. Only the sunlight streaming through the broken windows served as the sole source of illumination. ¡°Grr...¡± As he walked through the building filled with wandering corpses, Aiden tensed up. A shotgun muzzle, protruding from Aiden¡¯s shoulder, was aimed forward, and the attached light brightened the path. Although he only saw ordinary zombies at first glance, within this darkened building, there could be special zombies lurking about. Creatures like stalkers, black bodies blending into the darkness, or bigfoots, several times the size of regular zombies. They were commonly known as mutants, and they existed within the shadows of the darkened buildings. Aiden didn¡¯t know how those unusual and dangerous zombies were created. But there was one thing he knew. They could differentiate between him and regular zombies, recognizing him as an enemy. ¡°...¡± Aiden slowly climbed the stairs. The second floor looked similar to the first floor. At first glance, there seemed to be nothing special. But as Aiden continued up the stairs, he furrowed his brow slightly. ¡°...It¡¯s been a while.¡± There was a barricade. Beds, sofas, and whatever items could be found in the surroundings were piled up as a makeshift obstacle, showing signs of someone trying to block something. However, there were no signs of life inside. The reason was evident. To the left corner of the barricade. One bed that had been blocking the way was completely crushed and in poor condition, which was why. Aiden entered through the broken entrance into the barricade. As he did, a sight completely different from the floor below unfolded before his eyes. Walls and ceilings stained with dark, discolored blood. And a floor scattered with rusty casings and human corpses. Beyond the barricade, the aftermath of a battle that had taken place was vividly apparent. ¡°...¡± Aiden picked up a spent cartridge that had fallen to the floor in that place. He blew the dust off the cartridge, wondering when it had fallen here. Then he examined the cartridge carefully, moving it up and down. 9x19mm ammunition. One of the widely used pistol calibers, and it was a type that he couldn¡¯t find easily nowadays, especially for the pistol he had. ¡°It¡¯s worth taking.¡± He tossed the cartridge aside and checked the long corridor on the third floor. The muzzle and the bright light attached to him quickly scanned the left and right sides of the corridor. No signs of mutants... were visible. Having confirmed the safety, he proceeded to inspect the stairs and the corridor floor. Then, as expected, he noticed several dropped pistols. Although there were hardly any intact guns, he checked the magazines from those guns. He pocketed the undamaged bullets. Among the guns, some were still in the hands of zombies. But Aiden didn¡¯t hesitate and took the guns from their hands. ¡°Kiik...!¡± A zombie wearing a police uniform made a grumbling sound as if annoyed, but that was it. After a brief glance at Aiden, it turned its head as if nothing had happened. That way, Aiden quickly secured about 40 rounds of ammunition. His pocket had become quite hefty in no time. Feeling like he had earned some extra income, he then headed back to the original destination, the pharmacy. The pharmacy was located in the right corner on the third floor, and fortunately, the door wasn¡¯t locked. When he shone the light, a zombie in the pharmacy, wearing a white gown like Aiden, nodded its head as if greeting. A name tag was hanging around its neck. Was it a doctor who worked here? Aiden looked at the name tag and smiled sarcastically. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard, Dr. Kane.¡± Aiden passed by him, approached a shelf that occupied an entire wall, and checked it. But whether someone had already raided it or not, there were hardly any medicines left on the shelf. ¡°Hmm...¡± So he turned his gaze to the drawer next to the shelf. It was smaller than the shelf but enough to store a considerable amount of medicine. Creak- It had been so long since it was last opened that the stiff, rigid drawer made a creepy sound as it opened. As Aiden expected, there were some medicines left inside. But none of them were the antibiotics he was looking for. Aiden picked up usable medicines from among them and searched other drawers. ¡°Here it is.¡± When he searched the fifth drawer, he finally found the antibiotics he was looking for. Just to be sure, he checked the description and name written on the antibiotic bottle. No mistake. He immediately took several bottles, as many as were available. Although not accurate, it was enough to last at least a year if a child were to take them. ¡°Good.¡± Having accomplished his goal, he searched all the remaining drawers, picked only the medicines in high demand, and stood up from his place. It was time to leave now. Exiting the pharmacy, he quickly headed for the stairs. Then, just as Aiden awkwardly emerged from the barricade. ¡°Hmm...?¡± Unexpected noise suddenly came from below. Was it from outside the hospital? He immediately stopped moving and focused on the sound. Zombies were rampaging. Which meant... someone had appeared. Aiden furrowed his brows. Did the gangsters manage to crawl all the way here? ¡°Kiiii...!¡± Even the zombies inside the barricade were reacting to that noise. Zombies trying to squeeze through the narrow gap in the barricade. If he left them like this, not only the third floor but also zombies would pour down from the upper floors. ¡°Tsk...!¡± So he forcefully pushed away the zombies and stood the fallen bed upright to block the hole in the barricade. The zombies inside made thumping noises, but the barricade that had been neglected surprisingly held up well. At this rate, even if zombies were deployed, it would withstand for a short time. Having regained his composure by concentrating on the strange noise below, Aiden soon realized something was amiss. The screaming sound of zombies was roaring so loudly. And there was no gunshot sound from anywhere. ¡°Could it be... an execution?¡± It was a brutal act mainly carried out by some gangs or fanatics. Usually performed on believers or their families, deliberately throwing human beings, who were still alive, as bait to zombies. However, even considering that, there were many strange points. Most importantly, the surroundings didn¡¯t fit the execution. There were zombies scattered around, and there was no reason for them to come all the way to this place just to watch the miserable death of a traitor. Moreover, the zombie screams didn¡¯t stop quickly. The number of zombies laid around this area reached dozens. This meant that one or two people wouldn¡¯t last more than 10 seconds without being torn apart. Already, the zombie outbreak had lasted for more than a minute. In other words, someone who caused this commotion was still alive, and they were still fighting fiercely against the zombies. ¡°...¡± So many possibilities passed through Aiden¡¯s mind. But none of them seemed like a proper answer. Therefore, he decided to confirm the truth with his own eyes and moved his foot, which had been paused for a moment. ¡°Kiak!¡± ¡°Kiiiii!¡± Descending to the second floor, the unpleasant sounds of zombies¡¯ screams became even closer. Although it seemed like there was a battle taking place in front of the hospital, now it appeared he had entered the hospital lobby. Because of that, the second-floor corridor of the hospital was rather deserted. It was because all the second-floor zombies had gathered on the first floor. Aiden fixed his shotgun and looked down, targeting the area below the stairs. Whatever was down there, the probability of it being his enemy was high. So he prepared himself for a battle and immediately turned the corner of the stairs looking down to the first floor. ¡°What...?¡± Then, he began to doubt his own eyes. As he never expected the scene that unfolded before him, the barrel of the shotgun aimed at the front wavered. The space beyond the hospital reception desk. There... a brown-haired girl was fiercely fighting against numerous zombies. Chapter 3 ¡°...¡± Aiden frowned as he watched the bizarre battle unfolding in front of him. Even though he was witnessing it with his own eyes, the sight was hard to believe. The Asian girl with brown hair seemed to be in her late teens at most. And the clothing she wore was an oddly extravagant black dress. How did she end up here in such a state? That alone made her seem out of her mind. However, the reason the girl was special wasn¡¯t just because of her appearance. ¡°Kiiiiik!¡± A zombie¡¯s head was torn off, soaring through the air. It wasn¡¯t due to a sharp blade or a gunshot. It was simply because the girl¡¯s hand had swirled once, tearing the zombie¡¯s body apart like tissue paper. She was tearing through the approaching zombies, confronting them across the reception desk. In the midst of this astonishing scene, Aiden hesitated on how to react. Should he help? But who was he helping? Helping the zombies meant assisting the very creatures she was annihilating. Yet, the girl, who was tearing apart the zombie about to attack her, also didn¡¯t seem like someone in need of help. No, from the beginning, it wasn¡¯t clear whether he should consider her an enemy or an ally. As Aiden grappled with these questions... ¡°Get lost, you damn bastards!¡± The girl¡¯s irritated voice resounded. Suddenly, her onslaught was pushing the zombies back. ¡°Kiiiie!¡± Finally, the zombies broke through the girl¡¯s barrier, the reception desk, toppling over it. At this, a look of disappointment crossed the girl¡¯s face. Bang! His shotgun, which had been silent, finally burst. Then, several zombies that were charging at the girl were swept away by the bullets and turned into pieces of rotten meat. A loud appearance accompanied by a roar that seemed to shake the earth. In the midst of the loud entrance, several zombie heads turned towards Aiden. It was as he intended. Despite the potential to attract more zombies, Aiden fired his gun, diverting the attention of the zombies towards him and away from the girl. But the zombies didn¡¯t move according to his intentions. Their gaze quickly returned to the girl, showing no interest in Aiden. Aiden focused on the girl as the zombies once again converged on her. The noisy entrance turned into an awkward, ignored spectacle. However, Aiden seized the opportunity. Gunshots erupted consecutively. In the merciless storm of 12-gauge buckshot, the bodies of the zombies, now vulnerable with their backs exposed, scattered like autumn leaves. After the shotgun¡¯s ammo was depleted, Aiden skillfully pulled out his pistol, piercing the heads of the zombies. At first glance, his ability to fire bullets calmly and accurately was extraordinary. Had there been others witnessing this scene, they would have been astonished at Aiden¡¯s combat abilities as much as the girl tearing zombies apart with her bare hands. Yet, there were no other spectators here. Thanks to that, Aiden and the girl on the opposite side of the lobby continued their activities in mutual indifference, piercing and tearing through the living dead. After barely thirty seconds, the number of zombies that had numbered in the tens had now reduced to half. Bang! Aiden¡¯s pistol shot pierced through another zombie that had been approaching the girl. The zombie¡¯s head was torn apart, repulsively fluid oozed from its forehead, and his awkwardly standing body fell to the floor. Aiden, recognizing its death, turned his gun to the next target. But at that moment. Wow! Quaack! Another zombie¡¯s head was just being torn off from its neck with a clean cutting sound. But the zombie didn¡¯t die. The grotesque sight of the severed head, still moving independently on the ground. Still, the sight of the head rolling across the floor to Aiden¡¯s feet resembled a scene from a cheap horror movie. Aiden stomped on the head with his combat boots, and the zombie¡¯s head crumbled like rotten fruit. ¡°...¡± That was the last one. In Aiden¡¯s field of vision, there was no other threat except the girl. The lobby of the hospital regained its silence, and Aiden turned his gaze towards the girl. ¡°Haah... Haah...¡± The girl, who had been battling the zombies, breathed heavily. Aiden aimed his gun at the girl and cautiously approached. Then suddenly, he noticed something and stopped in his tracks. ¡°You... What?¡± The girl¡¯s voice, spat out towards Aiden, sounded faint. But Aiden couldn¡¯t grasp the meaning behind that faint voice. He just looked at the wounds on the girl¡¯s right wrist, left shoulder, and around her waist. Sharp teeth marks, and the flowing red blood. Anyone could tell; those were bite wounds from zombies. ¡°...¡± Aiden¡¯s gaze was filled with a momentary despair. The reason he had wasted so many bullets sweeping through the zombies became clear now. But he quickly discarded those emotions and raised the gun towards the girl. There were still a few bullets left that he needed to waste for her. ¡°What are you doing...¡± At that moment, the girl, who had been on guard against Aiden, collapsed right there. Perhaps she had exhausted her strength. Despite the seemingly strange battle power she had shown, the girl must have reached her limit in front of the increasing number of zombies. ¡°...¡± Nevertheless, Aiden didn¡¯t easily approach the fallen girl. More than anything, he was concerned about the strength she had. So he patiently aimed his gun and waited. The girl, for a while, closed her eyes, breathing heavily. Gradually, her breathing calmed down, and she fell into a deep sleep. Aiden cautiously approached the collapsed girl. He crossed over the reception desk. The legs of the table, which had barely endured the chaos in the middle of the battlefield, creaked but didn¡¯t break. He went all the way to where the girl was leaning against the wall. And he slowly raised the gun towards the girl¡¯s head. Even so, the girl¡¯s movement didn¡¯t return. Aiden sighed shortly. A person bitten by a zombie turns into the same kind of zombie within a few minutes, at the latest within half a day. Therefore, making her comfortable here was the last courtesy for the girl. With that thought, Aiden was about to pull the trigger the moment he decided to. ¡°Hmm...?¡± A question escaped his lips. Aiden was looking at the girl¡¯s left shoulder, which was now exposed as her dress had been torn apart by zombies. However, the skin visible inside the torn dress was surprisingly clean and white, with only a few dried bloodstains remaining. Aiden¡¯s brow furrowed. Was it a hallucination? No, that couldn¡¯t be. He had just seen it a few minutes ago. Aiden remembered the places where the girl had been bitten: the left shoulder, right wrist, and the side near her waist. But now, there was no sign of any wounds in those areas. ¡°How...?¡± With this strange event, Aiden¡¯s gun slowly lowered. Could this be another power the girl possessed? Aiden felt a perplexity in his mind. He couldn¡¯t comprehend this unexpected and never-before-seen phenomenon, where wounds from a zombie bite were seemingly healing on their own. After thinking for a moment, he quickly put the pistol away from the girl. Killing the girl like this might be a big mistake. That was his thought. But then, what should he do with this girl now? The safest for him is to leave her as is. With that, Aiden no longer has to get involved with the girl, and the purpose of coming here today can also be neatly achieved. But Aiden couldn¡¯t easily take his steps from the girl. He scanned the girl¡¯s cleansed skin again. Both that regenerative power and the unidentified power shown earlier were beyond Aiden¡¯s common sense. Although they posed a clear threat, they also held some potential. ¡°...¡± In less than ten seconds, countless calculations went through Aiden¡¯s mind. What would be the most advantageous course of action for himself and the girl? And the result? Despite the risks, Aiden decided to take the girl with him. Even though they would have to face zombies on the way, he couldn¡¯t let go of this unexpected possibility he had encountered after three years. Aiden made that decision and looked at his weapons. Fortunately, there were still enough bullets left. Aiden took out the empty pistol and shotgun magazines and reloaded them. Then, carrying the fallen girl over one shoulder, he left the hospital. * * * Several hours later. ¡°Hmm...¡± Aiden entered his hideout when dusk began to fall. It was a run-down apartment on the outskirts of Pittsburgh. In a corner of the apartment on the fifth floor, a dim light shone. Inside the sparsely furnished room were a wooden desk, a chair, and a rusty metal bed with only a mattress on it. Aiden sat down on the bed. In front of him, the girl he had seen during the day was now chained to a chair. ¡°...¡± The girl hadn¡¯t regained consciousness yet. But that was not necessarily a bad sign. Typically, those infected by the zombie virus showed signs of heightened awareness as symptoms progressed. They stayed awake, strangely full of energy, and could even ignore severe injuries. So, the fact that the girl had peacefully slept for several hours implied that she was not undergoing zombification. ¡°...Strange.¡± Aiden murmured as he stared at the girl. Her identity remained a mystery to him. A girl with a flamboyant dress on her blood-stained body, appearing in front of the hospital teeming with zombies. Even if she was just a survivor or part of some gang of fanatics, there were too many strange aspects about her. If he had a bit more time today, Aiden would have tried to wake her forcibly to inquire about her identity. ¡°Hmm...¡± Looking out the window, Aiden sighed shortly, lifting his head. The sun had already set. The time after sunset was dangerous for everyone surviving in this world. Some zombie mutants actively roamed around at night, making it a precarious time for humans. This is because they react sensitively to light and have a fighting power that is on a level different from that of ordinary zombies. Even if Aiden is in perfect condition, they can be a burden to deal with. So, unless he wanted to tear down this dilapidated apartment, today¡¯s activities had to end here. So he blew out the small candle on the table that was burning. Naturally, the room he was in was buried in the silence and darkness of the city. Just like that, another night passed. The next day. Sparse sunlight came through the window covered with curtains. Seeing this, Aiden took something out of his luggage. It was a desk clock the size of the palm of one¡¯s hand. It was still faithfully moving every second, indicating that it was now 7 a.m. Even after the sun rises, there are times when dangerous people walk outside in the early morning. Considering this danger, it was essential to finish all activities by 7 a.m., the time when the environment became safe again. Aiden, having confirmed the time, pulled back the curtains. The bright morning sunlight streamed into the room like waves of light. ¡°...¡± Nevertheless, the girl tied to the chair showed no intention of waking up. Because it could be troublesome if she woke up in the middle of the night, Aiden had even put a gag on her, making the effort somewhat pointless. Aiden removed the gag from the girl and put his helmet on. Then, he placed his hand on the girl¡¯s shoulder. He had thought about shaking her awake, but soon he changed his mind. There were things to do while she remained unconscious. Aiden took a syringe from his bag, a clean item uncontaminated by the outside, and opened one of the unused blood collection sets. He then pierced the girl¡¯s arm with the syringe. When he pulled the plunger, the girl¡¯s blood was drawn into the syringe. But... ¡°Hmm...?¡± The color of the blood was odd. Not the usual red of human blood, nor the greenish color of zombie bodily fluids. It was an orange color. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Perplexed by this unexpected result, Aiden¡¯s forehead wrinkled. ¡°Who are you?¡± There was no time for him to be surprised. The girl, who had been sleeping all night, was now looking at him with fierce eyes. Chapter 4 ¡°Awake, huh?¡± Aiden took a step back, looking at the girl¡¯s red eyes. Her gaze was filled with hostility, but Aiden understood it. He was curious about the girl¡¯s presence, but she had more reason to be bewildered, waking up to a stranger. So, Aiden decided that it was better to explain the situation to the girl first. To ease her heightened guard and allow her the chance to express whatever she wanted to say. Remaining cautious, Aiden calmly spoke: ¡°I¡¯m Aiden. A junk dealer.¡± A junk dealer roams the dangerous streets, scavenging for useful items, engaging in trades with survivors, or resolving requests ¨C a term encompassing those who make a living in such ways. With this concise introduction, Aiden revealed his name and occupation. However, the girl responded with a sarcastic smirk, as if she didn¡¯t believe him. ¡°Junk dealer? Is that a nickname?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you know what a junk dealer is?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t get the meaning of that term.¡± Was she considering herself a gang member or a fanatic? Despite sensing a subtle mismatch in the conversation, Aiden continued speaking. ¡°If we continue with the answers, we¡¯re in Pittsburgh.¡± Aiden casually mentioned the name of this place. But perhaps the name of the now ruined city held more surprise than he expected. The girl¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°Pittsburgh? Did I enter the church¡¯s territory?¡± Church? A word he couldn¡¯t comprehend. However, Aiden refrained from questioning her about it. The girl was struggling as if having a seizure, using all her strength to break free from the chains. ¡°Untie this right now!¡± S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A sudden change in her attitude left Aiden bewildered. While the chains wouldn¡¯t be undone with her wild movements, the real issue was the chair she was tied to. In the midst of her intense struggle, akin to a caught fish on a fishing line, ominous creaking sounds echoed from the chair. Quickly approaching, Aiden grabbed the girl¡¯s shoulders to forcibly stop her movements and spoke: ¡°Calm down. I have no intention of harming you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t make me laugh! Am I supposed to believe the words of a church dog?¡± ¡°I think you misunderstand something. This isn¡¯t the territory of fanatics. It doesn¡¯t belong to anyone.¡± Although Aiden knew that fanatics were entirely different from the church, there were no other religious groups with territories in this world. So, he somewhat adjusted his words to fit the situation. But was that the right answer? ¡°Fanatics...?¡± The girl muttered with genuine confusion. After exhaling a deep sigh, she continued her questioning. ¡°Then tell me where this is.¡± ¡°...Let me show you.¡± Afraid that mentioning the name Pittsburgh again might lead to a similar reaction, Aiden dragged the chair by the window. The five-story apartment Aiden used as his hideout was built on a shallow hill, offering a clear view of the surroundings ¨C not as high as downtown skyscrapers, but enough to observe key locations such as the important road leading to the apartment and the path connecting to the shopping district. A perfect position to identify the presence of gangs or mutated entities. Aiden had chosen this hideout for that reason. The girl¡¯s eyes were now capturing the Pittsburgh scenery through the window. ¡°What is this...?¡± However, the girl seemed more confused as she stared at the view. During this brief moment of silence, Aiden intervened. ¡°What¡¯s your name? Do you belong to any group?¡± ¡°What? You don¡¯t know me? You brought me here without knowing who I am?¡± ¡°I brought you here because I don¡¯t know.¡± The girl expressed disbelief, emitting a dry laugh. But soon, she sighed and finally revealed her name. ¡°I¡¯m Arian Clifford.¡± Up to that point, Aiden had merely found her name unusual. However, what followed made him furrow his brow. ¡°One of the Original Five, a vampire.¡± * * * After that, a heated debate ensued. For Aiden, it was an experience he didn¡¯t want to go through again. Arian¡¯s words were more nonsensical than the nonsense spouted by drunken gang members. ¡°So, let me get this straight. You¡¯re a vampire who fought against a church group in a world where all sorts of monsters and exorcists operate in modern-day America, but you¡¯re not from this world?¡± Summarizing Arian¡¯s words, she seemed to be from an alternate universe where strange phenomena existed in modern America. Of course, there were other statements about the meaning of the Original Five, battles against the church¡¯s Holy Knights, and blood magic, but Aiden had forgotten them all. From Aiden¡¯s perspective, it was all nonsensical talk. But Arian felt the same way. ¡°Why that expression? Do you think what you¡¯re saying makes sense?¡± ¡°Why would it be suspicious?¡± ¡°Zombie virus, they say. The world went to hell because of that. Are you making a movie or something?¡± That¡¯s what Aiden wanted to say. However, he held back the smirk and calmly spoke: ¡°Even seeing my face, you¡¯re saying things like that.¡± Now, Aiden had removed the helmet he was wearing. His face had clean features, yet anyone could mistake him for a zombie at first glance. Moreover, through the still open window, zombies roaming the streets were easily visible. Most importantly, Arian had fought against those zombies herself. ¡°...¡± So, Arian, unable to respond to Aiden¡¯s words, just stared out the window. In reality, her suspicions were gradually fading. She, too, found Aiden¡¯s words as unbelievable as he found hers. In this clear abnormality, she had a hunch. ¡°Could it be... that boundary the woman mentioned was this?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Actually, I was in the middle of an escape. But this time, I was cornered more than usual. I had to borrow the power of someone who could surpass the usual boundaries. But I didn¡¯t know that the boundary extended beyond the world.¡± Aiden sighed at the nonsense once again. Yet Arian remained serious. It seemed like her conjecture was correct. She was silently realizing that this place was different from the world she came from. Above all, the scenery of that street was decisive. It wasn¡¯t just a few zombies walking on the road causing this. Such a level of manipulation could be done by the church¡¯s tricks. But the appearance of the desolate street was different. According to him, Pittsburgh in this world had experienced a zombie outbreak over three years ago. A discarded, abandoned city. What Arian saw through her eyes matched that description. Was it possible to artificially create the appearance of a city so thoroughly ruined? As Arian momentarily fell silent, Aiden, too, was lost in thought. Between doubt and belief, he, too, was wavering. A vampire. The word itself didn¡¯t even elicit a sarcastic laugh. However, Aiden had seen something. First, the power Arian showed when fighting zombies. That power was undoubtedly mysterious. Another piece of evidence was Arian¡¯s blood. The syringe with orange-colored blood was still on the table. It meant that Arian wasn¡¯t either human or zombie. Was she an alien? If she were, how would that differ from being a vampire? ¡°You said you¡¯re a vampire?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Then... do you have any proof that you¡¯re a vampire?¡± So Aiden asked. The possibility of the truth in Arian¡¯s words lingered, and he couldn¡¯t completely dismiss it. In response, Arian thought for a moment and then smiled. ¡°Give me blood.¡± ¡°Blood...?¡± ¡°If you give me blood, I¡¯ll show you the evidence.¡± Aiden narrowed his eyes at Arian¡¯s words. ¡°You¡¯re not planning to show drinking blood as evidence, are you?¡± ¡°Just bring it first. I¡¯ll take care of the rest.¡± Arian said confidently. Was there a corner in him that believed her, or was she just trying to deceive him? After a moment of hesitation, Aiden stood up. ¡°Okay.¡± He took out the blood pack he received yesterday from his bag, a few steps away from the girl. ¡°Here¡¯s the blood. Once you show me-¡° The words, ¡®how it work¡¯ didn¡¯t follow. As if pulled by a fishing line, the blood pack slipped out of his hand. It soared like it had wings, heading straight to Arian¡¯s mouth. What was surprising wasn¡¯t just that. With both hands tightly bound, Arian tore into the blood pack with her teeth. Aiden thought the blood would pour down afterward. But, in the end, not a drop of blood fell to the floor. The blood that came out of the pack flowed through the air, creating a beautiful crimson sphere. ¡°How is it?¡± Arian asked with a smug expression while biting into the apple-like sphere. Though it looked like a scene from magic, it certainly wasn¡¯t a trick. It was an undeniable reality unfolding before him. Even Aiden, with his doubting expression, couldn¡¯t help but flick his tongue in response. ¡°...This is insane.¡± Even he, with his many doubts, couldn¡¯t deny it anymore. Regardless of whether she was a vampire or not, this girl named Arian was undoubtedly a presence beyond Aiden¡¯s understanding. Then... Aiden¡¯s intuition issued a warning. He took out a watch from his bag to check the time. It was exactly the time to leave. So, he grabbed his helmet and packed up. Arian, who had already consumed all the blood, reacted. ¡°Wait a minute. Are you leaving?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°What about me?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll have to wait for a while. I¡¯ll be back today.¡± After saying that, Aiden cautiously gauged Arian¡¯s reaction. Arian expressed her dissatisfaction with a disgruntled voice. ¡°Today? You expect me to be tied up here for hours? Are you insane?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t release you right away. I don¡¯t have the confidence that you¡¯re safe.¡± Aiden pointed out the harsh reality, causing Arian to hesitate for a moment. It wasn¡¯t a wrong statement. She was different from humans, and she had experienced this kind of suspicion from others several times. Vampires had always been objects of fear for everyone. Although it was a bit unclear whether she included zombies in that category, Arian spoke with a slightly softened voice. ¡°Then at least give me some food and water.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you survive by just drinking blood?¡± ¡°How can you live by eating only that? Are you full if you just drink water?¡± Indeed, is caloric intake separate? In realization of this fact, Aiden immediately brought food from another room. Since zombies also need something to eat, Aiden had previously stocked some groceries in a few of his hiding places. What he brought was a bottle of water, a salmon, and a can of corn each. ¡°...Is this all?¡± Arian exclaimed with a bewildered expression upon seeing the food on the table. However, Aiden had something to say in this situation. ¡°As I mentioned earlier, this world is different from the one you used to live in. Even these are hard to find.¡± ¡°Ha... really. I understand, alright.¡± Thinking of the scenery outside, Arian reluctantly agreed and stared at Aiden. Aiden wondered what this naive girl wanted now. But Arian¡¯s subsequent request, while uncomfortable, was quite reasonable. ¡°What are you doing? Feed me or set me free.¡± ¡°Haah...¡± A deep sigh, the deepest among the sighs he let out today, escaped Aiden¡¯s lips. * * * Among the morning meals Aiden had endured for nearly a year, the most dreadful time, he headed straight to Rebecca¡¯s dwelling. To deliver the antibiotics as contracted for a sick child. Rebecca rushed barefoot to meet Aiden, just as she literally said she would. There was no trace of the wariness from yesterday; you couldn¡¯t find the same caution from her as before anywhere. ¡°Thank you! Really... thank you so much.¡± After receiving instructions on the appropriate dosage and frequency of antibiotics, Rebecca spoke those words and then went back inside her house. It was likely that she had turned her attention to her daughter, who was still suffering. ¡°...¡± Left with Aiden and quietly staring at him was Diana. Even now, she held a rifle in one hand flawlessly. She kept a distance of a few meters from Aiden. Unlike Rebecca, her gaze contained full vigilance as she stared at Aiden. But Aiden still had something to say to her. ¡°Let¡¯s talk for a moment.¡± ¡°...Are you talking to me?¡± With a noticeably stiffer demeanor than Rebecca, Diana questioned him. As if she hadn¡¯t expected him to talk to her. Without a word, Aiden nodded. Diana momentarily froze her expression but soon nodded. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Tuberculosis is contagious.¡± Aiden brought up the main topic right away. If Rebecca¡¯s daughter was indeed a real tuberculosis patient, it meant that others living in the same space were likely infected with the tuberculosis bacteria. So, Diana briefly tightened her expression but soon nodded. ¡°Really? But what can we do now? It¡¯s already too late. And is this the time for us to be afraid of tuberculosis?¡± Diana spoke with a bitter smile. Although pessimistic, it was also a reasonable statement. In this place, even if someone were a healthy person with no diseases at all, it was impossible to guarantee that they would live longer than someone vomiting blood from tuberculosis. Therefore, Aiden nodded without saying a word. Diana suddenly noticed something from the doorway and then placed something near Aiden. ¡°Ah, this. Rebecca forgot to give it to you. It¡¯s payment for the medicine.¡± It was... a blood collection set. Five sets, with none of the packages torn open yet. What Aiden handed over to them today was a can of antibiotics, enough for two months. But since he couldn¡¯t get the entire year¡¯s worth in one go, they had settled for trading only this much for now. And for the cost of one antibiotic, this was an appropriate exchange. ¡°You had this?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been searching around nearby pharmacies recently. And I happened to come across it.¡± The reason was evident even without saying. They must have been looking for medicine for Rebecca¡¯s daughter one way or another. Anyway, the deal was now concluded, but Aiden didn¡¯t leave immediately. He still had something to ask. It was about the girl he had found yesterday. ¡°Let me ask you one thing.¡± Upon Aiden¡¯s words, Diana continued to raise her eyebrows as if urging him to continue. ¡°Have you ever heard of a vampire?¡± Chapter 5 ¡°Vampire?¡± Diana¡¯s expression twitched slightly at the unexpected question. In response, Aiden spoke. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. Even rumors from the junk dealers are fine.¡± ¡°Yesterday, you said it was all nonsense, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t heard anything. Why, did even blood-sucking zombies start appearing now?¡± ¡°I wish that were the case.¡± Seems like there¡¯s no gain in the end. Aiden, somewhat anticipating this, felt no regret. Perhaps next time... Should he go and officially buy the information? With that thought in mind, just as Aiden was about to turn away, Diana spoke. ¡°Hey, can I ask you something too?¡± Seeing Diana¡¯s mood, it didn¡¯t seem like a very important question. If she wanted to ask, is it just small talk? Aiden doesn¡¯t particularly enjoy this kind of small talk. However, having initiated an unrelated question himself, refusing now seemed shameless. So he reluctantly nodded. ¡°Why are you asking things like blood collection kits and the blood as the price? You are the only junk dealer who accepts it as a trade item.¡± Diana was asking with quite an intriguing expression, but for Aiden, it was a question he had already heard several times. So, he answered familiarly. ¡°It¡¯s needed to make medicine.¡± ¡°...Medicine?¡± Diana¡¯s head tilted. Then, as if something occurred to her, she widened her eyes. ¡°No way, are you researching some kind of vaccine with that?¡± ¡°A vaccine, huh.¡± The vaccine she was talking about was undoubtedly a vaccine for the zombie virus. Aiden could have burst into laughter at the guess that was almost ridiculous. Not only could you not make a vaccine by just collecting human blood, but more importantly, a vaccine was unnecessary for Aiden, who had already turned into a zombie. ¡°Do you think I need something like that?¡± ¡°Then...¡± ¡°The answer is already finished. I¡¯ll hand over the remaining antibiotics in about a week.¡± Judging that he had paid enough for the question, Aiden immediately moved away. Although Diana looked at him with a regretful gaze, Aiden didn¡¯t react to it. Aiden rode his motorcycle and moved south along the road. * * * The area of West Mifflin, bordering south of Pittsburgh. It was known for its large commercial zone with scattered stores and warehouses on the shallow plain. It was relatively sparsely populated by zombies and had plenty of abandoned goods, making it once known as Pittsburgh¡¯s treasure trove. However, numerous scavengers and gangs had picked it clean multiple times, leaving only empty warehouse buildings. Aiden¡¯s destination was one of these large warehouses. Because in recent times, a major trader had set up a base in one of the empty warehouses and continued commercial activities based on that. ¡°...¡± The motorcycle came to a sudden stop as Aiden faced an unexpected obstacle in the middle of the road ¨C a large barrier made of rusty metal plates and wooden pillars, about three stories high. Numerous gun barrels protruded from it, aiming at the top. A voice came from behind the barrier. ¡°Name!¡± ¡°...Aiden Lee.¡± His low voice resounded, quiet yet clear. A head suddenly appeared over the barrier, showing a middle-aged man with a large scar extending from his forehead to his left cheek. The man, somewhat lean and sharp-looking, revealed yellowed teeth in a smile. ¡°The junk dealer here. Let him in!¡± In response to his shouting, a screeching sound was heard from beneath the wall. The barrier, comprised of rusted metal plates and wooden pillars, opened up, revealing a large gap wide enough for Aiden¡¯s motorcycle to pass through. Aiden slowly rode in, and inside, he could see the man who recognized him. ¡°So, alive and well? I didn¡¯t see you for a month, thought you might have kicked the bucket.¡± ¡°Anders... You¡¯re still up to this stupid stuff.¡± Looking around the large warehouse, Aiden remarked. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The first thing that caught his eye was people, not a huge number, but something not commonly seen in the ghost town. However, upon closer inspection, something more surprising stood out. Tents were pitched, and makeshift stalls were set up around the warehouse, with people engaging in trade. ¡°Haha! If someone else had said something like that, I would have put a bullet in his head. But if it¡¯s you, I have nothing to say.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Anyway, let¡¯s go. Don¡¯t take off your helmet. I don¡¯t want unnecessary trouble.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°More importantly, did you come for another deal? Leave your motorcycle and gun here, follow me.¡± Aiden nodded, and Anders led him inside the warehouse. Inside, there was a considerable amount of goods piled up. Everything belonged to Anders¡¯ gang. ¡°How is it? Quite well, huh?¡± Anders asked with a confident face. The name of the gang that Anders belonged to was ¡®Snake¡¯. The reason it is in past tense is because the name has now changed. ¡°...Hard to believe.¡± Originally, Anders¡¯ gang, like other gangs, survived day by day through robbery and fighting. However, persuaded by the gang¡¯s leader Anders, they devised a new survival strategy based on the resources they had accumulated. It was this merchant cooperative. The intention was to use this warehouse as a base to purchase and sell resources and information, thereby profiting from continuous transactions with junk dealers and survivor groups, as well as other gangs. To put it simply, although they are a gang with military power, they don¡¯t use that military force for plunder but rather make money through business. Aiden had thought from the beginning, and still thought now, that this was nothing more than cowardly talk. Yet, for some reason, this merchant cooperative seemed to be unexpectedly successful. ¡°So, what do you want this time?¡± Guiding Aiden to a corner of the warehouse, Anders asked. ¡°Bullets and food.¡± ¡°Sure, no problem. I can just give you the ones you always use, right? How about instant noodles or spaghetti for food?¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough. Just canned food.¡± ¡°Alright. Anything else?¡± ¡°I want to buy information.¡± Then Anders¡¯ lips curved slightly. ¡°Information, huh? What about?¡± ¡°I want information on zombie mutants I don¡¯t know about.¡± ¡°For starters, tell me about the ones you know.¡± Aiden listed the names of the mutants he had encountered. After hearing them, Anders nodded. ¡°There are only two mutants not in your list. One has relatively accurate information as it was recently hunted down in Cleveland. The other one is a bit uncertain as it¡¯s based on eyewitness accounts, but there¡¯s at least some credibility since multiple people have testified. How about it, interested?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take both.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a lot. Then, let me hear your offer first.¡± Aiden took out two small pill bottles from his belongings. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°This is an anesthetic, and the one next to it is a painkiller. They were one of the medications brought from the hospital where he met Arian yesterday. Upon this, Anders searched through the medicine, then turned his head and called one of his colleagues. ¡°Hey, Jackson! Go and call Brown.¡± The man called Jackson disappeared from sight, and soon returned with a woman. ¡°You called?¡± The 30-year-old African American woman named Brown was the only doctor in the merchant cooperative Anders belonged to. With a somewhat anxious expression, Brown asked: ¡°I¡¯m busy. Is it urgent?¡± ¡°It¡¯ll only take a moment. Come here and take a look at this. Is this usable?¡± Was he just calling her to inspect the items? With that thought, she furrowed her brows slightly, but she couldn¡¯t refuse Anders¡¯ instructions as a member of the gang. Brown picked up the heavy bottle and carefully examined the label. Soon, her eyes widened. ¡°An anesthetic?¡± Brown looked at Anders with surprise. It was because just yesterday, she had to perform surgery to remove a bullet without anesthesia because there was no such drug available. The patient who underwent surgery was a middle-aged man, and several people were needed just to restrain him. The one next to it was a painkiller. Both were medications she desperately lacked. ¡°...¡± Brown soon looked at Aiden and Anders and quickly understood the situation. So, without saying anything, she nodded slightly at Anders. ¡°Well, take it and check if it¡¯s genuine. If it is, use it as is. Okay?¡± Anders asked Aiden. Since the goods would be handed over once the deal was made, Aiden nodded. Upon this, Brown breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Fortunately. I already have surgery again.¡± ¡°Why, someone got injured?¡± ¡°Davis. There was a shootout with the Snuff Gang outside.¡± ¡°Again? Those damn bastards...¡± ¡°Who else? Jackson, could you help me for a moment?¡± With those words, Brown, along with Jackson, disappeared with the bottle. Meanwhile, Aiden asked Anders, who was simmering with anger. ¡°Is there friction with the Snuff guys?¡± The Snuff Gang was as infamous for their vicious acts as their name suggested. Whether every member of the gang was sane or not, they randomly killed noticeable people and did gruesome things like cutting up the corpses and nailing them in front of their hideouts. These are people who literally breathe disgusting and crazy things. They were located deep in the woods, isolated from the city due to their particularly vile actions, but their atrocities continued. ¡°Do you have anyone without friction with those bastards? They¡¯re the kind of people who not only kill anyone they can get their hands on but also kill their own children and hang them in frames. They¡¯re not the kind of people you can reason with.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°Why are you talking like it¡¯s someone else¡¯s story? You also have a grudge against those guys. About a year ago, you said you turned one of their outposts into a bloodbath. In the process, you even cut off the boss¡¯s brother¡¯s genitals.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Anyway, you better be careful. Those guys are moving strangely these days. They might be planning to invade the city soon.¡± It was a ominous statement, but to Aiden, it was valuable information. He etched the words he heard a while ago into his memory. And a little later. Jackson, who went with Brown, brought news. Both medications were genuine, and the deal had value. ¡°Good, the deal is done then. Now, provide the information.¡± Anders first asked the people around. Then, lowering his voice a bit, he slowly spoke. ¡°It was about the mutants, right? Okay... the guy captured in Cleveland first. His name is the Vomiter.¡± ¡°The Vomiter?¡± ¡°Yeah. A zombie as fat as a pig. So, although it moves slowly, it¡¯s a crazy one that spits out disgusting bodily fluids like a fire hose from its mouth. If you get hit, you don¡¯t even bleed; you just turn into a zombie. Well, it¡¯s not related to you anyway.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Besides, inside its belly, there¡¯s a deadly gas, so be careful when killing it. They said three people died of gas poisoning while hunting it in Cleveland. Well, this is unrelated to you too.¡± Aiden nodded at Anders¡¯ words. Information about unknown mutants was always valuable. But if asked whether this was the information he was looking for, it wasn¡¯t. So, Aiden pressed on. ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°As I said, it¡¯s just eyewitness accounts. A mutant that sets up at night. They call it the Brutal. In simple terms, it¡¯s a zombie with incredibly strong muscles. It was seen in Baltimore, smashing a concrete wall with its bare hands. Four guys with guns in the middle of the night all turned into minced meat and died. That¡¯s all the information we have.¡± Aiden sighed briefly. In the end, both pieces of information were useful, but they didn¡¯t relate to vampires, especially Arian. He thought a little while wiping his helmet with one hand, then directly asked. ¡°Have you heard anything about vampires?¡± ¡°Vampires...? Is it a new type of mutant?¡± It was Anders who asked instead. It seemed he didn¡¯t have any knowledge about it. ¡°If not, then forget it.¡± Aiden¡¯s business was done here. Determining that there was no reason to stay any longer, he stood up immediately. But Anders stopped him by grabbing his shoulder. ¡°Wait a moment. I have a favor to ask, not a personal one, but a request from our cooperative.¡± ¡°A favor?¡± ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s not personal, but a request from our cooperative.¡± The word ¡®cooperative¡¯ caught Aiden¡¯s attention. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°If you go a bit west from here, you¡¯ll find a communal graveyard. You know about it, right?¡± Aiden nodded. It would probably be called the Kason Memorial Park. A place where a part of the spacious park was turned into a graveyard. ¡°They¡¯ve built a nest of the Trapper mutants there. There are about ten of them. At first, we tried to deal with it ourselves, but due to dealing with those Snuff idiots, we ran out of people. So, we decided to entrust this task to a skilled junk dealer. That¡¯s you.¡± Anders pointed at Aiden with a sly smile. The Trappers were a type of mutant zombies. They dug shallowly into the ground and ambushed people inside. Among mutants, they weren¡¯t particularly threatening individually. However, if left unattended, they gathered zombies from the surroundings, gradually increasing their numbers and creating a minefield where zombies popped out from all directions. ¡°When did you discover them?¡± ¡°Three days ago. So, the numbers probably haven¡¯t increased much. Also, the reward will be similar to last time. Is that okay?¡± ¡°Sure. But you¡¯ll provide explosives, right?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Anders immediately searched for a nearby box, pulled out two long sticks, and brought them. It was dynamite commonly known as construction dynamite. Aiden accepted it and nodded. ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll let you know once it¡¯s done.¡± The conversation ended there. Having accepted a new request, Aiden moved immediately. ¡°All right. Let¡¯s see each other alive.¡± As Anders said that to Aiden, who had already turned his back and was walking away, Aiden quietly raised one hand in response. Chapter 6 After concluding the deal with Anders, Aiden¡¯s destination was his hideout. A 5-story apartment on the outskirts of Pittsburgh. Aiden, briefly looking up at the shabby exterior, stepped into the quiet entrance. It had been several hours since he left this hideout. While Aiden had multiple purposes for his outings, one of them was... to buy time. Ever since he realized that Arian was a presence different from what he expected, he naturally considered distancing himself from her. Of course, Arian¡¯s utility had not diminished. Even though she wasn¡¯t a zombie or a human, Aiden was still quite interested in Arian¡¯s immunity that could withstand the zombie virus. However, despite that, Aiden eventually decided to give up on Arian. It was due to the inexplicable ability that Arian possessed. Aiden didn¡¯t feel confident about restraining someone who could use such magical abilities. So, Aiden, aware that Arian¡¯s restraints were loose, intentionally left her alone during his absence. During the few hours he was away, he hoped Arian would find a way to break free from the chains and leave quietly. The reason why he didn¡¯t release her directly and choose such a way was simple. By doing so, Aiden could avoid the risk of a direct confrontation with Arian. Moreover, it seemed like the safest option for both of them, as this intentional play would be secure from both perspectives. ¡°...¡± Still, Aiden quietly took out his gun as he climbed the stairs to the second floor. He couldn¡¯t be certain if the result of this amateurish play would go as planned. Was there a guarantee that Arian, now freed, would gracefully leave? On the contrary, she might hold a grudge against him for confining her, and it was entirely possible that she might be hiding somewhere in this hideout, ready to attack him. So, Aiden climbed to the third floor without letting his guard down. He still didn¡¯t sense any signs of movement nearby. The doors of the empty rooms also showed no signs of being opened. And this was true for the fourth floor as well. Now, only the fifth floor, where Aiden and Arian resided, remained. Did she leave quietly, or is she confidently waiting for him on the fifth floor, as if she has nothing to hide? With these thoughts in mind, Aiden opened the door to the fifth floor where he had stayed and where Arian had been confined. ¡°...¡± He frowned at the completely unexpected sight. Arian was still there. However, she wasn¡¯t in a combat stance ready to attack him. Instead, she was rolling on the floor with the chair to which she had been tied. ¡°Ugh...¡± Arian moaned with her face buried in the ground. The chains that Aiden hadn¡¯t released were still binding her. It seemed like she had attempted to escape, but only the chair was broken, and she had failed miserably. Observing her pitiful appearance, Aiden, without even aiming the gun, spoke first. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Huh...?¡± Upon hearing Aiden¡¯s voice, Arian slowly turned her head, still groggy. Seeing her worm-like movements, a hollow laugh escaped Aiden¡¯s lips. Perhaps he had overestimated Arian. ¡°You came? Hey! Untie this quickly!¡± Seeing Aiden, Arian shouted impatiently, embarrassed by her own mistake. An unusual sense of urgency could be felt in her tone. So, Aiden asked: ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Just untie me if you¡¯re going to! Quickly!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t do that.¡± Though Aiden had already lowered his evaluation of Arian by a step or two, he still wasn¡¯t willing to release her easily. Regardless of his expectations, she was still a threat. But after listening to Arian¡¯s continued plea, his determination wavered significantly. ¡°I... I need to go to the bathroom!¡± ¡°...¡± Aiden didn¡¯t know, but Arian¡¯s situation was serious. Embarrassment, confusion, and a mixture of shame were evident on her face. To anyone who saw it, it was the expression of a desperate girl trying to maintain her dignity. ¡°Phew...¡± Seeing her face, Aiden let out a deep sigh. At the same time, a small confusion settled in Aiden¡¯s mind. Was all this just a cunning play to release herself from captivity? Or... is he merely tormenting a girl without reason? ¡°...I have no choice.¡± After a moment of contemplation, he decided to release Arian from her restraints. Even if it was the former, there was nothing to fear. If Arian had to resort to acting to the point of pretending to struggle with these chains, she couldn¡¯t be more powerful than a zombie mutant. And if it was the latter... well, there was nothing to think about. With a clicking sound, the locks that restrained the girl were released one by one. And until the last lock was opened, Aiden never let go of the gun in his hand. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, even with such precautions, Arian, as soon as the chains were released, hurriedly walked towards the door. And after glancing back, she earnestly asked: ¡°Where¡¯s the bathroom?¡± ¡°...It¡¯s at the end of the hallway.¡± Before his sentence was even finished, Arian disappeared in the direction of the bathroom. * * * ¡°C-Crazy! It¡¯s crazy! What kind of bathroom is that?¡± After a while. Arian reappeared in front of the completely bewildered Aiden. She was expressing her dissatisfaction once again. The reason was that the so-called bathroom, or the space that used to be a bathroom, was that horrendous. Well, that couldn¡¯t be helped. The water supply in this apartment had long been cut off, and before Aiden settled here, some wanderers or scavengers had passed through this apartment. So, the bathroom in such an apartment was truly hellish. ¡°Is that so?¡± However, Aiden just replied casually. He hadn¡¯t visited that so-called bathroom since the first day he came here. Zombies didn¡¯t need a bathroom, after all. But the only memory he had was that all kinds of debris had piled up to the toilet. ¡°I¡¯ll never go there again. And you... never go there either.¡± Whether Arian had developed a significant trauma from that or not, she grimaced with her face scrunched up. Staring at such Arian, Aiden calmly spoke. ¡°So... why did you come back?¡± ¡°Huh...?¡± ¡°Now, you have no reason to stay with me.¡± Arian¡¯s restraints were now removed. Aiden had no intention of confining her any longer, and it seemed that Arian also had no intention of fighting Aiden. Therefore, if Arian wanted, she could just leave, and it would be over. However, she chose to return to Aiden. Whether it was merely to vent her dissatisfaction or because of some unexpected reason, Arian began to reveal a different story. ¡°I get it. I was going to leave anyway, you know? But when I saw the bathroom, I changed my mind.¡± ¡°Changed your mind?¡± ¡°I felt a real sense of this world being messed up.¡± Why she would feel that by looking at the bathroom was beyond Aiden¡¯s comprehension. But what followed in Arian¡¯s words was even more incomprehensible. ¡°So, I¡¯ve decided to stay with you for a while.¡± ¡°Ridiculous.¡± Aiden flatly denied the statement. However, Arian didn¡¯t back down. ¡°You¡¯re the one who caught me. Think of it as compensation.¡± ¡°Compensation is more than enough with the food you¡¯ve eaten.¡± ¡°It¡¯s enough! Even prisoners in jail are given food. If you had just brought me here, that would have been obvious. Were you planning not to give me any?¡± It was an unexpected debate. While Aiden hesitated for a moment, Arian continued speaking. ¡°I¡¯m not planning to stay for long. It¡¯s not like I¡¯ll just be fooling around. I¡¯ll help when needed, and I¡¯ll pay for my meals. Think about it. If this is really a world I¡¯m unfamiliar with, I need time to adapt and learn.¡± It was only after listening up to this point that Aiden finally realized Arian¡¯s intention. She wanted to gain information about this world through accompanying Aiden. ¡°...So, you want to make a deal.¡± ¡°Yeah? Well, you can put it that way.¡± Aiden¡¯s eyes narrowed. If this was a deal, there were only two things to consider: what he would give up and what he would gain in return. The former could be summarized as a bit of time, some annoyance, and an immeasurable level of risk. However, now that Arian¡¯s threat had considerably diluted, evidenced by her inability to break free from the chains and the minimum knowledge she possessed through their conversation today, Aiden acknowledged that her danger was now limited. Arian¡¯s value as a trading partner was sufficient, given she was not a fanatic like those from a cult or a snuff gang. Just that fact alone qualified her as a potential trading partner. Moreover, what Aiden would receive in return was Arian¡¯s cooperation. Aside from her combat skills, she was immune to the zombie virus, and Aiden had a considerable interest in her. Why could she be bitten by zombies without any consequences? If he could utilize that immunity, he might be able to restrain the corrosion that was currently devouring him. In that case, Arian¡¯s value went beyond imagination. Even if it was a bit of a gamble, waiting a few days was a small price to pay. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s do that.¡± So, Aiden agreed. Arian¡¯s face lit up in response. ¡°Great, then let¡¯s stick together for exactly one week.¡± But that was too long. Aiden shook his head. ¡°Three days.¡± ¡°Six days.¡± ¡°Four days.¡± ¡°Fine, five days. Is that okay?¡± That was enough time to invest. Aiden, judging it as such, accepted Arian¡¯s proposal. Smiling at the quickly concluded negotiation, Aiden asked Arian one question. ¡°But why did you decide to come along with me?¡± He didn¡¯t need to say it out loud, but Aiden was a zombie. Moreover, he was a zombie who had restrained and confined an unconscious Arian. So why did this girl easily extend her hand for cooperation? The unexpected answer was surprisingly simple. ¡°Because it¡¯s safe.¡± ¡°Safe...?¡± ¡°You tied me up tightly and didn¡¯t do anything to me. That¡¯s the most significant evidence.¡± Arian focused on Aiden¡¯s actions after she was restrained, not the act of being restrained itself. It was a sensible judgment, though not a common way of thinking. Perhaps this girl had walked her own challenging path. According to the nonsense she had spouted, Arian had been involved in a war against a church organization. It was not a strange occurrence. Having drawn a conclusion to his doubts, Aiden checked the time. 1 p.m. It wasn¡¯t too late to go handle the new request he received. But was it right to handle this request, entangled with Arian? ¡°...¡± To that question, he nodded inwardly. This request, which involved suitable combat and moderate risk, could be considered a good opportunity. It was a perfect stage to test whether Arian was a trustworthy presence. ¡°Can we move right away?¡± ¡°Now?¡± ¡°Yeah. Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to learn about this world?¡± ¡°Fine, then. Where are we going?¡± To Arian¡¯s question, Aiden replied calmly: ¡°Zombie hunting.¡± * * * Afterward, the two left their hideout and headed south. Aiden¡¯s motorcycle, which would have been used on a regular day, was nowhere to be seen. Currently, the two were moving towards the city¡¯s outskirts on foot. ¡°You seemed like you were riding something earlier, didn¡¯t you?¡± Arian pointed out shortly after they left the hideout. Although she couldn¡¯t see it, she distinctly remembered the sound of the motorcycle engine that had come right after Aiden left. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to die, don¡¯t think about using vehicles in the city,¡± he firmly advised. The noise from the engine naturally attracted zombies. Of course vehicles were faster than zombies. So if there was an empty road, ignoring zombies and driving along would be an option worth considering. But the road of this ruined city didn¡¯t fit it. The obstacles scattered across the roads and the buildings leaning on either side made driving challenging. The rain of zombies jumping from the buildings during the timing of a vehicle passing couldn¡¯t be avoided by driving skills alone. In fact, most of the overturned vehicles on the road were the result of foolish attempts at escape. Therefore, maneuvering through a city filled with zombies on a motorcycle was an unimaginable task under normal circumstances. It was a privilege possible only because the one driving was Aiden. ¡°Are zombies sensitive to sound?¡± ¡°Ordinary zombies are.¡± ¡°Ordinary?¡± ¡°Mutants have different characteristics. Some don¡¯t have hearing but have an excellent sense of smell.¡± ¡°Mutants? What are they?¡± ¡°Exactly what it sounds like. Zombies that mutated. We don¡¯t know the cause of the mutation, but they are generally stronger and more dangerous than ordinary zombies. Even if their numbers aren¡¯t large, they are enemies to be careful of.¡± Arian listened attentively, nodding seriously at Aiden¡¯s explanation. The area around their hideout was almost deserted, with only an apartment building in sight. As they walked on the quiet road, Aiden continued to explain the common knowledge of this world to Arian. It wasn¡¯t only for her sake but also for Aiden himself. If this companion started to act recklessly, it would be troublesome, too. ¡°Ah, so being a junk dealer is a kind of troubleshooter. Is this also one of those requests?¡± ¡°Something like that.¡± ¡°Well, it suits you.¡± ¡°But can you fight?¡± Aiden asked. It was a question about whether she could be considered another force when the situation arose. In response, Arian confidently replied: ¡°Didn¡¯t you see yesterday? I can fight better than you.¡± Aiden responded with a bitter smile. A little later, after the quiet street where their hideout was ended, a small forest appeared. Beyond the forest was a massive residential area. Passing through there and walking along a long road, they would finally reach the park, their destination for the request ¨C the communal cemetery. It was a journey of over two hours on foot, and during that time, many threats would lurk. The biggest threat among them was the residential area. Once a place named Chetanville where many people lived, it was a typical American residential area with one or two-story wooden houses lined along the streets. In that place, where many people once lived, there were still many zombies wandering around their homes. ¡°Let me repeat, follow my instructions here. Don¡¯t attack recklessly,¡± Aiden warned just before entering the residential area. As if tired of the repeated admonitions, Arian answered with a slight frown: ¡°I told you I understood.¡± And so, the two stepped into the eerily quiet residential area. Chapter 7 The entrance to the residential area had a calm atmosphere. The straight road, surprisingly clear, seemed relatively clean compared to the commercial district or downtown. Furthermore, the houses lined along the road appeared to be in better condition than one might think. Though some were rusty and broken, the signs of destruction painted over them were significantly fewer than the buildings in the city center. The reason was simple. There were almost no resources in the ordinary residential area compared to the commercial or busy districts. This made it less attractive to looters from the city. Meanwhile, due to their well-preserved appearance, the ghostly residential area basked in the bright sunlight at 1 p.m., making it seem peaceful. Various weeds grew in the gardens, and the warm spring sunlight filtering through the leaves created a fleeting scene. The sparkling sunlight invaded not only the outdoors but also the interior of the houses, sitting between the rows of trees in the garden. One scene reflected like a display shelf caught Arian¡¯s attention ¨C a table in one of the kitchens. It was a four-seater table with a few plates and utensils neatly arranged at each place setting. Two were regular plates and utensils, while the remaining two were smaller dishes with characters drawn on them. Additionally, the chairs arranged according to those dishes were noticeably smaller than the other two ¨C barely fitting for a five-year-old child. It truly was a scene overflowing with domesticity. If only the white dust covering it was absent, a scene of a family having a meal might naturally be painted even now. Perhaps the people who lived in this house hastily left while preparing a meal. ¡°...¡± Arian looked at Aiden, who was walking ahead. He wore only a flipped helmet, not riding a motorcycle this time. Sharply alert, he surveyed the surroundings. In his hands wasn¡¯t the usual shotgun but a machete, specifically the type commonly known as a jungle machete. By the way, Arian also held a machete handed to her by Aiden, despite her objections. Just basic armament, he had said. Indeed, basic armament. Arian smiled bitterly, caressing the handle of the machete handed to her by Aiden. He really knew nothing about her or vampires. If this place truly was a world completely different from hers, it was only natural. But facing it so directly now was bewildering. Did those zombies really think of her as just an ordinary human girl? ¡°Huh...?¡± While she was lost in thought, walking through the residential area, her sensitive senses picked up on something. Vampires possessed cognitive abilities that surpassed humans, especially in hearing and smell. What came into Arian¡¯s cognitive range was, unsurprisingly, moving rotten corpses. Moreover, the signals of those zombies sensed from afar weren¡¯t just one. At least twenty, at most twice that amount. Thinking she should inform Aiden, Arian glanced at him discreetly. If they continued walking like this, they would inevitably encounter the horde of zombies. But Aiden still seemed oblivious to the presence of the zombies. Naturally, given the distance to where the zombies were lurking was about 200 meters. And several abandoned houses blocked their line of sight. Both humans and zombies couldn¡¯t sense each other at such distances. ¡°Hmm...¡± Arian thought for a moment and then changed her mind. A mischievous smile appeared on her lips. This was an excellent opportunity to test the skills of the junk dealer, Aiden, who had boasted like a great professional in front of her. But would his skills match his words? So, without saying anything, Arian looked at Aiden and continued to walk. However, just a few steps later, Aiden suddenly stopped. His eyes were fixed on the garden of a certain house next to them. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°There are traces.¡± Answering Arian¡¯s question, Aiden approached the fence surrounding the garden. The fence was broken and damaged in various places. Aiden pointed to one of the broken sections. ¡°See this?¡± What he pointed out was the end of the broken fence. Now that she looked, there was a slight stain of decaying flesh. Aiden continued: ¡°Recently broken by zombies. Probably a zombie in this garden witnessed a human or heard a loud noise.¡± Saying that, Aiden examined the ground. Beyond the fence, clear traces of something rushing were vividly visible. And the continuation of those tracks precisely led southeast ¨C the direction Aiden was heading and the direction they needed to go. ¡°It seemed unusually quiet, but it looks like some fool gathered the zombies in one place. It¡¯s better to detour here.¡± Saying so, Aiden naturally changed the path. While Arian nonchalantly followed him, internally, she felt a considerable sense of amazement. Deep down, she wanted to see him flustered in front of the horde of zombies that had appeared before them, but perhaps it wasn¡¯t so simple to avoid the danger with just intuition. ¡°...¡± Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But even after that, Aiden didn¡¯t live up to Arian¡¯s expectations. He could discern if there were zombies inside a house just by looking at the broken front door or the rotten wooden floor. Before reaching a place where many zombies had gathered, he read their traces like a ghost and skillfully avoided them. Of course, occasionally, zombies appeared unexpectedly, even to Aiden. ¡°Ki-¡° But that didn¡¯t surprise this man either. The head of a zombie, hidden under fallen leaves on the dried pool floor, flew away as the machete swung. It was a surprising appearance, enough to startle most people, but Aiden just moved mechanically in front of it. Perhaps because he was the same zombie? Internally mocking that, Arian couldn¡¯t help but acknowledge Aiden¡¯s skills. There was no sign of clumsiness in his actions or judgments. Undoubtedly, Aiden was quite a skilled survivor in this world as well. Although it ended up being an uneventful encounter with just five zombies penetrating the vast residential area, Arian found the process intriguing as she assessed how many zombies were hiding among the many houses. ¡°...Do you always find your way that well?¡± As they exited the residential area onto a quiet road, Arian asked. Aiden casually replied: ¡°It was a familiar place. Besides, it seems there were recent unwanted guests. That made it even easier to find.¡± For him, it wasn¡¯t anything remarkable. Predicting the location of zombies was similar to hunters in the forest finding traces of prey and tracking their path based on knowledge and experience. In this case, since the creatures in the mountains didn¡¯t hide their traces and the left marks didn¡¯t get damaged. So anyone with observation skills could find traces of zombies. ¡°You seem to know the location of the zombies as well.¡± Just as Arian observed Aiden, he did the same. Arian nodded as if there was nothing to hide. ¡°Yes, I knew.¡± ¡°It¡¯s quite a useful ability. It makes survival easier.¡± Arian thought he would at least make some sarcastic remark, but instead, Aiden calmly assessed her ability. Anyway, he¡¯s a boring zombie. Thinking so, Arian looked around. What appeared after leaving the residential area was a four-lane road. Around it, there were only grass and trees, and there didn¡¯t seem to be any particular danger. Arian spoke again: ¡°But... is it normal for there to be no people here?¡± ¡°I told you. It¡¯s a ruined city.¡± ¡°Even considering the zombies, it¡¯s too empty. Shouldn¡¯t there be some sort of fortress made by the military or refugees, even in a place like this?¡± Arian mentioned a movie she had once seen while pondering. Pittsburgh, where they were, was originally the second-largest city in Pennsylvania, with a population once reaching 300 000. Even if only 10% of the people survived the zombie crisis, there should still be 30,000 people here. However, Arian hadn¡¯t seen a single person. Not even a trace of people. Even if it¡¯s ruined, isn¡¯t this too severe? In response to Arian¡¯s doubt, Aiden nodded as if understanding. ¡°This place isn¡¯t far from the origin of the virus. Most survivors turned into refugees and left. The only ones left here are those who died or those who turned late.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s the origin?¡± ¡°New York. It spread from there throughout the United States. So, the entire Northeast of the United States is practically empty.¡± Although New York and Pittsburgh were 500 km apart, in terms of the entire United States, they could be considered relatively close cities. Hm... nodding to herself, Arian suddenly realized something and continued her questions. ¡°Wait. So, is there something on the other side?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Well, it might not be complete nonsense. There are sporadic radio broadcasts. They seem to be calling refugees from all over the United States to LA. I don¡¯t know their intentions, but considering they¡¯re broadcasting even to places like this, there¡¯s a good chance there¡¯s a large organization nearby.¡± Upon hearing that, Arian¡¯s eyes quietly lit up. However, Aiden immediately denied that hope. ¡°It¡¯s better to dismiss unnecessary expectations. Even if it¡¯s true, believing in rumors like that won¡¯t help here.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Most refugees who can¡¯t pass through those residential areas end up dead. But believing in radio broadcasts to cross the entire United States? They must be really good.¡± Pittsburgh and LA, or Los Angeles, are cities on opposite sides of the United States. The distance between them is almost 4 000 km, a level of traversing the continent. Even in the pre-apocalyptic world, it would take nearly 40 hours of driving to reach there. How could an ordinary refugee, avoiding zombies everywhere, manage to traverse that distance and arrive in LA? ¡°I think I can do it.¡± Arian said it lightly, but Aiden chuckled as if it wasn¡¯t worth responding. ¡°I see a park. Let¡¯s stop the nonsense here.¡± Aiden, who had reached the entrance of the park where there was supposed to be a cemetery, glanced around. It was a park sloping down a low hill, surrounded mostly by a forest with hardly any noticeable buildings nearby. Considering the distance from residential areas and commercial districts, it was unlikely that zombies would gather here even if there were some noise. Aiden, making this judgment, took out his pistol. ¡°Do you know how to shoot?¡± ¡°I know how, but it¡¯s not necessary.¡± Aiden nodded at Arian¡¯s refusal. He couldn¡¯t hand a gun to someone who disliked it, even though she might handle a machete. After instructing Arian to follow him, Aiden walked ahead. The park area was quite spacious. Originally covered with grass, it was now overrun with weeds, and trees stood as if encircling the grassy field. Because of this, the view of the park was obstructed, making it hard to see at a glance, but it didn¡¯t give a feeling of being cramped. Moreover, the concrete path laid between the trees was still intact. Probably, if they followed that path, they could easily reach the cemetery inside the park. Aiden walked on the path covered with fallen leaves, entering the interior of the park. At the park entrance, there were no signs of zombies yet. Only old benches, surrounded by overgrown grass and giving off a lonely atmosphere due to long neglect, welcomed them. But after just a few minutes of walking, they soon discovered something peculiar inside the park. ¡°... What is that?¡± The location was supposed to be a cemetery where graves were lined up. However, all the graves had been pulled out of the ground, the soil had been churned up, and only black earth resembling internal organs was exposed, instead of the green grass. Also, in the center, there were deep holes where two adults could easily fit. The area around the holes was cluttered with rotten branches and bits of cloth, looking like a chaotic gateway to hell. ¡°It¡¯s a trapper¡¯s nest. Trappers dig wide tunnels under the ground, centered around those holes.¡± Aiden explained while cautiously moving forward. ¡°So, zombies are underground?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. By any chance, do you know about trapdoor spiders?¡± It was a type of spider that supposedly existed in Australia. These spiders dug tunnels into the ground, created a cover for their holes with dirt or leaves to camouflage them as ordinary ground, and when prey passed by, they would suddenly open the disguised cover and ambush their prey. The zombies called trappers exhibited a similar behavior. Only the central hole was exposed outward; all the other ambush holes extended like spider silk were disguised as undisturbed ground. Moreover, the level of their camouflage was quite clever, to the point that even Aiden might not easily discern it. But hearing Aiden¡¯s explanation, Arian subtly furrowed her brow. ¡°There doesn¡¯t seem to be any zombies around, strangely.¡± Oddly enough, no zombies fell within her perception range. Whether it was because their concealment skills were excellent, or it was just a simple illusion. Aiden neither affirmed nor denied Arian¡¯s words. For some reason, those trappers protected those central holes as if they were their lives. So, if they exploded just one of those nests, they wouldn¡¯t need to search for each trapper to prove Arian¡¯s words. ¡°We¡¯ll find out soon.¡± So, Aiden said and moved forward. In his hand, there was suddenly a stick of dynamite. Chapter 8 Arian, setting foot in the cemetery, felt a strange discomfort emanating from below her feet and grimaced. The ground, unearthed by the trappers, was no longer firm. The surface lacked strength, feeling as though walking on a pile of crumpled paper. Even just walking left distinct footprints, and with a slight push of the foot, it felt like the ground might collapse entirely. With the ground like this, showing agile movements when needed was difficult. Perhaps the zombie called a trapper set traps like this, hunting humans who unknowingly entered. ¡°...¡± On the other hand, Aiden, who was ahead, was carefully advancing on such ground. However, even when he got somewhat closer to the nest, there was no sign of zombies popping out. Could it be that the trappers had abandoned the nest, just as Arian had said? If that were the case, it was a very strange occurrence. As far as Aiden knew, those moles never voluntarily abandoned their nests. To confirm this, he lit the dynamite. If this explosive meant for collapsing tunnels exploded, it would destroy the trappers¡¯ nests in one go. ¡°Step back.¡± Having thrown the dynamite into the hole, Aiden said and stepped back. Just after they secured a safe distance- Boom! With a loud noise, soil erupted from the trapper¡¯s nest. The circular hole that led underground collapsed, and the peculiar structures decorating its surroundings lost their form and collapsed as well. ¡°...¡± After a while, in the place where the dust settled, only a large crater-like imprint remained. However, even so, there was no sign of the monsters hiding underground emerging. Only then was Aiden certain. Indeed, this nest had been abandoned. ¡°...Strange.¡± According to Anders, who gave him this request, trappers had been discovered just three days ago. However, in the meantime, all the trappers seemed to have left their nests. At least to Aiden, it was an inexplicable occurrence. While contemplating this alone, Arian spoke to him. ¡°If it¡¯s so strange, why not investigate?¡± She wasn¡¯t wrong. Thinking alone wouldn¡¯t lead to a conclusion. If he was determined to unravel this mystery, it was right to find traces of the trappers now, then track them afterward. But... that was also going beyond the scope of the request. Even though there were no trappers, the nests had been destroyed. Aiden could just go back, report the results, and demand his reward. However. ¡°...¡± He felt a sense of urgency that the trappers had deviated from his expectations. The most crucial factor for Aiden was prior knowledge. Since ordinary zombies, not to mention numerous mutants, had various characteristics. Understanding their strengths and weaknesses was a key strategy for preserving one¡¯s life in critical moments. However, such knowledge couldn¡¯t be gained by sitting idle. Simply not dismissing this abnormality as mere chance was the beginning. That¡¯s why Aiden couldn¡¯t just let this unexpected movement of the trappers go. Perhaps hidden within these seemingly insignificant movements was a lifeline that would save him later. ¡°...Let¡¯s look into it a bit.¡± So, Aiden left the cemetery with a nest and circled its outskirts. Then, it wasn¡¯t difficult to notice traces of the trappers crawling. Since they were always underground, traces of black mud-like footprints were naturally left where the trappers had passed. ¡°It hasn¡¯t been long since they moved.¡± Muttering to himself as he observed the mud footprints on top of the weeds, Aiden continued. The clumps of mud that had fallen on the weeds hadn¡¯t completely dried yet. At most, a day might have passed. Also, judging by the number of footprints, it wasn¡¯t the movement of just one or two individuals. Everyone from the nest seemed to have moved simultaneously, as if it were a planned event. ¡°This direction... south, is it?¡± Aiden looked towards the direction where the footprints continued. The black footprints were all leaving the cemetery, crossing the road beyond, and descending below the hill. Confirming this, Aiden furrowed his brow. Descending the hill and passing through a shallow plain would lead to a small village with about ten houses. And once you passed through that village, it led to a large forest completely beyond the outskirts of the city. The problem was that this forest was directly under the influence of the Snuff Gang. Although it wasn¡¯t their officially constructed and occupied area, if luck was bad, they might run into their patrols. The gang members were always armed with rifles, making them formidable opponents even when alone, and in a situation like now where Arian was also present, they were even more unwelcome. Going too deep was inappropriate. The risk exceeded the utility of the knowledge he might gain. So, Aiden decided to investigate only up to the village. ¡°Let¡¯s move.¡± Aiden turned to Arian and said. They followed the signs left by the trappers to the south. Soon, the village came into view. Along the two-lane road in the center, buildings were widely spaced with a gap of several tens of meters between each. The footprints of the trappers, who had passed through here, seemed to pay no attention to such vacant houses and continued straight through the village. The scene continued with a quiet and lonely landscape like any other residential area. But not for long. ¡°Hmm...?¡± When they passed a little beyond the center of the village, the previously silent carnage revealed itself. First, what was disturbed was the trappers¡¯ footprints. The neatly continuing footprints were now chaotically mixed, and on the ground were strange wounds as if a giant hammer had struck in various places. The dark liquid seeping into the ground... it was undoubtedly the bodily fluid of the trappers. Something that had trampled the ground had apparently crushed the trappers along with it. Even Aiden, who was not an expert at distinguishing between the scents of zombies, could tell that this was the unmistakable trace of a clear battle. ¡°...¡± Having noticed this, Aiden tilted his head slightly. In this small village bordering the Snuff Gang¡¯s territory, which was now a small number of remaining buildings, there was almost nothing left. Therefore, Snuff members, as well as the few survivors remaining in other gangs or the city, rarely bothered to come to this village. But a battle? Could it be that the Snuff guys came out of the forest? However, as Aiden examined the ground traces, he inwardly shook his head. The remaining traces were awkward for being created by humans and zombies. To put it differently, these were traces of a fight between beasts. Snuff gang members who knew how to use guns wouldn¡¯t engage in close combat, and even if they did, there was not a drop of human blood visible on the ground. ¡°...¡± So, observing this, Aiden raised his gaze slightly. Beyond the traces of the chaotic battle, he looked in the direction they continued. The traces deviated from the road and were heading towards a warehouse building about 50 meters away. On the sign in front of the building, there was a smiling cow drawing. It might have originally been a place selling meat. If that was the case, the place was probably a warehouse for storing such products. Also, there were no traces leading from that warehouse to elsewhere. In other words, if there was something, it was probably hidden inside that warehouse, concealed behind the white exterior wall. So, Aiden turned to Arian. ¡°What¡¯s inside there?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Arian responded immediately. Seemingly peering into the place, she opened her mouth. ¡°But... there¡¯s a somewhat different smell.¡± Aiden nodded in agreement, even though the metaphor of a different smell wasn¡¯t very relatable to him, who lacked the talent to distinguish zombies by scent. Whatever was there, it probably wasn¡¯t an ordinary threat. ¡°Are you going? It looks dangerous.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m going.¡± Aiden said as if it were obvious. This place was not far from his hideout. Just turning a blind eye to it because it seemed dangerous could be even more fatal. ¡°That makes sense too.¡± Upon this, Arian lightly agreed. The building they reached was a warehouse over 5 meters high. The entire site was quite spacious compared to other butcher shops in the small village. Perhaps it was a place engaged in wholesale rather than retail. The front-facing door was firmly closed. Without a single window, nothing could be seen inside. However, they didn¡¯t need to worry about how to get inside. The traces of the monsters continued towards the side of the building. Moreover, there was a large entrance created when the exterior wall collapsed. ¡°...There it is.¡± First, they stood some distance away from the entrance and observed inside. But all that could be seen immediately was darkness. Unfortunately, the entrance was facing away from the sun. Aiden¡¯s eyes narrowed at this. Is there no choice but to go in directly? Internally sighing at that thought, Aiden slung his shotgun and illuminated the end with the attached light. Then, he walked slowly towards the entrance. As he illuminated the inside of the warehouse from the entrance, the first thing that caught his eye was a long wall of rotten meat, stretched out like a screen. Originally, it was edible meat stored in this warehouse. Now, those products were completely dried and decomposed, hanging on hooks like dead bodies, swaying. ¡°...¡± S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Arian¡¯s eyebrows trembled slightly at this eerie scene. Although the warehouse itself had a structure with holes, the view was blocked due to the rotten meat. Fortunately, or unfortunately, the thing they were chasing seemed to have created a clear path while passing through the warehouse. Starting from the center of the entrance, the curtain of rotten meat split on both sides like servants stepping aside for a king¡¯s procession. Beneath it lay the shredded remains of the trappers, like a black carpet. Aiden calmly stepped into the darkness. After walking about 10 meters like that, the path turned 90 degrees in the middle, leading further inside the warehouse. Aiden followed this path with only the light attached under the gun. Upon illuminating the dark, the light extended far, finally clearly revealing the figure of the one who had created this path. About 15 meters ahead. Resting against the tightly closed front door of the warehouse, it was a 3-meter-sized lump of rotten flesh. ¡°Bigfoot...¡± Aiden muttered the name of this mutant zombie. A monstrous creature that, despite being a variant of zombies, preyed on humans and even its own kind, growing in size. Perhaps it was named after the monstrous creature it became. ¡°Raaargh!¡± The one who sensed the light roared. A distorted scream created by a stifled vocal cord. In addition to the gruesome appearance of the creature, Arian¡¯s forehead frowned. Its face resembled that of a drowned person, swollen and distorted. Covered in swollen flesh, its facial features were buried. The bloated abdomen seemed about to burst at any moment, filled with scars, and its massive lower body as enlarget as the given name Bigfoot, supported the body. More than the smell emanating from it, the appearance was several times more horrifying. Bang! Immediately after, Aiden¡¯s shotgun spewed flames. The fierce gunshot shook the warehouse, and about ten lead balls charged towards Bigfoot. ¡°Raaah!¡± However, the ferocious shotgun fire, which had torn apart multiple zombies at once, did not inflict significant damage on Bigfoot. Most of the bullets were simply absorbed into the flesh, and the impact only momentarily made Bigfoot stagger. ¡°Get out!¡± But that was enough. Aiden didn¡¯t think from the start that the shotgun would be effective against Bigfoot. The purpose of this fierce attack was simply to buy time. The battlefield of this warehouse was too narrow to face such an enemy as Bigfoot. At Aiden¡¯s shout, Arian immediately responded. They turned around and ran simultaneously, and as if on cue, they quickly left the entrance of the warehouse. Immediately after that. Boom! Like a projectile, the huge hand that chased after them swept over the entrance. Beneath the thick flesh, sharp claws like bones hidden beneath, roughly shaved through the ground. Contrary to the seemingly sluggish appearance of Bigfoot, the speed was absolutely incongruent, and Arian burst into laughter at the absurdity. Chapter 9 ¡°Tsk...¡± Aiden, who had exited the warehouse, clicked his tongue. He anticipated the presence of zombie mutants, but of course, it had to be Bigfoot. The situation wasn¡¯t favorable. Among the mutants, Bigfoot had mid- or even low-level power, but unfortunately, with the armament Aiden had brought, it was incredibly challenging to confront him. Currently, the weapons he had were, excluding the cold weapons, a shotgun, a pistol, a revolver, and finally, one stick of dynamite. Among them, the shotgun, responsible for the main firepower, wasn¡¯t particularly suitable for Bigfoot. While it excelled in taking down small mutants like regular zombies or trappers due to its excellent anti-personnel stopping power, it sacrificed penetration power. Thus, it was almost ineffective against Bigfoot¡¯s thick skin. The dynamite, while having some firepower, was scarce, and due to the nature of a thrown weapon, it was difficult to hit the target. So, unless you were extremely lucky, it was right to expect to eliminate him with a single shot of dynamite. So, what remained... The pistol and the revolver? First, the pistol was an automatic one that supported automatic reloading, loaded with 9mm standard bullets. Moreover, there were ample magazines, allowing for some sustained gunfire. The revolver had 7N31, a 9mm armor-piercing bullet. It was a high-penetrating pistol bullet with more gunpowder than regular bullets. He had brought this armament, thinking of dealing with trappers who used steel plates as doors. However, at present, it had become the only means to smash Bigfoot¡¯s skull and scramble the brain inside. There were only six of these armor-piercing bullets in the revolver. Aiden had to be careful with every shot. ¡°...¡± He slung the shotgun back and first drew the automatic pistol. Although 9mm standard bullets seemed infinitely smaller compared to Bigfoot¡¯s mass, they were better than the shotgun as they could reach the bones beneath the skin. Meanwhile, Bigfoot, who had aggressively pursued them to the entrance, paused for a moment. This was due to the thick leather caught on the protruding side of the outer wall. However, the poorly constructed warehouse couldn¡¯t keep Bigfoot confined for long. With a roaring noise, the warehouse¡¯s outer wall crumpled like foil. He would arrive shortly. Sensing this, Aiden turned to Arian and asked in a low voice: ¡°Can you fight?¡± Arian was still right next to Aiden. If a battle broke out, Aiden couldn¡¯t guarantee Arian¡¯s safety. However, noticing his concern, Arian chuckled and replied: ¡°I¡¯ll take care of my own life.¡± Receiving such a confident response, Aiden gave a faint smile. It was natural to feel fear when facing monsters like Bigfoot, which were not ordinary zombies. However, it seemed that fear didn¡¯t apply to Arian. ¡°Raaargh!¡± At that moment, completely crushing the warehouse¡¯s outer wall, Bigfoot finally surged in like a tidal wave of rotten meat. In the blink of an eye, Bigfoot approached them, and its grotesque head came close to Aiden¡¯s face. What came with its monstrous roar was the flesh cudgel. Its speed was almost as fast as a whip, and the power imbued in it was something a human couldn¡¯t withstand. However, Aiden was already reacting. He leaped to the side, narrowly avoiding the trajectory of the cudgel. Bigfoot¡¯s sharp claws brushed past Aiden¡¯s nose. While the disgusting storm created by the decaying flesh enveloped Aiden, he aimed the pistol at Bigfoot¡¯s head with a cold gaze. Bang! Bang! Gunshots echoed. Aiden skillfully avoided Bigfoot¡¯s attacks, emptied the ten-round magazine in an instant. However, despite the hail of bullets, Bigfoot was unfazed. Due to the lack of penetration power and not-so-high accuracy, only 2 out of the 10 shots hit the head, and those couldn¡¯t break through the sturdy skull. The rest either completely missed or hit non-lethal areas like the neck or shoulder. ¡°...¡± At this, Aiden frowned. Engaging in combat with Bigfoot, who was rampaging like a mad boar, and hitting its head wasn¡¯t an easy task. He needed to somehow increase the accuracy to make use of the armor-piercing bullets in the revolver. So. should he create an opportunity using dynamite, even if he had to? That¡¯s when he had such thoughts. ¡°What...!¡± Unexpectedly, there was an interruption between Aiden and Bigfoot. It was Arian. But what exactly was she thinking? Her action of rushing headlong without any strategy was not just reckless; it was downright bewildering. ¡°Huuaaah!¡± Bigfoot reacted to Arian, who suddenly appeared between Aiden and him. The fist of the creature, capable of crushing buildings, slashed through the air. It was too late to dodge, Aiden thought. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, at that moment... ¡°Ha...!¡± With Aiden¡¯s hollow laughter, Arian was leaping into the air. To leap two meters in a single bound wasn¡¯t something that could be explained by mere martial arts. But that wasn¡¯t all; Arian, in mid-air, kicked once again. She landed unseen footholds in the air and, like an arrow, shot towards Bigfoot. Swish! At such a processed speed, her machete sliced deeply into Bigfoot¡¯s flesh. Bigfoot let out a roar filled with anger, but Arian frowned as she wiped her hand. ¡°That thing, its bones are incredibly tough. Can¡¯t cut through it right now.¡± Arian spat out discontentedly towards Aiden. The thickness of Bigfoot¡¯s arm was comparable to that of a pretty hefty wild boar. Was that all she thought it would take to cut through it with a machete? While Aiden chuckled at Arian¡¯s confidence, he calmly analyzed her strength. The machete she was wielding demonstrated a power surpassing a simple sword. To split Bigfoot¡¯s skin to the point of revealing bones in a single strike, perhaps even an ordinary person could achieve it with a chainsaw. But even more surprising was her physical ability. Easily evading Bigfoot¡¯s onslaught was... it could be a more useful skill than her attacking power. While Aiden was contemplating this, Bigfoot rushed at Arian. However, she once again skillfully dodged Bigfoot¡¯s attacks, making it look effortless. ¡°Hey, do something! Doesn¡¯t it have any weaknesses?¡± Arian asked. To the following question, Aiden nodded. With Arian¡¯s strength, he was confident they could deal with Bigfoot more easily than expected. ¡°The weakness is its head.¡± ¡°The head?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the weakness of all zombies. To bring it down, you need to either pierce through the skull or cut the neck bone.¡± Arian¡¯s expression slightly stiffened at Aiden¡¯s words. Bigfoot¡¯s bones were almost as hard as stone. So, even Arian couldn¡¯t cut through it easily. However, that wasn¡¯t something she needed to do. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of that. Instead, draw its attention.¡± ¡°How do I do that?¡± ¡°Anything will do, even for a moment. Just keep its head from moving.¡± After some thought, Arian nodded. ¡°...Got it.¡± Then Arian once again plunged towards Bigfoot. As she cut through its huge leg, Arian began luring Bigfoot in the opposite direction of Aiden. That place was... towards the warehouse building where Bigfoot had hiding. Then Bigfoot chased after Arian, shaking the earth. Bigfoot¡¯s back was full of small wounds. It wasn¡¯t made by Arian or Aiden, but by trappers. It seems that Bigfoot had a fight with the trappers here, and eventually preyed on them and hid in the warehouse. With Bigfoot¡¯s attention completely on Arian, Aiden took out his revolver. Seeing Arian¡¯s movement, Aiden had already read her intentions. What Arian intended to use was the collapsed warehouse itself. As Aiden expected, Arian deliberately lured Bigfoot¡¯s attack near the collapsed outer wall. Bigfoot swung its arm, attempting to catch Arian flying like an annoying fly, but it only struck the damaged outer wall of the annoying warehouse. Then, the already unstable warehouse shook greatly. Just before the building collapsed, Arian leaped into the inner side of the collapsed outer wall. It was an appropriate move to lure the crazed Bigfoot, but to Aiden, it was a move that was difficult to imagine. Because if the warehouse collapsed like this, she would be crushed as well. However, Arian ultimately fought with Bigfoot inside the warehouse, and in the end, one of the pillars supporting the warehouse broke due to the aftermath. At that moment. Finally, the seam of the panel on the opposite wall couldn¡¯t withstand the weight and bent. Following the strained sound of metal forcibly bending, the entire warehouse tilted and began to collapse from the spot. Even Bigfoot, who was furiously tumbling like a log, couldn¡¯t escape the collapse. As if being swept away by an avalanche, Bigfoot collapsed beneath the logs. ¡°...¡± Aiden carefully observed the scene. There was no sign of Arian emerging before the warehouse collapsed, meaning she too was buried under the wreckage along with Bigfoot. However... ¡°Huuaah!¡± Unlike the quiet Arian, Bigfoot didn¡¯t remain silent. Even in its state buried under the debris, the creature, glowing several times, slowly raised the heavy ceiling above its head, akin to a massive crane. But what came into the slowly rising Bigfoot¡¯s eyes was a silvery revolver pointed at him. Bang! With the dry sound of a gunshot, Bigfoot¡¯s body swayed significantly. The 9mm armor-piercing bullet pierced through the center of Bigfoot¡¯s forehead, penetrating its brain. However, Bigfoot didn¡¯t fall. As if the small hole in its brain wasn¡¯t much, it raised the debris that trembled with its shaky arm towards Aiden. In response, the revolver expelled bullets continuously. The remaining five rounds were cleanly fired, shattering Bigfoot¡¯s brain without any error. A moment of silence. In the end, Bigfoot, a beat late, emitted its final groan and sank under the debris once again. And it never moved again. ¡°...¡± Aiden confirmed Bigfoot¡¯s death and approached the wreckage of the warehouse. It was to find Arian, who was beneath it. ¡°Arian, where are you?¡± No response. Instead, there was a thumping sound, as if someone was tapping on a panel. The sound came from the end of the debris. Compared to the central part where Bigfoot was buried, there was much less debris covering the top. It seems she found a way out even as the warehouse was collapsing. Aiden started removing the debris one by one, and soon Arian¡¯s figure appeared. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Cough... Do I look okay?¡± Arian, who barely emerged from the wreckage, was a mess. Covered in dust all over her body, her clothes were torn, and her left arm was broken. ¡°Injury?¡± ¡°Oh, this? Don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯ll heal on my own.¡± Arian said, waving off Aiden¡¯s concern. Come to think of it, Arian healed from the zombie bite wounds within a few minutes. Aiden recalled that memory and erased the worry that arose in his mind. Instead, he remembered Arian¡¯s achievements this time. ¡°...Quite impressive.¡± It was a sincere compliment from Aiden. It wasn¡¯t just about her fighting skills. Going into the collapsing building, facing the nemesis like Bigfoot, regardless of being strong or weak, was undoubtedly her sacrifice. Although there was a corner of his mind believing she wouldn¡¯t die, Aiden knew it wasn¡¯t an easy task. On the other hand, Arian responded casually to his words. ¡°I told you. I will pay for the food.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°More importantly, is this the end of the job?¡± ¡°Seems like it.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s go back quickly. I¡¯m a bit tired.¡± Arian stretched with one arm. Her attitude seemed strangely familiar, and Aiden asked a question. ¡°Have you done something like this before?¡± ¡°Yeah. I briefly worked as a problem solver in the old days. In the world I came from, there were weird things, monsters like that. I mainly dealt with those.¡± Arian briefly conveyed the story of her world to Aiden. Without him realizing, her seemingly frivolous story no longer sounded like nonsense. Chapter 10 As Aiden and Arian returned to their hideout, the sky was dyed with the colors of the setting sun. Due to the delay caused by tracking Bigfoot, Aiden decided to postpone receiving the reward for the mission until tomorrow. Instead, he set up a table and called Arian to sit down. It was to study her blood. ¡°You make medicine?¡± Arian, munching on canned food with her fully recovered arms, tilted her head in response to his words. ¡°It¡¯s not exactly medicine. You could say it¡¯s more like a neutralizer.¡± Saying so, he took out a large syringe from the bag beside him. Even at a glance, it showed signs of being used multiple times. ¡°As you can see, I am infected with the zombie virus, yet I maintain my sanity. It¡¯s because the virus hasn¡¯t completely eroded my brain.¡± ¡°Hmm... Is that a common occurrence?¡± ¡°Of course not. I¡¯ve never seen a case like mine, except for myself.¡± Arian nodded her head. Aiden had been speaking sensibly from the beginning, so there weren¡¯t many times she found him strange. Yet, thinking calmly, his existence was quite peculiar. He was a man fighting against zombies, dealing with humans, despite being a zombie himself. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean the virus is dormant. It¡¯s still constantly trying to erode my brain. The role of this neutralizer is to delay that process.¡± Saying so, Aiden demonstrated the process of making the neutralizer in front of Arian. First, he inflicted a wound on his arm to extract the green zombie fluid. Then, he heated it as it was. When the green fluid dried up and turned reddish, he took out a healthy human¡¯s blood pack and mixed it with the zombie¡¯s fluid. ¡°What¡¯s the point of doing something like that? Isn¡¯t it a waste of blood?¡± ¡°This is how you make a neutralizer.¡± Aiden, placing the liquid he made into the large syringe he always used, injected it into his own neck. Arian sighed and looked at the liquid that continued to enter his throat. ¡°Does it really work?¡± ¡°Common sense would tell you that. If it weren¡¯t for this, I would have been no different from the corpses wandering out there by now.¡± Aiden began to explain the principles. The virus first attacks the human blood that enters the body. Therefore, when a human is bitten by a zombie, the blood is contaminated first, and the virus spreads throughout the body through that blood. Aiden¡¯s neutralizer took advantage of this reaction in reverse. To divert the attention of the viruses attacking the brain, he injected human blood into the body. As a result, the erosion of the brain is significantly delayed until the injected blood becomes completely contaminated. However, the neutralizing effect of ordinary human blood was too short-lived. So, he discovered that when he mixed heated zombie fluid with human blood, the virus¡¯s contamination time was extended, leading to the current method. ¡°So, you had human blood because of that.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. And for that reason, I want to experiment with your blood as well.¡± ¡°Experiment? You¡¯re not going to draw my blood and inject it into yourself, are you?¡± ¡°I might.¡± Arian made a disgusted expression. However, since she had agreed to cooperate with Aiden, she couldn¡¯t refuse this role. She reluctantly nodded, expressing her consent. ¡°But before that, I have a question.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°You said you¡¯re a vampire, right? Then, if I inject your blood, could I also become a vampire?¡± Aiden asked seriously. He had finally admitted that Arian was a vampire, but in his limited knowledge, the method vampires used to increase their kin wasn¡¯t much different from zombies. Nevertheless, Arian looked slightly uncomfortable and shook her head. ¡°No, I can¡¯t.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°Even if I tell you, you might not understand.¡± ¡°Still... I want to hear it.¡± Aiden mentally prepared himself. From now on, he vaguely anticipated what Arian was going to say. However... ¡°I received the blood of the ¡®Original,¡¯ the first vampire. But I¡¯m not a legitimate successor who received that blood directly from the Original. I¡¯m a vampire artificially created by humans who killed the Original. So, I¡¯ve received certain restrictions in blood succession, and as a result, I¡¯ve lost the abilities that vampires should inherit.¡± ¡°...¡± The explanation that came out of Arian¡¯s mouth went beyond Aiden¡¯s expectations. Just heard it for no reason. Although the thought briefly crossed Aiden¡¯s mind, he soon nodded and opened his mouth. ¡°Anyway... Even if I receive your blood or get bitten by you, it doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯ll become a vampire, right?¡± ¡°You got it right. Yeah, that¡¯s what it means.¡± In response to that answer, Aiden let out a small sigh. Then, he took out a clean blood collection set from the bag beside him. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Well, let¡¯s start by drawing some blood.¡± Reluctantly, Arian nodded in response to Aiden¡¯s request. She extended one arm, and the needle of the syringe pierced her blood vessel. Feeling the sharp sensation, she frowned and opened her mouth. ¡°But do you have anything for me to eat?¡± ¡°Are two cans of canned food not enough?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about food. I¡¯m talking about blood.¡± Aiden¡¯s gaze, while drawing blood, turned to Arian. ¡°By the way, I forgot to ask. What happens if you can¡¯t consume human blood?¡± ¡°What do you mean, what happens? I¡¯ll die, of course.¡± Though Arian spoke as if it were obvious, it wasn¡¯t such a natural thing for Aiden. After all, weren¡¯t vampires creatures that existed only in imagination in this world? So, he asked the question. ¡°Then, how much is needed for survival?¡± ¡°Well... If we assume I drank about as much as yesterday, I can last about a week without doing anything.¡± ¡°Does that mean there are conditions where more blood is needed?¡± Arian let out a sigh as the continued questions seemed to tire her. But she dutifully answered Aiden¡¯s question. ¡°That¡¯s right. My powers, magic, and regenerative ability all consume human blood. So, in simpler terms, if I fight like I did earlier, I¡¯ll need more blood.¡± ¡°So, how much was consumed today?¡± ¡°About five days¡¯ worth, I guess?¡± At that, Aiden clicked his tongue briefly. The blood he gave Arian yesterday was 200ml. With that, she could last for seven days, but it decreased by five days after just one battle. Considering that regular blood donations consume 400-500ml of blood, and the donor needs an 8-week recovery period afterward... Arian was undoubtedly a formidable force, but unfortunately, her fuel efficiency wasn¡¯t great. Assuming she fought every day, it meant he would need nearly dozens of donors. ¡°Is there no more blood than that?¡± ¡°Nope. But anyway, I plan to replenish it tomorrow, so endure until then.¡± ¡°Tomorrow...?¡± Arian¡¯s eyes glowed with anticipation. She must have sensed that she could finally meet a human in this world who wasn¡¯t a zombie like Aiden. ¡°So, your business is done?¡± With those words, Arian stood up. Aiden had temporarily arranged for her to use a different room on the 5th floor. There was no reason for Arian to stay with him during the night, so it was only natural. ¡°Keep it quiet at night. As I said, no lighting fires either.¡± ¡°I told you, I know.¡± Saying that, Arian closed Aiden¡¯s door and left. Aiden briefly watched her leaving and then looked at the syringe containing Arian¡¯s blood. With about an hour left until sunset, he began to execute several experiments he had thought of during that time. * * * The next day. Aiden revisited the ¡®Merchant Cooperative¡¯ to receive the reward for the mission. And the one who greeted him with an unusually enthusiastic welcome was, of course, Anders. ¡°Oh my goodness... Have my eyes finally gone bad? Aiden is bringing a girl.¡± ¡°Keep your mouth shut, Anders.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not about chatter or not. It¡¯s just a fact. Does a zombie need a girlfriend? Is that what¡¯s going on in the world?¡± Anders whispered such gossip to Aiden, who had just entered the barrier. Aiden opened his mouth with a short sigh. ¡°She¡¯s a survivor I met while solving your quest. I only brought her here because she needed some help.¡± ¡°Survivor?¡± Anders said as he glanced toward Arian, who was still outside the barrier. ¡°Is that woman the one you guarantee?¡± Aiden shook his head in response. ¡°No, I don¡¯t guarantee anything.¡± ¡°Really...?¡± ¡°If I were to give you advice, she¡¯s a dangerous woman.¡± ¡°Dangerous? In what way?¡± Aiden explained to Anders the combat capabilities of Arian that he knew. She could split zombies with her nails, cut through mutants with a knife, and leap two meters high. Upon hearing this, Anders¡¯ expression strangely twisted. ¡°Aiden, did you take some kind of drug?¡± ¡°I clearly stated the facts. Whether you believe it or not, the rest is up to you to figure out.¡± ¡°No... What are you suddenly trying to do?¡± Although Anders spoke as if it were absurd, Aiden remained silent. In response, Anders sighed and turned to look at Arian. Despite the numerous gun barrels lined up in front of the barrier, Arian showed no fear at all, clearly indicating that she was no ordinary girl. However, connecting that to the transcendent abilities Aiden mentioned was another matter. It just didn¡¯t make sense, at least not as a joke. However, it was hard to believe that Aiden was just making fun of him. Aiden was the most distant human... no, zombie, from jokes or pranks. If he had to choose between thinking he was joking or thinking he was crazy, it was wiser to go with the latter. So... ¡°Tsk...¡± Tongue-clicking, Anders approached Aiden and beckoned several gang members over to confront Arian. Although Aiden¡¯s words couldn¡¯t be taken at face value, at least Anders had judged that the girl was a dangerous presence. The gang members went outside the barrier and surrounded Arian. As Arian looked at them with a puzzled expression, a woman with a rifle among them stepped forward and gestured to Arian. It was an indication for her to follow for inspection. ¡°Do I really have to do this?¡± The fact that a body search was required to enter the barrier established by the Merchant Cooperative was already something Aiden had mentioned. Only a handful of individuals, such as executives of the cooperative who were vouched for by the association, could be exempted. ¡°It¡¯s a safety check. Just go quietly.¡± So Aiden told Arian. Arian frowned, entered a makeshift tent near the barrier, and the gang members stood guard around her sternly. Body searches checked whether weapons were hidden or if there were marks from being bitten by zombies. Since Arian had neither, as long as she came back quietly, there would probably be no trouble. Meanwhile, while Arian was temporarily away, Anders spoke up. ¡°So, what¡¯s the deal with that young lady?¡± ¡°She¡¯s a vampire.¡± ¡°What?¡± Anders exclaimed. But Aiden didn¡¯t want to provide detailed explanations about that. So, he simply conveyed the essential information that Anders should be aware of. ¡°I don¡¯t know much either. But, as I said, she¡¯s a dangerous woman.¡± ¡°Why did you bring that danger here?¡± ¡°I brought her, but whether to accept her or not is up to you. If you want, I don¡¯t mind letting her wait outside the barrier.¡± As this merchant cooperative space was for business, even newcomers could enter the barrier. However, all visitors here could not possess weapons within the barrier and had to prove their safety through inspections. In other words, only a very small number of individuals, such as those vouched for by the cooperative¡¯s executives, could possess weapons within this place. On the flip side, this meant that these people were responsible for maintaining the security here. ¡°Anyway... What are we supposed to do?¡± Anders scratched his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know exactly, but there are no exceptions to the cooperative rules. If there¡¯s no problem with the inspection, accept her; otherwise, she can¡¯t come in.¡± With a firm tone, Aiden nodded calmly. With that, the topic concluded, and Anders brought up another matter. ¡°By the way... Have you already taken care of all the trappers?¡± ¡°Actually, there¡¯s a problem with that. In short, things went wrong.¡± ¡°Really? Okay. When that girl comes out, let¡¯s talk in a quiet place.¡± After a while, Arian came out of the tent looking tired, and the woman who had entered with her nodded to Anders. The result of the inspection was that there were no issues. ¡°For now, let her in. And you three follow her behind.¡± Upon this command, Anders immediately gave instructions to his members. Thus, with Anders, Aiden, and the gang members as an escort, Arian entered the warehouse inside the barrier, away from the hustle and bustle, where only a few people were moving cargo. There, Anders, still keeping the rifle-bearing guards slightly behind, sat Aiden and Arian at a table. ¡°...?¡± Anders glanced at Arian but found no indication of displeasure from her. However, Anders, still vigilant of Arian, opened his mouth. ¡°So, tell us. What happened with the request?¡± To this question, Aiden began to explain in detail the events from when he discovered the trappers¡¯ nest. Chapter 11 ¡°There was a Bigfoot?¡± ¡°Yeah. This is the evidence.¡± Aiden pulled out a fist-sized yellowish rock in front of Anders. It was Bigfoot¡¯s tooth. Bigfoot¡¯s unparalleled toughness, which could chew through zombies¡¯ bodies and bones, was commonly used as evidence in Bigfoot hunting. Anders frowned as he looked at the tooth. ¡°Bigfoot...¡± ¡°Do you know anything?¡± ¡°Yeah. I heard stories recently that Bigfoot was sighted nearby. In the residential area near the graveyard, to be precise.¡± Aiden could quickly guess where that residential area was. ¡°Chetonville?¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right. Did you see it too?¡± ¡°I saw the traces.¡± It was the place he had passed with Arian yesterday. It seemed like there were zombies gathered everywhere, and perhaps it was the mischief of Bigfoot. While thinking about that, Anders continued speaking. ¡°But why did that creature head south? There¡¯s nothing there.¡± Bigfoot, which eats both zombies and humans, instinctively moves towards areas abundant with prey. In that sense, if Bigfoot had moved, the direction should be towards the west or east, where there were other residential areas. There was no reason to go south, where the road led to an empty area. But the strange thing wasn¡¯t just Bigfoot. ¡°It¡¯s the same with trappers. They were also abandoning their nests and heading south.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Anders thought with his chin in his hand. But the speculations emerging weren¡¯t particularly extraordinary. ¡°Strange. Is it an earthquake?¡± ¡°An earthquake?¡± ¡°Yeah, before an earthquake happens, animals sense it and evacuate, right?¡± Aiden shook his head in response to that statement without much consideration and changed the subject. ¡°What about the south? Is there something there?¡± ¡°South? Well... I haven¡¯t heard anything. Well, at best, I heard stories that a few guys went to the junk shop and never came back.¡± ¡°Junk shop?¡± ¡°Yes. I assigned them a delivery job to Morgantown. There¡¯s a gang there that trades with us.¡± Morgantown is a city about 100 km away from Pittsburgh. Aiden had heard that there was a fairly large gang there. However, they were quite exclusive, so Aiden wasn¡¯t particularly interested in them. Was it possible that they were already dealing with them? Aiden admired Anders¡¯s cleverness and urged him to continue. ¡°But those guys haven¡¯t come back yet. It¡¯s been a while, so something might have happened. Well, I didn¡¯t care much because it happened often due to those Snuff guys...¡± Anders tapped the table a few times with his finger. ¡°We should send someone to investigate in detail. Do you think so too?¡± As Anders said, Aiden also thought so. He added a detailed explanation to the report because he judged that it was necessary to investigate. Aiden nodded. ¡°Okay, leave that to me.¡± Anders naturally accepted the request for investigation. It wasn¡¯t just a simple act of goodwill. If there really was something happening in the south. Among the two of them here, Anders, who led the gang, had much to lose. Satisfied, Aiden changed the topic. ¡°Then let¡¯s talk about the reward.¡± ¡°I think I know what you¡¯re going to say. You caught Bigfoot, so you want a little extra, right?¡± ¡°First, I used up the armor-piercing bullets. Those need to be replenished. And we need blood too.¡± Anders nodded at the request. He was one of the few people who knew why Aiden needed blood. Then Aiden pointed quietly at Arian, who was sitting silently. ¡°I also hope you can get some clothes for this woman.¡± ¡°Clothes? Well, more than that...¡± In response to the clothing request, Arian grumbled discontentedly to Aiden. It meant she wanted blood first. But Aiden shook his head, and Arian turned her face with a frown. Watching the interesting scene, Anders asked Aiden. ¡°Do you have a preferred style?¡± ¡°...Why are you asking me that?¡± With a mischievous smile, Anders, who seemed to be teasing Aiden, gave orders to his subordinates. Soon, they guided Arian to an area where clothes were gathered and moved away. Three members, holding rifles and keeping an eye on Arian, moved away. The possibility was extremely low. At this level, even if Arian suddenly changed her mind and attacked people, she would be subdued quickly. ¡°Huh... Anyway, she¡¯s a woman who has nothing to do with you.¡± Meanwhile, Anders sighed and said. Aiden, with a puzzled look, opened his mouth. ¡°You¡¯ve been saying that since earlier.¡± ¡°I know. So I¡¯m relieved.¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to be relieved about?¡± ¡°Well, think about it. If an outstanding trader and my lifesaver turned out to be a pedophile... how should I have reacted? Huh?¡± S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Clearly, Arian¡¯s appearance was at most that of a late teenager. Of course, it was only judged by her appearance, and her actual age couldn¡¯t be known. Anyway, if a man like Aiden really introduced Arian as his lover, he would inevitably face such humiliation. ¡°What a crappy worry.¡± Aiden frowned inside his helmet. Once upon a time, he had a fiance, and the memories were quite unpleasant for him. ¡°Stop talking bullshit and bring the reward.¡± Aiden urged Anders with a low voice. Anders began to put various types of ammunition in front of him. * * * And a little later. ¡°Phew, now I feel alive.¡± Arian, who gulped down about half of the blood in a 500ml plastic bottle as if it were mineral water, said so. Aiden had given Arian blood after leaving the outer wall of the cooperative. Walking down the quiet road, Aiden spoke as he looked at Arian. ¡°It¡¯s unexpected.¡± ¡°What is?¡± ¡°That clothing.¡± The clothes Arian was currently wearing were very ordinary ¨C a hoodie and jeans. Aiden¡¯s expectation, based on her initially wearing a long black dress, completely missed the mark, as he thought she might choose something similar. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m wearing these clothes because I like them?¡± ¡°Was there a reason?¡± ¡°There was a protective barrier blocking vampire tracking there. But it¡¯s gone now, as time has passed.¡± ¡°...I didn¡¯t know.¡± There was no way for him to know. Aiden, who didn¡¯t want to think deeply about it, quickly changed the subject. ¡°But... you seem to behave more quietly than I thought. Is it because you can¡¯t drink blood?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t say it¡¯s not because of that, but that¡¯s not the only reason.¡± Suddenly, a scornful smile crossed Arian¡¯s lips. ¡°I roughly knew what you were thinking.¡± ¡°Hmm...¡± Aiden brought Arian here to test her. A vampire that drinks human blood. What kind of reaction would she show when seeing a human? In simple terms, Aiden was testing Arian¡¯s sociability. ¡°Why, did you think I would go crazy and jump around just by seeing a human?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it a common story? Even zombies are like that.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re a zombie.¡± However, ultimately, Arian passed the test. Although she might be hiding her true nature, knowing how to hide it was crucial. In this world, even though it might be an exaggeration, the difference between zombies and humans was only that much. ¡°So... what are we going to do now? Got a new request?¡± ¡°No.¡± In response to Arian¡¯s question, Aiden shook his head. There were no requests to handle immediately. For Aiden, it was a quite common occurrence to have these gaps in between. But, of course, he couldn¡¯t afford to waste this time idly. ¡°Today, I¡¯m going to look for supplies.¡± ¡°Supplies?¡± ¡°Yeah. Food, water, or medicine. I¡¯m just looking for something useful. You don¡¯t have to follow. It¡¯s a task with no significant meaning other than being dangerous,¡± Aiden said. In fact, compared to dealing with Bigfoot, this was by no means a dangerous task. But he found Arian¡¯s presence bothersome. If only Aiden moved, he could use the motorcycle, and ordinary zombies could be easily ignored like shields. However, if Arian followed, that wouldn¡¯t be possible. So, he hoped that Arian would rest comfortably at the hideout. ¡°What are you talking about? Of course, I have to go.¡± Disregarding his hope, Arian responded. Aiden clicked his tongue softly. It couldn¡¯t be helped. It was part of the contract. So, Aiden headed to downtown Pittsburgh with Arian. * * * A few days later. Aiden was welcoming a quiet morning after a long time. Arian, the vampire who used the adjacent room, was no longer there. Because the promised five days had already passed. On the morning of the sixth day, just yesterday, Aiden asked her to leave. Arian willingly accepted the request and went somewhere. ¡°...¡± Traces of the experiments he had conducted until yesterday remained on the desk. Ultimately, Arian, or the vampire¡¯s blood, was of no significant help to Aiden. Although the vampire¡¯s blood didn¡¯t contaminate the bodily fluids of zombies, it wasn¡¯t because it had special immunity. Rather, it was because the vampire¡¯s blood was fundamentally different from human blood. Arian¡¯s blood didn¡¯t mix with either human or zombie blood, and they didn¡¯t corrupt each other. Although he couldn¡¯t analyze the components without proper equipment, it was clear that Arian¡¯s blood had completely separate components from human and zombie blood. This also meant, in other words, that Arian, as she claimed, couldn¡¯t turn humans into vampires. Still, the lack of results was regrettable. ¡°...Well, can¡¯t be helped.¡± He stood up from the creaking bed. The old bed shook and squeaked. As usual, Aiden packed his bag and left the room. And he refueled his motorcycle with the gas he had found a few days ago, starting the engine. Vroom! The long-missed engine sound burst out again. As if it was mocking him, the noise, sounding like it was saying, ¡®Why are you here only now?¡¯ Aiden, listening to the noise, loaded his bag onto the motorcycle and got on. And he sped off again. The refreshing morning air of spring fluttered his white coat. During the usual ride, various thoughts naturally crossed his mind. One of those thoughts was this. Where could Arian have gone? A question Aiden was secretly already halfway sure of the answer. It was none other than the Merchant Cooperative. In Aiden¡¯s eyes, that place was the most suitable organization for Arian to join in Pittsburgh. There were various reasons for this, but above all, that place had a lot of blood. The gang members of the Merchant Cooperative numbered around 200, a figure that could easily handle the amount of blood required for Arian¡¯s survival and combat needs. Moreover, from the cooperative¡¯s perspective, Arian could be an excellent asset. She possessed physical abilities close to that of mutant zombies, and she wasn¡¯t infected by the virus. With such capabilities, she could likely contribute significantly to the cooperative and quickly rise to a leadership position. So, the cooperative and Arian were undoubtedly excellent partners in mutual coexistence. Aiden didn¡¯t bring Arian there just to test her social skills. He had done so with the consideration of facilitating Arian¡¯s easy integration into the cooperative, a small kindness on Aiden¡¯s part. That was Aiden¡¯s perspective. ¡°Why are you here?¡± He hadn¡¯t expected to encounter Arian today. He headed towards a quiet shopping district. It was the hiding place of the small survivor group who had asked Rebecca and Diana for antibiotics for a child. However, in that place now... ¡°Why? Can¡¯t I be here?¡± Arian, who Aiden had sent away just yesterday morning, was shamelessly guarding the entrance. Chapter 12 ¡°That¡¯s not like you can¡¯t, but...¡± Aiden¡¯s words trailed off like that. He didn¡¯t care where Arian settled down. However, for a brief moment, he sharply scanned the surroundings with a piercing gaze. It was just a fleeting, unspoken imagination in his mind. Yet, the chain-link fence still surrounded the house intact, and the metal plate covering the window was sturdy. There were no signs of any battle. ¡°Why stop talking?¡± Whether Arian sensed that Aiden was contemplating something severe, she spoke in a sharp tone. Simultaneously, she tapped on the iron door behind her. As it creaked open, the figure of Rebecca, the woman inside, came into view. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re here.¡± Rebecca greeted Aiden with a faint smile. ¡°You brought the antibiotics, right?¡± ¡°Well, yes, but...¡± Aiden glanced at Arian and asked Rebecca for an explanation. In response, she stepped outside, shrugging her shoulders. ¡°Just as you see. I heard that you are already acquainted with Miss Clifford. She has decided to live with us now.¡± ¡°...Why?¡± Aiden urged for an explanation in an indifferent tone. Even if Arian had come looking for them, he hadn¡¯t expected her to be brought into their hideout so quickly. ¡°She saved Diana¡¯s life.¡± That was Rebecca¡¯s explanation. Just yesterday, while Diana, who was searching for supplies outside, was avoiding a horde of zombies, she became isolated in a building. In that dire situation, Arian coincidentally found her and swiftly cleared the zombies, rescuing Diana. ¡°After that, Miss Clifford suggested joining us.¡± ¡°So... you accepted right away?¡± He understood the circumstances. Yet, Aiden found it strange that Rebecca, who didn¡¯t know Arian well, had quickly brought in a vampire with extraordinary abilities. If Arian had demonstrated her power in defeating zombies, they should have witnessed her transcendental strength. Rebecca¡¯s group consisted of only two adult women and a child. They didn¡¯t have a significant number of members to restrain Arian¡¯s power, unlike the Merchant Cooperative. So, in case Arian went berserk, they wouldn¡¯t be able to stop her. Accepting her as a companion seemed unreasonably dangerous. ¡°I understand your concern.¡± However, Rebecca, noticing Aiden¡¯s thoughts, responded. Aiden¡¯s way of thinking seemed reasonable at first glance. However, it was only a thought that Aiden, with his limitations, could have. ¡°Still, we need more people. We can¡¯t survive alone like you.¡± Rebecca¡¯s group of three constantly felt the shortage of manpower. To find what they needed to survive in this ruined city required more than just one or two people. However, there were only two people who could go out to search. Just a few days ago, she had to go on a risky exploration to find what they needed, leaving her child behind. Moreover, yesterday, she almost lost her only companion, Diana. So, Rebecca couldn¡¯t afford to let go of Arian, a new recruit with abilities far beyond an ordinary person. ¡°Hmm...¡± Understanding her, Aiden could only let out a sigh. Although Aiden understood her judgment, going beyond this point and discussing it further was beyond his scope. Therefore, he quietly handed the antibiotics to Rebecca. This time, it was one bottle of antibiotics. Rebecca happily accepted it and handed him the agreed-upon payment. What returned to Aiden was two grenades. ¡°It¡¯s quite a rare item.¡± At the same time, it was a useful item. Honestly, it seemed more valuable than one bottle of antibiotics. Where did she manage to get this? S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. While Aiden was thinking about where she got the grenades, Rebecca opened her mouth. ¡°The medicine is working.¡± ¡°You mean the child?¡± ¡°Yes. She¡¯s no longer vomiting blood, and the cough has improved a lot.¡± Rebecca¡¯s face gradually brightened as she spoke, and her words became faster. Observing Rebecca¡¯s figure, Aiden quietly watched. ¡°Now she¡¯s not lying in bed and even asks to go outside.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s perfect timing. She¡¯s awake.¡± Good? Before Aiden could follow the context, Rebecca went into the house. And soon enough her daughter came out with Rebecca. ¡°...¡± Bright golden hair swayed gently. And beneath it, in the dazzling emerald eyes, it was difficult to see any trace of the previous appearance, which seemed to be fading away. Although there still seemed to be lingering signs of the illness, a vitality comparable to that of a peer-aged child could still be felt. The child hiding behind her mother stared intently at Aiden. Fortunately, the helmet was still on him, and in front of the child¡¯s gaze, Aiden cleared his throat and spoke. ¡°Nice to meet you. So...¡± ¡°Sadie. Sadie Lewis.¡± Rebecca introduced her daughter like that. And come to think of it, he didn¡¯t even know the child¡¯s name until now. Realizing this new fact, Aiden continued with his greeting. ¡°Nice to meet you, Sadie. I¡¯m Aiden Lee.¡± ¡°I know. You¡¯re the man who brought the medicine, right?¡± The child¡¯s first words were quite bold. Even though she was in a painful condition, she must have known that Aiden was a zombie from the last time. There was no sign of fear anywhere. ¡°Thank you.¡± Afterward, Sadie bowed her head slightly. Aiden, who never expected to receive thanks directly from a child, just nodded. ¡°You¡¯re welcome. Well... I¡¯ll be going then.¡± Unable to find anything else to say, he tried to leave. However, Rebecca grabbed his arm. ¡°Oh, wait a moment.¡± ¡°...What is it?¡± ¡°I have a request.¡± Upon hearing those words, Aiden looked at Sadie. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem necessary to examine her thoroughly.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that. Actually, yesterday... Diana brought back some useful information.¡± ¡°Information?¡± ¡°Yes. Sadie, could you come inside for a moment?¡± Rebecca ushered Sadie back into the house after the child left. Once Sadie was inside, Rebecca continued. ¡°We found an underground warehouse.¡± ¡°A warehouse...?¡± ¡°There seem to be weapons inside. I can¡¯t give a precise answer on the types and quantity of weapons, though.¡± Aiden clicked his tongue in response. ¡°Sorry... but I find it hard to believe. It sounds like you couldn¡¯t even get inside the warehouse. Did you see the stockpile of bullets yourself? What evidence is there that there are weapons?¡± ¡°There will be weapons. I guarantee it.¡± The response didn¡¯t come from Rebecca but from Arian, who was quietly standing by. ¡°I smelled iron and strong gunpowder there. And the grenades I gave you? I found them near the entrance.¡± Aiden changed his attitude at her words. Arian¡¯s heightened senses, something he had experienced during the five days of traveling together, were beyond common sense. Even if he hadn¡¯t seen it himself, Arian¡¯s assurance was different. Moreover, Aiden received the grenades from her, proving that she got them from that place. This was more than enough evidence. ¡°So, what¡¯s the request exactly?¡± ¡°To retrieve those weapons along with Miss Clifford and Diana. The commission fee is to divide the recovered weapons to a certain extent. How about it?¡± ¡°...Isn¡¯t it just a bunch of weapons lying around?¡± Diana and even Arian were present, and the situation of bringing Aiden into this had already been noticed, but it seemed that the weapons storage place carried a considerable risk. Arian agreed with that assumption. ¡°Yes, and... it seems there¡¯s a special one.¡± ¡°Is there a mutant too? Where is it?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t tell you that. Until you accept our proposal.¡± It was a natural condition. Therefore, Aiden asked questions about the number of zombies there and the terrain. ¡°Most of the zombies are underground. The weapons storage is also there.¡± ¡°Underground?¡± ¡°Yes. So, probably, we can¡¯t avoid a fight.¡± Exploring the city¡¯s sewers, perhaps? Aiden coughed for a moment at Arian¡¯s words. Certainly, this request carried inherent dangers. But... had he ever received a safe request until now? So, he nodded without hesitation. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s give it a try.¡± Rebecca smiled satisfactorily at his response and immediately spoke. ¡°The location is the power plant.¡± ¡°The power plant?¡± ¡°Yes. The abandoned power plant on Brunot Island.¡± Brunot Island was a small island in the middle of the Ohio River, penetrating east and west through Pittsburgh. Built on it was a thermal power plant, which had stopped operating a long time ago. Apart from one bridge leading south, there were no access routes to the isolated location. ¡°It seems you explored a dangerous place.¡± Aiden delved into his memories. Until just about a year ago, Brunot Island had been a gang¡¯s stronghold. Of course, there were no resources worth mentioning on the island. But the only advantage the island had was the narrow iron bridge one had to cross to reach it. Unfortunately, the gang¡¯s choice soon turned into an unfavorable outcome. The island¡¯s isolation was advantageous in keeping zombies at bay, but it became an extremely disadvantageous factor when dealing with people. The problem arose during the gangs¡¯ fights. At that time, their opposing gang, instead of attempting to invade the isolated Brunot Island, decided to blow up one of the two bridges connecting the island to the mainland. They decided to cut off all bridges to Brunot Island completely, leaving it isolated and gradually withering away, intending to dry up the gang living on the island. This was an efficient tactic, requiring some time. If all the bridges were severed, transportation to and from the island would have to rely on water vehicles like boats. However, without military submarines and only with motorboats, crossing the river guarded by the enemy gang was practically suicide. So, the gang on the island, having realized their enemy¡¯s intention, urgently fortified the only remaining bridge to the south. The following fierce battles over the bridge lasted for two days. But defending such a narrow bridge was as challenging as crossing it, and, with the next enemy assault, the gang on the island eventually faced the worst self-destruction. That was setting fire to the island. The midnight flames became light and sound, attracting not only zombies but also dangerous mutants. In other words, they had devised a dreamlike plan of making zombies their allies and attacking their enemies. However, the formidable horde of zombies, mixed with powerful mutants, not only engulfed the hostile gang but also swept across the gang on the island, even before dawn, crossing the bridge. In the end, with both gangs annihilating each other amicably, the story of Brunot Island came to an end. That was the fate of the island that Aiden knew of, but... the information that there were remaining resources there was a new story. Since it was where the gang stayed, it was natural that some scrap dealers went in with their eyes on that jackpot. Most of them had wandered around, avoiding the zombies concentrated in the power plant and returning empty-handed, but could these people have found what others had not found? ¡°Diana found that place. If you get the chance, ask her tomorrow.¡± ¡°...Is that so.¡± Hmm- Aiden made a short sigh. ¡°She luckily found what the previous gang had hidden. It¡¯s dangerous, but there shouldn¡¯t be any surprises.¡± Looking at the information so far, it was an assignment with a reasonable chance of success. Convinced that it was okay to proceed with the mission, Aiden urged them on. ¡°So, when are you planning to leave?¡± ¡°Tomorrow. Let¡¯s meet here at this time tomorrow.¡± ¡°Got it. But... what about the person who actually found the place?¡± He was referring to Diana. Rebecca responded with a bitter expression. ¡°She¡¯s sleeping. Maybe she was shocked yesterday, or couldn¡¯t sleep at night. Maybe tomorrow will be better.¡± Isolated by zombies, there seemed to be a psychological impact. So, Aiden pointed at Rebecca. ¡°Then, wouldn¡¯t it be better for you to go?¡± But Rebecca shook her head. ¡°While you guys are at the power plant, I need to get food. There¡¯s nothing to eat starting the day after tomorrow. It¡¯s probably better on this end than sending Diana alone, right?¡± ¡°...I see.¡± If that was the case, there was nothing more to say. The conversation with Rebecca and her group ended there. Aiden anticipated tomorrow and parted ways with them. Chapter 13 The next day, in front of Rebecca¡¯s hideout. ¡°Ah, you¡¯re here.¡± When Aiden appeared at the agreed-upon time, Arian reacted. She still had a long machete in one hand, different from the one she used before. Since the previous one belonged to Aiden, the one she brought today was probably an item that Rebecca¡¯s group possessed. However, in choosing the same machete in the end, it seemed that Arian liked this kind of sword itself. On the other hand, standing next to her, Diana was in a much more thoroughly armed state than Arian. Visible weapons included a rifle and a pistol that seemed capable of full-auto fire, and a hatchet was strapped to her waist. Yet, even with all that, she couldn¡¯t match the arsenal Aiden was unpacking from his motorcycle. In his arms were a military dagger, a pistol and a revolver always hung on both sides of his waist, a shotgun and a rifle were placed side by side behind his back, a metal bat lay on top of his backpack, and inside the backpack were bombs, including the grenades he received yesterday, and magazines. So, the weight of the weapons and their ammunition alone was quite significant, but Aiden was carrying it without much difficulty. It was possible for him as a zombie who didn¡¯t feel physical fatigue. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Aiden asked Diana. She nodded calmly in response. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m fine.¡± To Aiden, Diana¡¯s complexion seemed fine as well. So, he continued. ¡°It was Brunot Island, right? You managed to find treasure in such a dangerous place.¡± Even using the shortest route, it would take more than two hours on foot to get from here to Brunot Island. Simply for a round trip, it would consume almost five hours. For those who had to return before dark, the distance could be burdensome. Therefore, to go there, they had to first establish a safe route. ¡°How did you get there?¡± ¡°I remember the way. So...¡± On the map spread out by Aiden, Diana marked the path she had taken yesterday. It was a route that bypassed residential and downtown areas, as well as gang territories, taking detours through deserted parks and forests. So, it was a route that inevitably went a long way around, but Aiden shook his head, looking at it. At this rate, it would take nearly four hours to get there. A round trip of almost eight hours. The time loss was too significant. ¡°It¡¯s too circuitous.¡± ¡°But there¡¯s no choice. It would be too dangerous to go straight.¡± ¡°Then... let¡¯s do it like this.¡± Aiden quickly modified the route. Each time, Diana pointed out each modification he made. ¡°But here¡¯s a residential area.¡± ¡°Yeah, but it¡¯s empty now. The fanatics did some crazy purification right next door recently, causing quite a big fire. Probably, the zombies in this area are all gathered there.¡± ¡°What about this area? Isn¡¯t this a gang territory?¡± ¡°The guys there abandoned the area and moved further north. I confirmed it myself last week, so there¡¯s no need to worry.¡± Aiden readily accepted Diana¡¯s questions and answered based on ample evidence. Aiden, who always traveled throughout the city on a motorcycle, had a knack for finding safe routes in this city. ¡°Let¡¯s go this way.¡± The route was quickly modified. The adjusted route would take about three hours on foot. It wasn¡¯t as direct as the shortest route, but considering avoiding potential dangers, the time spent was significantly reduced. Diana widened her eyes and nodded. ¡°...It¡¯s considerably shorter.¡± ¡°Agree?¡± ¡°If what you¡¯re saying is true, I have no reason to object.¡± ¡°Good. Let¡¯s move right away.¡± Aiden put away the map and was about to turn around, but Diana¡¯s words stopped him. ¡°Oh, wait. I¡¯ll just say hello to Sadie and come right back.¡± She opened the iron door leading into the hideout. As the door opened slightly. ¡°Sadie! You shouldn¡¯t come out right now.¡± The audacious little girl from yesterday, Sadie, peeked her head out from inside the heavy iron door. It seemed like she had quietly overheard their conversation from inside the sturdy door. Diana tried to push Sadie back inside, but Sadie held onto the door and opened her mouth. ¡°Be safe.¡± ¡°You...¡± Diana let out a bitter laugh as she looked at Sadie. However, whether she had no intention of breaking the persistence of the young child or not, she nodded and gently brushed Sadie¡¯s head. Sadie smiled once and then turned to Arian. ¡°Sister too.¡± ¡°Yeah, and you do take care of the house, okay?¡± In response to Sadie¡¯s greetings, Arian spoke with a warm smile. Aiden, however, couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of confusion at her expression and tone, which differed significantly from her usual sharp and biting voice. Fortunately, his face wasn¡¯t visible due to the helmet he wore, so at least his bewildered expression wasn¡¯t apparent. Then, Sadie¡¯s gaze finally turned towards Aiden. ¡°Uncle, come back safely.¡± ¡°...Um, sure.¡± Aiden responded awkwardly to Sadie, who greeted him without hesitation. After exchanging greetings with everyone, Sadie nodded once and closed the iron door. Thud! The sound of the lock engaging followed the creaking noise. Though she was a young child, it seemed quite familiar for her to be left alone in this empty hideout. For a moment, he felt sorry for Sadie. ¡°Let¡¯s move,¡± Aiden said, his voice now cold. The two other women nodded in response. Silently, they walked along the deserted shopping street. * * * ¡°...We arrived pretty quickly.¡± Arriving at the Ohio River after passing through a small, deserted forest and park, Aiden mumbled. The metal bat in his hand was stained with dried blood. Along the way, there were traces left by a few zombies he had encountered. However, Aiden paid no attention to the filthy blood and continued to walk confidently towards the river. At that moment, a riverside road extending along the Ohio River welcomed him. The road was connected directly to the land, and by following this road, one could reach the bridge leading to Brunot Island. However, traveling this road straightforwardly was too dangerous. It passed through areas with frequent zombie appearances, such as residential and shopping districts, making it easy to notice. So, if it were just Aiden, it might not be a problem. However, with Diana and Arian accompanying him, it wasn¡¯t an ideal route. Therefore, Aiden crossed the road and looked down towards the side of the river. Below, there was a railroad track lower in elevation than the road, which had been used by trains. The river flowed from a place where the tracks went down once more. In short, this riverside road consisted of a road, a railroad, and the river, all connected like stairs. Aiden glanced around the railroad. When moving, using the tracks below would be safer. Zombies couldn¡¯t swim, so there was no need to worry about the river side. Moreover, from the land side, people wouldn¡¯t be easily visible due to the difference in terrain. ¡°I don¡¯t see anything. Let¡¯s go down.¡± After confirming the safety of the railroad, Aiden said to the group hidden in the shade of the trees. The other two also crossed the road and descended to the railroad. ¡°Huh...¡± Diana, who safely reached the railroad, let out a short sigh. Her face showed signs of tension. It wasn¡¯t unusual. It had taken over an hour to get from the hideout to here. Moving without a break, constantly hiding one¡¯s body from the walking corpses not to be detected was exhausting in itself. Moreover, she wasn¡¯t with just anyone; it was with Aiden and Arian. From Diana¡¯s perspective, there was still not enough trust in these companions. So, she must have been unable to let her guard down even for a moment. ¡°And come to think of it, how did you plan to go all the way to the power plant?¡± Now that there was a bit of a lull, Aiden asked Diana a question he hadn¡¯t been able to ask yesterday. It was a question that arose from a trivial curiosity, but the words he brought out weren¡¯t because of that. Conversations between parties somehow created a shallow sense of trust. Now that they were supposed to rely on each other, Aiden judged that it was necessary to form at least some familiarity. On the other hand, Diana, while showing a surprised expression that Aiden had initiated the conversation, calmly provided an answer. ¡°Since the nearby areas have already been thoroughly searched, we need to go far to find anything.¡± ¡°Even so, there¡¯s no need to go all the way to an island known to be dangerous.¡± ¡°Well... I heard there was a gang there. Also, I heard stories that they hadn¡¯t found the resources hidden by them.¡± ¡°Are you moving just because of those rumors?¡± Aiden asked in a stern voice. Even if there were fruits, it would be a foolish act to go there just because of rumors. Even if there were results, it was a foolish action. But Diana didn¡¯t move towards that place without any thought. ¡°I know the power plant structure better than an average person. Originally, I was supposed to work there.¡± Diana brought up her past calmly. Four years ago, just before the zombie outbreak, she was a university student about to graduate. Thanks to a recommendation from an acquaintance working at the power plant, she had already secured a job, allowing her to accumulate sufficient knowledge about it. Thus, she could see through the structure of the thermal power plant on the island at a glance and quickly discerned something suspicious. ¡°Most of the power facilities on Brunot Island are underground. What was visible outside was the transmission tower, chimney, transformers... and a part of the boiler. So, the underground facilities must be quite spacious, don¡¯t you think?¡± Aiden¡¯s eyebrows twitched at the mention of the underground facility. The idea of such extensive underground spaces on Brunot Island was something he had never heard before. ¡°This is just a guess, but those gang members who were there in the past probably used that underground as their base. I also believe this is the reason why they set fire to the island.¡± ¡°So... the place where the gang stayed was actually the underground of the power plant, and you found the way to get there?¡± Diana nodded. ¡°If you know the structure of the power plant, it¡¯s not that difficult.¡± Aiden could only nod in response to Diana¡¯s matter-of-fact statement. What seemed like a stroke of luck finding a treasure trove turned out to have clear evidence and reasons behind it. ¡°The problem is the underground. I managed to find the entrance while avoiding the zombies¡¯ eyes, but... inside, it seemed like there were even more zombies than on the surface.¡± Diana¡¯s expression darkened as she spoke. ¡°I got into a fight with the zombies without properly entering, and the rest is as you know.¡± ¡°...I see.¡± sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Aiden nodded. It was as he had heard before. In other words, does this mean that most enemies are underground, in the darkness? Thinking about that, Aiden looked at Arian. The vampire who rescued Diana from the predicament yesterday was walking on the railroad more leisurely than anyone else, seemingly enjoying the surroundings like a stroll by the riverbank on a spring day. Observing this, Aiden directed a question to Arian. ¡°But... why did you go to that island?¡± When he thought about it, the one who moved unexpectedly, beyond Aiden¡¯s expectations, was Arian. However, she answered nonchalantly. ¡°Well, you told me about it.¡± ¡°I told you?¡± ¡°Yeah. You said there¡¯s no one there.¡± He did say something like that. On the third day of traveling together with Arian. Aiden had informed her about the power dynamics in Pittsburgh. To avoid unnecessary trouble in gang territory and battles, he had decided to impart this knowledge. However, she took the teaching the wrong way, only remembering places without people. ¡°Did you go there just because there¡¯s no one?¡± ¡°Yeah. At first, I thought about clearing the island and staying alone.¡± ¡°Alone? That¡¯s a reckless thought.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not bad living like you, isn¡¯t it? But then I met Diana, and my thoughts changed. It just happened that there was a good place for me to join.¡± Aiden clicked his tongue at Arian¡¯s words. ¡°Rather than a small group like that...¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say it; I know. You thought I would join some kind of cooperative association, right?¡± Aiden, caught off guard, closed his mouth. In the meantime, Arian continued speaking. ¡°But I don¡¯t like it. I don¡¯t want to fight without my will being involved anymore.¡± Arian¡¯s voice as she said that was dry. There seemed to be some circumstances. Aiden speculated on it, but he didn¡¯t pry into the details. He had a gut feeling that it was something he couldn¡¯t understand, something from a different world. ¡°Hey, that bridge over there.¡± During their conversation, they had unknowingly arrived at the bridge leading to the island. The narrow iron bridge, where only trains used to pass, clearly extended across the river, connecting to the island. Chapter 14 ¡°...It¡¯s not as many as I thought.¡± Having almost crossed the iron bridge, Aiden commented after surveying the island. The appearance of the island, which had gone through various incidents, was unique. First, the inside was covered with a gray concrete floor. On top of it, iron structures like transformers were arranged regularly. Between them, thick pipes, whether they were sewers or wires, were connected, blocking the path of the group like walls of a maze. Also, on one side of the road crossing the middle, there was only a pile of black ashes. It was the remnants of a fire that occurred here over a year ago. Even now, it remained untouched, exposing the tragedy of that time. Moreover, in the outer part of the power plant, where concrete wasn¡¯t laid, wild plants were thriving. In this place where humans had disappeared, only weeds flourished, finally starting to invade the concrete. Because of that, some vines emerged from the ashes, enveloping some transformers and pipes. It looked like a small green jungle was invading a small gray city. ¡°...¡± Aiden carefully scrutinized the power plant with just his gaze. The zombies he spotted were only five. Perhaps it was because their vision was obstructed by trees made of steel. Still, yesterday Arian rescued Diana, and it seemed that the zombies on the surface had been somewhat cleared. ¡°The entrance leading underground is over there,¡± Diana said. Although Diana had already explained the power plant¡¯s structure to Aiden, she stepped forward to guide them personally. However, Aiden raised his head. ¡°No, let¡¯s clean up the surroundings first.¡± ¡°Do we really need to do that?¡± Diana¡¯s tone questioned the need for taking risks. Aiden responded: ¡°First, we need to secure the surface as a safe zone. We don¡¯t know what might happen underground. So, we need to leave an escape route.¡± Aiden was already anticipating that things might not go as planned. Diana felt a bit uncomfortable with his words, but what he said wasn¡¯t wrong. If something like yesterday happens... There will be a big difference whether there are zombies on the ground or not. ¡°...Alright. So, what¡¯s the plan?¡± ¡°For now, I¡¯ll move first.¡± ¡°Alone?¡± ¡°If there are no mutants, I can handle it alone.¡± Aiden planned to use the terrain with obstructed visibility to quietly deal with zombies. Even if the sound leaked out and attracted other zombies, they wouldn¡¯t attack him if he stood there. So, a situation where zombies were somewhat scattered in a maze-like pattern was optimal for Aiden. However, even for him, insurance was needed. ¡°Vampire. Stay about 10 meters away and follow me.¡± Arian heard Aiden¡¯s instructions and nodded calmly. Just in case a mutant appeared on the surface, it was a precautionary measure. Diana decided to move with Arian, and the plan was complete. ¡°Any other opinions?¡± There were sufficient instructions with nothing to add or subtract. Both women shook their heads. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of this.¡± Aiden took off his helmet and handed it to Arian. His gruesome face, contaminated with rotten flesh, was revealed. Unlike Diana, who swallowed slightly at the sight, Arian casually took the helmet from him. Then, Aiden took a clean military dagger from his bag. It used to be a ceremonial dagger of the U.S. Marine Corps, featuring a strong and easy-to-pierce blade of up to 200mm. It was suitable for beheading the decayed heads of zombies ¨C a perfect weapon. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I¡¯ll go then.¡± He descended from the iron bridge, finally setting foot on the island. There was a zombie standing on the path leading from the bridge to the power plant. As Aiden approached, the zombie¡¯s head unnaturally turned toward him. It was a zombie wearing a dirty dress, so contaminated that it was impossible to recognize the original color. Though it was hard to tell without a head, it might have been a woman when she was alive. ¡°...¡± Aiden¡¯s figure reflected in the rotten, empty eyes. However, the zombie quickly turned its head with cold indifference, as if it had no interest in the man resembling itself. In the face of such unilateral indifference, Aiden silently approached her. And he covered the mouth of the zombie that ignored him with one hand from behind. At that moment, when the zombie that was held by Aiden was about to go crazy. Quack! The blade of the dagger pierced the zombie¡¯s neck, breaking the bone, and Aiden pushed it outward with force, separating the head cleanly. ¡°Geh-¡° The head of the zombie, without vocal cords, made a sound like a deflated balloon. However, immediately afterward, Aiden¡¯s dagger was thrust upward again from the section where the neck was severed. A clever angle that avoided the tough skull and reached the brain. The brain was ruthlessly destroyed as the blade savagely penetrated, and finally, one zombie was completely silenced. ¡°Oh...¡± Arian, who had been silently watching the entire process from the railroad bridge, let out a small exclamation. It was a familiar and professional movement, as if he had repeated this many times. It was, quite literally, an assassination. Moreover, the assassination was swift and, above all, quiet. Although there was a zombie hiding behind a pipe, it didn¡¯t even show signs of reacting. The rest was like a simple task. Aiden searched between the transformers and pipes that made up the maze, found hidden zombies, dealt with them in the same way, and immediately moved on to find the next one. As a result, about 20 zombies remaining on the surface were completely annihilated in 10 minutes of silence. Arian, who had been quietly following him, shrugged her shoulders and opened her mouth. ¡°Not bad.¡± ¡°...¡± Although Diana didn¡¯t say anything, she was secretly surprised by Aiden¡¯s skill. Until a little while ago, she had thought of Aiden as just a strange existence ¨C a junkyard surviving by luck after being bitten by a zombie. But now, it was clear that it was a blatant underestimation. Aiden not only knew how to utilize the fact that he was a zombie, but he also possessed the skills befitting it. ¡°Any more?¡± Aiden, who had dealt with the zombies, approached Arian. Arian closed her eyes for a moment, focusing on her surroundings. The sounds of the still not-dead corpses were still present. But they were all echoing from deep underground. Above the ground bathed in sunlight, there was only silence. ¡°I think we¡¯ve dealt with everything on the surface.¡± ¡°All right then. Let¡¯s slowly enter the underground.¡± ¡°Oh, there it is.¡± What Diana pointed to were three chimneys standing side by side next to the control room, the only building at the power plant. Beneath those chimneys, a huge iron structure was attached like a torso. A scene that would come to mind first when talking about a thermal power plant. Aiden looked up at the chimneys. ¡°It doesn¡¯t mean we have to go into that chimney, right?¡± The chimney¡¯s height was easily over 20 meters, even at a rough estimate. There was no way Aiden could climb up. Perhaps sensing Aiden¡¯s concern, Diana added an explanation: ¡°It¡¯s not the chimney; it¡¯s the boiler next to it. Well, it¡¯s like a building, you know? There¡¯s an entrance on top of it. We need to go in there to get into the boiler.¡± ¡°...There¡¯s an entrance up there?¡± The iron structure that Diana referred to as the boiler looked like someone had flipped the interior of a submarine upside down. Small and thin pipes protruded in various directions, and beneath them, round tanks and rusted iron plates were messily connected. Looking from the outside, there was no visible entrance to get in. ¡°It¡¯s originally a temporary entrance for maintenance. It¡¯s a location that people who don¡¯t know about it would find difficult to discover. There, you can use that ladder.¡± Aiden climbed the ladder that Diana pointed to, ascending onto the iron structure. Fortunately, there were no zombies there, but walking on the boiler, cluttered with pipes and obstacles, was challenging. Slowly moved forward, as if in an obstacle race, they soon saw the entrance. There was a round door on the boiler¡¯s ceiling, reminiscent of the entrance to a submarine. ¡°Over here. The ground is quite deep, so be careful.¡± ¡°...I¡¯ll go down first.¡± Aiden took out his shotgun and said so. In the meantime, Diana continued her explanation. ¡°There¡¯s a passage below. It¡¯s narrow, but we should be able to pass through. And if you follow that passage-¡° In the end, it was a story about going through the boiler and descending once more to reach the actual underground space. Aiden turned on the light on his shotgun and entered the boiler. ¡°...¡± There, a narrow passage blocked on both sides by unknown machinery was revealed, enough for only one person to pass through. The confined space and darkness made it feel suffocating, but Aiden didn¡¯t bat an eye, just checking the floor. Unexpectedly, the floor was littered with various odds and ends, like wooden boxes and pieces of cloth. ¡°It seems someone was here.¡± ¡°This is evidence that this was the entrance the gang used. Oh, the grenades I gave you were found here.¡± Aiden nodded at Arian¡¯s words, and they proceeded through the passage. Then, a door leading outside appeared, and beyond it, beneath a rusty platform large enough for only one person to stand, a black hole gaping open. It was the passage Diana had mentioned, leading to the underground space. The ladder going down was next to the platform. The heavily rusted ladder, browned with age, seemed like it wouldn¡¯t last long, but it wasn¡¯t on the verge of breaking. Aiden first shone the light downwards on the passage. Then... ¡°Kii!¡± Zombies below immediately responded to the light. But Aiden checked the surrounding terrain before they did. The place resembled a small underground factory with unidentifiable machines and structures scattered in a wide-open space. Numerous wires and pipes connected along the walls. In between, sporadically visible were... zombies, of course. Though the exact number couldn¡¯t be discerned in the darkness, there were at least ten in front of him. Fortunately, there seemed to be no mutants. Considering the situation, Aiden soon made a decision and addressed the other two. ¡°I¡¯ll go down first. Combat will start immediately. So, vampire, come down and support me.¡± Arian nodded lightly, and Aiden¡¯s gaze shifted to Diana. ¡°Don¡¯t come down; stay here and guard. That¡¯s better for you.¡± Diana wrinkled her forehead at his words. She thought that Aiden was excessively considerate of her, someone who was practically the party involved in this request. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better for me to go down too?¡± ¡°No, it won¡¯t help.¡± But Aiden firmly stated. His decision wasn¡¯t about consideration. ¡°No one knows how many zombies are down there. We might have to decide to retreat as soon as we enter. In that situation, everyone going down is never a wise thing to do.¡± Aiden kept Diana above, considering the possibility of retreat. Especially in a place with only a ladder as the limited escape route. Thinking about evacuation, at least one of them had to stay above. And it was undoubtedly Diana who was suitable for that role. ¡°I agree with that.¡± Even Arian concurred with Aiden¡¯s explanation, and they proceeded. Diana, having nothing more to say, nodded with a short sigh. ¡°...Got it. I¡¯ll do as you say.¡± With that, Aiden nodded and gripped the sides of the ladder with his hands. Sliding down as if on a slippery slope, he immediately grabbed his shotgun. ¡°Ki!¡± ¡°Kaaah...!¡± Even before Aiden¡¯s appearance, the zombies that had been buried in the darkness started to stir. Though they recognized the intruder, their hesitance came from the fact that the intruder was a zombie. The moment they heard the sound of Arian stepping on the ladder. ¡°Kiii!¡± The zombies¡¯ gazes turned upward at the same time. Their hesitant eyes suddenly become filled with madness upon seeing fresh prey. But just before their madness manifested outwardly- Bang! The thunderous sound erupted from the shotgun. As the shattered remains of the bodies scattered, the battle began. Chapter 15 ¡°Ha...¡± A tense sigh escaped from Diana¡¯s lips. How many corpses were hiding in that black darkness? Just counting the fallen zombies, there were easily more than ten. But even that seemed insufficient, as the darkness below continued to spawn more zombies. It appeared as if water was pouring in from all directions, but surprisingly, the two individuals who had descended below were holding off the zombie onslaught effectively. Swoosh! Arian¡¯s machete sliced through one zombie, tearing it apart as she passed by. To Diana¡¯s eyes, the speed and force were simply inhuman. Of course, it was evident yesterday that she wasn¡¯t an ordinary person. Diana had witnessed her tearing apart a zombie with her bare hands. She was called a vampire, right? Although it was an unbelievable thing to accept, there was no choice but to believe it. Otherwise, how could such magical movements be possible? On the other hand, there was another person on the battlefield with Arian. Aiden¡¯s movements were extremely refined, unlike Arian¡¯s transcendental abilities. He didn¡¯t possess such extraordinary powers. However, his calculated movements and calmness, not flinching even when bitten by zombie teeth, were equally remarkable, perhaps even more so than Arian¡¯s abilities. Moreover, he hadn¡¯t just vaguely asked Diana for cover. He was aware of Diana¡¯s presence, and repeatedly pushed the zombies to places where it was easy for her to shoot. You can say he was consciously using her in the midst of chaos. Therefore, most of the zombie attacks were directed towards Aiden. But Diana couldn¡¯t easily shoot because Arian¡¯s unpredictable movements made it risky to fire a gun without hitting her. Bang! Diana¡¯s rifle silenced another zombie. With each repeated shot, her hands trembled slightly. Blocked vision, perpendicular shooting from top to bottom, and in the narrow space where one might accidentally shoot a comrade ¨C all these factors interfered with Diana¡¯s shooting. As a result, an intense tension gradually overtook her body amidst this confusion. At that moment, Aiden¡¯s shout echoed. ¡°Beast!¡± At those words, Diana¡¯s face stiffened even more than before. A Beast referred to animals infected with the zombie virus, a term that, strictly speaking, wasn¡¯t classified as mutants. However, they were often categorized as mutants because the number of Beasts wasn¡¯t very high. Ordinary zombies only attacked humans. For some reason, those corpses didn¡¯t attack animals. So, the origin of Beasts was somewhat limited, like animals driven to infection due to hunger or self-consumption of zombie corpses, a phenomenon restricted to a few cases. However, that wasn¡¯t to say it didn¡¯t exist at all, and one such Beast was hiding in this power plant. ¡°Krrrr...¡± With a low growl, a large dog slowly emerged from the darkness. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was the size of a person, with almost no remaining brown fur, tough muscles visible under decaying skin, and a face resembling a bulldog despite its decay. Aiden glared at the Beast and quickly guessed its breed. Maybe... A Mastiff-type fierce dog. Mastiffs are a strong dog breed that was used as a fighting dog even in the ancient Roman Empire. As zombification progressed, they became more vicious and cruel, making them a much more dangerous enemy than ordinary zombies, even dogs. Aiden quickly turned his gun in that direction. ¡°Kwung!¡± But the first to move was the Beast. It stared at the shotgun¡¯s barrel pointing towards it, then surprisingly, swiftly slipped into the gaps between the zombies. ¡°Tsk...!¡± Aiden clicked his tongue at the sight. Beasts or mutants usually lacked reason, but some beings were intelligent. Unlike the zombie hordes driven by madness and appetite, this Beast, despite its twisted nature, somewhat understood the use of the tool called a gun. Moreover, facing such opponents was several times more troublesome than dealing with regular zombies. They wouldn¡¯t easily fall into clumsy traps and, in some cases, could even counter with unexpected cunning. Above all, the fact that they didn¡¯t move according to the plan was a larger obstacle than any physical difference. As evidence, the Beast didn¡¯t easily enter Aiden¡¯s shooting range. Nothing could be seen, only the sound of the Beast¡¯s footsteps reached their ears. Darkness hung over them, and the zombies gathered. And the structures around them formed barricades on all sides. The Beast was circling the area cautiously. ¡°...¡± Was it waiting for an opportunity rather than launching a direct attack? Aiden quickly saw through its intentions, but he couldn¡¯t just stay on guard. If he remained still, the zombies would sooner or later bite into him. Therefore, Aiden had no choice but to face the zombies first. Ultimately, the opportunity the Beast was waiting for arrived soon. In the midst of holding off other zombies, Aiden¡¯s shotgun, which had been scattering buckshot, finally ran out of ammunition. Aiden stepped back slightly, separating the magazine under the shotgun. He threw it on the ground and pulled out a new magazine from his pocket. His movements were fast and precise. Aiden was so well-practiced that the quick reload was not just sufficient but almost overflowing. So, even though several seconds passed, the time consumed wasn¡¯t much. ¡°Kwung!¡± At that moment, the Beast was already charging forward. The Beast, flying like an arrow through the darkness, swiftly approached Aiden. This was the moment the Beast had been targeting. The reason was unknown. But when the small ornament under its fiery stick fell off, it couldn¡¯t attack. This ferocious creature had only a basic understanding of guns. It had used its shallow intelligence to prey on countless humans, devouring their meat. And now, even as its body decayed, the robust creature¡¯s jaw was about to claim another victim. However, just before it could reach Aiden... ¡°-!¡± Another figure jumped out from behind him. It was a small human, wielding a machete in one hand, who had been with the prey holding the gun. The Beast understood the danger of guns. Therefore, the Beast considered small creatures holding shiny sticks behind it as unimportant. Until now, the Beast had never felt threatened by a human who didn¡¯t carry a gun. But that was a clear miscalculation. If the Beast¡¯s intelligence were slightly higher, it might have sensed the discomfort emanating from the small girl fighting alongside a zombie holding a gun. However, the Beast, remaining at an animal¡¯s level, couldn¡¯t perceive that discomfort. It didn¡¯t realize that the girl with the machete, who was barely holding her own next to a zombie with a gun, posed a threat. Nevertheless, just before the creature could reach Aiden... Clang! Gagagak! The sharp teeth of the Beast clashed with the swiftly flying machete in mid-air. The sound of scraping metal resonated as the creature, which had dashed in confidently, was promptly repelled. In the meantime, Aiden, who had changed the magazine, pushed back the zombies with his shotgun and opened his mouth. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. But... it got grazed. It¡¯s probably not dead yet.¡± Arian frowned as she spoke. Her words were accurate. The Beast¡¯s teeth were unusually sturdy. As a result, when the machete scraped against its teeth and slid off to the side, it left a large wound from its face to the back leg. But even so, it was undoubtedly a significant injury. Once, it had cut through the thick skin of a Bigfoot, and now it had sliced through the Beast¡¯s ribcage, spilling its innards. Aiden noticed the traces of the rotten innards and stepped in that direction. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of this.¡± ¡°How? What are you going to do?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll finish it.¡± The Beast had intelligence. So, Aiden predicted that the creature wouldn¡¯t attack further and would likely choose to escape. Such cunning creatures shouldn¡¯t be allowed to live. Thud! Aiden swung the butt of his shotgun at a zombie blocking his path. With the retreat of the Beast and the decreasing number of zombies, Arian should be able to handle it alone. Judging so, Aiden relied on the light attached to the end of the shotgun and walked forward. The path he needed to take was clear. The pieces of the Beast¡¯s torn belly were scattered along the way, acting as his guide. Thus, piercing through the darkness, he followed the filthy traces. Zombies blocked his path from time to time, but they didn¡¯t try to bite him, who was giving off the same rotten smell. The wide corridor gradually narrowed, and at the end, a door leading to a small office came into view. Was this the den where the Beast had been staying in this dark underground space? Aiden solidified his stance and entered. ¡°Krrrrrr...¡± The Beast was there. However, its injuries were more severe than Aiden had anticipated. The front left leg, which Arian¡¯s blade had passed through, was bent backward, and the hind leg was about to fall off. Therefore, the Beast wasn¡¯t able to stand properly, yet it didn¡¯t retreat any further, perhaps realizing it had no place left to escape. ¡°...¡± Aiden, standing in front of it, simply aimed his gun. At that moment, the Beast leaped, and a fierce gunshot followed. The conclusion of the futile pursuit was the end of it. The headless body of the Beast fell to the ground. No matter how zombified the creature was, it was an obvious death. Having confirmed this, Aiden attempted to turn away. However, suddenly, something caught his eye. Something that the Beast had been sitting on glowed, reflecting the light of the flashlight. Aiden approached and picked it up. Its identity was a leather strap with a severed metal plate. Unlike the leather, the attached metal plate was clean, as if something had been licking it periodically. Engraved clearly on the clean metal plate were the three letters: Rex. ¡°Rex... that was its name.¡± Aiden placed it on the carcass of the dead dog. Then, without saying a word, he left the small room and closed the wide-open door. Only silence and darkness descended on the room now that the intruder had finally disappeared. * * * ¡°Are you done?¡± As Aiden returned to the ladder where the battle had taken place, Arian asked. Aiden nodded calmly, surveying the surroundings. ¡°It looks like things are settled here too.¡± The number of scattered zombies nearby exceeded thirty. An absurdly large number for being trapped in this lightless underground. However, considering the entrance was in the form of a ladder leading up, it wasn¡¯t surprising. It had entered like rain pouring in, but it couldn¡¯t climb back up, remaining trapped in this dark underground. ¡°There seem to be a few left, but not too many.¡± ¡°We can deal with them as we go. Which way?¡± Arian pointed to the opposite direction of where Aiden had returned. Aiden glanced in that direction, and suddenly, Diana, who had descended under the ladder, spoke. ¡°Now we can go find the treasure.¡± At her words, Aiden recalled the purpose of coming here. There was undoubtedly a weapons storage. At that moment, Diana, looking at the bruises on Arian¡¯s body, spoke. ¡°Arian, are you hurt?¡± ¡°Huh? Oh, this is nothing. It¡¯s not a big deal.¡± ¡°Not a big deal...¡± Diana mumbled with a complex expression. Even a minor injury from a zombie could be fatal. So, she seemed concerned about Arian¡¯s wound, but Arian had nothing to worry about in that regard. ¡°Just wait a bit.¡± Even so, Diana took out a bandage and wrapped it around the injured area. She had seemed quite friendly, having saved Arian¡¯s life yesterday. Aiden looked around. Though buried in darkness, this underground facility was quite large. The traces of gangs lingering here were still vivid. It seemed that there had been almost no one entering and leaving this place during that time. If that was the case... Maybe, besides weapons, there could be other gains. Judging so, Aiden looked at Arian and asked. ¡°Do you sense anything other than weapons?¡± ¡°Something else?¡± ¡°Yeah, for example... the smell of chemicals or something.¡± At his question, Arian, who had wrapped one arm with a bandage, nodded. ¡°Yeah, it feels like there¡¯s something similar nearby.¡± ¡°Is that so...?¡± ¡°Yeah. The smell of gunpowder is coming from somewhere close.¡± Perfect timing. Thinking so, Aiden resumed his move. Even though zombies appeared sporadically, as Arian had said, their numbers weren¡¯t that great. Thus, they safely reached the armory. ¡°This is...¡± ¡°Wow! It¡¯s more incredible than I thought!¡± As Aiden¡¯s words trailed off, Diana exclaimed in awe. One room was filled with various weapons. Chapter 16 ¡°This is a big harvest.¡± Aiden muttered as he examined the weapons. Perhaps the gang that stayed here was quite large. In addition to basic firearms such as rifles and pistols, there were even rare firearms like anti-materiel sniper rifles. Consumables like ammunition and grenades were abundant, and among them, there were even military-grade claymores. Considering this amount, even if the three of them took their fair share, it was questionable whether they could carry it all. Moreover, since it had been quietly abandoned underground, the condition of the weapons was decent. There were hardly any signs of disturbance. After the gang was wiped out, no one had entered this place. ¡°Let¡¯s each take the weapons we want. Should be fine, right?¡± Aiden asked. At this level, there was no need for complicated calculations on how to divide the discovered weapons. Upon hearing this, Arian looked at Diana, and Diana nodded soon after. ¡°Sure, let¡¯s do that. Oh, by the way, can you come with us tomorrow too?¡± ¡°Not a problem.¡± The weapons stored here weren¡¯t something that even the three present could carry all at once. If they scraped up all the minor items like bullets, Aiden estimated they would need to come at least two or three more times. So, from Aiden¡¯s perspective, being invited back to this treasure trove one more time was undoubtedly a welcome invitation. ¡°All right. I¡¯ll be checking out the weapons. Oh? Arian, what are you doing over there?¡± Diana spoke as she was about to enter the weapon selection area, looking at Arian. ¡°What else? Finding a weapon.¡± Meanwhile, Arian was examining a blade from that side. With so many guns and firearms available, she was oddly interested in cold weapons. It was something Aiden couldn¡¯t understand. And Diana felt the same way. ¡°There¡¯s nothing here but knives.¡± ¡°I¡¯m good with just a knife.¡± Watching them for a moment, Aiden soon left the armory and headed for the adjacent room, which was securely closed. This was the room Arian mentioned, where the smell of chemicals lingered. Aiden turned the doorknob. Click- The door was indeed locked. But it was nothing more than a wooden door, not seemingly strong against impacts. In that case... Bang! Aiden kicked the door without hesitation. In response, the latch of the door broke with a cracking sound, and the door fell flat on the ground. Despite the loud noise, the gazes of the two in the armory turned this way, but Aiden waved to them as if nothing had happened. He then crossed the broken door and entered the adjacent room. ¡°As expected...¡± Aiden, who had surveyed the interior, nodded. There were some clothes, plastic containers, and even a small glass bottle containing an unidentified liquid. At first glance, the room seemed filled with miscellaneous items. However, Aiden quickly found valuable items among them. Hydrogen peroxide used as a disinfectant, clean bandages, and an unused water purifier filter. These weren¡¯t items that Aiden would personally use much, but they were goods with considerable trading value. In addition to that, there were many other useful items. The treasure trove wasn¡¯t just one. Aiden returned to the armory and informed Diana that these items were available. He also joined the process of selecting weapons. It took them another 30 minutes to gather the items they needed and leave the armory. * * * And a few hours later. ¡°Haa... Huff...¡± Diana, who had safely returned to the hideout, breathed heavily. The bag she was carrying seemed about to burst with various bullets and firearms. On top of that, there were three rifles of different kinds, and her waist was full of attached magazines. Having walked for hours with such a heavy load, even Diana, accustomed to this world, found it hard to breathe. ¡°Isn¡¯t it too much to carry?¡± Aiden said, looking at Diana like that. In that state, it wouldn¡¯t be easy for her to escape if something happened. However, Diana replied with a bitter smile. ¡°I think I have less luggage than you or Clifford.¡± ¡°She¡¯s not a normal human, but a vampire. Comparing a human to loading goods onto a wagon is no different. She¡¯s not the standard to compare.¡± Arian turned a pointed gaze towards Aiden, who compared her to a wagon. Diana continued. ¡°Even so, it seems more efficient for me to carry more. After all, I¡¯m not going to fight anyway.¡± Her words weren¡¯t wrong. Since the returning route was already known and relatively safe, considering only ordinary threats, leaving the combat to Arian and Aiden while Diana focused on transport made sense. ¡°...¡± However, Aiden, even at her words, only let out a reluctant sigh. It¡¯s good to consider efficiency. However, even so, isn¡¯t it necessary to be prepared for unforeseen circumstances? Aiden thought so, but he didn¡¯t explicitly say it. In the end, there was no definitive answer. In this ruined world, there is not just one way to survive. Living in this world sometimes requires considering efficiency and prioritizing safety. Which one is right depends on results, not theory. In other words, unless you know the future, it will ultimately be a story of results. From that perspective... at this moment when Diana safely returned to the hideout, it could be considered that Diana¡¯s choice was already proven right. So, Aiden remained silent, and a strange silence lingered for a moment. Then. ¡°You all are back.¡± Rebecca, who felt their presence inside the hideout, opened the door. She looked at the three, including Diana, and her eyes widened as she saw the load they brought. ¡°It seems like you had a good harvest.¡± ¡°Not that much. Take a look at this.¡± Diana carefully put down the bag she was carrying on her back and excitedly showed the contents, boasting about today¡¯s gains. Rebecca watched with a pleased expression. ¡°Also, we brought disinfectant and a water filter. With these, we don¡¯t have to worry about drinking water for a while. Oh... and by the way, how about the food?¡± Suddenly feeling hungry, Diana asked. Although it was early in the morning when they left, they hadn¡¯t eaten anything all day because of going to the power plant. Rebecca smiled confidently. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I also had a harvest.¡± ¡°Oh? Did you find a box of canned goods?¡± ¡°Something even better than that.¡± ¡°Oh... What is it?¡± Rebecca¡¯s self-assured gaze made Diana, and Arian, who was quietly listening to their conversation, curious. Rebecca looked at them playfully, then turned her gaze to Aiden. ¡°By the way, are you coming tomorrow too?¡± Rebecca asked. She had heard about tomorrow¡¯s plans from Diana. Aiden nodded. ¡°Yes, there are still plenty of resources.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fortunate. Well... I have a suggestion.¡± ¡°A suggestion?¡± ¡°How about having dinner together?¡± It was an unexpected proposal. It was a suggestion that Aiden had never received since the time he became a zombie. So, Aiden tried to refuse. ¡°There¡¯s no need for that-¡° ¡°Yes, there is. I have something I want to ask you, and, more importantly, the food we found today doesn¡¯t have a good shelf life. We need to eat it quickly, but there¡¯s quite a lot.¡± It was a strange answer. How could food with such a bad shelf life still exist in this world? ¡°What did you find to talk like that?¡± Before Rebecca could answer that question, something jumped out from behind the open door. Brown fur that clearly wasn¡¯t from a human. In that appearance, Aiden, who recalled the Beast he saw earlier, reached for his gun but soon confirmed its identity and let out a dry laugh. It was a severed deer head, as if it had just been butchered and only the blood had been drained. ¡°Deer!¡± Proudly lifting it with both hands as if it were a trophy, Sadie showed it to Aiden and the others. ¡°...It seems its shelf life isn¡¯t that great.¡± Watching that scene, Aiden finally understood. * * * The hideout where Rebecca and her group were staying was safe but narrow. The first floor, with doors, was mostly used as a warehouse for weapons and necessities. The living space, the basement, only had enough space to lie down. In short, their hideout wasn¡¯t a suitable place for butchering deer or cooking the butchered deer. Therefore, Sadie, including Rebecca¡¯s group, was leaving the current hideout and moving to another place. Their destination was a 4-story building about a 3-minute walk away in the same shopping district. Behind them, Aiden, who silently followed them, looked up at the building that soon came into view. ¡°Here...¡± This place wasn¡¯t unfamiliar to Aiden either. The building¡¯s top floor, the 4th floor, had a large hole in the ceiling caused by something, making it look like a building with a big opening. However, the remaining structure of the building was relatively sturdy, so there was no danger of collapsing on its own. Moreover, the entrance was difficult for zombies to flow in because someone had set up a barricade. Compared to that, the inside was full of holes, and visibility wasn¡¯t blocked. For this reason, Aiden had used this building as a temporary shelter a couple of times. However, he always stayed on the 1st floor; there was no reason to go up. But Rebecca¡¯s group, who had arrived, went up to the top floor, the 4th floor. What Aiden saw when he followed them and arrived at the 4th floor... was a surprising scene. ¡°...Are they camping here?¡± What was scattered there were indeed several camping items, just as he said. Tents, sleeping bags, and even a barbecue grill. Although not many, they had everything they needed. Rebecca opened her mouth, watching her daughter enthusiastically run towards the small camping site. ¡°When we first came here, there were sleeping bags and tents.¡± That wasn¡¯t particularly strange. This place was quite safe, enough for Aiden to stay, so it was possible that someone else used this place temporarily, leaving behind items like sleeping bags and tents. ¡°So?¡± ¡°So, I thought it would be perfect if we had a grill here. Actually, this isn¡¯t the first time I¡¯ve hunted.¡± Rebecca subtly boasted about her achievements. Since coming to this place, she had occasionally hunted deer and wild boars that accidentally entered the city, sometimes going into the woods to catch wild animals. ¡°Ha...!¡± Aiden let out a dry laugh. Indeed, with the collapsed ceiling, it was a perfect place for grilling the hunted meat. Moreover, flames wouldn¡¯t be visible from the ground due to the walls, and on the 4th floor, zombies wouldn¡¯t easily gather just by the smell. ¡°Hunting is one thing, but I didn¡¯t know you could butcher. It must have been difficult to move as well.¡± Aiden said as he looked at the deer hanging upside down in the corner of the building. It was a white-tailed deer, weighing around 50 kg, which Rebecca had brought today. Was it in the process of draining the blood? Rebecca shrugged and answered: ¡°I learned. How to butcher and how to move. Surprisingly, it¡¯s not that difficult.¡± Rebecca approached the deer and checked the amount of blood flowing down. This should be... enough. Rebecca made that judgment and took out a knife next to the grill. ¡°Well, I guess we should start. You just wait. Diana, Miss Clifford, can you help me?¡± ¡°...¡± S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At Rebecca¡¯s words, Aiden silently stepped back. He might help with other tasks, but as a zombie, he had no place interfering in the preparation of food. So, Aiden went to the window with a view of the outside. Under the sky preparing for the sunset, the quiet scenery of the city spread out. There, Aiden took out one of the big sniper rifles he had brought today. It was a standardized U.S. Army anti-materiel sniper rifle, capable of sniping enemies beyond the kilometer range. It also had the advantage of being able to use armor-piercing ammunition, and it was equipped with not only a regular scope but also a thermal imaging scope and night vision scope, making it usable even at midnight as long as power issues were resolved. Aiden took out the sniper rifle and attached the scope, then aimed it outside. Beyond the clean window, zombies roaming far away came into view. Then he checked the night vision scope. ¡°...Looks good.¡± It seemed to be working fine as well. At this level, the condition of the weapon could indeed be considered more than sufficient. Aiden monitored the threats around the building like that. ¡°Yeah, pull it over there.¡± Meanwhile, Rebecca¡¯s group diligently worked on butchering the deer. First, they cleanly stripped the deer¡¯s skin from the hind legs. The deer, with only red flesh left after stripping off the skin, was then dissected by Rebecca into appropriate pieces. Arian¡¯s job was to cut through the tough joints. Rebecca expressed her surprise at the spectacle of sturdy bones being cut like cheese but found it more convenient and praised Arian. Diana also joined in and observed the interesting sight of the deer being butchered. Under Rebecca¡¯s skilled guidance, it took less than an hour for them to finish butchering the deer. And a little later. Chiiing! With a cheerful sound, deer steaks were grilling on the grill. At that sound, Diana, Sadie, and even Arian, who had only eaten canned food since coming here, swallowed their saliva. Although there were hardly any vegetables or other food, even with just a side of easily preservable salt, pepper, and the usually neglected canned corn, the meal couldn¡¯t have been more delicious. ¡°Oh...¡± Once the deer steak was completed, each plate was presented. Then Sadie, holding one with both hands, handed it to Aiden. ¡°Enjoy!¡± ¡°...Thank you.¡± The child who handed the food ran back to sit next to Diana with excitement. Aiden cut a piece of steak and put it in his mouth. The texture was quite tender. At that moment, Rebecca approached him. ¡°How is it?¡± Isn¡¯t it delicious? There was a strange conviction in Rebecca¡¯s question. Unfortunately, Aiden couldn¡¯t provide a satisfying answer to that question. His zombie tongue had lost its ability to taste long ago. ¡°Sorry, but I can¡¯t taste it.¡± ¡°Oh, really? I¡¯m sorry.¡± Rebecca apologized with a bitter expression. Aiden nodded slightly and shifted the topic. ¡°I heard you wanted to ask something.¡± ¡°Oh... yes.¡± Rebecca, who was slightly excited, became calm again. She then spoke to Aiden with a serious attitude. ¡°I want to know about the information outside this city.¡± ¡°Outside the city?¡± ¡°In fact, we are soon... planning to leave Pittsburgh.¡± At the unexpected words, Aiden looked at her. Rebecca¡¯s eyes were still calmly directed at Aiden. Chapter 17 ¡°Are you leaving this place?¡± ¡°Yes. Of course, not immediately. We need to gather more necessities and make preparations.¡± ¡°Do you have a destination?¡± ¡°...LA.¡± Aiden let out a short sigh. Aiden quickly realized why Rebecca mentioned the name of the distant city, LA, so unexpectedly. ¡°Did you hear that radio broadcast?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°It¡¯s uncertain and a dangerous journey.¡± ¡°I know. But... there¡¯s no other choice. I can¡¯t stay here, especially for Sadie.¡± Rebecca had already conveyed to Aiden that she had been considering leaving this place for a long time. For the sake of her daughter, she wanted to join a large group. Even if something happened to Rebecca, she wanted to provide her daughter with someone to rely on. However, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to join the gangs that made a living through looting and fighting. So, while living with Diana, whom she had met by chance, Rebecca learned about a large group of survivors in LA. There, many people were living as if it were a city from the past, and they were still gathering other survivors through radio broadcasts. For Rebecca, it was an ideal place. However, there hadn¡¯t been an opportunity to go there until now. The child was sick, there was no medicine, and resources were scarce. But now, it was different. The child had recovered, there was enough medicine, and resources... with the weapons storeroom discovered today, they could cover a significant part. Above all, Rebecca had gained a reliable companion, Arian, who was more robust than others recently. For her, it was an opportunity that couldn¡¯t be missed. ¡°...¡± In response to Rebecca¡¯s words, Aiden remained silent. In his heart, he wanted to dissuade her. The journey to LA was undeniably too dangerous to even consider. However, Rebecca¡¯s concern for Sadie itself was very rational. If one considered not tomorrow but a year or three years from now... Staying here couldn¡¯t necessarily be the only right answer. As she worried, Pittsburgh was a place with nothing but moving corpses. Considering the child¡¯s future... there might be no other choice. With such thoughts, Aiden, without saying anything else, provided the only answer to her question. ¡°Even if it¡¯s me, the farthest west I¡¯ve been is Cincinnati. It¡¯s not much different from here; gangs, fanatics, and a few survivors are struggling to survive.¡± Aiden was one of the most active junk dealers around Pittsburgh. But even he had only briefly visited Cincinnati, which was 450 km away from Pittsburgh, a year ago. There was no need to go beyond that. Now, this world was such a place. ¡°If that¡¯s all... I can recommend the safest route I¡¯ve heard of. It¡¯s information from a year ago, but if it doesn¡¯t matter, I can tell you.¡± Rebecca smiled at Aiden¡¯s words. ¡°Thank you.¡± At that moment, Diana approached from the side. She held a skewer in one hand and was smiling brightly. ¡°Rebecca! This is incredibly delicious.¡± ¡°Really? That¡¯s a relief. You all worked hard.¡± Rebecca said, recalling the luggage they had brought. Diana clapped her hands. ¡°I didn¡¯t do much. Arian and... junk dealer did a great job. They fought really well. Rebecca, you should have seen it.¡± While saying that, Diana recounted the story of what happened at the power plant. Meanwhile, Arian, who had been playing with Sadie, approached this way. Aiden asked, looking at Arian. ¡°But are you okay?¡± ¡°Me? Why?¡± ¡°You probably spent quite a bit of blood in today¡¯s battle.¡± Rebecca, who was supporting Diana, turned her head at Aiden¡¯s words. She already knew the source of Arian¡¯s mysterious strength ¨C the fact that Arian had revealed when he joined them. ¡°Ah, right. I mentioned that. If you need blood now, please let me know. It won¡¯t be a lot, but...¡± Rebecca, who was trying to find a syringe immediately, was interrupted by Arian shaking his head. ¡°It¡¯s okay. You gave me yesterday. I can endure it now. Besides, since we brought weapons like that, getting blood won¡¯t be difficult.¡± That was true. If they traded through the Merchant Cooperative Association, Arian could obtain the blood she needed right away. So... Smirking, Diana asked a question related to the blood discussion. ¡°Speaking of blood. Arian, do you become stronger if you have more blood?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Wow...¡± ¡°If my power is fire, blood is oil. It consumes blood quickly, but if you detonate a sufficient amount at once, things like zombie mutants are nothing.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Diana said with wide eyes. Unconsciously, she was accepting Arian¡¯s words without a hint of doubt. Arian, who was elated, continued speaking. ¡°Well! I¡¯m a vampire connected to the blood of the primordial.¡± Aiden, who was watching her with a sardonic smile, turned his gaze to the sky. The reddened sky signaled the approaching evening. It was time to go. ¡°It¡¯s getting late. I¡¯ll go back¡± As he stood up, preparing to leave, Sadie, who had been quietly watching the sunset among the chattering adults, pointed to the sky. ¡°Hey, there¡¯s something strange over there!¡± Aiden¡¯s gaze instinctively followed that direction. What entered his sight was a red smoke rising in the distant sky. It was faintly visible due to the considerable distance, but Aiden recognized it immediately, and his brow furrowed. ¡°...That¡¯s a signal flare.¡± As Aiden said this in a low voice, sensing something unusual, Rebecca turned to look at him. ¡°A signal flare?¡± ¡°It¡¯s what the cooperative association guys use. Something must have happened.¡± It was one of the signals established by the Merchant Cooperative Association. Among them, the red color was the most urgent summons, sent to members and friends in the face of the most critical mobilization. Actually seeing that signal was a first even for Aiden. Upon this, Aiden warned Rebecca¡¯s group. ¡°You should wrap things up and head in too. It doesn¡¯t seem like a good situation.¡± ¡°...Alright.¡± That was the end of their conversation. Without heeding Aiden¡¯s warning, Rebecca immediately prepared to return. Meanwhile, Aiden quickly descended from the building and got on his motorcycle. Vroom! With the low engine sound, the old motorcycle ridden by Aiden, accompanied by zombies, headed south. * * * ¡°Hmm...¡± Arriving at the front of the Merchant Cooperative Association¡¯s barrier, Aiden let out a sigh. Even from a distance, the abnormality of the cooperative association¡¯s alert could be confirmed. More than anything, the barrier, which should normally be tightly closed and guarding the outside, was wide open. And inside, dozens of people were moving busily. ¡°...¡± Although there were some people standing guard, even those unnamed guards didn¡¯t exude the usual sharpness. Their constant wandering made them look more anxious than reassuring. Right at the moment when Aiden was about to ask one of the guards about it. ¡°Aiden!¡± Anders¡¯ shout came from inside the barrier as he spotted Aiden. Aiden approached Anders. Although he entered the barrier holding a weapon as if it were nothing, there was no one to stop him. ¡°What¡¯s all this about?¡± ¡°You came right on time. Come this way for now.¡± Anders led Aiden into the crowded interior. Most members were moving their belongings as if they were being chased by something. Aiden looked at those people and spoke. ¡°Is it a serious situation?¡± ¡°It¡¯s worse than that. Something happened in the south, just as you feared.¡± Anders and Aiden went into a large tent. Where there used to be a spread-out map, now only empty tables remained. ¡°To cut to the chase, a zombie horde has been spotted in the south.¡± A zombie horde was one of the biggest threats that could be encountered in forests, mountains, wastelands, and the like. Usually, between 30 and several hundred zombies would form a pack, roaming together. For scavengers like Aiden who only moved through sparsely populated areas, they were as dangerous as mutants. However, Aiden smirked at that statement. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we be able to handle a horde?¡± The danger of a horde was a term that applied only to individuals like junk dealers. Compared to that, the Merchant Cooperative Association, while engaged in commercial activities, was essentially a large armed group numbering in the hundreds. Even compared to a zombie horde, it wasn¡¯t overwhelmingly outnumbered. Moreover, armed with rifles and fortifying their base, if they defended from inside, it wouldn¡¯t be a huge challenge. However, Anders shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s not an ordinary horde. Look at this.¡± Anders spread several photos on the table. Aiden picked up one and examined it closely. It was a picture taken from a high point, capturing a small village adjacent to a river near some elevated building. ¡°...¡± Upon seeing this, Aiden furrowed his brow. The entire visible range within a few kilometers was filled with zombies. A number that couldn¡¯t be explained in the hundreds. ¡°How many are there?¡± ¡°Two thousand. That¡¯s just an approximate count. The actual number is probably... at least twice that.¡± ¡°...¡± It was an unbelievable figure. Not just two or three times the usual horde, but a number exceeding ten times. Aiden, with a furrowed brow, remained silent for a moment. Anders, who sighed briefly, spoke. ¡°There¡¯s something even more serious. Mutants have been found within the horde. And not just one or two types.¡± Anders threw more photos onto the table. Among them were mutants with appearances clearly different from ordinary zombies. ¡°...¡± This was also an unthinkable situation. Among mutants, there were not a few that preyed on their own kind, and to see such creatures moving together with ordinary zombies was like deer and lions migrating together. ¡°This is strange. Is something controlling the mutants?¡± It was an absurd assumption, but a reasonable one. After all, what was the reason Aiden asked for reconnaissance in the south in the first place? Wasn¡¯t it the investigation that started because the two mutants, Trapper and Bigfoot, were facing in that direction? And now, there was a zombie horde mixed with mutants right there. In this situation, the only plausible explanation was that something was gathering the mutants by itself. ¡°Probably. Otherwise, it doesn¡¯t make sense, does it?¡± ¡°Where are they?¡± ¡°They passed Uniontown yesterday. And they¡¯re heading straight for Pittsburgh. They¡¯ll probably arrive by tonight.¡± ¡°Tonight...¡± If Uniontown was less than 70 km away from here, the imminent threat was causing Aiden¡¯s mind to spin. ¡°Then, what happened to Morgantown?¡± It wasn¡¯t a place Aiden had much interaction with due to its rather exclusive nature. But Morgantown, even further south than Uniontown, served as a massive base for the gang of Pittsburgh, equivalent to combining all the gangs in Pittsburgh. If the horde had come from the south and passed Uniontown, Morgantown must have already been bypassed. Then, how did they cope with the horde? ¡°They swallowed it up in one night. Uniontown couldn¡¯t last half a day. It¡¯s almost impossible to expect any survivors on either side. Do you know what that means?¡± But despite Aiden¡¯s concerns, the answer that came out of Anders¡¯ mouth was that they couldn¡¯t cope with it. So the conclusion was obvious. ¡°We have to give up on Pittsburgh.¡± Anders affirmed in the silence. Upon this, Aiden finally realized what Anders¡¯ subordinates outside were doing. They were all working hard, loading something onto vehicles. They were all preparing to evacuate. ¡°Did the scouts who went south know about this?¡± ¡°Yeah. Just in case, I sent twelve of them, and only three came back. And they came back with these damn pictures.¡± Tsk, Anders clicked his tongue. He said it nonchalantly, but among the nine who didn¡¯t return, there wasn¡¯t a single person Anders didn¡¯t recognize. Understanding this, Aiden lowered his head in a short expression of mourning and spoke. ¡°Will the evacuation be able to match the time?¡± ¡°It¡¯ll be tight, but we¡¯re almost done. The reconnaissance team will depart in ten minutes, and everyone here will leave within an hour.¡± ¡°But you can¡¯t take everything here with you?¡± ¡°That... can¡¯t be helped.¡± Quietly watching Anders say that, Aiden glared at him. To him, or rather to Anders¡¯ cooperative association, the resources here were not just raw materials. The resources stacked in this warehouse were the capital of a merchant. Without these resources, his association could no longer do business, and if they couldn¡¯t do business, they would inevitably return to being a gang that repeated plunder and combat. Knowing this well, Anders still said they were giving up on these resources. ¡°It will be a significant loss, as you say. But... what can we do? We have to start over. Don¡¯t worry. As long as we have them, we can easily recover.¡± Pointing to the members, Anders spoke. Contrary to Aiden¡¯s worries, there was no sense of despair in him. ¡°More than that, Aiden, what about you? What if you move with us?¡± Aiden shook his head in response to the proposal. If the massive horde arrives in Pittsburgh as Anders said, Aiden had to inform the small group of survivors he was with just a while ago. It wasn¡¯t just a matter of goodwill. Not being able to perform tomorrow¡¯s request meant that explaining the situation before and after was an obvious obligation for a junk dealer. ¡°No, I have somewhere to go.¡± ¡°Really? Alright. Then-¡° Just as Anders was about to express his farewell. BOOM! A loud explosion sounded from somewhere. Both Aiden and Anders simultaneously turned their gazes in that direction. There, black smoke rose dramatically over the heavily crumpled barrier. ¡°What the hell is that?¡± sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°It¡¯s an attack!¡± In response to the sudden event, Anders expressed his annoyance, and from the barrier, someone among the members answered the question. An attack. At that word, Anders¡¯ expression hardened. Could it be that the zombie horde had already arrived? Anders rushed towards the barrier. Aiden followed suit. There, Anders stood on the barrier, and the identity of the invaders became clear. Fortunately, they weren¡¯t zombies. Unfortunately, the tattered black flags fluttering in front of the foremost vehicle were already known to him. ¡°These bastards...!¡± It was the emblem of the Snuff Gang. With the appearance of the torn black cloth on the vehicle and people pouring out from behind the warehouse through the forest, the attack had begun. Chapter 18 Immediately, a loud gunfire echoed. Bullets flew at an unseen speed, hitting the barrier and bouncing off, embedding into the ground. Watching the projectiles narrowly miss him, Anders started shouting frantically. ¡°Stop what you¡¯re doing and grab your guns!¡± ¡°It¡¯s Snuff! They¡¯re Snuff bastards!¡± ¡°Close the barrier!¡± In response to these shouts, other executives of the association also reacted. Even in the sudden chaos, they tried to command their subordinates, providing necessary orders. However, the enemies didn¡¯t stop. Another explosion rang out over the barrier¡¯s door, which had not been fully closed after being wide open. Fortunately, no one was swept away, but the location wasn¡¯t favorable. The explosion caused the door of the barrier to deform significantly, leaving it unable to close. Repairing it would be quick, but facing the enemy with it right in front of them was not an option. ¡°Shit...¡± With a deeply distorted face, Anders extended the muzzle of his gun towards the outside. A short exhale calmed his trembling hand. Then, Anders emerged from the forest and aimed at motorcycles and vehicles racing across the open field. Bang! Bang! Dry gunshots pierced through the driver of the motorcycle that was furthest ahead. The vehicle running beside it was Aiden¡¯s responsibility. The Snuff gang¡¯s vehicles weren¡¯t ordinary. They reinforced the driver¡¯s seat on all sides with steel plates, making them resemble makeshift armored vehicles. However, Aiden aimed his gun without hesitation in that direction. In his hand was a new rifle he had obtained from the power plant earlier today. A German-made assault rifle with a black and angular exterior. When Aiden pressed the trigger firmly, the 5.56mm high-velocity bullets tore through the slightly exposed glass window, unceremoniously sweeping through. The truck, now without a driver, sharply turned its direction and came to a stop in its tracks. ¡°Get away from the door! Those left, climb up to the barrier!¡± While continuing to target the next, Anders gave orders aloud. Meanwhile, even in the chaos, the armed members responded to his instructions, and a few survivors who had come to invade were swept away by the pouring gunfire as they tried to enter the breached gate. Once a minimum defensive posture was established, the Snuff gang seemed to have judged the ambush had failed. Several cars and motorcycles that were coming straight at them turned around. At that moment, just as they seemed to be returning to the forest, the main force of the enemy finally appeared. ¡°What... are those guys...!¡± From somewhere hidden in the forest, about 30 vehicles of various colors, revealed themselves. Among them, two were military armored vehicles. Seeing that they had brought such precious items, it meant that the Snuff gang had come here with strong determination. Moreover, the rest of the vehicles were all covered with the same makeshift armor as the trucks seen a while ago. Although they wouldn¡¯t provide the same level of defense as armored vehicles, they could at least withstand rifle bullets. Those enemy vehicles stopped in a line, as if drawing a defensive line. With the cessation of the noisy gunfire, a strange standoff ensued. Anders frowned, as if puzzled by their actions. ¡°What the hell are those bastards trying to do now?¡± Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Anders¡¯ voice carried both anger and bewilderment. It was likely that those guys were well aware that a zombie horde of thousands was approaching this place. By now, that monstrous horde must have entered the southern forest, which was already within the Snuff gang¡¯s sphere of influence. However, instead of simply fleeing from the terrifying zombie horde, they had chosen to declare war by coming here? It was an extraordinarily innovative form of collective suicide. If the zombie horde was frightening, all they had to do was escape. Moreover, they, like Anders¡¯ association, had a considerable amount of resources to give up. ¡°But why the hell are they doing this shit here?¡± Anders couldn¡¯t comprehend the Snuff gang¡¯s behavior. However, Aiden calmly responded to Anders¡¯ dissatisfaction. ¡°They must have judged this to be the best option.¡± ¡°...What do you mean?¡± ¡°They can¡¯t leave that forest. You know why those scumbags were stuck in that forest, right?¡± Upon hearing this, Anders¡¯ expression hardened. Why the Snuff gang chose war instead of escape, it seemed like he had finally understood why. ¡°The Snuff gang made too many enemies.¡± Aiden¡¯s words were true. In other words, to conquer the forest from the outside, one had to be prepared for considerable bleeding. For this reason, the gangs in Pittsburgh considered Snuff as enemies but couldn¡¯t easily step into that forest. It was already a challenging world to live in. They couldn¡¯t afford such losses just to settle a grudge. However, the situation had changed now. The Snuff gang had been forced to give up the protection of the once-reliable forest. But for the Snuff gang, the entire Pittsburgh was like a hostile territory. Their enemies lurked without missing a spot even on the main roads leading to other cities. They had to flee somewhere, but there was nowhere to go. In other words, it was retribution for making too many enemies. ¡°So, rather than fleeing, they chose to seize a stronghold. They probably thought they could block the zombies using this barrier and resources.¡± ¡°Those idiots... Do they really think that will work?¡± Anders squinted. It was a blatant miscalculation. Even if the cooperative handed over this stronghold, it would be impossible to stop the zombie horde that had reached four thousand. If that happened, Anders wouldn¡¯t have stayed behind either. But the reason for such a miscalculation was too clear. ¡°They don¡¯t conduct reconnaissance beyond the forest. They probably just fled after seeing the zombie horde coming to the forest. Perhaps those idiots don¡¯t even know the proper number of the zombie horde, let alone the fact that mutants are mixed in.¡± ¡°Damn it...!¡± Anders cursed. In the end, foolish crazy guys were causing trouble for innocent people. From his perspective and that of his association, it was like receiving a punishment for the sins of those idiots. Why should they sacrifice themselves and their colleagues for the retribution of those bastards? There was no justice or fairness. ¡°Anyway, there¡¯s no time. If we get stuck here, there¡¯s no choice but to be wiped out.¡± Aiden continued his words. Anders was also facing the fact. ¡°But there¡¯s nothing we can do like this!¡± Anxious, Anders bit his lip. The fastest solution would be for the Merchant Cooperative to go out first and sweep away the Snuff gang, but that would cause too much loss of human life. For the cooperative, which had to gather personnel and resources and leave this place, it was an unacceptable loss. But waiting continuously was also impractical; time was too pressing. Even at this moment, the amount of resources that could be collected in time was decreasing. If those guys kept standing there, it was uncertain if they could even gather the minimum survival supplies. ¡°Michael, Emma, come here.¡± So, Anders temporarily mobilized a small number of members and gave separate instructions. With the intention of resuming the moving work, they would secretly withdraw a small advance party if possible. The members who received Anders¡¯ instructions nodded, and soon, they lowered the barrier and started the work. After a while. ¡°It¡¯s started.¡± In the standoff situation, Snuff moved first. Since time couldn¡¯t be considered in their favor, impatience had grown in a situation where they couldn¡¯t even receive protection from the barrier. Engines roared to life in vehicles armored with steel plates. Moreover, gang members on motorcycles next to them also raised shields without exception. Where they had found those items, from crude shields made by sticking together pieces of steel similar to those used by past policemen to makeshift items, it was unclear. Were they planning to advance while blocking bullets with those shields? Watching that, Anders let out a snort. Among the resources handled by the Merchant Cooperative, there were undoubtedly various weapons. And among them were anti-tank weapons that could penetrate even properly armored military vehicles. Using such shields, they had no advantage. ¡°They¡¯re coming!¡± Just as the engines that seemed to be boiling up echoed, the vehicles of the Snuff gang, which were hidden behind the trucks, accelerated in unison. A moving wall made of steel began to advance. ¡°Shoot! Kill them all!¡± At Anders¡¯ shout, the gunfire, which had been momentarily quiet, rang out again. The resumed battle was a full-scale confrontation between the two gangs. Perhaps because of that, the weapon revealed among them was not just rifles. Kudatadadadadada! The rough gunfire struck the barrier. The barrier shook as if it had experienced an earthquake due to the firepower that was on a different level from ordinary rifles. Startled, Anders found the cause. It was the action of a fixed heavy machine gun hidden behind the Snuff gang¡¯s truck. ¡°Ahh!¡± The gunfire erupted again, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. In front of the formidable firepower that could spray 600 rounds per minute of 12.7mm bullets up to a maximum range of 7 km, someone finally fell from behind the barrier with a scream. ¡°Shit!¡± Anders cursed while firing his rifle. The head of the man who was shooting the machine gun from the truck flew off immediately, but another gang member on the truck grabbed the machine gun again. However, the machine gun didn¡¯t fire again. Bang! In the next moment, Aiden¡¯s handheld anti-tank rocket hit the truck, exploding spectacularly. Gagagagak! Shrapnel from the exploded bullets hit the barrier and steel plates, scattering in all directions. The ongoing battle continued. Meanwhile, the damage to the Snuff gang was rapidly increasing. Most of the bullets pouring from inside the barrier were not ordinary but reinforced with armor-piercing rounds. Due to the enhanced penetrating power against the originally bulletproof vests, flimsy steel plates were easily penetrated. However, the Merchant Cooperative led by Anders was also not without concern. Perhaps they had calculated from the beginning that rifles alone couldn¡¯t penetrate the barrier. There wasn¡¯t a single ordinary rifle among the weapons held by the Snuff gang. They were armed with weapons that couldn¡¯t be blocked by the barrier alone, such as heavy machine guns, grenade launchers, grenades, and Molotov cocktails. Among them, the primary firepower was handled by the heavy machine guns. When the machine guns shook the barrier with a loud gunfire, the person behind it had no choice but to put their head out, willingly or unwillingly, and would end up having their head blown off. In between, throwers on motorcycles swiftly approached the barrier. Afterwards, they threw grenades and Molotov cocktails through the breached gate and over the barrier. It was a simple but effective method. When the machine guns shook the barrier, even Anders, who had thick nerves, couldn¡¯t easily stick his head out. Instead, some of the members who rashly exposed their upper bodies had their heads torn off by machine gun bullets. There was no one who didn¡¯t feel fear watching that, and that reasonable fear created a gap. ¡°...¡± Therefore, it was at most Aiden who calmly shot and killed the throwers. As if he didn¡¯t feel any fear, Aiden read the trajectory of the machine gun passing over the barrier and inserted the muzzle into the gap. Three out of five throwers collapsed in place with the ordinary gunfire. An abandoned motorcycle exploded with grenades, breaking into small pieces. But even so, some survived. The grenades and Molotov cocktails they threw exploded inside the barrier, setting it on fire. Explosions continued behind the defensive forces. This brought a frown to Anders¡¯ face. The destruction of vehicles and resources at a time when they had to leave this place urgently was a serious problem. Therefore, he made a decision. Although it was possible to reduce casualties by dealing with the situation calmly behind the barrier, he judged that delaying time now would be more harmful. ¡°Kill them! Pour it all out!¡± So, Anders shouted. He immediately shot a direct-fire rocket himself, blowing up one of Snuff gang¡¯s machine guns. Then, he quickly brought in a heavy machine gun and fired it at the enemies. Anders and the members, who had been cleverly responding by hiding behind the wall, quickly turned to an extreme offensive. In a moment, more than ten heavy machine guns were set up on the barrier, spewing out bullets. Members poured out of the wide gate. In the tactical approach that ignored the defense, a few members died immediately after the enemy¡¯s gunfire. For Anders, it was a painful sacrifice, but the effect was clear. In an instant, the guys who were swaying the battlefield like mosquitoes with motorcycles were all swept away. The machine gunners who protected them turned into beehives under the pouring bullets, and the vehicles that were advancing like a fortress exploded one after another. As a result, Boom! The last armored vehicle brought by the Snuff gang exploded. There were no more moving vehicles. Also, those who were riding in them turned into black ashes. In this situation, the man who had been observing the battle from the back, the boss of the Snuff gang, along with two other members, tried to escape on a motorcycle. Seeing them trying to escape, Anders let out a bitter laugh. Could it be that it was their intention from the beginning? Seeing the boss of the gang choosing to flee without hesitation, Anders could understand the reckless attack¡¯s true purpose. If successful, they could rebuild the gang centered around this stronghold. Even if it failed, he could escape alone without the troublesome members. If only three people escaped without any members, it was quite possible for them to escape the city safely. No matter how crazy a group they were, it was an extremely cunning and despicable tactic to sell out even their own colleagues. So, while Anders was making a fierce expression, Aiden aimed at the back of those trying to escape. A transparent circular sight captured three figures. Then, with an interval of about a second, dry gunshots rang out three times. As a result, the small heads of the three people several hundred meters away tilted one after another, and they soon fell to the ground as if they were tossed aside. Thus, the cornered Snuff gang was annihilated. It was a pathetic end for those who had such a notorious reputation in this ruined city. Chapter 19 ¡°It¡¯s over,¡± Aiden said, lowering his gun. Anders also lowered the machine gun he had been holding and nodded. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s over.¡± There were no more active members among those who had raised Snuff¡¯s flag. Literally annihilated. Even if there were those who harbored deep-seated resentment against Snuff gang, it was undeniably a perfect victory to be proud of. However, none of them cheered for this victory. Instead, only thick silence and despair filled the air. The reason was crystal clear. ¡°We¡¯re done too.¡± Anders looked at the materials piled up behind the barrier and the vehicles loaded with them with a heavy gaze. Time had been pressing from the beginning. So, to move as efficiently as possible, they had gathered resources and vehicles in a space close to the gate. Because of this, they hadn¡¯t prepared for contingencies. Could this be called negligence? But now, it was proving fatally consequential for Anders and his comrades. The Molotov cocktails and various bombs thrown by the Snuff gang. Among the flipped vehicles used as shields, barely half of them remained intact. Even if some died in the recent battle, the cooperative¡¯s members were still numerous. Without calculation, the remaining vehicles alone couldn¡¯t accommodate even half of the personnel. Aiden, noticing this, asked Anders. ¡°Now what?¡± ¡°...Well.¡± In response to Aiden¡¯s question, Anders lowered his head. There were only two possible answers now. Survive even if it¡¯s just some. Or die together. ¡°Anders, you-¡° ¡°Forget it.¡± However, Anders interrupted Aiden¡¯s words. ¡°We¡¯re done, so you go now. You said you had somewhere to go.¡± ¡°...¡± Even with Anders¡¯ words, Aiden didn¡¯t move easily. He just stared intently at Anders beyond the black helmet. In response, Anders sighed and gestured. ¡°Yeah, come here for a moment, Aiden.¡± He approached Aiden as if to whisper, but what he did wasn¡¯t a whisper. Suddenly grabbing Aiden¡¯s helmet with both hands, he lifted it. Then, naturally, Aiden¡¯s face inside was revealed. Skin resembling a zombie and eyes as desolate as the sands of the desert. ¡°...¡± The surroundings suddenly fell silent as if cold water had been poured over them. The gazes of the members who were catching their breath after the battle all focused on Aiden. But no one aimed their guns at Aiden. Everyone knew how brilliantly the junk dealer Anders brought in during the battle against Snuff fought. That¡¯s why, facing colleagues who were staring at Aiden with widened eyes, Anders let out a bitter laugh. ¡°These guys. Not very surprised, huh?¡± ¡°...It seems like they¡¯re quite surprised.¡± In a low voice, Aiden replied, and Anders turned his helmet back. ¡°Yeah, so, why did you do this?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s like a joke for a mood reversal.¡± Boldly answering, Anders shrugged his shoulders. Just before Aiden¡¯s brow furrowed at this, he changed the topic. ¡°Do you remember what happened six months ago?¡± It wasn¡¯t an event so long ago, so Aiden answered accordingly. Anders continued his story. ¡°I was alone then. So, I requested your help. You accepted the ridiculous request and ultimately saved my life.¡± It was an incident that happened in some residential area in Pittsburgh. Anders, isolated by hostile gangs and zombies, had coincidentally met Aiden and asked him to help him escape. For Aiden, it wasn¡¯t a particularly special request. As he had experienced dozens of even more dangerous requests. But Anders still remembered that ordinary request. ¡°But, you see. This time, I¡¯m not alone. Look. Those guys over there who are still staring at you as if you¡¯re a miracle.¡± Anders pointed at the members looking at him. ¡°So, the next decision won¡¯t be made by me alone. It¡¯s a problem to be judged with me, my colleagues. So... there¡¯s no more request for the junk dealer to perform here, my friend.¡± Anders looked at Aiden straight in the eyes and spoke. In response to his words, Aiden hesitated for a moment, then nodded. There was nothing more to add or subtract; it was an entirely correct statement. Their fate would be determined by them, regardless of the choice they made. It was wrong for Aiden to get involved. ¡°Is it okay?¡± So, Aiden merely asked. Anders, with a slight smile, replied firmly: ¡°It¡¯s okay. Come visit once everything is settled.¡± ¡°...Alright.¡± Aiden gathered his weapons and stood up. In response to Anders¡¯ words to take whatever he needed, he waved his hand. As he mounted his motorcycle, Anders said: ¡°Then, let¡¯s see each other alive.¡± With a bitter smile, Anders bid farewell with the same phrase as always. Aiden, as usual, nodded and started the engine of his motorcycle. The low engine sound passed through the pierced gate¡¯s door and gradually moved away from the cooperative¡¯s barrier. On the road heading towards the center of Pittsburgh, Aiden looked back for the last time. The sun had almost set, and night was falling. The moon, faintly shining, had risen in the sky unnoticed. And... as Aiden turned back, the door of the merchant cooperative¡¯s barrier was slowly closing. The door, which had been quite crumpled, was now being straightened, reinforced by the members. ¡°...¡± It was evident what choice they had made. However, Aiden didn¡¯t evaluate their choice in his heart. He only wished for the luck of his friends and colleagues. As Aiden was about to turn away, something caught his eye at the end of his gaze. It was a moving corpse. Just now, a zombie was emerging from the southern forest. * * * And a little later. The place Aiden arrived was a small hiding place where three people and one vampire were staying. Aiden promptly briefed them on the situation. Rebecca, who led the survivor group, had a stern expression. ¡°Is that really true?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the truth.¡± Aiden answered Rebecca¡¯s doubt straightforwardly. However, there was no visible evidence. So, it was entirely reasonable for Rebecca not to believe Aiden¡¯s words. Even among the people in this hiding place, suspicions about something happening in the south were more than enough. ¡°I thought it was a bit noisy, but something like that...¡± The battle the two gangs fought a while ago was anything but calm. Explosions beyond gunshots, and the black smoke rising as vehicles and people burned. All of that was loud enough to be heard even in this relatively distant hiding place. So, Rebecca, and anyone here for that matter, had an intuition that something had happened in the south. ¡°Do you have any vehicles? Or what about other means of transportation?¡± In response to Aiden¡¯s following words, both Rebecca and the one next to her, Diana, shook their heads. As expected. To this small survivor group, struggling just to survive, there was no room to maintain vehicles that needed regular supplies of fuel and parts. At that moment, Arian, who had been silently listening to the conversation, stepped forward. ¡°Why suddenly a vehicle?¡± ¡°We need to leave this city.¡± Rebecca quietly took a breath as she heard what she had once said. She also wanted to leave this city at some point, but not like this. So it wasn¡¯t easy to accept this story. If they leave this hideout, they will end up living like wanderers for a while. And she was fully aware how dangerous and harsh that life is. So, while Rebecca was silent with a complicated expression, Arian continued speaking. ¡°If not a vehicle, is there no other way?¡± ¡°It would be difficult realistically without a means of transportation.¡± ¡°Difficult... You didn¡¯t come here to talk about something like that, right?¡± If there was nothing but obvious despair in front of them, there was no need for Aiden to come here. Just wishing them luck from a distance would be enough. However, Aiden¡¯s purpose in coming here was clearly not that. ¡°I came to say that I won¡¯t be able to carry out the request scheduled for tomorrow.¡± ¡°Tomorrow?¡± For a moment, Arian didn¡¯t even realize what Aiden was talking about. Then, after a while, she barely remembered the promise they made during the day. And then she opened his mouth with a dumbfounded expression on the face. ¡°Is that important now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s important to me.¡± ¡°Then what do you mean, there is no way in the end?¡± Aiden paused for a moment at Arian¡¯s words. Although it wasn¡¯t the main topic, Aiden didn¡¯t stop looking for a way out for them while coming here. But in the end, he had no clear answer. Like many of the plans he came up with, it was uncertain and dangerous. But since it was the best option he could think of, Aiden spoke up again. ¡°To survive, we need to relocate our base.¡± ¡°Go somewhere else? Isn¡¯t it better to just hide here? We have a basement, too.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s a group with mutants, there¡¯s a high chance they¡¯ll figure us out. Plus, this building is too small for effective defense.¡± It wasn¡¯t an unreasonable statement. Arian herself had seen a mutant, like Bigfoot. Even if a few of those creatures gathered, they could easily tear down this small huose. ¡°And there are a lot of them. So it¡¯s better to have a building that is narrow at the entrance, limited, and doesn¡¯t easily collapse. It would be even better if it¡¯s a tall structure where they can¡¯t climb easily.¡± ¡°...Where is that?¡± ¡°A hotel in the city. Specifically, a building with more than 10 floors would be suitable.¡± Upon Aiden¡¯s suggestion, Arian thought for a moment and nodded. The structure of hotels typically had long, narrow corridors with many rooms. Moreover, going up one floor at a time required using passageways like emergency stairs if the elevators weren¡¯t working. It was a structure advantageous when dealing with a large number of opponents. Of course, looking at it the other way around, it wasn¡¯t all advantages. Entering a high-rise hotel meant isolating themselves in a closed building. In other words, if the defense line collapsed, there would be no way to escape. But worrying about that now seemed like a luxurious thing to do. Being trapped in a building in the midst of 4 000 zombies, what was the point of worrying about being isolated in a building? ¡°The best plan is to hold out there until the zombie horde passes. It won¡¯t be easy, but there¡¯s no other way right now.¡± ¡°That... seems correct.¡± Arian turned to Rebecca. Rebecca, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, nodded with a firm expression. Then, Rebecca led Diana and Sadie to start packing. Arian also glanced at them briefly, then turned to Aiden. ¡°So, what are you going to do now?¡± ¡°Now is not the time to worry about me.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not worried...¡± Arian looked around at the others busy with preparations. Then, she led Aiden away from the hiding place and spoke. ¡°I can¡¯t do it alone.¡± ¡°So?¡± ¡°So, it¡¯s obvious...¡± Arian trailed off, looking into Aiden¡¯s eyes. In reality, she was asking for help. While establishing a base in the hotel would provide a safe haven, tonight was just the beginning. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If the zombies detected their presence and a battle broke out, Arian and Rebecca¡¯s group alone wouldn¡¯t be able to hold out. However, Aiden¡¯s response to Arian¡¯s following words had no strength. ¡°...Ask for help, right?¡± It was a request that Aiden had no reason to accept. If he wanted, he could easily step out of this dangerous situation in Pittsburgh. As Arian inwardly regretted blurting out unnecessary words, Aiden¡¯s lips twitched. She had thought that a firm refusal was the only response. ¡°Is that a request?¡± However, Aiden didn¡¯t positively or negatively respond to that request. Instead, he threw a strange question. ¡°If I call it a request, will you accept?¡± Aiden nodded once. Arian¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Of course. But... it¡¯s unexpected.¡± ¡°What is?¡± ¡°I thought you wouldn¡¯t fight.¡± It was a statement that seemed to reverse Arian¡¯s thoughts. Since Arian herself could leave the city alone, it was the same for Aiden. ¡°So, you thought I would be on my own.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not an unreasonable judgment.¡± Arian let out a bitter laugh. ¡°What are you looking at me as? People who accepted me, even though we haven¡¯t known each other for long. Besides, there¡¯s a child!¡± She said it as if it were obvious, but Aiden gazed at Arian as if he found her way of speaking interesting. At the same time, Arian turned the question to Aiden. ¡°You, on the other hand, don¡¯t you have no reason to take such a risky request, even if you¡¯re a junk dealer? Accepting a life-threatening job like this?¡± Arian spat out the words and then made a realization. It was quite rude to question someone who was helping, especially regarding their motives. But Aiden responded calmly. ¡°I have my reasons.¡± That¡¯s all he said. At that moment, a muffled explosion was heard from the depths of the profound darkness. Perhaps the zombie horde had finally emerged from the southern forest. Aiden¡¯s mood sank sharply. ¡°I guess we¡¯ll have to talk later.¡± Aiden said that, and Arian nodded in agreement. Chapter 20 ¡°...Are you okay?¡± Aiden spoke as he looked at Rebecca¡¯s group, each carrying their bags and stepping out onto the street. Arian, Rebecca, Diana, and even the young girl Sadie were carrying bags almost as big as their bodies. The loads were too large for easy movement. ¡°I¡¯m fine!¡± Sadie cheerfully responded to that question. Fortunately, the way to the city wasn¡¯t too far, taking about 50 minutes on foot. But... still, it wasn¡¯t a city to be out in the middle of the night. Carrying such large bags while wandering around, not knowing where mutants might be hiding, was ridiculously dangerous. ¡°You were the one who told me to pack enough weapons.¡± Meanwhile, Arian responded nonchalantly to Aiden¡¯s concern. And she was right. Considering the upcoming battle, the supplies they had, including the ones Aiden had, were insufficient. They needed more ammunition and more explosives. The contradiction wrinkled Aiden¡¯s forehead. ¡°...I¡¯ll carry this.¡± ¡°Oh...!¡± Without saying a word, Aiden took Sadie¡¯s bag into one hand. There was a large bag behind him, but the body of a zombie that knew no fatigue could easily handle the bag Sadie was carrying. ¡°I can carry it, too.¡± ¡°...It¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°Um... Thank you, mister.¡± Sadie bowed her head, perhaps judging that Aiden wouldn¡¯t return the bag quickly. But Sadie didn¡¯t stay still. After receiving part of her mother¡¯s load, she resolutely continued walking. Watching this, Diana spoke. ¡°But do we really need so many weapons? Couldn¡¯t we just hide?¡± ¡°Hiding is, of course, the best option, but it might be difficult.¡± Aiden conveyed the situation of the cities where the zombie hordes had passed, as told by Anders. Morgantown, where a gang of a thousand once stayed, and Uniontown, where small gang factions gathered. However, no survivors were found in any of them. It was strange. All gangs wouldn¡¯t have armed themselves against such a large zombie horde. Surely, someone would have tried to escape, and someone would have hidden in deep underground bunkers. Yet no survivors were found anywhere. From then on, Aiden felt something was off. And since hearing about mutants mixed in with the zombie hordes, he was almost certain. A zombie horde could have a way to track survivors in the city. It wasn¡¯t surprising; among the mutants he knew, there were those who could find hidden humans using their sense of smell. If such a mutant was mixed in, simply hiding in a high building or going underground wouldn¡¯t be enough to escape the zombies¡¯ notice. ¡°Does that mean...¡± ¡°We need to be prepared for a fight.¡± The expressions of Rebecca and Diana darkened at his words. Facing a zombie horde that numbered over 4 000, they understood too well how dangerous and reckless this battle was. But Aiden continued to move forward without saying anything else. Only the chilly wind blew in the darkened street. The group soon passed through the small shopping district where the hideout was and reached a bridge along the river. Liberty Bridge. It was one of many bridges connecting the north and south of Pittsburgh, a bridge with a four-lane road directly connecting to the once bustling downtown. As much as zombies coming out of the city could be easily witnessed there, tonight, the bridge over the river was eerily stagnant. The concrete underneath was covered with all sorts of debris and wrecked cars, and the river flowed like a murky liquid. While a storm was approaching the city, only the bright moon peacefully sailed in the water. ¡°...It¡¯s too quiet.¡± Aiden murmured as he looked at it. The night was so dangerous that even Aiden wouldn¡¯t think of wandering around. Yet, so far, the group had only encountered a few ordinary zombies. It was strange, but it wasn¡¯t just luck. ¡°As expected, the dangerous ones have all moved south, haven¡¯t they?¡± This gap was all because the zombie horde had called in surrounding mutants. It had become a tidal wave that swept through the city. It was an obvious tragedy, but at least there were no big obstacles in the path they had to take. ¡°But we still can¡¯t completely relax. But... it¡¯s better to hurry.¡± Aiden spoke, conscious of the gradually approaching explosions. After crossing Liberty Bridge directly, the group followed Aiden¡¯s lead into a hotel building in the middle of the city. It was a building with a majestic exterior facing a small square that had turned into ruins. ¡°Let¡¯s make this our base.¡± Aiden pointed to the temporary base he had chosen, and Arian looked up at it. The original tan exterior was covered in dust, resembling a site of ruins, and most of the lower-floor glass windows were shattered. However, despite that, the building¡¯s foundation was still solid. Apart from minor decorations, the damage to the building was relatively minimal. Additionally, the building had 25 floors. While not exceptionally tall compared to other downtown buildings, it was sufficiently high to serve as a base for the night. ¡°Have you checked the interior?¡± ¡°I went in about three months ago. There weren¡¯t any significant issues.¡± Arian nodded in agreement with Aiden¡¯s words. There was no reason to dispute, and the others felt the same. The group entered the building immediately. ¡°Kiik!¡± Zombies lingering in the lobby reacted to the group at the entrance. However, Arian and Aiden, who were already aware of the zombies¡¯ presence from outside, quickly subdued them. In the now silent hotel lobby, Arian looked at Aiden. ¡°If we make this our base, are we going to block this entrance?¡± ¡°No, leave it here. We¡¯ll use the building from the 20th floor.¡± In the end, it was a discussion about occupying only a few upper floors rather than the entire building. Given the small number of people, it was a wise decision. Continuing, Aiden and Rebecca¡¯s group busily moved. First, Aiden and Arian searched and cleared the space from the 20th floor to the rooftop, dealing with the zombies inside the hotel. ¡°Kii!¡± The interior was soon cleared. It was partly due to Arian¡¯s unique sense quickly finding hidden zombies. And it was also because the mutants had left, leaving only ordinary zombies behind. After Aiden finished cleaning, Rebecca, Diana, and even Sadie were busy creating a barricade at the emergency stairs. They piled up furniture in hotel rooms to create it. ¡°What about the opposite side?¡± ¡°We roughly set up the framework there too.¡± The emergency stairs in the hotel were at both ends of the corridor. The width was about three meters, and as befitting a luxury hotel, even the emergency stairs had a spacious and luxurious atmosphere. But having such a wide staircase wasn¡¯t entirely a good thing. It wasn¡¯t easy to build a barricade, and that also meant that several zombies could rush in at once. However, it wasn¡¯t all downsides. The part of the wall on the opposite side of the entrance was entirely made of glass, which was a significant advantage. It wasn¡¯t bulletproof glass, so there was some concern about it shattering if shot at, but it was enough to push back the zombies pressed against the broken glass wall. ¡°I¡¯ll help too.¡± Aiden and Arian immediately joined the work. Soon, the barricade rose to chest height for an adult, presenting a reasonably realistic appearance. If zombies stood below the staircase, only their heads would be visible. Next, Aiden divided the group into two teams. One staircase was entrusted to Arian and Diana, while the other was taken by Aiden and Rebecca. In addition, Sadie, who was unsuitable for combat, was allowed to stay in the hotel¡¯s penthouse suite. Just in case something happened, they informed her about the route to the rooftop. ¡°Don¡¯t hesitate to use the lights. If it seems like the barricade might break, don¡¯t hesitate to blow it up. Also, I¡¯ve set up claymores on the upper floors, so head in that direction first...¡± Finally, Aiden provided combat instructions to Diana and Arian. And as he passed through the long corridor again, heading towards the opposite staircase, Aiden touched the door of a room along the way. Originally, it would have been an elegant wooden door, but now it opened with a creepy creak, emitting an unsettling sound like that of a haunted house. ¡°...¡± What he wanted to confirm there was the view outside. Although it was a downtown area with other high-rise buildings, the view to the south from this building was wide open. However, the cityscape buried in darkness was only dark. Only the rooftop of the building was touched by moonlight. The streets below were hidden in shadows, unreachable by sight. Just the occasional flashes of flames and gunshots within indicated the presence of someone there. There, Aiden took out a night vision scope obtained from the power plant. The view, originally pitch-black, turned green, and the darkness revealed what had been hidden. ¡°Tsk...¡± As expected, more than half of the view was filled with zombies. From all three bridges visible in his field of view, including Liberty Bridge that Aiden crossed, zombies were present. Among them, one of the bridges attracted Aiden¡¯s attention. An adult man and woman were crossing the bridge. They witnessed numerous zombie hordes chasing them and desperately ran. Unable to cross the bridge and getting cornered, they soon found themselves surrounded by zombies, invisible within the swarm. The dismal scene wasn¡¯t the only thing. Not far from the hotel, a five-story building was swarmed by zombies like a pack of rabid dogs. Then, shortly after, flames and explosions erupted from the top floor. After that, it became eerily quiet. Such a tragedy was unfolding throughout the entire city swallowed by the zombie horde. Unlike Aiden¡¯s group, who hastily fortified their position upon hearing the warning, these people had been engulfed by the zombie horde without any preparation. Though they had persevered for three years, they crumbled easily in the face of this colossal disaster. They made noises only a few gunshots and explosions would make in the darkness, and soon, heavy silence prevailed. ¡°...Strange.¡± Aiden murmured as he observed the city. While there was a sense of regret for the dying survivors in his mind, he was more focused on the collective movement of the zombies. The zombies weren¡¯t moving randomly; there was a clear pattern. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. First, even if no one was visible, they entered every building. And if there were people inside, they devoured them, otherwise, they casually exited the building. Once a building had been searched, they didn¡¯t go back inside. For some reason, their progress seemed slow, but they weren¡¯t just trampling through the city. They were systematically seeking out hidden people, killing them, and doing so with an unbelievably organized movement for creatures labeled as zombies. Upon this realization, Aiden narrowed his eyes. If they had come this far, there must be a presence capable of gathering and controlling mutant zombies, perhaps even commanding them. If that was the case... it might be another mutant. If so, it would likely be the most challenging one Aiden had encountered. ¡°...¡± That was as far as his thoughts went. Aiden holstered his night vision scope and turned back. Zombies that had just arrived at the front of the hotel were now rushing inside. ¡°They¡¯re coming. Their movements are different from ordinary zombies. Seems like they¡¯re moving under some kind of command. Be careful.¡± Aiden¡¯s low voice echoed in the quiet corridor. Instead of an answer, the only sound was the click of Rebecca¡¯s determined face, staring down the stairs with a rifle in hand. ¡°Kiiie...¡± In the distance, the sounds of corpses crying were heard. Upon this, Aiden also quietly raised his weapon. And finally, behind the barricade, he checked the usable weapons laid out. Adequate ammunition, grenades, and even claymores for precaution had been set up. But even this level of preparation was woefully inadequate. If only there was a little more time, they could have created defenses on each floor. While Aiden pondered such regret, the distant sounds were much closer now. The rhythmic footsteps of the zombies were distinctly heard. And finally- ¡°Kiiiik!¡± A zombie revealed itself in front of the barricade. The creature suddenly stopped in front of the impromptu obstacle. An ordinary zombie with no special features. Eventually, it made eye contact with Aiden beyond the flimsy barricade. ¡°...¡± After the moment of silence, its dull eyes passed by Aiden as if he weren¡¯t there. It didn¡¯t show any hostility towards Aiden. However, that didn¡¯t mean the creature remained still. ¡°Kiaaa!¡± Suddenly, the zombie screamed. Its rotten eyes focused not on Aiden but on the makeshift barricade blocking its path. Bang! The zombie, glowing, slammed into the barricade as if its way forward lay beyond it. As if the path it had to take was right in front. Rebecca, hiding behind the barricade, was startled and swallowed hard. Upon this, Aiden raised the rifle he had been holding. Once again, combat seemed inevitable. Bang! The bullet pierced through the zombie¡¯s head. The headless corpse tumbled backward, rolling down the stairs. ¡°Kik...!¡± That was the signal. Upon hearing the gunshot, the assembled corpses all looked at the headless body. And their gazes collectively turned upward. ¡°Kiaaaaa!¡± Zombies that were muttering on the lower floor, with a scream, began to climb the stairs. Chapter 21 After that, what followed was an intense battle. The agonizing cries of the terrible zombies and the fierce gunfire overlapped endlessly. ¡°Kiak!¡± The number of zombies coming up the stairs seemed to be dozens at first glance. The makeshift barricade made of old furniture was about to be breached in an instant. However, even after enough time had passed, the corpses couldn¡¯t overcome the makeshift barricade. It was all thanks to Aiden, who guarded the rear like a solid wall. Dadadadang! The rifle he held continuously spewed flames. At first glance, it seemed like he was just firing indiscriminately, with a rapid rate of fire. But he didn¡¯t waste bullets. One by one, the zombies trying to cross the barricade fell backward. It was truly a marksmanship performance. And there was someone supporting Aiden from behind. ¡°...¡± It was Rebecca, sticking to the barricade and firing a submachine gun. Even with dozens of zombies in front of her, she remained surprisingly calm. There was tension in her facial expression, but there was no apparent unease beyond what was necessary. Aiden glanced at Rebecca with a sidelong glance but refocused on the battle. There was nothing particularly surprising about Rebecca¡¯s composure. After all, she hadn¡¯t survived in this world overrun by corpses for three years without reason. So, this level of composure could be considered natural. ¡°Kiiik!¡± Another zombie¡¯s forehead was pierced by a bullet, and it fell beyond the broken glass wall. Continuously pouring out bullets without a break, the number of zombies standing there had clearly diminished. In the end, the last one received a burst of gunfire from the submachine gun and tumbled down the stairs. Once again, the emergency stairs regained silence. However, Aiden, even as he changed the magazine, didn¡¯t let his guard down. This was only an extremely small part of the zombie horde. There were still countless zombies outside the hotel, and Aiden couldn¡¯t predict how the zombie horde that wiped out the reconnaissance team from the hotel would emerge. If their search ends like this, there would be nothing more to wish for. Unfortunately, the likelihood of that happening was significantly low. ¡°Now, it¡¯s for real.¡± Rebecca nodded quietly, gripping the gun with determination. Then, thud! At that moment, a vibration occurred below the building. Something heavy seemed to have crashed into the building. Aiden concentrated his attention below the stairs. Soon, a chaotic sound of footsteps echoed. ¡°...Beasts.¡± Aiden murmured as the footsteps were much lighter than those of ordinary zombies. As he said, the sound was like several four-legged beasts, such as dogs, pounding the ground. But shortly after... ¡°...¡± Seeing the appearance of the zombies revealed below the stairs, Aiden furrowed his brow. Rebecca sighed in frustration, sounding like a sigh. It was a variant of mutant zombies called ¡®Stinger¡¯. Generally, they formed groups of around ten and lived in caves or buildings. The name ¡®Stinger¡¯ was given because they used branches or spikes to compensate for their lack of physical strength, stabbing and killing people. But they had another nickname besides that. Kid. Because all the small bodies were nothing but children who hadn¡¯t even reached the age of teenagers. ¡°Ki-iik!¡± A much higher and sharper scream than ordinary zombies pierced the ears. Confirming the presence of Stingers, Aiden immediately put down the rifle and picked up a pistol and a metal bat. While their strength was much weaker than ordinary zombies, their light bodies made them agile like small animals, and their sharp claws could climb walls. So in such narrow spaces where they could bounce anywhere, they became much more formidable opponents than ordinary zombies. Even the carefully built barricade seemed meaningless. Bang! The first Stinger seen by Aiden was hit by the bullet he shot and flew away, tumbling. Rebecca, watching this, closed her eyes tightly. It was because she saw her daughter overlapping with that girl of the similar age when she was alive. ¡°Bow your head.¡± Hearing Aiden¡¯s words, Rebecca followed without understanding English. Right after that- Boom! A thunderous explosion echoed from the floor just below. Aiden, realizing the presence of Stingers, immediately dropped a grenade. The ejected grenade bounced up and down the stairs, hitting the barricade. Thanks to that, some of the Stingers, who were eagerly climbing, turned into rotten pieces of flesh, and their momentum wavered. But that was only for a moment. Not long after, stepping on the scattered corpses on the floor, they rushed forward. ¡°Get away from the barricade. They¡¯ll easily jump over it.¡± Aiden advised Rebecca, and he stepped forward. Bang! A few Stingers slammed the wall and leaped over the barricade in a single breath. Aiden sniped one of them mid-air, and the rest he struck down with the baseball bat he had. With an unpleasant squelching sound, a Stinger¡¯s head shattered, and it fell onto the barricade. However, right after that, more Stingers rushed towards Aiden. The chaotic melee continued. Numerous Stingers swarmed Aiden like a horde, but he steadfastly defended the barricade. However, wounds were appearing on his body one by one. Even though pierced by bullets and bludgeoned, these small monsters used their sharp nails, covered in gooey secretions, to insert them into Aiden¡¯s body. ¡°Tsk!¡± Each sting was deadly for a human opponent, but for the zombie Aiden, it was just a minor annoyance. Ignoring the injuries, he aimed the gun at another Stinger. Meanwhile, Rebecca supported Aiden from behind with precise suppressive fire. Whenever Aiden seemed overwhelmed on one side, she quickly fired into the empty space. Before Aiden could turn around to deal with the Stinger he hadn¡¯t managed to handle, Rebecca finished it off. Though the sight of those young bodies, hit by bullets and tumbling lifelessly, was incredibly pitiful, she clenched her teeth and pulled the trigger. The battle continued for a while. Whether due to the large number of Stingers or their pitiful appearance, the fight was even more challenging for Rebecca than the previous onslaught of zombies. Several times, it seemed like the barricade was about to be breached. If Aiden hadn¡¯t effectively used grenades to disrupt the enemy¡¯s attacks each time, it would undoubtedly have happened. They fought tirelessly. Finally, the number of Stingers seemed to decrease. Thud! Unexpectedly, another vibration echoed from below. A powerful tremor, as if shaking the building. But this time, it was much closer. ¡°...!¡± Aiden¡¯s intuition warned him of the extraordinary noise that ordinary zombies or Stingers couldn¡¯t produce. He hurriedly looked down the stairs, but he couldn¡¯t see anything in the darkness. However, the vibration wasn¡¯t a one-time occurrence, and the source wasn¡¯t singular. One was closer, and one was farther away. It meant... ¡°...Two are coming from both sides.¡± Aiden muttered as he fiercely knocked away a jumping Stinger. At that moment, a large shadow passed through the darkness below the stairs. Sensing imminent danger, Aiden immediately moved away from the barricade. ¡°Something¡¯s coming! Step back!¡± Right after he shouted- Boom! A huge entity appeared, rudely distorting the railing of the stairs. ¡°That is...¡± Rebecca¡¯s voice trailed off as she saw it. It was... a Brutal. However, unlike the Bigfoot mutant with a large build, its appearance was completely different. Though towering at about three meters tall, its body consisted not of massive flesh but unusually developed muscles. Bathed in the faint moonlight, it exuded a threatening glow, revealing its presence through the rotten skin. Seeing this type of zombie, Rebecca felt a sense of doom. It was undoubtedly a powerful mutant, but lacking knowledge about it made the situation worse. However, Aiden was different. He recalled the name of the mutant he had heard from Anders. ¡°The Brutal...!¡± It was definitely that name. A zombie with well-developed muscles witnessed in Baltimore. Although it was only active at night, its strength was said to be enough to break through concrete walls. Now, the Brutal was effortlessly smashing the steel railing of the stairs with its strength alone. ¡°Ugh...¡± Such the Brutal¡¯s gaze turned towards Aiden and Rebecca. Aiden¡¯s judgment was swift. Quickly picking up the fallen rifle, he shouted: ¡°Go upstairs!¡± Rebecca, who had not slackened her tension, immediately followed his instructions. Holding only the submachine gun and the magazine, she turned on the gun¡¯s LED light and rushed desperately up the stairs. ¡°Grrraaagh!¡± Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, the Brutal reacted. The creature pounded the ground, causing the entire building to shake. Thud! Although the Brutal¡¯s path was blocked by the barricade, the feeble barrier was no match for the massive muscle mass. Under the weight resembling a grenade, the barricade crumbled instantly. However, as the Brutal passed through the broken barricade. Boom! The explosive planted inside the barricade detonated, engulfing the Brutal. The debris from the barricade rained down, tearing apart the area. Stingers caught in the storm of the explosion couldn¡¯t leave a trace and burst into pieces. However, in the midst of the explosion, the Brutal, standing there, roared with rage. ¡°Kreee!¡± It displayed its resilience despite the construction of dynamite inside the barricade. Even the force of the explosion only caused a few scratches on its outer surface. Tatatatat! Aiden, facing such a creature, fired rifle rounds at it and rushed upstairs. High-velocity 5.56mm bullets capable of penetrating even steel plates. However, the Brutal simply used its two arms as shields against the bullets. Although the bullets penetrated into the creature¡¯s arms, they couldn¡¯t pierce through its thick muscles. Once the barrage of gunfire ended, the Brutal, which had paused for a moment, moved again. Aiden had ascended one floor during this time. Now, the Brutal, full of fury, tore apart the railing at the stair¡¯s end and tried to chase after him. However, at the location where there had been a barricade, on the 22nd floor above the place with the barricade, Aiden had prepared another countermeasure. At the end of the stairs where the Brutal had just stepped, there was a rectangular object leaning against the glass wall. It was a military-grade claymore. A single bomb that could annihilate an infantry platoon, an anti-personnel directional fragmentation mine. When the detonation switch was pressed, about 700 steel balls would shoot out in all directions, creating a killing radius of up to 50 meters if it exploded on a plain. However, the Brutal, unaware of the nature of such a weapon, entered the effective range of the claymore without any suspicion. ¡°...!¡± Aiden, watching from above, immediately checked Rebecca¡¯s position. As he had instructed, she had already left the stairs and was running through the corridor on the 23rd floor. It was safe there. Having made that judgment, Aiden also threw himself towards the corridor and simultaneously pressed the detonation switch of the claymore he held. Boooom! A fierce shock that shook the building echoed through the air. As 700 steel balls burst out from the narrow stairs, they shattered everything in their path. The iron door separating the stairs and the room corridor was torn off its hinges. To make matters worse, some of the steel balls were deflected, and, brushing past Aiden, hit the front door of the room directly in front of him. It was a tremendous force. Even if it were a monster-like mutant zombie, survival would be challenging under such circumstances. However, Aiden didn¡¯t release the gun in his hand. And when the storm of steel gradually subsided, he stepped onto the emergency staircase again to confirm the creature¡¯s death. The stairs that hundreds of steel balls had brushed against were a complete mess. There were no traces left on the external glass walls, and the solid interior walls bore scars as if hit by a bombardment. The floor seemed like it could collapse at any moment, and the railing had completely disappeared, with no sign of where it had gone. Clear evidence of utter destruction. However... Aiden¡¯s face hardened as he looked down at something downstairs. At the exact location where he had placed the claymore, the Brutal had used the explosion to his advantage. Although nearly half of the upper torso, including the left arm, had been blown away, the explosion-engulfed face was missing from the chin to the left eye, and the left side was torn open as if squeezed, leaking rotten organs. However, perhaps due to the terrain. Unfortunately, the creature¡¯s two legs were intact. Even if half of its body had been blown away, a single arm and two legs were still a sufficiently menacing foe. Seeing this, Aiden tightened his grip on the gun. And when the storm of steel subsided, the Brutal, with only one eye left, turned its gaze toward Aiden. And then... ¡°Grraaaagh!¡± The creature screamed like a mad beast and charged towards Aiden. Chapter 22 On the opposite side of the stairs guarded by Aiden and Rebecca. Squish! There, in Arian¡¯s hands, the jungle sword swung by Arian was just beheading one zombie. Surrounding them were dozens of headless zombie corpses strewn about. It looked like the scene where a killer with a machete had created numerous victims. In the midst of it, standing on a corpse and raising her machete, Arian made a thudding sound and shook off the gore. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Diana, who was assisting Arian¡¯s combat from behind, asked. Arian nodded calmly. ¡°It¡¯s not a problem.¡± It wasn¡¯t just an empty boast. Setting up a barricade on this narrow staircase and fighting off swarming zombies wouldn¡¯t be disadvantageous for Arian. Considering her physical abilities, she could even be more formidable in defense than Aiden. ¡°Hmm...?¡± Arian¡¯s composed expression suddenly sharpened. Then she looked down the stairs with a short sigh. Diana gave Arian a puzzled look. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°They¡¯re coming again. This time, it seems like there are more of them.¡± Even after a round of battle, Arian spoke with a voice that showed no signs of fatigue. ¡°Who are they?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. For now, step back. They¡¯re coming up faster than expected,¡± Arian warned. Diana moved a bit farther from her original position, and soon, more zombies swarmed in. ¡°Kiiii!¡± One of them was a mutant with the appearance of a child named Stinger. ¡°Ugh...¡± Seeing the dead child turning into a monster and leaping around, Arian¡¯s expression twisted with discomfort. The fact that the creature was a real child just a few years ago made Arian even more uneasy. However, Arian didn¡¯t waver in front of them. As if granting at least a bit of rest to these children-turned-creatures, she swung her sword more fiercely than before. ¡°Kii-¡° The Stingers, who tried to leap over the barricade like bouncing balls, all fell with a crash, pierced by the machete bathed in moonlight. They tried to attack Arian with their characteristic agility and even attempted to jump over her, but not a single one succeeded. The reason was quite simple. Because Arian was faster. Stingers abandoned strength for agility as mutants, but even that speed couldn¡¯t match a vampire, and deprived of their unique abilities, Stingers were nothing more than slightly smaller targets. With one move from Arian, several Stingers fell like dominos. Even Diana, who was protecting Arian from behind, was silenced by the power displayed. However, before those Stingers were completely wiped out, Arian sensed the presence of a new intruder. ¡°...!¡± Unlike humans, Arian¡¯s eyes pierced through the darkness and focused on the floor below. What was coming up from even lower than the 10th floor was a zombie with muscles, unlike anything Arian had seen before. ¡°The Brutal... was it?¡± Arian furrowed her brow, recalling the name. It was a name she had heard when she was with Aiden. At that time, Aiden had casually shared all the information he knew about every mutant. It was a name she had heard from there. He had said the creature¡¯s power was unknown. It was just a monster from old stories that had only been passed down through accounts of witnesses. However, seeing the Brutal directly, Arian had her own predictions about its power. Although it wasn¡¯t a monster from her world, having brought down countless creatures from other worlds gave her a rough idea of the strength emanating from those muscles. And the power Arian saw in the Brutal¡¯s eyes... was definitely not weak. It was on a completely different level than ordinary zombies or Stingers. Maybe even more threatening than Bigfoot that Arian couldn¡¯t defeat alone. There would be no chance of winning in a direct confrontation. Shortly afterward, a loud explosion echoed from the stairs on the opposite side. It seemed like Aiden had detonated the claymore he had set up there. As expected. Knowing that one of the two Brutals had reached that side, she already knew. ¡°Wh-what¡¯s happening?¡± ¡°A dangerous mutant came out. Step back. We¡¯re going as planned.¡± Arian told Diana, who seemed puzzled. Diana also nodded as if understanding, and they ascended the stairs. They, too, planned to use the claymore installed on the 21st floor. So, Arian continued to fend off the approaching Stingers, waiting for the Brutal. She either planned to lure him as bait to use the claymore¡¯s firepower and explode him or, even if she couldn¡¯t defeat him immediately, to cut off his breath right after. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thud! Meanwhile, the Brutal was ascending the stairs like an enraged bull. Arian watched the Brutal, holding a pistol in her empty hand. There was an awkwardness in her hand with the gun. Originally, a gun wasn¡¯t a weapon that suited her. Even after experiencing numerous battles, the experience of handling firearms was less than five times. And all of that was not to hit the target but to attract enemies with the noise and gunfire. And that was still the case. This pistol wasn¡¯t a proper means of attack; it was simply to provoke the Brutal¡¯s anger. ¡°Ugrraaaa!¡± Soon, facing the Brutal, Arian carelessly fired her pistol at him. She didn¡¯t bother to check how many shots hit. Just scattering the bullets and tossing the empty gun at the Brutal, Arian quickly ascended the stairs. Then, from below, Brutal¡¯s roar echoed. If it followed them like this, it would be perfect. However. ¡°Huh?¡± Surprisingly, the Brutal didn¡¯t move from its spot. What on earth the Brutal was planning, a moment of doubt for her. Another zombie stood next to the Brutal. At first glance, it looked like an ordinary zombie. It was similar in size to regular zombies, and it didn¡¯t have the bulky muscles like the Brutal. However, looking closely, its face... more precisely, its mouth was grotesque beyond imagination. Torn lips and deformed jawbones up to the ears made its mouth look like that of a monster. Its distinctive appearance clearly belonged to another mutant. A Siren. A mutant that emitted a tremendous noise from its mouth to attack humans and attract zombies. Arian¡¯s brow furrowed. An uneasy feeling rushed into her mind. ¡°Diana-¡° Arian tried to warn Diana. But the Siren¡¯s mouth was already wide open, and it was too late. Kiiiaaaaa! Tremendous noise erupted from the Siren. A scream so loud that even Arian couldn¡¯t endure without covering her ears. It traveled up the enclosed stairs, reaching Diana, who was defenseless, guarding the corridor. ¡°Aaah!¡± With a scream and blood flowing from her ears, Diana collapsed. Then, as if waiting, the Brutal moved. ¡°What the...!¡± Confusion filled Arian¡¯s eyes. It seemed like the Brutal¡¯s movements weren¡¯t mere coincidence, as if it knew about their plan. The moment she recalled Aiden¡¯s words about their different movements from other zombies, there was no time to dwell on failure. ¡°Krraaa!¡± The Brutal ran towards Arian and Diana, trampling the claymore. Arian stood with her back to the fallen Diana. They were in front of the door leading to the 23rd floor hallway. The Brutal turned its maddened eyes towards Arian. For some reason, those eyes seemed arrogant. ¡°...!¡± With a thud, the Brutal kicked the ground. Arian, holding her machete, confronted its fist. Clang! The machete barely blocked the Brutal¡¯s punch. However, that was only for a moment. In the next blow, the jungle sword broke in two, and Arian was thrown back, crashing into the room door. ¡°Ugh!¡± It was as expected, or rather, more stronger than expected. Several ribs seemed to have broken in an instant. Nevertheless, Arian couldn¡¯t stay still. Quickly venting her pain, Arian got up from her position. But the Brutal was already reaching out for the fallen Diana. ¡°Don¡¯t touch her!¡± Arian rushed forward. As if the Brutal had no interest in the fallen Diana, he shoved her aside violently. With a sound like being hit by a car, Diana rolled down the stairs. Her body fell to the cold floor next to the stairs. But that wasn¡¯t the end. The nearby Siren turned its head in that direction. If they waited a few more seconds, its dirty mouth would open, and the following Stingers wouldn¡¯t stay still either. ¡°These bastards...!¡± Arian also couldn¡¯t stand idly by. For a moment, a fiery light flickered in her eyes. Swoosh! The Brutal¡¯s fist, about to hit her, passed through empty space. Then, a light flashed. Squish! ¡°Uarghhhh!¡± The Brutal screamed in pain. The half-broken machete Arian was holding had torn through the Brutal¡¯s chest. And Arian passed by it as if nothing happened, rushing down the stairs. In the blink of an eye, she exploded the head of the Siren that was about to devour Diana and scattered the Stingers. ¡°Kkuh...¡± The urgent movement made the broken ribs release a wave of pain. But Arian gritted her teeth and embraced Diana. Then, she descended the stairs. The place she headed to was the 23rd floor. The sound of the Brutal chasing them from behind could already be heard. Arian pulled out the grenade attached to Diana¡¯s waist with one hand. She simply pulled the pin out with her teeth and tossed it casually. With a loud explosion, the Brutal momentarily halted its pursuit. In the meantime, Arian rushed into one of the rooms off the corridor and closed the door. Then, she laid Diana on an old bed. ¡°Diana, are you okay?¡± Arian tried to check Diana¡¯s condition first. But right after that, Arian¡¯s eyes wavered as she looked at Diana. * * * Aiden was running through the dark corridor on the 23rd floor. Rebecca was ahead of him. The Brutal, one-armed, was chasing them from behind. It wasn¡¯t a very good situation. According to the original plan, the Brutal should have already fallen on the emergency stairs. However, it didn¡¯t fall. The muscular zombie withstood the firepower of the claymore. Still, Aiden showed no signs of anxiety. The 23rd floor corridor was originally a battlefield prepared for such situations. As evidence, weapons prepared by Aiden before the battle were scattered throughout the corridor, different from regular firearms and more suitable for causing damage through thrown projectiles. If the situation led to this point, facing a formidable enemy that couldn¡¯t be brought down with ordinary bullets was anticipated. So, Aiden ran through the corridor, briefly stooping to pick up a Molotov cocktail lying on the ground. ¡°Diana...!¡± At that moment, with Rebecca¡¯s newly uttered voice, a beam of light shone from the opposite end of the dark corridor. It was the light from the flash that Diana had. That meant they were planning to use a claymore on that side as well. Aiden¡¯s mind was busy with thoughts of how to deal with the Brutal if they joined them. However, his plans were quickly disrupted. Suddenly, the terrifying scream of a Siren erupted from the opposite corridor. ¡°Of all times...¡± Muttering with the terrible sound of the Siren, Aiden sighed. To him, the Siren¡¯s scream was just an annoying noise, but to ordinary people, it was a deadly soundwave attack. Moreover, in a confined building like this, its power could only be heightened. As expected, the events that followed were as bad as he had anticipated. The claymore was neutralized by the Siren, and Diana received a blow from another Brutal without a scratch, thrown back toward the stairs. Arian also seemed to have suffered injuries while facing the Brutal, and even Rebecca, who was quite a distance away, wasn¡¯t unscathed. Rebecca, with both ears covered, was slowing down due to the auditory disturbance caused by the Siren. The newly appeared Brutal didn¡¯t target Aiden and Rebecca, but went after Arian, but it was already a disaster. Because people on the other side were also injured. This meant that one of the two entrances had been breached. Those Brutals weren¡¯t only enemies that needed to be stopped. Small Stingers were still constantly crawling up the stairs. And a few of them came into the hallway through the stairs on the other side. ¡°Kiiiiii!¡± The Stinger found Rebecca in front and rushed towards her like crazy, climbing the wall and bouncing off the ground. Rebecca fired bullets at them. However, in this dark hallway, shooting wasn¡¯t enough to hit those quick guys. ¡°Go into the room!¡± Aiden shouted. But Rebecca didn¡¯t hear. The Siren¡¯s cry temporarily impaired her hearing. Aiden, realizing Rebecca¡¯s condition, forcefully grabbed her hand and led her outside through the nearest door. He threw a Molotov cocktail at the approaching Brutal. The Brutal, engulfed in flames, glowed brightly. Just like that, the door to the room was closed. However, they couldn¡¯t feel complete relief. Molotov cocktails could only momentarily stop the Brutal; it couldn¡¯t bring the creature down. ¡°The door... won¡¯t hold.¡± ¡°I know. This way.¡± Aiden gestured to Rebecca and opened the window leading outside. Rebecca, realizing Aiden¡¯s intention, opened her eyes wide. Aiden immediately crossed over the open window. Then, he stood on the narrow railing outside the building. It wasn¡¯t a passage made for people to pass through. It was just part of the building¡¯s interior, barely wide enough for one foot, let alone for a person to stand on. Rebecca hesitated for a moment. However, there was no other way. A loud bang knocked on the room door. In an instant, the wooden door was greatly dented. Through it all, the disgusting smell of burnt corpses wafted out. The door will probably be completely shattered by the next impact. ¡°...¡± Following Aiden, Rebecca climbed through the window with trembling hands. In this pitch-dark height, Rebecca felt her heart freeze, but she didn¡¯t show it. Pressed against the wall, she moved sideways. Due to the rushing wind, her teeth chattered. So, just after she crossed over the window, the inevitable sound of the door breaking was heard. ¡°Uaaaargh!¡± In the empty room, the Brutal, still with traces of flames, howled. However, Aiden and Rebecca were nowhere to be seen. It continued its rampage, smashing the furniture inside. In the meantime, the two of them, having passed the railing, set their feet into another room. Chapter 23 The room Aiden and Rebecca reached was in the very center. Aiden had a reason for coming to this room. It was a temporary weapons storage where leftover weapons were kept. ¡°Now, can you hear a bit?¡± Aiden asked Rebecca. Though her ears were still ringing, Rebecca could barely hear his voice. She nodded. ¡°Yes, I can hear.¡± ¡°Good. Any other problems?¡± ¡°...I¡¯m fine.¡± Rebecca¡¯s expression tightened slightly as she spoke. Aiden noticed but had no time for further questions. ¡°From here on, let¡¯s act separately.¡± ¡°Separately?¡± ¡°As long as that monster is outside, we need a distraction.¡± The Brutal was still rampaging in the corridor. He would likely notice them as soon as they opened the room¡¯s door. ¡°So, I¡¯ll draw Brutal¡¯s attention. You go to the 25th floor, secure Sadie first, and then join up.¡± Aiden explained the next plan while picking up ammunition in one corner of the room. Rebecca listened to Aiden¡¯s words without saying anything, then nodded. ¡°That¡¯s too reckless.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Can you really escape from that monster? With just this level of weaponry?¡± Rebecca looked at the weapons scattered in the room. Various firearms were present, but the only usable things were bullets at best. This place was, after all, a storage for leftover weapons. Explosives or weapons with more firepower had already been exhausted. ¡°...It¡¯s not impossible.¡± However, Aiden picked up something familiar from the corner. It was a claymore. The last bomb he couldn¡¯t install due to lack of time was here. But a claymore wasn¡¯t a weapon you used to escape a monster chasing right behind you. Its killing radius was too wide to simply throw and run away. Rebecca¡¯s gaze turned cold at the sight. ¡°Are you going to commit suicide with that?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a zombie. I won¡¯t die as long as my head remains intact.¡± ¡°That can¡¯t be a reason.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just choosing the option with a higher chance of survival.¡± Rebecca, who had engaged in a brief argument, looked at Aiden with a creaking movement. Then, she placed her hand on the claymore Aiden was holding. ¡°I¡¯ll... do it.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying.¡± However, Rebecca didn¡¯t step back. ¡°I¡¯m not saying I¡¯ll just do it. This is a request.¡± And there, Aiden realized. Sometime, Rebecca¡¯s voice had been trembling steeply, like a malfunctioning string instrument. ¡°I¡¯ll use that to bring down the Brutal. That¡¯s the reward I¡¯ll give you. So... please grant my request too.¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on in your mind?¡± Sensing something suspicious, Aiden stared at Rebecca. In response, Rebecca, instead of answering, slowly lifted her top. Her right side was dyed in red. ¡°That...?¡± ¡°I got hit by a Stinger a while ago.¡± Maybe just before entering the room. Aiden frowned, recalling the moment. Certainly, it was a critical moment, and he couldn¡¯t handle the incoming Stingers. ¡°Excuse me for a second.¡± Aiden closely examined her injury. The wound itself wasn¡¯t too deep to be fatal. However, the nails of the Stingers were coated with their bodily fluids like venom. And that greenish fluid was distinctly visible near Rebecca¡¯s wound. Rebecca was infected. ¡°...¡± Aiden stared at Rebecca without saying anything. For an ordinary person, it would be a moment of despair. However, Rebecca was different. She was looking at Aiden with an even more fervent gaze. ¡°So, let me do it.¡± Rebecca took the bomb from Aiden¡¯s hand. And she held it like a treasure. ¡°You must survive.¡± Rebecca¡¯s voice, saying that, sounded calm at first listen. But Aiden could easily read the hidden resignation and sadness in her eyes and trembling fingertips. Rebecca was just hiding all of that for the sake of her daughter. ¡°That¡¯s the only way you¡¯ll grant my request, right?¡± Rebecca forced a smile as if nothing bothered her. Eyes full of gloom with droopy corners. And even the trembling lips. Nothing matched a smile. As if she couldn¡¯t do otherwise. ¡°...¡± In the face of such Rebecca, Aiden refrained from offering hasty consolation. He knew better than anyone that seeking salvation through empty comfort was futile. So, he simply responded to her request. It wasn¡¯t a plea from the mother of a child; it was Rebecca, a survivor, making a request to the junk dealer Aiden. Although he had never spoken it aloud, Aiden had his own principles when it came to accepting requests. It was a promise and a shackle left by his former companion. Rebecca¡¯s request didn¡¯t contradict Aiden¡¯s principles. ¡°...Alright.¡± Aiden nodded. ¡°I will accept your request.¡± * * * Arian¡¯s life had always been closely tied to death. It wasn¡¯t just about Arian herself overcoming life-threatening situations. At the same time, she had witnessed numerous deaths around her. Former comrades, who once traversed battlefields together, gradually disappeared over time. People she called friends, and those she considered family, had left, leaving behind only cold graves. So when Arian found herself in this unknown world, she couldn¡¯t despair. On the contrary, she felt relieved. In her original world, there were only humans who hated her. And she had placed great expectations on this new world. This place was a world without vampires or anything else. Nobody welcomed her, but at least, they didn¡¯t hate her either. Such a trivial fact brought her immense joy. Therefore, with a casual belief that the same events wouldn¡¯t repeat, she sought new comrades. Was that a mistake? sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Diana...¡± Arian held Diana¡¯s blood-soaked hand. Diana was dying. Arian wanted to deny that reality. However, her keen senses coldly conveyed the grim reality. Diana was struck by the Brutal just once, and most of her upper body¡¯s bones were shattered. And those broken bones had pierced her internal organs, causing severe internal bleeding. The sounds of blood spattering, the organs scratching against the broken bone fragments with each shallow breath, were vividly audible to Arian. She bit her lip. Suddenly, memories of boasting about being a vampire in front of Diana, flashed in her mind. It hadn¡¯t been long since that happened. Just a few hours ago. But Arian felt too ashamed to lift her head. How incompetent she was. Even hiding like this, unable to defeat a rotten corpse called a Brutal. Watching the last moments of the first friend she made in this world in such a pathetic way. What was so great about being a vampire, carrying the blood of the primordial one? Thud! Outside, the Brutal was breaking through the doors of the room one by one. Although there was still some distance, the room¡¯s number was limited. Soon, it would approach. ¡°...¡± At that moment, Diana¡¯s closed eyes opened slightly. Her gaze wandered blankly for a moment before finding Arian. Her lips trembled for a moment. However, she couldn¡¯t produce a sound, and her mouth contorted in pain. ¡°Don¡¯t speak.¡± Arian said to Diana, who found her in such a state. Breathing itself was probably painful for her. Let alone speaking, it seemed like tearing apart her lungs. However, despite that, Diana opened her mouth again. And finally, her voice came out. ¡°...Blood.¡± The single word Diana uttered was nonsensical. Arian couldn¡¯t understand it and asked again. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Drink... my blood.¡± Arian¡¯s face twisted at the absurd demand. ¡°Don¡¯t say nonsense.¡± ¡°Then... you can win, right?¡± ¡°What are you talking about...!¡± A huge explosion from upstairs interrupted Arian¡¯s words. It was the explosion sound of the claymore. For some reason, the resonance felt ominously grim, but Arian didn¡¯t care. Diana continued her words. ¡°...Please win.¡± Arian bit her lip, unable to comprehend. ¡°Because you¡¯re... strong.¡± Arian chewed on her own lips. ¡°My blood... that guy...¡± ¡°I understand! I get it...¡± With a response that barely came out, Diana smiled very faintly. Those were her last words. ¡°Diana?¡± There was no returning voice. Subsequently, Arian finally noticed. In her ears, the sound of the body, no longer making the painful sounds necessary to survive, was no longer audible. ¡°...¡± Arian released the hand she was holding. The surroundings shook. However, she never shed a tear. Arian stood up. She looked at Diana¡¯s face one last time. Now that she had just breathed her last, Diana finally looked peaceful. A crimson thread emerged from Diana¡¯s lifeless body. Blood, still warm, quietly flowed through the air. The numerous red lines converged towards Arian, forming a blood-red pool. ¡°...¡± Arian couldn¡¯t bear to watch until the end and turned her eyes away. Vanishing from this world without leaving a trace, not even a corpse. It was the fate of one who dedicated all their blood to a vampire who couldn¡¯t create offspring. Simultaneously, her friend¡¯s blood rushed toward Arian. A tremendous power surged within her body. Her injuries instantly healed. However, Arian, with a more agonized expression than before, opened the door of the room herself. As she stepped into the corridor, the Brutal¡¯s figure came into view. The one who spotted Arian immediately slammed the ground as if threatening her with its intimidating body. ¡°Kraaa!¡± The massive body filled the narrow corridor. However, Arian¡¯s eyes only saw faint bloodstains on the fingertips of that giant. The almost nonexistent bloodstains grew larger. Soon, Arian¡¯s entire field of vision turned red. In that crimson view, the Brutal¡¯s fist flew towards her. The strength and speed contained in it were no different from before. But to Arian, now it felt incredibly slow. In response, Arian also raised her hand. An empty hand, not even holding the broken jungle sword. From the empty fingertips, ominous blood-like fluid dripped. ¡°...¡± Crimson eyes, pallid skin, and even blood dripping from the fingertips like tears. Now Arian¡¯s appearance took the form of an unearthly monster, devoid of any traces of humanity. How eerie and grotesque that appearance was. If there were people here, they would have been more afraid of her than the rampaging giant corpse. But the Brutal had no awareness to perceive this. The pure insanity engulfed the rotten corpse, and it simply charged towards the monster in front of it. The corpse¡¯s fist and the monster¡¯s claws collided in mid-air. Crunch! The crimson blood cut through the decaying flesh. When Brutal realized that something was wrong, its outstretched fist was already torn apart and flying into the sky. There was no pain felt in the parts of the corpse that functioned like limbs; those sensations had long been lost. But as much as the madness contained in it, at that moment, it dissipated like a bursting bubble. However, the madness that had been festering in the mutant dissipated as much as at that moment, scattered like loose sand. The Brutal, who had only been thinking of chewing and swallowing his prey, belatedly stared at Arian. Only then did it realize. That what was in front was by no means just prey. The Brutal never knew that it was a bizarre being that shook the otherworld, but it could certainly feel the power that monster possessed as much as a fortress. Instinctive anxiety filled the void left by the departing madness. However, ultimately, it was a realization that came too late. The monstrous creature from the otherworld, filled with despair, moved. Before the Brutal could even notice the movement, its vision was bathed in crimson. And the view tilted askew. His vision began to blink. His vision seemed to extinguish in the landscape that seemed to almost disappear. In that scene, the last thing the Brutal saw was his upper body, like a rock-hard muscle and a skeletal structure supporting it, and the rotted organs inside, all torn apart like a piece of paper. * * * ¡°...¡± On the 25th floor of the hotel. Standing alone in one corner, Aiden raised his rifle in the direction of the stairs when he sensed movement. Fortunately, the one who appeared was a girl he was familiar with. ¡°...Are you back?¡± Whatever had happened, Arian¡¯s face was exhausted. Her entire body was covered in the rotten bodily fluids of zombies. Aiden asked her. ¡°What happened to a Brutal?¡± ¡°It¡¯s dead.¡± At her nonchalant statement, Aiden raised his eyebrows in surprise. He never thought that Arian and Diana alone would bring down the seemingly unharmed Brutal. But before Aiden could ask for more details, Arian spoke first. ¡°Is Sadie okay?¡± The place where Aiden stood was the entrance to the room where Sadie was supposed to stay. In response, he nodded. ¡°She¡¯s safe. I checked on her a while ago.¡± ¡°That¡¯s... a relief.¡± A shallow smile finally appeared on Arian¡¯s lips. ¡°Then, what about Rebecca? Is she inside?¡± At Arian¡¯s question, Aiden shook his head. Then, he took her away from the front of the room where the child was staying and moved to another room. ¡°Rebecca is dead.¡± There, he briefly conveyed the story. Rebecca had eventually been infected with the zombie virus and sacrificed herself along with the Brutal to take him down. Arian¡¯s barely remaining smile vanished without a trace. Chapter 24 ¡°...¡± Arian remained silent for a moment. However, her silence didn¡¯t last long. As if it were her duty, Arian told Aiden about Diana¡¯s fate. Upon hearing this, Aiden nodded just once. ¡°Now there are only three left.¡± His voice saying so was overly plain. As if he had been expecting this tragedy all along. At that, Arian gave a subtle distorted look toward Aiden. ¡°Did you know they were going to die?¡± ¡°How could I know?¡± ¡°Then how can you be so indifferent about it...¡± Arian was about to say something more but ended up trailing off. The fact that zombies lost their emotions after turning into one dawned on her too late. Without saying anything else, she let out a deep sigh. Seeing Arian like that, Aiden spoke. ¡°It was a risky operation from the beginning. It¡¯s not surprising if there are casualties.¡± Arian¡¯s eyebrows only slightly furrowed at his following words. She was well aware of that. That¡¯s why, despite knowing how pitiful she looked, she even asked for Aiden¡¯s help. Arian also fought desperately. Even if the results were tragic, she had no regrets about the process. However, Arian felt pitiful for herself. Even though she proudly called herself a vampire, she couldn¡¯t win a single battle without the sacrifice of a comrade. But Aiden¡¯s dry voice simply reported the reality. ¡°So, focus on what¡¯s in front of you right now. The battle isn¡¯t over yet.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°The zombie horde is moving.¡± Aiden conveyed the situation he had grasped outside to Arian. Zombies from the city that had gathered around this hotel. As if they were trying to push all four thousand zombies into this one building. A look of shock spread on Arian¡¯s face upon hearing this. ¡°Is that true?¡± Instead of waiting for an answer, Arian approached the window first. The scenery overlooking from the top floor of the hotel was indeed as Aiden described. Zombies that had spread across the entire city were converging around this hotel. Fortunately, for now, the zombies were irregularly crowding in front of the hotel. However, Arian bit her lip. If those things really hit in earnest, even Arian wouldn¡¯t have the means to stop them. At that moment, Aiden continued speaking. ¡°Protect Sadie.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re considering escape, you¡¯re better suited for that than me.¡± Arian furrowed her brow at his words. It sounded as if he were entrusting Sadie to Arian, and he would bury himself here. ¡°Are you giving up?¡± ¡°No way. I¡¯m just preparing. If I fail, take Sadie and escape immediately.¡± ¡°That means... there¡¯s still something to try?¡± At Arian¡¯s words, Aiden nodded. ¡°I thought of something after hearing what you said.¡± From his belongings, Aiden took something out. It was a large sniper rifle that he had secured from the power plant. With a sniper rifle and a night vision scope, he continued talking. ¡°Didn¡¯t you said your Brutal avoided the explosion?¡± ¡°Yeah. So?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that strange? How did he know the bomb¡¯s location?¡± ¡°Well... you used it first. Also, you mentioned someone controlling zombies. That guy probably saw the explosion.¡± ¡°That¡¯s it.¡± Someone or something controlling zombies somewhere knew about the presence and power of the claymores set up on the emergency staircase. But conversely, it meant that he must be somewhere where the explosion could be seen. ¡°He is observing this hotel from somewhere. Moreover, he knows the exact floor where the explosion occurred.¡± At Aiden¡¯s words, a light of shock flickered in Arian¡¯s eyes. Now that she understood what Aiden was trying to say. ¡°I should have noticed it from the beginning. If there¡¯s a commander leading the zombies and he really controls them, he must be observing the entire Pittsburgh from somewhere.¡± ¡°Do you know such a place?¡± ¡°Of course. The building that meets those two conditions is the only one nearby. It¡¯s called... Steel Tower.¡± It was the tallest building in downtown Pittsburgh, with a total of 64 floors, making it a skyscraper. Furthermore, its location wasn¡¯t far from the hotel, a few blocks northwest. Whether in terms of distance or direction, the emergency staircase Aiden had been guarding was undoubtedly the best place to observe the entire downtown of Pittsburgh. ¡°I¡¯ll go to the rooftop. Just in case, you stay near Sadie.¡± ¡°But... did you happen to tell Sadie about this?¡± There was no need to ask what that meant. Aiden shook his head. It was not the right time to inform that child about her mother¡¯s death. ¡°...I understand.¡± Arian reluctantly accepted with a dark expression. With a nod of his head, Aiden parted ways with her and armed himself before heading to the rooftop. Arian silently watched him leave. * * * The rooftop of the hotel where Aiden arrived had a relatively unique structure. In the space usually filled with large air conditioner outdoor units, there were two or three medieval-style building structures connected by passageways. Moreover, there were long skylights facing inward in the front and back, creating a rooftop that would have boasted a splendid view if well-maintained, given the eerie moonlight now shining there. However, Aiden hid in the shadow that abruptly protruded from the rooftop building. The commander of the zombies somewhere in Steel Tower. He was undoubtedly observing this hotel from a higher place than here. So revealing himself easily might expose his sniper intentions, and if that happened, everything could turn into a fiasco. That¡¯s why Aiden didn¡¯t come out easily from the passageway. Instead, he took out the night vision scope and aimed it towards Steel Tower. ¡°...¡± Steel Tower was a black office building with hundreds of windows attached to its exterior. So, even if you knew that someone was hiding in the building, finding them wasn¡¯t such a simple task. However, Aiden calmly searched through the windows from the top floor and gradually worked his way down. ¡°...I found it.¡± On the 54th floor, descending from the top, Aiden discovered a figure standing outside the window. Examining the figure in detail, Aiden let out a bitter laugh. It was because the appearance of that ordinary zombie was no different from any other. As if he had set up a decoy, Aiden checked other windows just in case. However, only that one figure was visible in his field of vision. If Aiden¡¯s guess was correct, this seemingly ordinary zombie was the mastermind behind this massive disaster. ¡°...¡± Aiden¡¯s gaze became cold. Could it be? It was an appearance he wouldn¡¯t recognize even if it passed right before his eyes. Had mutations reached a point where they could no longer be distinguished by appearance alone? Aiden mulled over such thoughts while pushing forward with his preparations for sniping. He attached the detached scope back to the rifle and adjusted the sight. The distance to the target was about 300 meters. If it were a clear day with sharp visibility, Aiden could have considered sniping with just his naked eyes, considering the relatively short distance. ¡°...¡± The shape of the zombie appeared sharply in the scope. Aiden¡¯s finger wrapped around the trigger of the sniper rifle. And. Bang! The sharp gunshot and the hefty recoil shook Aiden¡¯s body. The feeling of the trigger in his hand was satisfactory. The recoil of the sniper rifle was also well-managed. There were no unexpected mistakes or disturbances during this shot. That¡¯s why Aiden was convinced of his success at that moment, and the image reflected in the scope confirmed that certainty. While constantly moving his head, observing outside the window, the head of the zombie that had been watching suddenly exploded into pieces. The body, which remained intact, leaned, then fell towards the broken window, dropping to the ground below. Even if he couldn¡¯t see the moment it hit the ground due to the building blocking his view, it didn¡¯t matter. If it had fallen from that height, the corpse would have scattered like a smashed watermelon. Even if not, there was no possibility of survival once the head had been blown off. Having thoroughly confirmed the process of death, Aiden finally looked away from the scope. However, victory couldn¡¯t be confirmed yet. Although the commander was dealt with, his army was still present. Aiden left the shadow of the building where he had been hiding and looked down below the rooftop railing. Until then, the countless zombies gathered in front of the hotel were still standing there. Unlike usual, they were like corpses frozen in place, making no sound or movement. Their appearance was like an army of corpses waiting only for the command to advance. ¡°Ki!¡± At that moment, one of the zombies suddenly made such a sound. It looked around in confusion, much like a delirious patient waking up from a dream. That was the beginning. As if a rock had been thrown into a calm pond, the zombies gathered around started showing similar behavior, awakening. ¡°This is...¡± Aiden muttered as he observed this. And soon, not only regular zombies but also mutants, one after another, started awakening. The anticipated event that Aiden was waiting for began. ¡°Ugh...¡± ¡°Kyaah!¡± A Bigfoot, awakened by hunger, swung its arm and knocked down a zombie next to it, tearing apart its upper body and devouring it. In response, the surrounding zombies collectively screamed, and, on the other side, a Brutal caused a commotion, sweeping through the area. Other zombies and mutants also went rampant, and in an instant, the small square where zombies had gathered turned into a chaotic battlefield. ¡°...¡± Aiden watched the scene for a moment, then turned away. With that situation, there was no need for Aiden to intervene any longer. The zombie army, now deprived of its commander, would soon disintegrate, and dangerous mutants would scatter when the morning sun rose. All that remained was to quietly deal with those flowing into the hotel until then and wait for sunrise. Aiden equipped himself and descended from the rooftop. As he did, Arian, who was waiting, looked at Aiden and reflected. ¡°Did you succeed?¡± Aiden nodded. Arian continued her questioning. ¡°But why is it so noisy outside?¡± ¡°The zombies that were gathered are fighting each other. Putting predators and prey in the same place, it¡¯s only natural.¡± Aiden conveyed the ongoing fight among the zombies outside. In response, Arian exhaled a long sigh, filled with relief. ¡°How is Sadie?¡± sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I put her to sleep for now.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t know if she¡¯s really sleeping. I haven¡¯t seen her for a few days, but she¡¯s a smart kid. Maybe... she knows everything.¡± Although he wanted to let her pass tonight without knowing anything, if the clever child noticed, there was no avoiding the inevitable. ¡°Do you need to rest?¡± ¡°I¡¯m good. How can I sleep on a night like this?¡± Arian sat down on the spot, hugging her knees. Arian, who had been staring blankly at the floor, spoke again. ¡°But... What are you going to do starting tomorrow?¡± ¡°I accepted Rebecca¡¯s request. So, I have to fulfill that.¡± There were two tasks that Rebecca entrusted to Aiden as a request. One was to deliver her will to her daughter. And the other... to find a survivor group that would take care of her daughter. For this reason, Aiden was planning to leave the city starting from tomorrow. ¡°What about you in that case?¡± ¡°I? Of course, I¡¯m going with you guys.¡± Aiden looked at Arian, asking for an explanation. ¡°It¡¯s natural. Sadie is my companion. Plus, she¡¯s a child. I can¡¯t just pretend not to know.¡± Aiden felt a small shock and a pleasant sensation along with that human response. As she said, at one point, offering a helping hand to the weak was an entirely natural thing. But when did it happen? In this ruined world, the expected had never occurred at all. Instead, only the opposite had been prevalent. Those with power oppressed the weak and even took away what they possessed. There were times when he didn¡¯t know what separated them from zombies. However, this girl, Arian, was different. Perhaps because she was a being from another world. Arian still possessed something lost in this world. ¡°Of course, that¡¯s not all. This is also for my own sake. Isn¡¯t it the same for you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Aiden affirmatively agreed with Arian¡¯s follow-up words. Even without the request, finding another survivor group was essential for the two of them. They needed human blood. But in this overflowing city of Pittsburgh, filled with countless zombies and mutants, not even a small group of survivors could survive anymore. So Aiden and Arian also had to leave this city. They also had a reason to contact another survivor group. ¡°Got it. Then let¡¯s leave together tomorrow.¡± ¡°Where are we going?¡± ¡°To the west.¡± ¡°Are you also heading to LA?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t plan to go that far. Just getting out of the east, there should be a city suitable for staying. Finding a survivor group where Sadie can settle down is the first priority.¡± Aiden and Arian talked about tomorrow¡¯s plans for a long time. As they did, when Aiden suddenly looked outside, he realized that the eastern sky was gradually brightening. Chapter 25 ¡°...I should start moving.¡± About an hour after the awaited sun had risen. As the clear morning arrived, Aiden got up from the dirty bed in the room where he had been sitting. He glanced out the window just in case, but there was no problem with the view from there. ¡°I¡¯ll go check the situation outside,¡± Aiden told Arian. Arian, who was sitting on a nearby sofa, let out a short sigh. ¡°Are you really okay alone?¡± Although Aiden said it briefly, the tasks he needed to accomplish on this outing weren¡¯t something he could handle alone. Scouting the path to the west, checking the available vehicles, and securing Rebecca¡¯s will and necessary supplies, among various heavy tasks. He had to perform multiple significant missions all at once. However, he casually nodded his head as if it was nothing. ¡°There¡¯s no problem on my side. Rather, how long can you last?¡± Arian frowned at Aiden¡¯s question. It was about blood. The blood she received from Diana yesterday was completely used up in the fight against the Brutal. This was because the Brutal was powerful, and Arian thought that fighting while saving blood for the sake of her friend¡¯s survival wasn¡¯t appropriate. Of course, she had no regrets about that decision. However, the problem was that Arian had almost no blood left immediately. So, with a cloudy expression, she opened her mouth. ¡°Tomorrow is the limit.¡± ¡°Hmm...¡± In response to that answer, Aiden simply let out a deep sigh. He also needed blood. The effectiveness of the neutralizer he injected would last only until today. If he couldn¡¯t find blood soon... the decay would start right away. However, realistically, obtaining blood from Pittsburgh, which was overwhelmed by zombie hordes, was an impossible task. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Furthermore, the option of using Sadie¡¯s blood wasn¡¯t available to them. There was an unspoken agreement between them not to touch the blood of the little girl, regardless of what happened, and that agreement had been reached in the early morning. So the best option was to leave Pittsburgh as soon as possible and find other people. ¡°I¡¯ll try to come back by the morning... at the latest, by 2 o¡¯clock in the afternoon.¡± ¡°Okay. Oh, and...¡± Arian hesitated to speak as he watched Aiden packing up his luggage. ¡°What?¡± ¡°That... now, I have to tell Sadie. About Rebecca and Diana.¡± ¡°Right. If it¡¯s too difficult for you, I can do it.¡± At Aiden¡¯s words, Arian shook her head. Informing a child about the death of her parents was undoubtedly a painful task. However, Arian wasn¡¯t cold-hearted enough to leave such a task to the emotionless zombie. ¡°Okay. Anyway, it¡¯s not something I should ask you to do.¡± Arian got up from her seat. At that moment, Aiden asked. ¡°But do you have clothes to change into?¡± The clothes Arian was currently wearing were in a mess from yesterday¡¯s fight. Arian looked at her clothes with an uncomfortable expression and then asked. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because someone has to hold a crying child.¡± Arian widened her eyes. ¡°You... are strangely delicate in unusual places.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve heard such a story.¡± ¡°Anyway, I understand what you mean. There were abandoned clothes in the room... I¡¯ll figure something out.¡± Aiden nodded. And leaving Arian, who began searching for clothes, behind, he immediately left the hotel. The small square in front of the hotel was quiet as if yesterday¡¯s events were a lie. The ordinary zombies were fleeing from the mutants trying to prey on them. And the mutants were chasing them, avoiding the sunlight, so all of them had left this place. However, Aiden didn¡¯t relax his tension and headed straight to the hiding place of Rebecca and her group. ¡°...¡± The large iron door of the hiding place was torn apart without any care. Also, the door leading to the underground inside was open with the lock broken. As expected, the zombie horde, which had been searching every building, didn¡¯t leave this small hiding place alone either. Aiden stepped inside. Fortunately, the zombies hadn¡¯t touched anything inside, like furniture. Thanks to that, Aiden was able to find Rebecca¡¯s will at the place she had instructed. A paper envelope with no writing on the outside. Aiden didn¡¯t bother to unfold it and carefully took it with him. And after searching the hiding place a little more, he found the necessary water and food and went outside. ¡°Next is...¡± He checked the motorcycle he had parked near the hiding place. Fortunately, the condition of the motorcycle was fine. Aiden checked the route to the west while riding it. There were no problems. Due to the influence of yesterday, the number of zombies inside the city had increased significantly, but he could easily avoid them. Also, thankfully, there were no signs of mutants along the route, and the vehicle he had stored at the western end was also in good condition. ¡°...¡± With this, the minimum safety for movement has been confirmed. Aiden could return to the hotel and join Arian and Sadie, but... Finally, Aiden decided to head south of Pittsburgh. The motorcycle roared back onto the almost ruined road. The destination was the Merchant Cooperative. Although time was somewhat pressing, Aiden had promised Anders that he would visit again. Riding the motorcycle through the city, Aiden traversed Pittsburgh from the west end to the south end. ¡°As expected... it turned out like this.¡± Arriving at the cooperative, Aiden looked around with a gaze that sank into the completely changed scenery. The terrain and roads were unchanged from yesterday, but the space where the cooperative had been was now completely transformed into ruins. The barricade that surrounded the warehouse and blocked the road was more than half collapsed. Also, the warehouse where supplies were stored had been partially demolished, revealing its interior. And in the area they had occupied, numerous bodies were scattered. It seemed that quite a fierce battle had taken place. Most of them were the remnants of zombies, including Brutals. Proving that the people here didn¡¯t just collapse without a fight in the face of the zombies. However, as Aiden checked the faces of some corpses lying among the zombies, he sighed. Most of them were the members of the cooperative who had been guarding the barricade until yesterday. ¡°...¡± Aiden slowly walked towards the ruins where the dead lay. Past the collapsed barricade, he headed towards the inside of the warehouse. As he went inside, the number of bodies increased. And when he stepped into the innermost part of the collapsed warehouse, Aiden could finally find the person he was looking for. ¡°Anders...¡± Fortunately or unfortunately, his corpse was relatively intact. Except for the part of his head blown off by gunfire, he was recognizable, even his face was intact. There were also many bodies of other members around. Looking at the scene, it seemed like Anders had fought with his members until the last moment after the barricade collapsed, facing the zombies crawling into the area. After probably the last comrade fell, he might have shot himself in the head to avoid turning into a zombie. ¡°...¡± After briefly mourning their deaths, Aiden collected the bodies of the members in one place. There was no time for a proper burial, but using the supplies stored in the warehouse, he could pour oil on top of them and perform a makeshift cremation. Later, the bodies gathered by Aiden... were only about 30 in total. Compared to the original gang numbers, it was less than half, but the rest were torn apart to the point of being unrecognizable or not visible at all. Finally, Aiden lifted Anders¡¯ body. However, with a clinking sound, something hanging from his waist caught his eye. It was... a stainless steel flask, only the size of a palm, known as a ¡®hip flask,¡¯ that Anders used to carry around. On it was roughly engraved ¡®To Aiden¡¯ with a knife. ¡°This...¡± It seemed that Anders had anticipated Aiden¡¯s return here. Aiden picked up the flask. The liquid inside was clearly sloshing. Why would Anders leave such a thing for him? With such questions in mind, Aiden opened the flask and dabbed a bit of the liquid on his hand. What was inside was not the vodka that Anders commonly drank in his lifetime. ¡°Ha...¡± As Aiden looked at the red liquid on his fingertips, he let out a bitter smile. It was blood. This born merchant had predicted the most inconvenient resource that Aiden would lack even at the moment of his death and left it here as a payment for organizing his and his comrades¡¯ funerals. As if handing him a final request. Upon this realization, a lonely and faint smile appeared on Aiden¡¯s lips. ¡°I¡¯ll accept it gratefully. Well then, rest in peace.¡± Aiden took the flask and placed Anders¡¯ corpse beside his comrades. He poured the oil stored in the warehouse over them and set it on fire. In an instant, a huge flame engulfed the traces left by the deceased. Aiden gazed at the flames for a moment, then turned his head. Now was the time to return. * * * ¡°...You¡¯re back?¡± As Aiden returned to the 25th floor of the hotel, Arian, who was standing in the corridor, reacted. Having noticed that her expression was strangely dark, Aiden asked her. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Well...¡± Arian hesitated and explained the situation. According to her, she informed Sadie of the deaths of Rebecca and Diana, but Sadie didn¡¯t show a big reaction. ¡°She looked sad, but didn¡¯t shed a tear. Still, she insisted she was okay, just like... you.¡± ¡°Hmm....¡± Upon hearing this, Aiden sighed. Was it because she was too young to understand death? It probably wasn¡¯t the case, Aiden thought to himself as he shook his head. Even though Sadie was a young child, she must have experienced numerous deaths over the past three years. Moreover, she had already lost her father before coming to Pittsburgh. So, saying that she couldn¡¯t understand death was simply unreasonable. Furthermore, Sadie was a clever child. Then... perhaps it was the opposite. As Aiden pondered this, Arian impatiently opened her mouth. ¡°What should we do?¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do.¡± ¡°What do you mean...?¡± ¡°In a world like this, do you think there¡¯s a way to comfort a child who lost her parents?¡± Arian fell silent at Aiden¡¯s words. According to Aiden¡¯s perspective, this wasn¡¯t a problem that others could solve. All they could do was hope that the child would accept it and overcome it on her own. Arian sighed heavily. However, Aiden spoke calmly. ¡°So, let¡¯s hope that the words Rebecca left behind will be her source of strength.¡± ¡°Oh... a will! Did you bring it?¡± Aiden nodded and pulled a small envelope from his pocket. ¡°I¡¯ll bring it right away. Is there no problem?¡± ¡°Yeah. Probably... it should be okay.¡± Aiden opened the door to the room where Sadie was staying. Sadie was sitting quietly on the sofa in the corner of the room. ¡°...¡± The atmosphere of the child was deeply subdued. And her eyes were clearly filled with tears. Perhaps she hadn¡¯t shown these tears in front of Arian, and she was quietly shedding them alone now. Aiden inwardly felt relieved at that fact. Fortunately, there were no signs of psychological issues. Sadie was just using an unchildlike self-control to desperately hide her sorrow. Aiden approached Sadie with Rebecca¡¯s letter and held it out to her. ¡°What¡¯s this...?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a letter left by your mother.¡± ¡°A letter...¡± Sadie¡¯s mouth opened slightly. The child¡¯s hands trembled. She slowly took the envelope with her small hands. After a while of just caressing the empty envelope, Sadie finally took out what was inside and spread it out in front of her. ¡°This is...¡± What was inside were three pages of a letter. However, the contents were somewhat different from Arian¡¯s expectations. It wasn¡¯t about comforting Sadie, encouraging her not to lose hope, or any other words of encouragement. It was a set of survival guidelines tailored to Sadie¡¯s situation, reflecting the techniques Rebecca had accumulated over the three years of survival. What to do and what not to do. How to procure food. How to deal with people. How Sadie should live after her death. Rebecca¡¯s true testament to her beloved daughter amounted to just three lines, pleading for her to survive somehow. It was like urging the girl who had lost her parents to quickly get up and move on. Seeing this, Arian turned her head with a heavy heart. She couldn¡¯t easily understand why Rebecca left such a letter. However... ¡°...¡± Aiden¡¯s thoughts, watching this from the side, were completely different from Arian¡¯s. Rebecca was indeed a wise mother. She was facing the despair that Sadie would face if she died. So, she was confronting Sadie with numerous tasks. Not to think about anything else, not to sink into sadness, just to be busy floundering. And that was the maximum comfort she could give to Sadie in the situation. If there were immediate tasks to do, sadness and despair could be postponed. By putting it off like that, someday... even those overwhelming emotions would gradually fade. This was a farewell letter containing Rebecca¡¯s wishes. She hoped that her remaining daughter wouldn¡¯t give up on herself. ¡°...¡± Did Sadie understand that intention? Even after reading the letter, Sadie remained silent for a while. She simply bowed her head and stayed quiet. Her eyes seemed moist, as if tears could fall at any moment. Her lips trembled like a quivering willow, but no tears came out. She was enduring the surging emotions. For a mere 10-year-old child, it was an incredible display of restraint that was hard to believe. While Arian looked at Sadie with a complicated gaze... ¡°If you want to cry, you can cry.¡± Aiden said so in front of her. Knowing how to restrain emotions to this extent was a talent necessary for survival. However, Aiden was aware that enduring it might not always be the best option. It wasn¡¯t just a vague saying. Above all, from a psychological standpoint, it was true. ¡°This place is safe. And the people here are safe too. So... there¡¯s no need to endure it now.¡± Aiden¡¯s gloved hand gently touched Sadie¡¯s shoulder. At that moment, tears flowed from Sadie¡¯s eyes. And... ¡°U-uhh...¡± Finally, the dam of emotions crumbled. Sadie¡¯s sobbing turned into weeping, and eventually into wailing. Arian hugged Sadie. In Arian¡¯s embrace, Sadie cried for a long time. Chapter 26 Some time later. It was now just past noon. The clear, bright sunlight poured through the dusty window, catching the edge of Sadie¡¯s clothing as she bowed her head. The room, once filled with the child¡¯s cries, had already quieted down. However, for a while, no one found it easy to speak, and the one to break the strange silence was Aiden. ¡°Have you calmed down now?¡± His low voice quietly resonated in the air. At this, Sadie, who had been embraced by Arian until then, finally separated from Arian. Then, she nodded slightly. ¡°Now, lift your head and look at me.¡± ¡°...¡± Sadie¡¯s gaze turned to him. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Aiden carefully observed Sadie¡¯s condition. Her green eyes were still moist, like a lake, and her expression couldn¡¯t be described as cheerful, even falsely so. It was a natural reaction. How could one easily shake off the deaths of a mother and a close sister with just one bout of weeping? But that was enough. From Sadie, there wasn¡¯t a sense of emotions beyond common sense or pathological feelings. Therefore, Aiden spoke. ¡°Alright. Then, I will tell you what you need to know. Is that okay?¡± ¡°...Yes.¡± Continuing, he explained the details of the task he had discussed with Rebecca to Sadie. Sadie¡¯s pupils shook briefly at the mention of another task left by her mother. ¡°Of course, I am determined to carry out this task. However, only if you agree.¡± Although Aiden valued the task, it wasn¡¯t the only criterion for his actions. The one who had taken on the task was no longer Rebecca, but Sadie. If she refused the task, even Aiden had no intention of forcibly accompanying her. ¡°And there are at least some conditions.¡± It meant that until Sadie found another group of survivors to settle with, she had to follow Aiden¡¯s instructions. ¡°Yes, I will.¡± Sadie replied without hesitation. With the final confirmation, Aiden continued his explanation. ¡°Now, let me explain today¡¯s schedule. We are going to leave this city, Pittsburgh.¡± Aiden explained the planned schedule to Sadie. It was a detailed explanation, even showing on the map why and which route they would take. Sadie didn¡¯t understand everything, but she still focused on his words. ¡°As soon as we collect all the supplies left in the hotel, we will leave. It will take about 10 minutes, so wait here for a moment.¡± After finishing the explanation, Aiden went outside. Arian followed him closely. Standing in the corridor, she looked at Aiden with a stern face. ¡°Why did you explain in so much detail? She doesn¡¯t seem to understand anything.¡± ¡°She needs to learn now.¡± ¡°Then teach her properly.¡± Aiden shrugged off Arian¡¯s continued dissatisfaction with a blank expression. He took out a bottle of alcohol brought from the cooperative. ¡°Rather, take this.¡± ¡°What¡¯s this... blood?¡± Arian recoiled at the scent of blood emanating from the bottle. Aiden nodded. ¡°It seems to be what Anders left just before he died. Probably, he anticipated that I would come.¡± Hearing that, Arian looked at Aiden with a complex expression. Although she didn¡¯t have much connection with Anders, she already knew that Anders was Aiden¡¯s friend. ¡°What about you? Don¡¯t you need it?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve used as much as I needed.¡± ¡°Really...?¡± The bottle itself wasn¡¯t large, but more than half of it was filled with blood. Even if the bottle was full, it meant that Aiden hadn¡¯t used much. However, Arian hesitated for a moment, then opened the lid of the bottle. Though it mixed with the scent of the original rum, the blood had a subtle taste. ¡°This should help me endure another day.¡± ¡°Then, let¡¯s get ready to move.¡± Aiden took back the empty bottle and moved quickly. He collected items scattered around the hotel, and as soon as the task was done, he took Sadie outside the hotel. ¡°I¡¯ll guide you on the way. Although there are no signs of mutants, there are quite a few zombies. Move carefully and stay alert.¡± He said as he got on the motorcycle. Aiden used the motorcycle to move slowly until he reached the vehicle, and Arian decided to follow behind with Sadie. It was because of the luggage. Considering what they needed from hiding places, the cooperative, and the supplies left in the hotel, they needed a means of transportation. That¡¯s how the group moved to the prepared vehicle. From the city center of Pittsburgh to the western end, about a two-hour walk. During that time, they encountered zombies several times, but since it was a route Aiden had scouted in advance, and Arian, who could identify zombies, was with them, they didn¡¯t face any dangerous situations. Thus, they safely arrived at the vehicle. Route 60, crossing from Pittsburgh to the Crafton area. In a deserted small residential area along the road, there was a gray van. It was a fairly large 6-seater van. While it might seem somewhat large for Aiden, Arian, and Sadie, considering the items they needed to bring, it wasn¡¯t that spacious. Aiden first loaded the things he brought into it. While doing so, he checked the supplies one last time. The food and water from the hiding place and the cooperative were relatively abundant. With this amount, they could endure for at least two weeks without doing anything. Also, the 20L plastic container with two gallons of gasoline was also a sufficient amount, and there was no shortage of medicine. However, disposable weapons were lacking. The ammunition and bombs from the power plant were almost used up last night. The only remaining ammunition was about 30 rounds of pistol ammunition. It was regrettable that the weapons left at the power plant yesterday were left behind. However, going back to the power plant was too dangerous in the now zombie-infested Pittsburgh. Confirming this, Aiden suddenly turned to Sadie. It was because he remembered the disease she might be suffering from. ¡°Did you take the medicine today?¡± ¡°Yes, I did.¡± Sadie had been carrying the tuberculosis medicine in a small bag since leaving the hiding place. Satisfied with Sadie¡¯s obvious answer, Aiden nodded. ¡°Then, get in the car. Let¡¯s depart right away.¡± Having finished the preparations to leave, Aiden turned toward the driver¡¯s seat. However, after a moment, he looked back. There was the motorcycle he had ridden here. The worn-out motorcycle he had used for the past three years in Pittsburgh. While it would undoubtedly be useful when he operated alone, it was no longer an item to take now that the group had formed. Therefore, Aiden decided to leave the motorcycle behind and pushed it deep into the open garage nearby. Then, he carefully covered it with a waterproof cover that was scattered nearby. ¡°...¡± Even if Aiden were to return to Pittsburgh at some point, it was unlikely. However, he thought it wasn¡¯t right to let the motorcycle be abandoned, exposed to rain and rusting. Was it an obsession not to easily discard available items? Or was it a remaining sentiment for him? With such questions, Aiden, who had parted with his long-time partner, took the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°Is it uncomfortable for you?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m fine.¡± Arian, sitting in the passenger seat, was concerned about Sadie in the back seat. With the sound of the engine starting, the car moved. The car continued through the small residential area, and Arian, who had finally relieved her tension, spoke: ¡°We¡¯re heading to a place called Canton, right?¡± Aiden nodded. Canton was a small city northwest of Pittsburgh. Going further north, there was the major city of Cleveland, about 160 km away from Pittsburgh. ¡°I heard there¡¯s a group of survivors we traded with last year.¡± Simply looking at the direction and distance, if they headed straight west, they could go to the city of Columbus, where there was a larger group of survivors. However, most roads leading west from Pittsburgh were blocked or occupied by specific gangs. So, just like Aiden did a year ago, he chose a safer but longer route. ¡°Is it safe there?¡± ¡°I witnessed it when I visited.¡± At that time, the organization occupying Canton wasn¡¯t a group that could be called a gang. What was there was a group of survivors who had gathered just to survive, literally. So, they were people who lived more focused on exploration than looting. Moreover, the leader who led them was a person Aiden found trustworthy enough. ¡°Hmm... So, are you planning to leave Sadie there?¡± Arian, who was listening to the explanation, asked. Upon hearing that, Aiden nodded honestly. ¡°This is one of the candidates I¡¯ve considered. The organization has a reasonable size, and, above all, they are people with common sense. You don¡¯t need to worry too much.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t know until you meet them.¡± Arian responded quietly and stared out the window blankly. They traveled for about an hour on the road. Then, the forest path and fields that had continued for a while disappeared, and the buildings that had become ruins gradually increased again. It wasn¡¯t time to arrive in Canton yet. So, Arian turned to Aiden. ¡°Where are we?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the Chester area.¡± ¡°Is it safe?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t say it¡¯s completely safe, but... we have no choice. The bridge to cross the Ohio River is here.¡± To reach their destination, Canton, they must cross the Ohio River, which extends from Pittsburgh. Except for bridges that are broken or too far, the only remaining bridge was the one in Chester. Originally, Chester was a place where a small riverside village was formed around the bridge. Therefore, naturally, there could be zombies here, and it was also a place where wanderers often came to find supplies. It meant that they could encounter unwelcome individuals. Before entering the riverside village, Aiden stopped the car for a moment. He slightly moved away from the road and half-buried the vehicle in the bushes. ¡°I¡¯ll check the situation first. I¡¯ll be back within 30 minutes.¡± Since it was too dangerous to drive through here, Aiden chose reconnaissance, even though it was inconvenient. Arian nodded, and Sadie also added a word of caution. ¡°Hmm...¡± Aiden, armed with a pistol and a helmet, got out of the driver¡¯s seat. The bright and sunny afternoon sunlight shone on the dirty road. Although the city made by humans had collapsed, the saplings growing on top of it sparkled in the light. In this contradictory scenery, Aiden walked forward silently. The road leading to the entrance of the village was eerily quiet. The first thing they saw was a gas station. There, too, there was no sign of any popularity. So, they went a little further into the village. They passed under the bridge they had to cross. And then. ¡°There¡¯s something.¡± Aiden discovered something. Several bodies were sprawled across the straight road. Aiden, who reflexively hid behind the abandoned vehicle behind him and held his breath, stared at them. There were exactly four bodies visible at the moment. The condition of their clothing was relatively intact. Moreover, what flowed from the bodies was clearly red blood. It meant that they weren¡¯t zombies but the corpses of people. Furthermore, considering that the blood hadn¡¯t completely dried, it must have been about a day at most. ¡°...¡± Aiden, cautiously glancing around, slowly walked toward the bodies. The closest one was an unknown man who died with a gunshot wound to the chest. There were a few empty shell casings around him, but his gun wasn¡¯t visible. Clearly, those who killed them must have collected the weapons. ¡°Hmm...¡± After confirming that much, Aiden adjusted the danger level of this town in his mind. The noise of a battle attracts hungry zombies and greedy wanderers. So, even if it were a large gang, it was common sense not to stay in a place that made a loud noise for a long time unless it was their main base. In other words, if there was already a battle here, the city was likely to be empty now. But then. Thud! Suddenly, a sound came from inside a house by the side of the road. Aiden aimed his gun in that direction before saying a word. Did those who fought here still lurk here? A momentary confusion passed through Aiden¡¯s mind. It was because he didn¡¯t predict such an inefficient act in this desolate street. However, contrary to such worries, there was no sign of any person anywhere. So, Aiden slowly surveyed the surroundings, entered the house where the sound was heard. ¡°...¡± Soon, under the window, he could find a man sitting on the floor covered in blood. Chapter 27 He might be in his late twenties. He was a Latin man with black hair. There was no need to ask why he was hiding in a place like this. His clothes were soaked with blood, flowing down from around his calves. Was he shot by a bullet? Even at a glance, the amount of bleeding was quite substantial. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fortunately, he wasn¡¯t about to die immediately, but if left untreated, he wouldn¡¯t last long. ¡°...¡± The man with such conditions stared at Aiden with a face full of hostility. However, he didn¡¯t have a weapon in his hands. Considering that, Aiden, who judged the man not to be much of a threat, slowly lowered his gun. ¡°...Name?¡± ¡°...¡± The man didn¡¯t answer Aiden¡¯s question. Instead, he stared silently at Aiden with a face twisted in hostility. That gaze... was literally like dealing with an enemy. ¡°I don¡¯t know what misunderstanding you have, but I¡¯m just a junk dealer passing through here.¡± ¡°A junk dealer...?¡± Suspicious, the man looked at Aiden¡¯s motorcycle helmet. There were no more words. Perhaps he intended to refuse the conversation. ¡°If you don¡¯t intend to talk... well, it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Muttering like that, Aiden turned his back. He had already roughly grasped the situation. There was no urgent need for help from this man. So, there was no need to bother with continuing the conversation. Thinking that way, as Aiden tried to go out again, a desperate voice suddenly burst out from behind. ¡°Wait, just a moment!¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Romano! I¡¯m Antonio Romano.¡± Only after hearing the man¡¯s name did Aiden finally stop and turn around. However, Antonio, who introduced himself as such, still looked somewhat suspicious and questioned. ¡°Really... You¡¯re not allied with those bastards?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I say no?¡± With Aiden¡¯s firm response, Antonio swallowed his breath for a moment. ¡°Ah... phew...¡± He soon wiped his face with his hand, relieved. Looking at the ground for a moment with vacant eyes, Antonio raised his head again. ¡°I see. I apologize for the misunderstanding. Did you say you¡¯re a junk dealer?¡± From there, the man¡¯s attitude toward Aiden changed. Naturally, but somewhat inexplicably, a humble smile appeared on his face. It was a smile that was familiar to Aiden, who had always received requests from someone. ¡°Call me Aiden Lee.¡± That was probably a hint that this man had a request to make. Given the situation he was in, what the request was, was too obvious. Therefore, before Antonio could continue speaking, Aiden quickly threw a question. ¡°All right, Romano. Can you explain what happened here?¡± ¡°...¡± Antonio¡¯s expression clouded for a moment. But soon, he sighed and began to talk. ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll tell you.¡± He was a member of a survivor group traveling from Pittsburgh to Canton. There were five members in his group, and yesterday afternoon, they passed through here and had a confrontation with other survivors. As a result, Antonio was the only one left alive. ¡°After seeing us, they suddenly started shooting. And they killed Anne. And John, too!¡± ¡°Do you know who those bastards were?¡± ¡°No. There were almost twenty of them, and they were all people we had never seen before.¡± Aiden pondered for a moment at his words. If the number was over twenty, they weren¡¯t ordinary wanderers. Then... were they part of a gang? Also, all the bodies scattered outside were apparently Antonio¡¯s comrades. Aiden let out a short sigh and asked another question. ¡°You came from Pittsburgh?¡± ¡°Yes. Aren¡¯t you the same?¡± Antonio asked naturally. If you call yourself a junk dealer passing through this place, you can only think of being from Pittsburgh. Aiden nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. But why did you leave Pittsburgh?¡± ¡°Because it was hard to survive there. If you¡¯re from there, you know there¡¯s nothing left in that city, right?¡± Antonio replied nonchalantly. Judging by his expression, it seemed that he had no idea about the zombie horde that attacked Pittsburgh yesterday. Just lucky to have avoided that disaster. But considering what happened afterward, he couldn¡¯t just be a lucky guy. At that moment, Antonio, with a sound, coughed out a fake cough. ¡°By the way... Are you a doctor?¡± Antonio looked at Aiden¡¯s name tag around his neck and the faded white coat he was wearing, then spoke. As Aiden nodded, Antonio reflected for a moment and continued. ¡°It¡¯s fortunate. I have a request for you.¡± ¡°Do you want me to treat you?¡± ¡°First aid would be sufficient. And please take me to Canton.¡± Aiden let out a short sigh at those words. Of course, it was a request that he could fulfill on both accounts. Aiden already had the means to stop the bleeding, and the destination was clear. It wasn¡¯t a difficult request, but Antonio didn¡¯t have anything significant to offer in return. ¡°So, what can you provide?¡± It was the immediate question about the compensation for the request. The meager supplies they and Antonio¡¯s group had were taken by unknown attackers a long time ago. Even the human blood, which Aiden¡¯s group needed, couldn¡¯t be obtained from Antonio at the moment. He had already lost a considerable amount of blood. Drawing more blood from him could lead to his death. ¡°If we go to Canton, I know someone there.¡± ¡°...Not very convincing.¡± Aiden muttered in a low voice. It wasn¡¯t the first time someone had lied with such a trivial story. And like those people, Antonio also raised his voice. ¡°It¡¯s not a lie!¡± ¡°Then what¡¯s that person¡¯s name?¡± Aiden asked, looking at Antonio. But right after that, what came out of his mouth was unexpectedly a name Aiden already knew. ¡°Avery Roberts!¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Avery Roberts is my cousin. And she¡¯s the leader of Canton. I used to live there originally. I came to Pittsburgh due to some circumstances, but it wasn¡¯t a bad parting. If you take me there, she¡¯ll surely reward you.¡± Aiden was familiar with the name Avery Roberts. She was the leader of the survivor group in Canton, and Aiden had met her in person. ¡°Then you can answer this question.¡± So, Aiden threw questions about Avery Roberts¡¯s appearance, like height, skin color, hair color, etc., to confirm Antonio¡¯s claim. The answers that Antonio promptly provided matched Aiden¡¯s memory. ¡°Hmm...¡± Aiden let out a short sigh. If he was indeed Avery Roberts¡¯s cousin, it wasn¡¯t a bad deal. There were many things to do in Canton, from trading goods to, if necessary, taking on a request to deal with a Sadie. If he could gain their favor by helping Antonio first, even if he had to disregard the compensation for the request, it would be an acceptable story. But the problem was the possibility of it being a lie. Even if it was a simple lie that would be easily exposed, Antonio would be desperate in the current situation. So, Aiden, thinking to see how things unfolded, casually said something without much thought. ¡°...Fine. I¡¯ll take the request.¡± In the end, that¡¯s how Aiden responded. The potential gains from the truth were much greater than the potential losses from a lie. ¡°Nearby, the car I came in is with the group. Let¡¯s go there first. Can you stand?¡± At Aiden¡¯s words, Antonio, who had been sitting on the ground, grabbed the window frame, groaning as he struggled to stand. Barely on his feet, he looked at Aiden with a pained expression and said: ¡°But... can¡¯t you lend me some support?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t do that.¡± Aiden refused flatly. Antonio sighed disappointedly. Wasn¡¯t it too harsh to refuse such an easy request? As Antonio had such thoughts, Aiden, weighing the pros and cons in his mind, soon opened his mouth again. ¡°However... you might find this useful.¡± Aiden picked up an iron rod lying nearby and handed it to him. ¡°If it¡¯s too uncomfortable, you can use this like a crutch.¡± ¡°Yes. Thank you.¡± Holding it like a crutch, Antonio began to walk with a limping gait. And so, they left the quiet village, heading towards the road where the car was parked. Upon seeing Aiden, Arian opened the passenger side door and came out first. ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± Arian asked with a suspicious look. Aiden explained the situation to Arian and Sadie. ¡°I got a request like this. Is it okay with you guys?¡± Aiden asked the group. Although it had been agreed in advance that Aiden would lead this small group, he was worried that they might resent his unilateral decision. However, Arian responded as if it were nothing. ¡°It¡¯s fine. He doesn¡¯t seem to have any weapons, and if he¡¯s just an ordinary human, there shouldn¡¯t be any danger.¡± If someone else had said it, it would have been an incredibly arrogant statement, but to her, a vampire, it wasn¡¯t necessarily wrong. So, Aiden simply nodded. ¡°I¡¯m okay with it too. In fact... I think it¡¯s a good thing.¡± Sadie also responded positively. Was she saying that helping those in need is a good thing, or was it advantageous to take on requests like Aiden? He couldn¡¯t tell for sure, but Aiden gladly accepted the group¡¯s permission. ¡°Got it. Arian, can you help me a bit?¡± Aiden took out the medicines from the vehicle. However, for treating the man¡¯s wounds and performing basic first aid, he relied entirely on Arian¡¯s hands. Since he was a zombie, he couldn¡¯t touch the wounds. ¡°...!¡± Meanwhile, as Arian locked eyes with Antonio, he shivered. There was an unsettling discomfort because of her reddish eyes, as if blood tears were flowing from them. Perhaps he was a sensitive human. Arian, wearing only a subtle smile even at Antonio¡¯s reaction, completed the first aid. Afterward, the group resumed their journey. Vroom- The car drove onto a bridge over a river. There were a few obstacles scattered on the bridge, but nothing obstructed their passage. So, they crossed the bridge and safely left the small riverside village without encountering any unwelcome visitors. From here, a somewhat tedious but relatively safe forest path continued. Thanks to this, the vehicle could move forward smoothly. ¡°Why is that?¡± Aiden asked, puzzled by Antonio¡¯s gaze that seemed to question him. ¡°Well, that¡¯s... why are you driving with a helmet on?¡± ¡°It¡¯s better if you don¡¯t know.¡± Arian¡¯s response came. It¡¯s better not to know. That was exactly the right answer. It was better for Antonio not to know that Aiden gripping the steering wheel right beside him wasn¡¯t a person but a zombie. So, Aiden continued driving without saying anything, and Antonio grinned as if he couldn¡¯t understand the words. In this way, they arrived in Canton after two more hours. The quiet forest ended, revealing a plain. Built on it were low and wide buildings like warehouses. They lined along the road, indicating that they were entering the city. ¡°Finally...!¡± Entering Canton, Antonio felt the most relieved. In a situation where he could die at any moment, he was fortunate to meet Aiden¡¯s group and come this far, so his joy was understandable. However, unlike Antonio, Aiden, with a sharp voice, said: ¡°But... it¡¯s a bit strange.¡± Saying so, Aiden slowed down the speed of the car. Then Antonio turned to look at him. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°No signs are visible.¡± ¡°Signs? Ah, now that you mention it...¡± Usually, survivor groups or gangs occupying a certain area leave specific marks to indicate their territory. It serves as a warning to intruders or visitors that this is the land of someone. However, although Aiden¡¯s group was driving on a major road entering Canton, they couldn¡¯t see those signs. And then. ¡°Look over there.¡± Aiden pointed at something, and the vehicle stopped. It was a makeshift checkpoint on both sides of the road. It looked shabby with worn-out cloths, but it had a solid structure with barriers to stop bullets, watchtowers, and even shallow trenches. However, the checkpoint wasn¡¯w empty. It was not just empty; the remaining signs were almost invisible, washed away by rain. It looked like it hadn¡¯t been maintained for several months, even at a glance. ¡°Something seems to be wrong.¡± With that, Aiden stopped the vehicle before entering the residential area beyond the checkpoint. It was near a small commercial building next to the road. Confused, Antonio opened his mouth. ¡°Aren¡¯t we going any further?¡± ¡°At least, we need to see what¡¯s going on. If there¡¯s no problem, we¡¯ll enter the base immediately.¡± Aiden remembered that the survivor group in Canton used the grounds of a university as their base. And in front of it was a wide residential area connected to the university. If the survivor group was still intact, the adjacent residential area would also be safe. But now, something seemed to have happened to them, so the safety of the road ahead was uncertain. So, moving forward from here was dangerous itself. It was impossible to tell if there were zombies or humans hiding in the residential area. Considering this, Aiden turned to look at the back seat. ¡°Arian, guard the vehicle.¡± This time, he was planning to go on reconnaissance alone. It was an unavoidable decision. There was a way to take everyone along, but there was no need to invest so many people in a simple reconnaissance mission. Moreover, leaving the resources in the vehicle unattended wasn¡¯t an option. ¡°Got it. Leave it to me.¡± ¡°Be careful.¡± After the group¡¯s response, Aiden nodded and immediately grabbed his handgun and dagger before stepping outside. Then, beyond the abandoned guard post, a gray residential area that seemed to have slumped appeared before him. Chapter 28 ¡°...¡± The residential area where Aiden entered was surprisingly open, considering the many houses gathered there. A wide yard with no fences on either side lay on both sides of the road. Moreover, except for a few trees, the place was covered with overgrown weeds, offering an unobstructed view for Aiden. ¡°Hmm...¡± As he walked towards such a residential area, he naturally peered into the abandoned interiors of the houses. Originally painted in various colors, the two-story houses had all turned uniformly gray. Inside the broken windows, a clutter of miscellaneous items was scattered. Most of the cabinets and such were open, showing signs of being rummaged through multiple times. It was probably the result of the survivor group here conducting resource searches multiple times. Aiden quickly scanned one such house and continued walking. The vacant residential area extended for a long time. For a while, it was quiet, as if no zombies or humans were around. The only things moving were the weeds and leaves swaying in the wind. The sense of crisis that had attacked a little while ago now felt like a dream. However, when Aiden entered the center of the residential area. ¡°...¡± The sight of a figure standing alone in one corner of a yard brought Aiden back to reality. It was a zombie. Aiden opened the visor of his helmet and approached the zombie. The creature quickly noticed Aiden¡¯s presence but turned its head away after seeing the decaying flesh. While the zombie ignored Aiden, he stared intently at the object hanging on the zombie¡¯s back. It was carrying a rifle. The barrel was rusted, perhaps left neglected for a long time. However, aside from that, Aiden was concerned about the presence of the rifle and the zombie¡¯s location. Now, it wasn¡¯t far from the university where the survivor group had stayed. But a zombie with a rifle seen here... it seemed like an ominous sign, as if implying a grim ending. Upon this realization, Aiden briefly licked his lips and quickened his pace. The number of visible zombies gradually increased. The barely long residential street ended, and the university site, which resembled a wide plain, appeared. ¡°Tsk...¡± Elon University. Aiden clicked his tongue as he looked at the place that was once called that. Until he visited a year ago, the place resembled a small fortress with walls erected here and there between the buildings. But now one side of the wall was completely gone. Also, inside there were several zombies similar to those he had seen a moment ago, staring into space. Aiden frowned, as the miserable scene looked very similar to the last appearance of the merchant cooperative he had seen in Pittsburgh. Aiden stepped onto the barricade lying on the ground and entered the university grounds. Immediately, a horde of dozens of zombies came into sight. This much was left unattended outside the building... It was a considerable number. If one were to count the entire university grounds, it would probably be at least in the hundreds. At this rate, the fate of the survivor group that had been here was obvious without thinking. The cause was unknown, but they had ultimately collapsed. ¡°...¡± What should he do now? A dilemma crossed Aiden¡¯s mind. If the survivor group in Canton was gone, there was no reason for Aiden¡¯s group to stay in this city. But even so, he couldn¡¯t leave the city right away. The sun would set in a few hours. It was too late to head to another city at this hour. So, whether he liked it or not, they had to stay in Canton today. In that case... it might be good to explore the remaining resources. Having reached this conclusion, Aiden passed by the zombies and entered the university grounds. Without realizing it, a pistol was now held in his hand. Among the various buildings on the grounds, Aiden, recalling past memories, headed for the warehouse where the survivor group used to store supplies. The location was the library in the center of the university grounds. Once a place where humanity¡¯s knowledge was stored, now reduced to being used as a warehouse. However, the zombie guarding the entrance to that warehouse was a familiar face. ¡°Avery Roberts...¡± She was once the leader of the survivors here. Was she unable to escape when the crisis hit this place? It wasn¡¯t anything strange. She was one of the personalities who could be trusted, as Aiden evaluated her. So, she probably tried to face the danger for the group she led, and this was the result. ¡°...Good people always seem to die first.¡± Muttering bitterly, Aiden slowly drew his dagger. A short sigh escaped his lips. It wasn¡¯t necessary, and it wasn¡¯t a meaningful task, but Aiden was trying to take what they had left behind. So, at the very least, it seemed appropriate to offer them some kind of repayment. With that thought in mind, Aiden promptly thrust his dagger into the zombie¡¯s jaw. ¡°Ki-¡° The lifeless body of Avery Roberts, along with the dagger, fell silent. Aiden propped her against the library wall, making sure she wouldn¡¯t move anymore, and turned away. ¡°...Excuse me.¡± After dealing with Avery Roberts¡¯s remains, Aiden entered the library. It wasn¡¯t a place where a significant amount of supplies had been stored from the beginning. Because they preferred not to engage in combat, the group mainly focused on exploration, and resources were never abundant. Perhaps because of that. ¡°There¡¯s not much to salvage.¡± Aiden murmured with a slight complaint after circling the library. The small amount of food in the corner had decayed long ago, and there was no sign of medication. Moreover, there were no weapons left, not even a single bullet. Perhaps... someone had already been here. Maybe it was the work of someone among those who were here. Of course, there was still a harvest. He found a bottle of purification tablets near the decaying food. With just this, contaminated water could become drinkable, so it wasn¡¯t a meager harvest at all. However, the fact that Aiden couldn¡¯t see any of the items he needed made him uneasy. ¡°...It can¡¯t be helped.¡± After searching once more and finding nothing, Aiden gave up any lingering hope and left. It was already time for the sunset. Now he had to find a temporary shelter to spend the night. That¡¯s why Aiden returned to the vehicle with his group. He traversed the long residential area, retracing his steps. There were no apparent threats along the way. However. ¡°That¡¯s...!¡± When he returned to the car, unexpected guests were present. Two elderly people, whose names were unknown, were approaching the vehicle, aiming their guns inside. Aiden quickly hid in the shadows of a building, aiming his gun at one of the old people. Whether to pull the trigger or not, a moment of hesitation crossed his mind. Even if he killed one and immediately took down the next, it would take at least a few seconds. During that time, the other could open fire towards the vehicle. Moreover, there might be other enemies hiding in unseen places. So... what should he do? The dilemma didn¡¯t last long. Aiden¡¯s finger caught the trigger. Despite numerous uncertainties, he judged that combat was unavoidable in this situation. He had no choice but to trust Arian at this moment. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Aiden aimed at the standing old man in the direction where Sadie was sitting, and just before the gun fired... The door of the car creaked open, and someone approached the old man. It was... Antonio. * * * After Aiden got out of the vehicle, Antonio Romani sat in silence for a while. The one accompanying him in the car was a girl and an even younger girl than her. Individuals of an age that was rarely seen in this world. So, under normal circumstances, Antonio would have initiated a conversation out of curiosity, but now he was deeply tense. ¡°...¡± It was because of the girl with red eyes. Her name was Arian, right? At a glance, she looked like a well-made doll, surprisingly beautiful. However, Antonio felt an indescribable uneasiness from her. The reason was unknown to him. Just staring into those red eyes made his heart waver. He was just anxious. And that anxiety grew endlessly, ultimately turning into fear. It was a strange phenomenon. Looking back, feeling such emotions towards a girl ten years younger than himself was almost ridiculous. But if he were to look into those eyes again, he would become a herbivore standing in front of a lion. Was it some kind of mental illness from recent hardships? Antonio let out a small sigh at his strange state. Then, through the rearview mirror, he glanced at Arian in the back seat. ¡°...!¡± He froze in place. For some reason, her eyes in the mirror were already fixed on him. ¡°Do you have something to say?¡± Arian asked Antonio as if scolding him. Had she noticed him checking her movements a while ago? In response, Antonio hesitated and stammered awkwardly. Was she possibly reading all the thoughts he had just entertained? With baseless worries creeping in, he quickly brought up any topic he could. ¡°Have you two also come from Pittsburgh?¡± Arian raised an eyebrow at his words. It might have been too polite for such a young person, but neither Arian nor Antonio paid much attention to that. With a slight sense of relief, Antonio continued speaking. ¡°Why did you decide to leave?¡± To this question, Arian chuckled. ¡°Decide? What are you talking about?¡± Even in the face of Arian¡¯s sarcasm, Antonio smiled as if he didn¡¯t understand. Then, Arian slightly furrowed her brow. ¡°Are you seriously clueless?¡± ¡°Clueless? What do you mean?¡± ¡°You really don¡¯t know?¡± Antonio listened as Arian briefly explained what had happened in Pittsburgh yesterday. That a zombie horde of up to 4 000 had overrun the city. And as a result, the city had become doomed. ¡°Is that... really true?¡± ¡°Why would I make up something like that?¡± ¡°...¡± Antonio couldn¡¯t say anything in response to that. The answer to the question he had haphazardly thrown to avoid suspicion exceeded his imagination. At the same time, a complex emotion welled up within him. He already regretted leaving Pittsburgh fervently. However, if Arian¡¯s words were true, even that regret became meaningless. So... what should he and his companions have done? While he was throwing such a futile question. Suddenly, Arian¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°...Someone is coming. Sadie, hide.¡± Antonio, alerted by Arian¡¯s sudden words, looked around cautiously, and Sadie calmly hid under the seat. Finally revealing themselves were two elderly people. One was a grandfather with pure white hair, and the other was a grandmother with light blond hair. However, what they held in their hands was an incredibly menacing shotgun. ¡°...¡± Arian narrowed her eyes as she looked at them. Their intentions were still unclear. The intentions of those old people were still unknown. But she now knew roughly what kind of place this world was. A place where you kill someone for just a sip of water, and several people to get a piece of bread. Moreover, the condition of the old people in Arian¡¯s eyes wasn¡¯t that good. The skin was flaky and cracked, and the arms were dry. The nutritional status may not be that good. If so, were they still targeting supplies? No, actually, their intentions didn¡¯t matter. Because now that those old people¡¯s weapons were pointed in this direction, remaining still wasn¡¯t an option. ¡°...You¡¯re here.¡± At that moment, Arian¡¯s muttered words briefly shifted her gaze to another place. She noticed the return of Aiden at that precise moment. Aiden, confirming the intruders on both sides of the vehicle, immediately hid in the shadow of a building. Then he pulled out a gun. It was clearly aimed at the old man on the side where Sadie was sitting. ¡°...¡± Seeing Aiden¡¯s actions, Arian grabbed the door handle. At the moment Aiden¡¯s gun fired, to deal with the remaining person. But at that moment, Antonio moved. ¡°Uncle Victor?¡± He suddenly opened the car door. In response to his abrupt action, Arian was astonished. The old man¡¯s gun quickly turned towards him. ¡°Put the gun away! It¡¯s me, Antonio!¡± Antonio shouted in panic. At that, the expressions of the two elderly people holding the gun changed. Chapter 29 ¡°Antonio?¡± ¡°Oh my god, it¡¯s really you!¡± The attitude of the two elderly people towards Antonio took a turn. They quickly lowered the guns they were holding. Then, they rushed toward Antonio. ¡°You¡¯re alive! You¡¯re alive!¡± ¡°But why is your leg like that? Is it badly injured?¡± The blonde grandmother hugged Antonio as he was, and the white-haired grandfather expressed concern for Antonio¡¯s leg. It was like a reunion with a long-lost family. ¡°...¡± Observing them, Arian sighed softly. Fortunately, it seemed there was no need to take their lives. So, Arian discreetly watched the reunion between the old people and Antonio, then quietly stepped outside the vehicle. ¡°Hey, do you know these people?¡± ¡°Oh, yes. Haven¡¯t I mentioned it? Originally, they lived in Canton.¡± Antonio confidently answered Arian¡¯s question. Meanwhile, the two elderly people stared at the little girl who had popped out of the car with round eyes. ¡°Who is this child?¡± Was she quite familiar with Antonio? Unlike before, there was no sign of caution or hostility from the old man asking the question. Arian signaled to Sadie, who had been hiding, and her small head popped up above the seat. ¡°Oh, were you riding with such a little kid?¡± The sight of Sadie made the elderly people visibly uncomfortable. It seemed awkward that they had been aiming a gun at the car with such a child inside. Arian, interpreting their reactions rationally, erased any remaining trace of hostility. Meanwhile, Antonio introduced Arian¡¯s group to the old people and explained the situation. ¡°So that¡¯s how it was. John...¡± ¡°Phew...¡± The elderly people sighed, relieved by the news of Antonio¡¯s survival, even though several acquaintances had died on their way here. However, their expressions turned sour when they heard about the junk dealer who had gone to the university to seek help. ¡°Why there?¡± ¡°Naturally, to meet Avery. Ah, he¡¯s back.¡± Antonio pointed slowly toward Aiden walking over to them. Aiden, listening to the conversation between Antonio and the old people, also sensed that they weren¡¯t hostile. ¡°Have you met Avery?¡± Antonio casually asked Aiden, as if he was certain that Aiden had met her and shared his story with her. Aiden hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth. There was no need to lie to him. ¡°Avery Roberts is dead.¡± ¡°Huh...?¡± ¡°Also, the survivor group there met a miserable end long ago.¡± Aiden¡¯s voice, numb to the point of not feeling real, made Antonio burst into a bitter laugh. ¡°What are you talking about now? That can¡¯t be true. It¡¯s nonsensical...¡± ¡°It¡¯s true, Antonio.¡± The one who spoke like this was Victor, one of the two elderly people. Victor lowered his gaze, let out a deep sigh, and then, after a while, spoke again. ¡°...It was about half a year ago.¡± Victor informed Antonio about what had happened in Canton during his absence. The survivor group, almost finished with their exploration around this area and preparing to move their base, was attacked by a zombie horde. Unable to fend off the attack, many people died, and eventually, the group itself disintegrated. ¡°...¡± Antonio tried to say something several times but couldn¡¯t bring himself to speak. The story of the survivor group that couldn¡¯t withstand the zombie onslaught and collapsed was a commonplace, almost mundane ending in this world. Rather, the number of survivors who had held on until now was much less than the number of those who had disappeared. However, when it was the story of someone he knew personally, the end became unbearably pathetic. Aiden silently watched Antonio, then shifted his gaze to the elderly people. ¡°So, are you the ones who survived among them?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°How many people are there?¡± ¡°Not many. And all that¡¯s left are elderly.¡± Upon inquiring about the situation, Aiden realized it was thanks to Avery Roberts¡¯ decisions during the imminent battle that some people unable to fight were evacuated from the base. As a result, only a few elderly individuals had survived the disaster. ¡°Hmm...¡± Aiden couldn¡¯t help but sigh. Though he had thought there might be changes since it had been a year since he visited Canton, having an entire survivor group disappear was beyond his calculations. In this situation, leaving Sadie in the care of these skinny old folks was utterly impossible, and even his plans to supply resources before were now significantly disrupted. There was no way there were enough resources to make a deal with these skinny old people. In that case... supplying resources would have to wait until the next city. And the period of leaving Sadie in their care would be extended even further. With that, Aiden¡¯s forehead crinkled inside the helmet. It wasn¡¯t that he particularly disliked Sadie¡¯s presence. However, it wasn¡¯t a good thing for that child to spend an extended period with a zombie like him. Meanwhile, Victor, who had been glancing at Aiden¡¯s helmet, spoke up. ¡°Is it for a reward?¡± Misunderstanding Aiden¡¯s silence, Victor asked. But Aiden, even if he put aside the trade, had no intention of overlooking the compensation for the request. So, he nodded. Upon this, Victor let out a meaningless laugh. ¡°I knew it. Junk dealers are all the same. Of course, we won¡¯t bite the hand that feeds us, especially since Antonio is our benefactor. Is there something specific you need? Oh, but we can¡¯t provide food; we¡¯re short on that too.¡± That wasn¡¯t a problem. Fortunately, the immediate concern for Aiden¡¯s group was not a shortage of food items. ¡°Well, what about weapons?¡± ¡°Weapons?¡± ¡°We need ammunition or grenades.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have grenades, and the ballistic ammo isn¡¯t exactly abundant. Lately, there are a lot of those aggressive guys, you know.¡± Victor said with a sigh. There seemed to be a reason why the elderly people, with guns in hand, ominously surrounded the vehicle. Upon hearing this, Aiden gave up on obtaining supplies from them. As expected, these old people didn¡¯t seem to have enough of anything. Even if it wasn¡¯t resources for Aiden, there was something urgently needing replenishment. ¡°Alright then. Instead, I¡¯ll take blood.¡± ¡°Blood...?¡± The elderly man, misunderstanding Aiden¡¯s words, stepped back. Aiden quickly added an explanation. ¡°I mean, I¡¯m asking for blood donation.¡± ¡°Ah, I see. Well, that¡¯s possible, but why do you want that?¡± Victor¡¯s gaze was asking why such a thing was desired. But Aiden didn¡¯t have any intention of explaining that far, so he only conveyed the next condition. ¡°Also, we¡¯d like a place to spend the night.¡± ¡°Alright. If it¡¯s a building where we¡¯re staying, it should be fine. There are plenty of empty rooms, so use them as you like.¡± And so, the negotiation about the request fee came to an end. The shadows of the building were gradually lengthening. To move on, the two elderly people were still taking care of the seemingly dazed Antonio. ¡°Is everyone okay?¡± Aiden also reconfirmed the safety of the group, especially keeping an eye on Sadie. Fortunately, her condition seemed fine. Perhaps the unexpected events that kept happening had, in a way, worked favorably for her. Sadie seemed melancholic, and her mood was gloomy, but she wasn¡¯t just standing there blankly. Just a while ago, during the negotiation with Victor, Sadie had been silently watching Aiden. Though she didn¡¯t do anything, at least she seemed to be trying to grasp how the situation was unfolding. For a young child, that was enough for the time being. ¡°...You¡¯re doing well.¡± Aiden didn¡¯t ignore Sadie¡¯s efforts. Upon this, Sadie¡¯s eyes widened for a moment, and she simply nodded. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go! Are we going to stay here until the sun sets?¡± Victor urged them from behind. Aiden turned his head toward him. * * * A quiet shopping street about 1 km south of Elon University. Aiden¡¯s group had come there by car. Since the elderly people claimed to know a safe route even when they drove the vehicle, Aiden followed their lead. The elderly people¡¯s base they arrived at seemed quite stable. ¡°This is where we¡¯re staying. It used to be a museum.¡± S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Victor pointed to a three-story building made of light brown bricks. The size of the building was quite substantial. Perhaps because it used to be a museum, the entrance was flashy with glass, but there were no windows inside, indicating an emphasis on security. Moreover, around the museum, there was a parking lot or an open space, ensuring clear visibility of the surroundings. Considering a possible external attack, it was overall not a bad structure. ¡°...It¡¯s okay.¡± Observing it, Aiden nodded. He had thought about looking for another place if he judged their dwelling to be too dangerous, but it didn¡¯t seem necessary. So, Aiden led the group inside according to Victor¡¯s guidance. ¡°Oh...¡± Arian, having seen the interior, expressed her brief impression. The inside of the museum, furnished with beds and furniture, was quite well-decorated. Also, as Victor mentioned, there were a few more elderly people inside. However, the total number didn¡¯t exceed ten when combined. Skinny elderly people lay scattered around like corpses. Victor shouted at those elderly people. ¡°Hey! Get up and see who¡¯s here!¡± At Victor¡¯s shout, the elderly people slowly got up from their places. Then, as they discovered Antonio, their eyes widened. ¡°No way... is it Antonio?¡± ¡°What? Who¡¯s here?¡± The revitalized elders rushed toward Antonio. Just like Victor did, they greeted Antonio warmly. While the elderly people were celebrating the reunion with Antonio, Victor, who was watching the scene with satisfaction, approached Aiden. ¡°Head upstairs. There¡¯s no one using it, so you can use any room you like.¡± Aiden nodded. As he was about to turn away, Victor continued speaking. ¡°Oh, I forgot. You asked for blood. How do we go about that?¡± ¡°Do you know how to use a syringe?¡± ¡°Of course. Don¡¯t worry, Dr. Aiden.¡± Victor chuckled and glanced at Aiden¡¯s business card. ¡°Even though I may not look like it, I used to be a military doctor. I might be a bit rusty, but I can still draw blood.¡± Aiden handed over a few blood collection sets he had prepared in response to Victor¡¯s words. Then, Aiden¡¯s group went up the stairs to the second floor. During this time, a few elderly people among them stared at Aiden¡¯s group, but none approached or initiated a conversation. ¡°Is this place... okay too?¡± Arian, who had climbed to the second floor of the museum, looked around. The second floor seemed to have originally served as offices for staff. A large open space in the center with desks and chairs scattered around, and a few small rooms lined up, possibly used as meeting rooms. Aiden¡¯s group settled in one of the rooms closest to the stairs. Although they heard that the second floor was unused, the rooms were surprisingly clean. There were no beds or furniture, but it was comfortable enough to lie down on the floor. ¡°Well, you must be tired. Rest here for now.¡± Aiden said so, standing by the door. The sun was about to set soon. Their tasks for the evening were to eat the brought dinner and get some rest. ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°Someone has to stand guard.¡± ¡°Is that okay? You didn¡¯t sleep yesterday either.¡± Arian said with concern. However, Aiden wasn¡¯t affected by that concern. ¡°I¡¯m naturally someone who can¡¯t sleep well.¡± ¡°What? Really?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t know?¡± Aiden asked as if Arian¡¯s reaction was strange. Arian recalled the days she spent with Aiden. But back then, it was undoubtedly... ¡°You... you didn¡¯t make any sound all night.¡± ¡°I shouldn¡¯t make noise at night; it¡¯s a matter of course.¡± ¡°So, you just stayed still until sunrise?¡± Aiden nodded calmly. Arian let out a bitter laugh. For Aiden, spending several hours each night just sitting on the bed in a daze until sunrise seemed to be a routine. Arian thought about saying something but held back. Someone had to stand guard at a time like this. Although the elderly people downstairs didn¡¯t seem to have malicious intentions, complete trust wasn¡¯t warranted. In such situations, wouldn¡¯t insomnia be a useful ability? Arian smiled wryly and took out the dinner she had brought. It was military rations brought from the power plant. Sharing it with Sadie, Arian suddenly looked at Aiden. ¡°Hey, Aiden.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not thinking of leaving Sadie here, are you?¡± Arian stared at Aiden intently. Now, Arian understood why Aiden wanted to leave Sadie here. The reactions of the elderly people welcoming Antonio and Antonio¡¯s attitude towards them. From there, it was easy to deduce the kind of relationship the survivors living here had maintained. But now, that was just a story from the past. There were no such survivor groups here anymore. So, Aiden spoke up. ¡°Of course. Given the circumstances, there¡¯s no other choice. We probably need to go to the next city.¡± Aiden¡¯s words made Arian nod naturally, and she looked at Sadie. She was just playing with the meal Arian had shared. At that moment, footsteps were heard coming up the stairs. ¡°Can I bother you for a moment? First, take this.¡± It was Victor. Handing over the blood to Aiden, Victor quickly scanned the room. ¡°Having a meal, I see.¡± Victor chuckled and cleared his throat. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Even if we¡¯re short on supplies, we won¡¯t snatch food from kids.¡± ¡°Well then, do you have something to say?¡± ¡°I do.¡± After a brief pause, Victor began to speak slowly. ¡°I¡¯d like to request something from you. How about going on an exploration with me tomorrow?¡± Chapter 30 ¡°Exploration?¡± Aiden asked in response. Victor slightly hardened his expression and spoke. ¡°You went to Elon University today, right? How was it there?¡± Aiden conveyed what he saw there to Victor, including dealing with Avery Roberts and the fact that the library there was empty. ¡°...I see. Thanks for letting that kid rest.¡± The old man replied bitterly. He cleared his throat again and changed the subject. ¡°But what I want to talk about is that library. There must be a reason why it¡¯s empty.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°As I mentioned before, over half a year ago, zombies swarmed while we were moving our base. At that time, we had already moved supplies to the new base, and it was almost complete.¡± ¡°Then...¡± ¡°Yeah. The supplies are in the new base, not the university. So, I want to explore that place with you tomorrow. What do you think?¡± Aiden continued to ask the old man exactly what resources were in that place. There was no need to waste time on resources they didn¡¯t really need. Victor, unsure about other details, made it clear that there were supplies, especially food and weapons. It meant that the needs of the elderly and Aiden¡¯s group were met. ¡°Do you know the layout of that place well?¡± ¡°Of course. We weren¡¯t just idling around as old folks. I worked there with young people for over a month.¡± ¡°Then, why are you proposing this to me?¡± ¡°Because there¡¯s no one else to go with. Didn¡¯t you see them downstairs? There are only dying oldies here.¡± To Aiden, it didn¡¯t sound like just an excuse. The elderly survivors left were all those classified by Avery Roberts as people who couldn¡¯t fight. But now that only those people remained, even a simple resource exploration wouldn¡¯t be easy. And considering the possibility of a fight with zombies, which was impossible for them. That¡¯s why Victor spoke with a gloomy tone. ¡°It¡¯s not something I should say to you, but... truth be told, everyone had lost hope of surviving. I was barely holding on by myself. No, I was on the verge of breaking. So, I was thinking of dying if the food ran out like this.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°But not anymore. Now that Antonio has returned.¡± There, Victor finally forced a faint smile. ¡°I checked his injuries a while ago. Luckily, it seems like his bones aren¡¯t hurt. It shouldn¡¯t take long for him to recover... Do you agree, doctor?¡± Aiden nodded. Apart from unpredictable aftereffects, Aiden¡¯s prognosis wasn¡¯t much different from Victor¡¯s. ¡°Yeah. So, shouldn¡¯t we at least live at that place?¡± Victor added that. Maybe that was it. Aiden, who was concerned about why he was finally trying to touch the supplies that had been neglected for half a year, finally understood the old man¡¯s true intentions. Moreover, at this point, he could roughly estimate the reward for the request. The supplies there would undoubtedly be useful for Aiden as well. Now, it was time to assess the risk of the request. ¡°So, where is it?¡± ¡°About 6 km northwest from here, there¡¯s a large shopping building. It¡¯s a three-story building with a logistics warehouse, a mart, and a mall attached. The scale is quite large. Also, at that time, a lot of zombies from the surrounding residential areas are likely to have flowed in.¡± ¡°Are there any mutants?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯ve never gone that deep. But... the possibility is high, isn¡¯t it?¡± Aiden pondered about the request. If Victor¡¯s words were true, the risk of the request was quite significant. No matter how wide a large store might be, it¡¯s still an enclosed building. Breaking through hundreds of zombies inside wouldn¡¯t be an easy task. More than anything, Aiden didn¡¯t even have enough weapons at the moment. In case of trouble, it would mean facing zombies with only cold weapons instead of a gun. ¡°...¡± Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. So, Aiden looked at Arian, who had been listening to the conversation from behind. If he really had to face zombies with only cold weapons, Arian¡¯s cooperation with her extraordinary abilities was essential. Moreover, Arian could sense the positions of zombies just with her presence. How useful her ability would be in this request, where they had to move inside a closed building, didn¡¯t need mentioning. So, if Aiden accepted this request, it was definitely right to go with Arian. But in that case, the conclusion was that Sadie would be left alone. In that case... Should he leave Sadie with these elders? There, Aiden inwardly nodded. It wasn¡¯t that he doubted these people, but if he thought rationally, they were people he had seen for the first time today. Leaving Sadie, who had no resistance against such people, was indeed a burden. Above all, it might be taking Rebecca and a request too lightly. Such concerns prolonged Aiden¡¯s contemplation. However, at that moment. ¡°...I¡¯ll go too.¡± As if she had seen through his dilemma, Sadie spoke. Aiden, Victor, and even Arian¡¯s gaze turned to Sadie. ¡°Sadie?¡± Arian looked at Sadie as if asking what she was talking about. But Sadie spoke before Arian could say anything. ¡°My mom said... I shouldn¡¯t become a burden.¡± Arian, who was about to say something, got stuck in her words. It was the content of the letter Rebecca left behind. Don¡¯t become a burden just because you¡¯re young. Constantly think about what you can do, and do it. So that they don¡¯t consider you useless. Arian vaguely remembered such contents. Sadie was trying to follow her mother¡¯s advice faithfully. ¡°So, I¡¯ll go. I can fight too.¡± Sadie said once again. Arian slightly squinted her eyes, looking at Aiden. It was an unreasonable statement. So, she believed Aiden wouldn¡¯t accept it. But. ¡°Do you know how to shoot a gun?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯m not good at it, but... I learned it from my mom.¡± Aiden wasn¡¯t joking. He was seriously considering taking Sadie with him. ¡°Really taking her?¡± Arian¡¯s voice became louder. But Aiden still answered calmly. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Are you insane?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a bad idea.¡± ¡°Taking this child to such a dangerous place isn¡¯t a bad idea? Are you in your right mind?¡± Arian chuckled. It was an absurd remark to consider. She thought Aiden was overlooking Sadie¡¯s young age, thinking mechanically. ¡°Even though Sadie is a child, she¡¯ll have to stand in front of zombies someday.¡± But Aiden¡¯s following words were different. Maybe more seriously than Arian, he was thinking about Sadie. ¡°Someday, she¡¯ll have to hide and escape from zombies herself, and someday, she¡¯ll have to confront them with a gun and a knife.¡± ¡°I get it. But, it¡¯s not necessary now. Such things should be done when she¡¯s older-¡° ¡°No, it¡¯s too late then. Even if it¡¯s you... Can you guarantee that you¡¯ll be standing next to Sadie a year from now?¡± Arian couldn¡¯t easily answer that. She wasn¡¯t human; she was a vampire. So, she had much stronger strength and abilities than humans, which could make living in this world much easier. However... Even such a person couldn¡¯t guarantee her life a year later. That was proven by what happened last night. The face of Diana, who was dying with blood, passed through Arian¡¯s mind. ¡°But not now. Right now, there¡¯s someone to watch over Sadie by her side. So, she can learn to fight against them more safely.¡± She couldn¡¯t say anything. In silence, only Aiden¡¯s voice continued. ¡°Therefore, Sadie needs to learn how to fight... no, how to live in this world as quickly as possible. When there¡¯s someone to teach her by her side.¡± Finally, Arian closed her mouth. Although she wanted to strongly refute with her heart, the words didn¡¯t come from her mouth. Like this... she had no choice but to admit. His argument was rational and very realistic, ultimately being the right decision. ¡°So, I¡¯ll take her with me.¡± ¡°...Alright.¡± In the end, Arian accepted Aiden¡¯s decision. Once the conversation came to an end, Victor, who had been quietly observing, spoke up. ¡°There seems to be a complicated situation. Just like the helmet you¡¯re wearing.¡± Taking an underage child to such a dangerous place wasn¡¯t pleasant for Victor either. However, judging from their conversation, it didn¡¯t seem like a decision made on a whim. So, he decided not to interfere with that matter. Just like Aiden wearing that black helmet so persistently in the dimly lit room, he accepted it, thinking that there must be a reason. ¡°In any case, you¡¯ve accepted the request, right?¡± Aiden nodded. Victor then smiled satisfactorily. * * * The next day. Having spent the night safely in Canton, Aiden and his group were busy from the morning preparing for the request. They maintained their weapons and checked ammunition. Aiden had an automatic pistol, a metal bat, and a shotgun. Arian was armed with a machete once again. Sadie was given a pistol. It was the smallest gun Aiden had, but for a 10-year-old, it was still quite large. Having armed themselves in front of the vehicle, Antonio, who had been heavily armed with Victor at the museum, came out. Antonio¡¯s face seemed much more relaxed than when he heard about the downfall of the survivor group yesterday. Using a cane to support his injured leg, he stood in front of Aiden. ¡°I heard about it. You¡¯re going out for exploration?¡± Aiden replied that it was true. Antonio lowered his head as if he had no face. ¡°I should have gone instead of uncle Victor... Please come back safely. And...¡± He sighed and continued. ¡°Thank you for Avery. I¡¯ll go retrieve the bodies as soon as my injuries are healed.¡± Aiden just nodded to Antonio, who expressed his gratitude. After that, Aiden, along with Victor, got into the vehicle. Although it was a long distance, considering that there would be a lot of supplies if the request was successful, they decided to use the car even if it meant taking some risks. ¡°It¡¯s better to go this way. It¡¯s a residential area, but there are almost no zombies. I¡¯ve explored it several times myself.¡± Aiden planned the route with Victor¡¯s help. Since they were trying to find the safest way, it ended up being twice as long as the straight distance. Not only time but also the cost of gasoline would be added by using a vehicle, but there was no other way. Vroom! With the low engine sound, Aiden¡¯s group set off toward the large mart where supplies were expected. They occasionally slowed down, and sometimes stopped in the middle to deal with zombies, moving through the short distance of 13 km over 30 minutes. The place they arrived at was a giant shopping street adjacent to the eight-lane road. ¡°Let¡¯s leave the car here. People inside might notice it.¡± Aiden nodded at Victor¡¯s words. The destination, a large mart, was about 200 meters away. Aiden parked the van in front of a restaurant building with a wide parking lot between it and the large mart. It was a place with a memorable drawing of a large fish, perhaps a restaurant that used to sell sushi. ¡°I¡¯ll check the surroundings first.¡± Saying so, Aiden hid behind the restaurant building, looking towards the open parking lot. ¡°As close to me as possible. Try not to use the gun if possible. Got it?¡± Meanwhile, Arian had repeated the same cautions to Sadie several times. Though it might become tiresome, Sadie just earnestly nodded her head. ¡°There are quite a few outside too.¡± About 30 zombies were in the parking lot. Though they were spread out, there was no cover in the middle, making it impossible to pass without them noticing. Then... it was better to lure them one by one with some appropriate noise and deal with them. Having made that judgment, Aiden didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°I¡¯ll lure them.¡± He immediately stepped into the parking lot. And, as soon as he reached the nearest zombie, he ran forward. Crunch! With a powerful swing, he shattered the zombie¡¯s head with the metal bat. Some zombies reacted to the dull cracking sound. Their gaze passed through Aiden to the zombie with the burst head and then turned back to Aiden. And then. ¡°Kiaaaa!¡± Zombies who realized that their fellow had been attacked ran towards Aiden. Aiden calmly looked at those zombies and adjusted his bat. Chapter 31 Aiden faced the zombies rushing towards him in the parking lot. The number of zombies was five in total. However, coming from different directions one by one, the zombies couldn¡¯t maintain any advantage in numbers. Thud! Thwack! Aiden, wielding a metal bat, swung it around like batting away flying balls, smashing the heads of the approaching zombies. The five zombies soon fell to the ground with shattered heads. The dull noise of the battle echoed like ripples on a lake, attracting more zombies. It was as Aiden had anticipated. If the zombies were scattered in a spacious area, it was easier to lure and eliminate them with melee weapons than using guns. Ordinary zombies, devoid of intelligence, only recognized the presence of the enemy and attacked in a sluggish manner. However, amidst the melee, something unexpected happened that Aiden hadn¡¯t foreseen. Some zombies, reacting to the noise, looked around and discovered not Aiden but Arian, Victor, and Sadie. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Kieee!¡± In an instant, the zombies rushed towards them. The number was only three. ¡°They¡¯re coming...!¡± While not a large number, Victor, seeing this, tensed up, holding a rifle with a sword attached. They couldn¡¯t afford to waste ammunition on such a small group when they might need it later. However, relying on the two girls next to him wasn¡¯t an option either. One was just a 10-year-old child, and the other, though slightly more mature, wasn¡¯t even an adult. So, he stepped forward. In that moment of decision, the approaching zombies seemed to get closer. Swoosh! Suddenly, with just a blink, Arian¡¯s jungle machete sliced through all three zombies at once. ¡°Hmm...?¡± Victor widened his eyes. Had he gotten old and senile? The scene before him lacked a sense of reality. It felt like he was dreaming. But then, the mutilated bodies of the zombies wriggling on the ground, and Arian starting to dismember their heads one by one, painted a vivid picture of reality in the next moment. Victor¡¯s mind was filled with confusion. If Arian had just fought well beyond her appearance, there wouldn¡¯t be much surprise. However, it wasn¡¯t just a matter of fighting well. Chopping off a zombie¡¯s waist with a machete, even if it was a decaying corpse, was an unbelievable feat. Moreover, it wasn¡¯t the neck, but the waist, done with just one swing of the jungle sword. Seeing this, Victor stared at Arian in astonishment. ¡°...¡± Arian, finishing off the last zombie¡¯s head, scanned the surroundings with eyes sharper than usual. She hadn¡¯t forgotten Victor¡¯s presence, but she made no effort to hide her strength. In a world where there was no need or obligation to hide her power, and with Sadie right behind her today, Arian agreed with Aiden¡¯s suggestion to teach Sadie how to fight. But that didn¡¯t mean she would just leave the zombies approaching Sadie alone. Her source of power had just been replenished with blood yesterday, right? Facing the madness of the zombies oozing filthy saliva, experiencing it vividly on the spot, would be a great learning opportunity for Sadie. So, today was more than enough for a field trip. With that thought in mind, Arian shook off the rotten blood on her machete and approached Sadie again. In the meantime, Victor, with a weird feeling, looked away from Arian¡¯s crimson eyes. ¡°Why?¡± Arian asked with a sharp voice. But her tone and gaze clearly warned him not to ask anything. And Victor, being quite perceptive for an old man, said: ¡°No... It¡¯s nothing.¡± Saying that, he avoided Arian¡¯s red eyes. Feeling somewhat creepy, he shook his head. Then, looking at Aiden fighting in the parking lot, Victor couldn¡¯t help but admire. ¡°Huh...¡± Arian was impressive, but this man Aiden was formidable too. Although his skin didn¡¯t seem muscular, every time he swung the bat, the zombies¡¯ skulls shattered like plaster. Having crushed the heads of nearly twenty zombies, Aiden soon returned to the group. ¡°Any problems?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine.¡± Watching them casually chat as if nothing had happened, Victor¡¯s emotions became complicated. He had only thought of Aiden¡¯s group as ordinary junk dealers when he asked for this request. However, for some reason, their capabilities far exceeded his expectations, to the point where Victor felt a sense of crisis, even though he didn¡¯t realize it himself. Of course, having strong allies was something to be happy about. But whether it was before or after the world collapsed, humans were just as dangerous as zombies, if not more so. Who could guarantee that they wouldn¡¯t change their minds after seeing the stored supplies there? ¡°...¡± Suddenly, such concerns flashed through Victor¡¯s mind, but he just let out a bitter sigh. Worrying was pointless now, and there was nothing he could do at this point. So, maybe he should have been a bit more cautious from the beginning. No, even regretting that wasn¡¯t suitable for the current situation. In just three days, they would run out of food. If Victor refused to cooperate with Aiden¡¯s group in this situation, the one in trouble would be Victor himself. So, even if he had known about Aiden¡¯s group¡¯s capabilities before requesting their help, he would have made the same choice anyway. Therefore, Victor steadied his resolve. Regret and preparation were both too late now. So, it was better to focus on what was happening right in front of him. ¡°Now that we¡¯ve dealt with the zombies in the parking lot, let¡¯s go inside.¡± Meanwhile, regardless of Victor¡¯s thoughts, Aiden continued with the operation. More than half of the zombies scattered in the large parking lot had disappeared, creating an open path to the entrance. Aiden¡¯s group walked straight toward the entrance. In the meantime: ¡°Why are you like this?¡± Aiden asked Victor, who was staring intently at the fallen zombies in the parking lot. In response, Victor, with a bitter expression, muttered as if to himself. ¡°Why, you ask. It¡¯s because I might know someone.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°But it seems like they¡¯re not here. Don¡¯t worry about it; let¡¯s go quickly.¡± Saying that, Victor took the lead and walked inside the entrance, where metal plates were haphazardly placed instead of a pretty glass door. The first thing they saw was a spacious lobby. And directly in front of them was an escalator leading to the second floor. Centered around this escalator, there were openings all the way up to the third floor, and each store was arranged in a large circular pattern, a typical structure for a shopping mall. There was also a large skylight extending from the ceiling to the entrance on the first floor, allowing sufficient visibility inside the building without the need for artificial lighting. ¡°Hmm...¡± Entering this place, Aiden first cautiously surveyed the surroundings. Circular sandbag-like structures were set up around the entrance, probably created by past survivors who tried to make this place a base. ¡°What¡¯s here?¡± There were no zombies immediately visible near the entrance. So, Aiden asked Arian about it, and Arian nodded. ¡°To the left, and a bit in front of us. And further inside, there seems to be more.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take care of the left and front.¡± ¡°Is there a need for that? We can go straight to the second floor.¡± They had already heard everything about the way from here to Victor. This large store is largely divided into three areas: a shopping mall area, a mart area, and a warehouse area. Among them, the place where the supplies were stored was on the first floor of the warehouse area. Nevertheless, the reason they entered in the direction of the shopping mall was because this was the only one of the many entrances that wasn¡¯t blocked. Also, from here, they had to go through the second floor to the mart area, and from there, they had to go back to the warehouse area. Those who wanted to use this place as a base deliberately left only a long and complicated one-way road to protect the supplies in the warehouse. So Arian suggested going straight up to the second floor, but Aiden shook his head. ¡°They might hear the sound and react. When you step on a broken escalator it makes a loud sound. From here, we must proceed as quietly as possible.¡± ¡°Hmm... Then there¡¯s nothing we can do.¡± Arian readily accepted Aiden¡¯s words. He also was concerned about Victor, who was carrying multiple weapons with his old man¡¯s body. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of the front. You take the left side. And Sadie...¡± Aiden¡¯s eyes turned toward Victor. Upon seeing that, Victor nodded, understanding what Aiden wanted to say. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll handle it well here.¡± Victor decided to stay near the entrance of the building with Sadie. So, with this plan in place, Aiden and Arian each entered different stores. Seeing their backs, Victor swallowed his saliva. Compared to the place where Victor was waiting, the inside of the store was dark. Moreover, it was filled with fallen mannequins, scattered debris on the dirty floor, and empty display shelves. Various miscellaneous items obstructed the view, making it impossible to see the interior clearly. ¡°Kik!¡± In the darkness and silence, only the sound of a short zombie¡¯s death throes echoed. Victor looked at the child who was now with him. Perhaps this child also had special abilities like those two. But after seeing Sadie¡¯s eyes, Victor quickly let go of such thoughts. The child was clearly afraid. She just didn¡¯t show it. Sadie, startled even by the faint sounds of zombies from a distance, turned her trembling gaze in that direction. No matter how comforting Victor tried to be, Sadie could feel her trembling through his hand. He naturally placed his hand on Sadie¡¯s head. ¡°It¡¯s okay, little one.¡± Victor could feel the child trembling under his hand. He gently stroked her hair and continued speaking. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Those two are stronger than you think.¡± In response to his words, Sadie nodded slightly. No further reaction. But thankfully, her trembling gradually began to subside. And not long after, the two returned. Aiden confirmed the safety of the group and then turned his gaze to Victor. ¡°Do we need to check the corpses?¡± He was referring to the zombies in the store. Victor clapped his hands. ¡°Enough. If you can see them on the way, that¡¯s fine. No need to go out of your way to check.¡± Aiden nodded at Victor¡¯s words. Then he turned to the group. ¡°Let¡¯s move to the second floor. We¡¯ve dealt with the zombies, but be careful not to make any noise.¡± So, they went up to the second floor of the mall. The second floor wasn¡¯t much different from the first. Circularly arranged stores and miscellaneous items inside were similar. However, on the second floor, as Victor mentioned, there was a door between two stores leading inward. It was a door leading to the mart. ¡°Be careful. There might be something inside.¡± Staring at the tightly closed door, Arian spoke. Upon this, Aiden briefly held back the group. Then, he carefully turned the handle of the door to prevent any noise. A long corridor leading to the mart was revealed. In that place, no longer touched by the light from the mall skylight, only a few thin rays of light pierced through small windows in the corridor, breaking the darkness. And among those beams of light, there was something. It was a zombie holding a rifle in one hand. Standing in the middle of the corridor as if it were the gatekeeper, its appearance didn¡¯t seem to be a mutant. If it were an ordinary zombie, it wouldn¡¯t be a cause for concern. However, Aiden didn¡¯t miss another figure hiding in the shadow next to the zombie. What lay on the floor beside the zombie, crouched down, wasn¡¯t human. A large dog with a thin, long body, a Greyhound breed. Upon sensing Aiden¡¯s presence, it raised its head. Before it could react, Aiden quickly closed the door. ¡°Why did you do that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a Beast. There¡¯s a zombie with it.¡± Unable to advance with a Beast, treated as a mutant, guarding the corridor, they couldn¡¯t proceed as it was. So Aiden decided to deal with it and turned his gaze to Victor. It was for gathering information. ¡°A man in a blue jacket with a green hat, and the Beast is a large dog of the Greyhound breed. Do you know anything?¡± Victor¡¯s lips trembled upon hearing this. He nodded heavily. ¡°...Yeah. I know that person.¡± Victor washed his face with one hand and continued speaking. ¡°Peter... he was a hunter. He used to bring some animals from the nearby forest. And the one lying next to him, that was the hunting dog he raised. Its name was Buddy.¡± ¡°Did he raise only one dog?¡± ¡°Worried if there¡¯s another Beast? I don¡¯t think so. Besides that guy, none of us raised any animals.¡± It was somewhat fortunate. Limiting the Beasts to one made dealing with them not so difficult. So Aiden intended to handle it himself. ¡°I¡¯ll go. It¡¯ll be faster.¡± Arian, who had been listening silently, stepped forward. Without much thought, her suggestion made perfect sense. In this place where firearms were limited, Arian¡¯s power was undoubtedly higher than Aiden¡¯s. Moreover, Beasts, who could distinguish ordinary zombies from Aiden, wern¡¯t affected by sneak attacks. So, in this situation, Arian¡¯s side was a much safer choice. ¡°Got it. I leave it to you.¡± So, Aiden accepted her suggestion. Arian nodded and immediately moved. As she went, Victor threw a request to her back. ¡°Can I ask for one thing?¡± Arian turned back with a puzzled look. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°The hat that Peter is wearing. Please try not to damage it.¡± She wondered what he was going to say, but it was a somewhat strange request. But it wasn¡¯t a difficult one, so Arian nodded. She opened the closed gray door and went inside. Chapter 32 ¡°...¡± Arian walked through the dark hallway. Even with the light streaming in from the windows, it was impossible to illuminate the entire corridor, but that wasn¡¯t a problem for her. Because with a vampire¡¯s eyes capable of piercing through the darkness, she could clearly see the shapes of the zombies and a Beast that Aiden had mentioned. As Arian revealed herself in the corridor, the Beast immediately detected her presence. The creature, previously sitting, stood up, revealing its fangs. It was a gray, cadaveric dog with sparse fur The left ribcage, with decaying flesh, gruesomely protruded outward. The face, with over half of its skin peeled off, resembled almost a skull. Thinking that the Beast would charge at her, Arian stopped and raised her machete. But... ¡°Krrr...¡± The Beast didn¡¯t move easily from its spot. It just emitted low growls towards Arian, remaining cautious. In response to the Beast¡¯s growls, the zombie reacted. The corpse of the man named Peter tilted his head and looked at Arian. ¡°Kiiii!¡± The zombie that spotted her screamed. Upon this, the Beast finally charged at Arian. Tap-tap! The dog ran through the dusty corridor, its speed much faster than an ordinary dog. Zombies, not knowing how to protect their muscles, always exerted themselves, sprinting until their bodies wore out. However, Arian calmly lowered the blade, even at the sight of such a creature. And when the creature approached. Swish! The extended blade slashed its head off. The beast that was rushing towards her passed by, stumbling backward. ¡°Kieee!¡± The zombie that witnessed this howled. For some reason, the sound felt like someone¡¯s scream to Arian, and she furrowed her brow. A beat later, the owner of the dog arrived. But the man¡¯s teeth, just a regular zombie, didn¡¯t reach Arian. ¡°...¡± In the darkness, Arian¡¯s blade flashed, and the zombie¡¯s head fell off. While the detached head rolled on the ground, the zombie¡¯s headless body seemed to glare at Arian. A strange, insect-like noise, as if bugs were crawling, emanated from its mouth. In response, Arian picked up only the fallen hat from his head. Squelch! She thrust the blade into the zombie¡¯s head, finally bringing silence to the bizarre sounds. In the now quiet corridor, Arian felt no more presence. So, she threw her voice behind. ¡°It¡¯s done. You can come in.¡± At her words, the closed gray door reopened, and Aiden, Sadie, and Victor entered the corridor one by one. Aiden glanced at the corridor indifferently, Sadie looked sympathetically at the fallen dog, Buddy, on the floor. Victor, alternately looking at Peter and Buddy, sighed, tongue clicking. ¡°Poor guys...¡± Wearing thick gloves, he started cleaning up the fallen bodies. Aiden also assisted in the cleanup. Although it was called cleanup, it was only about laying Peter and Buddy side by side in a corner of the corridor. Victor finally exhaled a deep sigh when the task was done. ¡°...Thank you.¡± After gazing at the face of the deceased for a while, Victor finally opened his mouth. He received the green hat from Arian and cherished it in his embrace. ¡°This guy is, in fact, Emily¡¯s son.¡± ¡°Emily?¡± ¡°The old lady from yesterday. She was always worried about her dead son here, thinking he might have turned into a zombie.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°But... now he can rest in peace.¡± He, who was squatting, stood up. And after taking another deep breath, he urged Aiden. ¡°Let¡¯s go. The journey isn¡¯t far.¡± Aiden nodded, and the group resumed their movement. Passing through the corridor, a wide space with collapsed shelves emerged. It was the mart area. However, since the entrance to the mart area was thoroughly closed, there was no light at all. Aiden turned on the lights to secure visibility. Then, it revealed that the entire floor was filled with high shelves. Originally, this place displayed various items from the mart. However, now the shelves were empty, and some even collapsed like dominos, blocking Aiden¡¯s group¡¯s path. ¡°We need to go down the stairs on the other side... This is bad.¡± Victor sighed in dismay as he looked at the blocked path. Aiden examined the obstacles with light, but due to numerous large shelves stacked in succession, it was impossible to clear a path. So, Aiden turned to Victor. ¡°Is there no other way?¡± ¡°Hmm... wait a moment.¡± He muttered for a moment, searching through his memories. ¡°There are a few offices on the opposite side. Probably where the store employees worked. So, from there, you could go back and forth between the store and the warehouse. However, there¡¯s a problem.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the problem?¡± ¡°I remember they blocked the door leading to the warehouse. It¡¯s not a sturdy door. They just put wooden boards or something. Breaking through it would be much better than clearing this path and moving forward, but...¡± Aiden fell silent at Victor¡¯s words. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even he couldn¡¯t say for sure yet. First, they needed to check the situation on the spot. Aiden¡¯s group decided to head for the offices, traversing the dimly lit store. However, perhaps due to the lack of an entrance to the mart area or the zombies having gathered more here than in the mall, the number of zombies here seemed even greater. Arian, who was leading the way, smirked briefly. ¡°There are quite a few of them nearby.¡± ¡°Try to go around as much as possible. If that¡¯s not possible, I¡¯ll personally clear the way.¡± Aiden instructed, and Arian nodded in agreement. Subsequently, the group encountered not just a few zombies. There were more than dozens of them in this mart area. Even though Arian, with her ability to pinpoint zombie locations even in the dark, could sense them, Aiden had to step forward multiple times to silently assassinate the zombies. The office they arrived at had a spacious room that extended lengthwise. Inside were office desks and chairs, but they had already been cleared away by someone, not obstructing the passage. Victor, who had entered the innermost part of the office, pointed to a door. ¡°Here, it¡¯s here.¡± Just as he mentioned, it was the door blocked by crudely placed wooden boards, just like he had said. Aiden closely examined it. Fortunately, the door was made of plastic and wasn¡¯t very sturdy. Even without tools, it could be broken down quite easily. However, it wasn¡¯t weak enough to be shattered in one blow. It would take several hits, maybe even with a construction hammer, but the crucial factor was the noise that would be generated during the process. That sound would attract zombies both inside and outside the door. ¡°Is there a quiet way to break through?¡± Aiden asked Arian, just in case, but she shook her head. In that case, there was no other option. Ultimately, the choices were either to give up here or to take the risk. ¡°Can we at least know what¡¯s on the other side of the door?¡± ¡°No, I can¡¯t sense any movement right now.¡± His worry deepened with that response. Breaking through the door forcibly wasn¡¯t impossible considering the effort it took to get here. However, Aiden was concerned about the considerable number of zombies that had been in the mart area outside the office. They were scattered all over the unsealed mart area. If those zombies sensed the noise, they might rush in like a horde. Furthermore, the same would apply to the zombies that might be on the other side of the door. In other words, while breaking the door, they would have to face both enemies coming from behind and those in front at the moment the door finally broke open. Could they handle that with the people they had here? ¡°Why the hesitation?¡± Arian asked Aiden, who was staring at the door. To this, Aiden expressed his concern to her and the rest of the group. While Arian seemed to understand his concerns, she gave a different response. ¡°It¡¯s uneasy, but it¡¯s not like there¡¯s only a downside.¡± Arian said so. No matter how spacious the mart was, the entrance to this office was limited. ¡°To come in here, they also have to break through walls like those things can¡¯t.¡± Arian gestured towards the door leading to the warehouse. Just like Arian had to break through to the warehouse area, the zombies in the mart area would also have to pass through the door leading to this office. It could be considered a terrain advantage. However. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t think that door is that sturdy.¡± Aiden said, pointing to the entrance of the office. The door was made of the same material as the one Arian had to break. Moreover, it had a square window in the middle, making its durability even more uncertain. No matter how much effort was put into locking and defending the door, if it broke or the latch fell off, it wouldn¡¯t hold up for long. ¡°It¡¯s obvious we can¡¯t just block it. We¡¯ll have to use guns. Since we¡¯ve come this far, we have to use everything we¡¯ve got, right?¡± ¡°Hmm...¡± Aiden nodded in agreement with Arian¡¯s statement. It made sense. Even though they had been saving ammunition, using it now might be beneficial. Using the bullets to shoot through the window in the door would be useful for safely reducing the zombies crowding around it. ¡°It¡¯s risky, I get that. But can we just turn back from here?¡± Even Victor, who had been silent, spoke up in agreement with Arian. If those two were in favor... Aiden had no more reasons to object. It was something worth trying. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s give it a shot.¡± With the decision made, Aiden¡¯s group immediately got to work. They solidly blocked the door leading from the mart area to the office. They didn¡¯t just lock the door; they piled makeshift barricades behind it, using office desks and chairs. The brief operation was completed quickly. ¡°Preparations are done.¡± ¡°Good. Then... let¡¯s begin.¡± Aiden nodded and, along with Victor, stared at the door leading to the mart. Meanwhile, Sadie positioned herself a bit behind the barricade they had set up. Seeing her, Arian, instead of using her machete, approached the door leading to the warehouse area with a large fireman¡¯s axe in hand. This was a weapon originally brought by Victor, and it was much better for breaking things than a machete, making it a tool he willingly handed over. Arian raised it high. And... Bang! With a loud noise, the wooden board blocking the door fell off. Also, a large hole appeared in the door. However, that was it. The door didn¡¯t open immediately, and Arian seemed to have to continue. However, from the mart side, reactions were already coming. ¡°Kiii!¡± ¡°Kie...!¡± Zombies, alerted by the noise, raised their heads and wandered around, seemingly startled by the sudden sound. And once again, a burst of screams erupted. ¡°Kiiii!¡± Those who were convinced that it wasn¡¯t just corpses began to rush towards the origin of the sound. Aiden aimed his pistol at the door, and Victor also loaded his rifle. As Arian¡¯s axe struck the door for the third time, she exclaimed: ¡°It¡¯s here!¡± The first zombie thrust its head into the door leading to the office. However, immediately after, the zombie was easily pierced through the head by Aiden¡¯s shots and fell backward. That was the beginning. ¡°Kiaaaa!¡± ¡°Kiiiii!¡± Zombies began to swarm in earnest. As expected, their numbers were outrageously large. Although it wasn¡¯t clear due to the blocked door, judging by the echoing screams, there were at least dozens. Bang! Bang! As a result, Aiden¡¯s pistol continuously spat flames. He wanted to save ammunition, but there was no room for that. Thud! The door blocked by the barricade shook heavily under the weight of the approaching zombies. The momentum of the incoming zombies was indeed beyond expectations. Thankfully, there seemed to be no mutants, but perhaps due to being neglected here for a long time, hunger had intensified. The madness of those who discovered prey was more intense than that of ordinary zombies. Snap! In the chaos of gunfire, Aiden¡¯s ammunition was unexpectedly depleted. Frowning, he reached for the shotgun he had saved. However, just as he was about to retrieve it, Victor threw something to him. ¡°Take this.¡± It was an ammunition box. Inside the box, slightly larger than a palm, were 9mm bullets, just over half-full. This meant that Victor didn¡¯t have a significant amount of pistol ammunition, likely excluding the rifle rounds he used. Aiden accepted it without hesitation. Quickly extracting bullets from the box, he skillfully loaded them into the pistol. Then, he resumed shooting. Amidst the pouring gunfire, the zombies¡¯ momentum slowly waned. In the meantime, thud! A large zombie forcefully pushed the door, causing the entire barricade to shake, and the latch above the door popped out. It seemed the door wouldn¡¯t hold up for long. ¡°Is it still far!?¡± Aiden shouted towards Arian. ¡°It¡¯s almost done!¡± But her situation wasn¡¯t favorable. Although the door was almost broken, zombies were still swarming from the other side. ¡°Kiiii!¡± With a disturbing cry, a rotten arm protruded from the broken gap in the door. Arian struck that hand with her axe and stepped back slightly, preparing for the final blow. She judged that she could handle the zombies behind on her own. That was her decision. However, just before that, Arian sensed something approaching from a distance and paused. ¡°There¡¯s a mutant near the warehouse! It¡¯s coming this way!¡± Arian¡¯s voice and intuition warned Aiden. It was troublesome. Of all times, a mutant now. Aiden, who was dealing with the zombies pouring in from the front, shifted his gaze backward. Here, he needed to support Arian rather than guard this door. The presence of a mutant was as dangerous as dozens of zombies. However, leaving only Victor was still uneasy. Unlike Arian, Victor was just an ordinary person, an old man at that. Aiden was about to leave, considering the situation, but Victor spoke up. ¡°Go! I¡¯ll handle it here!¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have many bullets left! There¡¯s no point in staying here!¡± Seemingly making the same judgment as Aiden, Victor pushed him away. Therefore, Aiden nodded and, grabbing a bat, ran towards Arian. In the meantime, he checked Sadie, who was holding a gun behind the barricade. There was no need to move her position. No matter how uneasy Victor was, on the opposite side, there was a mutant. The danger posed by it was incomparable. So, Aiden nodded, hoping that Sadie could be at ease, and turned his gaze forward. ¡°Tsk...!¡± There was Arian, struggling with an axe in hand. The door she was trying to break was about to fall apart, but Arian couldn¡¯t easily tear it away. Because the door was holding back the zombies pushing forward, and a considerable figure emerged from behind. It was undoubtedly the appearance of the mutant that Aiden knew. Chapter 33 ¡°The Wielder...¡± Literally translated, it means ¡®one who wields.¡¯ A mutant with that name revealed itself. Standing over 2 meters tall, its face, torso, and upper body, excluding the arms, were muscular, resembling that of an athlete. However, the most noticeable feature of this creature was undoubtedly its arms. One arm, peculiarly massive, was equipped with a huge and thick iron frame. It seemed to have forcibly torn off one of the pillars from the shelves in the logistics warehouse. Wielder, like the ones before, was a variant with only one developed arm, but it was a mutation that could also use weapons. Although its pure combat power might be weaker than the Brutal encountered in the hotel, as a creature using weapons, its attacking power was not inferior. Such a monster spotted Arian and charged towards her. ¡°Dodge!¡± At Aiden¡¯s shout, Arian swiftly jumped backward. And at that moment. Creak! The iron frame swung by the Wielder destroyed not only the door in front of Arian but also the zombie hanging in front of it. Having shattered everything in its path, the Wielder dragged the iron frame and tried to enter the office where Aiden¡¯s group was. ¡°...¡± Aiden wasn¡¯t someone to let the Wielder go without a fight. He immediately fired his pistol towards the door and rushed forward. ¡°Krrr!¡± In response to the torrent of 9mm bullets fiercely penetrating its skin, the Wielder raised both arms and stepped back. However, the reprieve caused by Aiden didn¡¯t last long. Once again, the pistol ran out of ammunition. But Aiden didn¡¯t care. He had been anticipating the number of rounds left in the remaining magazine. So, he stowed the spent pistol in his holster, took out the shotgun he had saved, and, among the shotgun and the metal bat he had behind him, chose the bat. Brushing past Arian¡¯s side, Aiden quickly passed through the shattered office door that the Wielder had just destroyed. However, the vast warehouse area revealed itself, and the Wielder was there. While the Wielder was protecting his head with his arm to block the bullet, Aiden hit it in the side. Crunch! Then the zombie¡¯s body shook with the sound of bones breaking. But it wasn¡¯t because of pain or injury. The muscles in its arms were bulging, and they swung at Aiden like a whip. Thud! The end of the frame in the Wielder¡¯s hand grazed Aiden¡¯s side and shattered the concrete on the ground. It was an incredible power that would make most people go numb. But Aiden widened the distance without changing his expression. He looked between the high and long shelves in the warehouse area. The mutant¡¯s face was pretty sinister. Its face, as decayed as its body, had skin flowing down to cover his right eye. The nose was nowhere to be seen. ¡°...¡± While looking at such a sight, Aiden calmly analyzed the situation. Even if he was lucky, the Wielder wasn¡¯t an opponent that could be knocked down with a metal bat. Rather, a much stronger weapon was needed. But Aiden, with no more pistol bullets left, only had the shotgun he had saved until now. Moreover, the number of shells remaining was just one shotgun magazine, barely five rounds. So, can the Wielder be brought down with this shotgun? Certainly, shotguns had low penetration power. Of course, except for the muscular arm, the Wielder¡¯s other parts weren¡¯t so hard that they could block gunshots. In other words, if it was a close-range shot to the head, even with a shotgun, it might not be impossible to bring down the Wielder. However. Creak! Aiden dodged the Wielder¡¯s attack again by rolling backward. Even so, the Wielder¡¯s assault passed through, breaking Aiden¡¯s helmet visor. ¡°Tsk...!¡± Aiden threw the broken visor away and bit his tongue. The Wielder¡¯s strength lay in its ability to flatten everything within a radius of several meters in one blow. If hit directly, the body of a human would be processed like slicing through butter, and the corresponding speed was overwhelming to the human eye. Avoiding the Wielder¡¯s attacks, getting close to him, and thrusting shotgun pellets into his face. It might be close to impossible, perhaps just a theoretical conclusion. However, for Aiden, there was an ally who made it possible. ¡°Kraa!¡± The Wielder, who had been persistently chasing Aiden, suddenly roared and twisted its body. Unbeknownst to Aiden, the shoulder flesh of that guy bore a large wound, resembling a dark vein. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Breaking through the thick muscles, exposing the bone ¨C no need to mention the cause of the injury. Arian. In some aspects, the girl who was even more abnormal than the mutant zombies was squeezing out zombie bodily fluids from her axe. ¡°Kiiii!¡± The Wielder, who had been targeting Aiden, immediately switched targets. With no intellect, but the remaining instincts, it began to realize that Arian, like the scattered remnants, was a much more dangerous enemy. Following the sound of the air tearing apart, the steel frame flew straight towards Arian like an arrow. However, she neither stepped back nor avoided it. Arian¡¯s pupils emitted a creepy red light. She, facing the charging steel, merely adjusted the axe she was holding. Kkaang! The Wielder¡¯s deadly strike was met head-on by Arian. Arian¡¯s axe bounced back the massive iron frame, several times its length. An unbelievable, surreal scene, even when seen with one¡¯s own eyes. Just how much momentum is required for such a feat? ¡°...¡± But Aiden couldn¡¯t watch Arian¡¯s performance with a relaxed mind. He understood that Arian¡¯s mysterious power would not last, and this was the reason. Arian claimed to have absorbed all of Diana¡¯s blood in the hotel. However, she had to pour all of that blood into defeating a single Brutal. Reverse calculating from such results. If Arian, who received about 500ml of blood yesterday, can now produce strength, it¡¯s not even a quarter of what it was when she defeated the Brutal. So... this fight can¡¯t last long. With this judgment, Aiden took out his shotgun and initiated his move. * * * At that moment, Victor was still wrestling with zombies trying to burst through the door. Although he had considerably weakened the zombies¡¯ momentum with Aiden, outside the door leading to the mart area, there were still a considerable number of zombies. ¡°Kraaaa!¡± ¡°Kiiii!¡± Zombies driven madly attacked the door. Each time, the door swayed as if it would fall, and the makeshift barricade supporting it was pushed back. Watching those zombies, Victor¡¯s breathing became rough with tension. ¡°Damn them!¡± Victor cursed while shooting at the zombies. Some zombies fell backward, their heads pierced, and then the magazine ran out. He separated the magazine from the gun with trembling hands. And into it, he pushed new bullets. ¡°Kwawawa!¡± Creak! Bang, bang! Meanwhile, the zombies didn¡¯t wait for him. Rather, as if sensing the end of the gunfire, they tried to break through the door more fiercely than before. With each impact, the ground under Victor shook like an earthquake. Then, finally, with a sound of creaking, the door leaned heavily. One of the hinges that seemed to fall off was finally broken. ¡°...!¡± Victor¡¯s face turned pale, having not even filled half of the magazine. Above the fallen hinge, a small but vacant space appeared, and zombies tried to pass through that hole. ¡°Kiiii!¡± Then slowly, one small zombie reached out beyond the door. It desperately pushed his body into the office, not even noticing that its shoulder blades were being crushed. At that sight, fear appeared on Victor¡¯s face. He tried to hurry with reloading. But he only became impatient, and several bullets slipped from his hands and fell to the ground. ¡°Damn it...!¡± With his sigh, the upper part of the zombie slipped out of the hole it had made. The one who had crossed the door with the upper body intact, dripping with madness, finally passed through the door. It was too late. The moment Victor thought that. Bang! A bullet flew from somewhere and pierced through the head of the zombie about to come over. In unconscious gratitude for unexpected help, he looked at the direction where the gunshot came from. Victor thought Aiden had returned. But when he turned around, it wasn¡¯t him. The one who fired the gun was a small girl. Holding a small pistol with an even smaller hand was Sadie. ¡°Ugh...¡± Victor stared at Sadie in bewilderment. But Sadie, without saying anything, silently reloaded the pistol and pointed it at the door again. Her eyes were moist, as if she might burst into tears at any moment. The more her gaze trembled, the more everything seemed uneasy. But still, Sadie never let go of the gun. In Victor¡¯s eyes, it felt like a punch to the back of the head. He shook his head to pull himself together and picked up the bullets from the ground. Moving his fingertips as if paralyzed, he completed reloading. ¡°Pathetic! A former soldier like me...!¡± Having blamed himself like that, he cocked the rifle. Again, the loud gunfire swept away the zombies. A few more zombies were blown away by the storm of bullets, and a few more zombies rushed to the door again. ¡°Kraaaa!¡± The zombies roared. The door, which seemed about to break at any moment, shook greatly. But Victor¡¯s bloodshot pupils staring at it didn¡¯t shake twice. * * * ¡°Aaargh!¡± The Wielder roared fiercely, stretching its arm toward Arian. The speed of the Wielder¡¯s weapon was noticeably increased compared to a while ago. It was as if he was offended by the fact that Arian had countered his slash. However, Arian, with her blood vessels flowing in all directions, received the Wielder¡¯s attacks several times. Clang! Bang! The powerful attacks that far exceeded human strength clashed in the air, creating destructive shockwaves. Behind the Wielder, the tall and long shelf in the warehouse area broke and fell backward due to the aftermath. Thud. However, the Wielder didn¡¯t stop there; instead, it increased the speed of its assault. ¡°Hu...!¡± In the brief moment when Arian repelled its iron frame, she sighed. Only a few dozen seconds had passed since the battle began. But already, her blood reserves had significantly decreased. It was a sign of how powerful the Wielder was. Arian, slightly anxious, naturally searched for the presence of her allies. Aiden, who had been facing the Wielder a while ago, was now circling around to target the Wielder from behind. Aiden¡¯s decision to avoid a head-on attack and flank it was noticed by Arian. Seeing the shotgun in his hand, she quickly understood his intention. He would launch a deadly ambush while distracting the Wielder¡¯s attention. ¡°That¡¯s the plan...!¡± It wasn¡¯t a bad attempt. Even Arian, with her current form, would find it challenging to inflict fatal injuries on the mutated zombie. So, if Aiden¡¯s shotgun had enough firepower to silence the Wielder, the ambush would undoubtedly be an effective strategy. Moreover, most mutants, despite gaining strength and stamina, didn¡¯t differ significantly from humans in cognitive abilities. Even the mutants that were active at night only gained night vision; their eyesight, smell, and hearing were often inferior to ordinary humans. Knowing this information that Aiden had shared with her, Arian tried to concentrate the Wielder¡¯s consciousness even more on herself. If they continued exchanging attacks like this for a little longer, Aiden would surely find an opportunity to finish it. With this belief, Arian attempted to deflect the Wielder¡¯s steel frame with her axe. However, at the moment her axe collided with the frame. Crack! With an unusual cracking sound, her axe broke upon impact. It was a reasonably sturdy axe, even made with a metal handle. However, it couldn¡¯t withstand the repeated shocks beyond common sense. Due to her failed attempt, the Wielder¡¯s attack, which she hadn¡¯t managed to deflect, grazed Arian¡¯s shoulder in the blink of an eye. ¡°Tsk...!¡± Blood sprayed into the air. A searing heat accompanied the pain from the torn shoulder as if it had caught fire. ¡°Kiiii!¡± Seeing this, the Wielder let out a roar. Then, as if swinging a toy, the creature raised its steel frame high and slammed it down towards Arian. Witnessing this, Arian gritted her teeth. Even though she no longer had a weapon in her hands, she couldn¡¯t just step back. Aiden was now close to the Wielder. If she retreated here, the vigilant Wielder might notice Aiden¡¯s presence. ¡°Ugh!¡± There was no way to avoid it. So, instead, Arian leaped forward. At that moment, the Wielder¡¯s frame, like a guillotine blade, descended upon her. Arian attempted to let it pass over her with her arms. Crackle! Ultimately, the attempt succeeded. She managed to push aside the massive weight with her in an instant broken left arm, and the steel frame, avoiding Arian, shattered the floor. ¡°Kiee-¡° The Wielder¡¯s distorted expression turned menacing. As if mocking Arian. But in the face of that arrogant laughter, Arian could respond with a smile. Because her ally was standing right behind that creepy face. ¡°-!¡± The barrel touched the twisted right eye of the Wielder. Only then did it realize that someone was right beside it. In that moment. Bang! The shotgun erupted from point-blank range, and the Wielder¡¯s body swayed significantly. Still, the guy didn¡¯t fall. Its skull was mangled in the storm of small iron beads, but in the end they didn¡¯t reach the brain. At this, the Wielder¡¯s eyes, which had been shaken for a moment, regained their madness. But before he could do anything else. Bang! Bang! A shotgun spewed out a series of bullets right in front of the Wielder¡¯s nose. From the beginning, Aiden never thought that the Wielder would be finished with a single gunshot. So he shot five times in total. Without hesitation, Aiden fired all the bullets he had into the Wielder. Then, with the final shot, he smashed the Wielder¡¯s head into pieces, scattering in all directions. Thud! With its head severed, the Wielder¡¯s giant body fell backward. Aiden finally distanced himself from the mutant and cautiously surveyed the surroundings. There were no more enemies nearby. He observed the situation a little longer, finally gaining confidence in the safety of the area, and turned to Arian. ¡°Are you okay?¡± In his usual tone, no different from usual, Arian let out a bitter laugh. Chapter 34 Arian and Aiden, who had defeated the Wielder, immediately returned to the office where Sadie and Victor were. The office, which had been filled with gunshots moments ago, was now quiet. Upon arrival, Arian immediately checked Sadie¡¯s condition. Sadie, still holding a pistol, was quietly hiding behind a makeshift barricade. ¡°Sadie, are you okay?¡± At Arian¡¯s voice, Sadie, who was crouched down, raised her head abruptly. Was she anxious? Upon seeing Arian and Aiden return safely, a sense of relief finally appeared on the stern face of the girl who had been stiffened. Then Sadie¡¯s gaze fell on Arian¡¯s injured left arm. ¡°Arian, your arm...¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be fine. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± That way, Arian and Sadie expressed concern for each other. Aiden watched the two for a while and then approached Victor. He was still staring at the door he had tried to block. The small door that separated the mart area from the office was almost torn apart. Two of the three latches were broken, and the door was now hanging loosely. The barricade they had piled up behind it was completely destroyed. However, despite that, there wasn¡¯t a single zombie that crossed that door. It was evidence of how hard Victor had struggled to keep this place secure. ¡°...¡± On the other hand, as Aiden was about to speak to Victor, a hesitation flickered across his face. After some deliberation, Aiden spoke up again. It was from a distance away from Victor. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re back?¡± Victor¡¯s tired voice echoed. His head turned slowly, and soon he looked at Aiden. Then, his eyes, which seemed to widen to an extraordinary extent, met Aiden¡¯s gaze. ¡°No way...!¡± What Victor saw in Aiden¡¯s eyes was a face and pupils that were almost indistinguishable from the zombies he had been shooting just a while ago. In response, Victor involuntarily twitched the hand holding the rifle. However, he didn¡¯t immediately aim it at Aiden. ¡°Did you get bitten? But how could the mutation progress this quickly... What the hell happened?¡± As if demanding an explanation, Victor asked Aiden, confusion evident in his voice. In Victor¡¯s surprised voice, Arian and Sadie also felt an uneasy atmosphere and looked at him. In response, Aiden briefly conveyed his situation to Victor. He had been infected with the zombie virus a long time ago, but he still maintained his sanity. And to prevent further decay, he needed human blood. ¡°Huh...¡± Victor sighed with confusion in his eyes. Whether he should believe Aiden¡¯s words or not, he couldn¡¯t make a judgment at all. But time didn¡¯t wait for his confusion. The distant sound of zombie cries echoed. The noise generated here had reached zombies quite a distance away. ¡°...We should start moving.¡± Aiden mumbled and turned around. Then, facing Sadie and Arian, he opened his mouth. ¡°I¡¯ll explore the warehouse area.¡± Victor absentmindedly stared at Aiden¡¯s retreating back. As he disappeared outside the door, Victor opened his mouth to Arian and Sadie. ¡°That thing he said...¡± ¡°It¡¯s true.¡± Before his question could finish, Arian answered. And Sadie also agreed with Arian¡¯s words. ¡°Yes. He¡¯s a zombie, but he¡¯s not bad.¡± Victor raised an eyebrow at the confirmation from the two girls. A talking zombie. He thought the girl was strange, but this was beyond his imagination. Well, some kind of mutant or something? ¡°I don¡¯t know what this is...¡± ¡°It¡¯s complicated, but for now, let¡¯s finish what we have to do. Are you going to let the people waiting for us starve?¡± Victor received Arian¡¯s pragmatic advice in a cold voice. Upon hearing this, Victor blinked his eyes. Her words were correct. Whether Aiden was a zombie or not, he had one thing to do. He fought for it a while ago, risking his life. ¡°Understood. First... let¡¯s look for supplies.¡± That way, the remaining three also entered the warehouse area. And after a while. ¡°...Here it is.¡± Aiden¡¯s group found a storage facility in a corner of the warehouse area that had been created by previous survivors. It was a separate space with barriers, isolated from the warehouse area. Click! The lock on the door was easily cut by Arian. ¡°What¡¯s inside?¡± S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°No one¡¯s here.¡± Confirmed by Arian that there were no zombies inside, Aiden placed his hand on the doorknob. Victor, watching from behind, swallowed hard. A strange tension passed over his face. Although they had come here at his suggestion, thinking calmly, the warehouse had been left untouched for over half a year. Even if it was the only one, there was a possibility that it might not be completely empty. ¡°I¡¯ll go in first.¡± So, Victor, almost forgetting that Aiden was a zombie, followed closely behind. Creak- The storage room door opened. And the light of the lamps poured in. The first thing that caught their eyes was... cans of various colors. ¡°Phew... thankfully. Really fortunate.¡± Victor muttered those words like a sigh. There was plenty of food in there. There were also several wooden boxes storing weapons next to it. ¡°The condition seems quite good.¡± Examining the supplies, Aiden said so. Some of the food had rotted, and there was no drinking water, but most of the preserved food was intact. And the weapons needed by Aiden¡¯s group... were reasonably satisfactory. Although there were almost no bombs, including grenades, there was enough ammunition. They didn¡¯t have to worry about bullets for a while. The amount of remaining supplies here wasn¡¯t extremely large. However, it was enough for the four people here, and even more than enough to carry. It was a reward that wasn¡¯t wasted for the time and effort invested in this place. ¡°Then, let¡¯s take what we need.¡± The other three nodded quietly. * * * A few hours later. ¡°Phew... now let¡¯s go back.¡± Victor, who loaded the acquired supplies into the vehicle, sighed and climbed into the seat. The return journey was relatively smooth. Since they had almost swept away the area with the most zombies, breaking through the door in the mart area, it was expected. Aiden¡¯s 6-seater van was packed with the supplies. The trunk, as well as the back seat and the surroundings where Arian and Sadie sat, were piled with goods. Victor himself was also sitting with a large bag. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Aiden, sitting in the driver¡¯s seat, asked Victor. It was a question about the bag he was holding and also about sitting next to a zombie. Victor nodded calmly with a peaceful expression. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Now, come on.¡± Although it had only been a few hours since he realized Aiden was a zombie, Victor had already become accustomed to that fact. Aiden¡¯s actions hadn¡¯t changed at all before and after that revelation. After returning to the vehicle and changing his visor, even his appearance was the same as before. Of course, there was still a lingering unease. This was evident in the slight turn of the direction of the large bag, blocking Aiden. However, Aiden didn¡¯t mind and spoke. ¡°Then, let¡¯s depart.¡± Time had passed, and it was already well into the afternoon. Ultimately, everyone here had skipped lunch, but no one complained. In this world, meals weren¡¯t at fixed times but had to be done when there was an opportunity. The vehicle carrying Aiden¡¯s group thus retraced the road they had taken in the morning. About ten minutes passed. At that moment, Victor, who had maintained silence until then, subtly opened his mouth. ¡°Now, what are you all going to do?¡± ¡°If we drop you off, we¡¯ll leave immediately.¡± It was the schedule they had originally agreed upon. Aiden¡¯s words were decisive. ¡°Leaving, huh? Where to?¡± ¡°To the southwest, heading to Columbus.¡± ¡°Hmm...¡± Victor furrowed his brow at those words. After hesitating for a moment, he cautiously spoke. ¡°Can I offer a few words of advice?¡± Aiden nodded. At that, Victor, without further ado, began to express his thoughts carefully. ¡°First, stay at our base for the night. It seems a bit late to set off now. You might end up having to sleep outdoors.¡± ¡°...¡± The suggestion itself was something to be grateful for. As Victor pointed out, it was already quite late. Even if they left immediately, considering road conditions and unforeseen variables, they wouldn¡¯t be able to reach Columbus by the end of the day. So, spending an extra night at a secure base was preferable. However, Aiden was uneasy about Victor¡¯s intentions in making such a kind offer. He must be aware that Aiden is a zombie, so why would he insist on being so considerate? ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll take care of tonight¡¯s watch. That way, I can keep an eye on you.¡± But Victor had no ulterior motives. He was genuinely concerned about the well-being of everyone, including Aiden. So, Aiden decided to accept his kindness as it was. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°At this point, it¡¯s nothing. Oh, about Columbus. It¡¯s not certain, but I¡¯ve heard something about it.¡± ¡°Is it bad news?¡± ¡°Sort of. So, about a fortnight ago.¡± That was the incident that Victor had used as a basis to be wary of Aiden¡¯s vehicle. ¡°At that time, there were people like you, driving cars, around our base. Emily happened to encounter them. They were extremely hostile, attacking Emily without any provocation.¡± Fortunately, Emily was conducting exploration inside a building at the time and managed to dodge the bullets flying from outside. But immediately after that, an intense firefight occurred between those mysterious humans and Victor¡¯s group. With a bit of luck, Victor¡¯s group managed to drive them away unharmed. ¡°Next, we searched their vehicle. There was a young man who was held captive by them. He was in quite a severe condition. By the time we found him, he was already dying. I wanted to save that young man, but... he ended up suffering for a week and died.¡± With that, Victor released a heavy sigh. Having been somber for a moment, he continued. ¡°That young man told us a story.¡± The young man Victor tried to rescue was one of the survivors living in Columbus. According to his story, about a month ago, there was a major battle in the city. It was a battle between the gang that originally dominated the city and the fanatics who opposed them. ¡°Unfortunately, those lunatics won. In the end, the fanatics took over the entire city. So, the defeated gang members scattered outside the city, and the ones who were holding the young man captive were some of them. The street thugs Antonio encountered earlier might also be of the same group.¡± While Victor was telling the story, Aiden nodded and couldn¡¯t help but feel amazed internally. It was a fact he had been completely unaware of. If he and Sadie had gone to that city as originally planned, it could have been dangerously unpredictable. ¡°...Columbus seems to be dangerous.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. So, it might be better to head west and go through Mansfield and Lima, reaching Fort Wayne.¡± Aiden seriously considered Victor¡¯s advice. His original plan was to pass through Columbus, then head west to Cincinnati, and from there, proceed to the major city, Indianapolis. Originally, all three of these cities had somewhat sizable survivor groups, so the plan was to travel around those cities to find a group of survivors where Sadie could stay. But if Columbus was as dangerous as Victor mentioned, Aiden had to reconsider his plans. In this case, after passing through a small town like Mansfield, it would be better to make a stop in Fort Wayne before heading towards Indianapolis. ¡°That sounds like a good idea.¡± Aiden nodded. Seeing Aiden accept his advice, Victor nodded approvingly. * * * And the next day. Aiden¡¯s group spent the night safely at Victor¡¯s base and was preparing to leave. They were heading to Mansfield, a small town about 100 km west of Canton. Although it wasn¡¯t too far to travel in a day by vehicle, no one could guarantee they would arrive today. So, Aiden¡¯s group hurriedly prepared for departure in the early morning. At that moment, two men approached them. It was Antonio and Victor. Chapter 35 ¡°Are you leaving now?¡± Aiden, who was packing his luggage, nodded to Antonio¡¯s question. Upon that, Antonio opened his mouth with a faint smile. ¡°I heard from Uncle Victor. You¡¯re heading to Fort Wayne. I hope you have a safe journey.¡± ¡°What about you? Are you staying here?¡± ¡°Of course. There¡¯s nowhere else to go. Also... you did take me in. I may not repay you like my cousin would, but I¡¯ll do what I can.¡± ¡°Well, wish you luck.¡± Antonio lowered his head one last time, leaned on his cane, and stepped back. Now, Victor approached Aiden. In his hands were a few small bottles. ¡°Take these with you.¡± ¡°These are...¡± Inside the transparent bottles was a red liquid. No need to mention what it was. Blood. And it was more than 700ml combined, even more than what he received yesterday. Aiden looked at Victor silently. Then Victor cleared his throat and spoke leisurely. ¡°Emily wanted to express her gratitude.¡± Is that how it turned out? Upon hearing the name Emily, Aiden understood the situation. He still remembered the story that one of the zombies he had taken down in the large store yesterday was her son. ¡°She wants to repay you all. So, I suggested that giving blood is better than supplies. Is that okay with you?¡± For Aiden, it was rather a welcome event. Arian was in urgent need of blood replenishment after yesterday¡¯s battle. So, he had no reason or room to refuse Emily¡¯s kindness. Aiden accepted the bottles without hesitation. ¡°Of course. And...¡± After a moment, Aiden turned back and handed a paper box to Victor. Victor received it with a puzzled look. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Water purification capsules. There was no drinking water among the supplies we found yesterday.¡± Victor raised an eyebrow. Indeed, they were short on drinking water. And if it was water purification capsules, they could purify the water from the lake near the base, making it a useful item for Victor and his companions without saying a word. Grateful for the unexpected help, Victor scratched his head. ¡°Emily gave this as a token of thanks. You don¡¯t need to go this far.¡± ¡°No, this is a return for the information you shared yesterday.¡± Aiden said, shaking his head. Upon that, Victor opened his mouth with a willing smile. ¡°Well... if you¡¯re saying like this, then I can¡¯t refuse. I¡¯ll gratefully take it.¡± Victor carefully accepted the water purification capsules, and Aiden got into the driver¡¯s seat. Sadie and Arian were already seated in the back. Having confirmed that all preparations were done, Aiden started the vehicle. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Take care!¡± Through the car window, Arian and Sadie bid farewell. Victor and Antonio also waved their hands. ¡°Well, have a safe journey.¡± Vroom! With a heavy engine sound, the vehicle started moving. As they drove along the straight road, the figures of Victor and Antonio, seen from behind, gradually became smaller and eventually disappeared. Thus, Aiden and his group left Canton, beginning their journey towards Mansfield. * * * The National Route 30 connecting Canton to Fort Wayne. The four-lane road under the clear sky passed through a small forest on the left and abandoned fields covered with overgrown weeds on the right. ¡°...Quieter than I thought,¡± Arian murmured. She touched her chin with her completely healed left arm, and with her eyes, she looked lazily through the window. In the scenery reflected in her eyes, there were no zombies or monsters. The forest simply glowed with morning sunlight according to the season. And the small buildings occasionally visible through the vivid trees had become part of the forest, covered by nameless thickets and vines. The railroad passing through the middle also had a blue color rising between the gravel laid out. The sight was somewhat dreamlike. Like a road in a fairy tale, it seemed to be calling someone inside the forest covered with trees. Arian shook her head at the peaceful scene, not without a sense of wonder. In response to her, Aiden spoke. ¡°Better than enemies showing up, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. But... it¡¯s too slow.¡± The van carrying Aiden¡¯s group was moving at a speed of less than 30 km/h. The destination for today, Mansfield, was about 150 km away. Until now, they had been traveling for over two hours, but Aiden mentioned that at this speed, they still had to go more. ¡°It can¡¯t be helped. The road conditions are not good,¡± said Aiden in a dull voice, and Arian remained silent, unable to say anything in response. His words were true. Contrary to the peaceful scenery of the forest, the situation on the road was dire. Various debris was scattered on the road, and wrecked vehicles blocked the entire road. Trees that should be standing in the forest were either fallen towards the road or lying in disarray. There were even sections where the road seemed to have completely collapsed. With the road in such a condition, even if a good road appeared, Aiden¡¯s group couldn¡¯t easily pick up the pace. They had to be cautious as they couldn¡¯t predict what might protrude onto the road. ¡°...¡± Arian sighed shortly and glanced at Sadie, who was seated next to her. While the forest and fields, which were boring to Arian, seemed interesting to Sadie, given her perspective, it wasn¡¯t surprising. According to Sadie, when she lived with her mother, she rarely even came out of their small hiding place. Thinking about it, Arian looked at Sadie with a somewhat disdainful gaze. Despite being at an age where she would be curious about the world, it seemed like this world couldn¡¯t properly respond to her interests. Lost in such thoughts, the vehicle suddenly stopped. Curious about what was happening, Arian looked ahead, furrowing her brow. ¡°What¡¯s this...?¡± What she saw were numerous vehicles. The road, and even the adjacent forest, were invaded by so many tangled and collided cars that it seemed like a completely blocked highway. ¡°This is troublesome.¡± Aiden clicked his tongue. There was no way to drive through this level of obstruction. Though it seemed like the abandoned vehicles had been left for a considerable time, it fortunately didn¡¯t seem like an intentional trap. However, now they had no choice but to find another route. ¡°Now what?¡± Arian asked. Aiden unfolded the paper map he had left in the car. Soon, he came up with an alternative plan. ¡°Let¡¯s enter a nearby city for now.¡± ¡°A city?¡± Arian looked at the map Aiden pointed at. The National Route 30 they were taking passed through a city, and the blocked section happened to be in that city. ¡°So... are you saying we should enter the city to bypass the blocked area?¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s called Wooster.¡± Wooster was a small city about 50 km away from Canton, the city they had left, and entering the city from the west allowed them to rejoin National Route 30. But Arian showed a strange expression. ¡°If it¡¯s a city... Isn¡¯t it dangerous?¡± ¡°It may be so, but it can¡¯t be helped.¡± Even if it might be risky, bypassing the city and taking a longer route wasn¡¯t guaranteed to be safer. In the end, no matter where they went, they had to face danger. Understanding this, Arian nodded with a short sigh. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s give it a try then.¡± Thus, they entered the city of Wooster. The first thing that greeted them was a desolate residential area. The rows of empty wooden houses along the road were left abandoned with open doors. There were no traces of recent human presence anywhere. The vehicle slowly passed through such a residential area and soon reached a small shopping district. Aiden parked the vehicle at the entrance of the shopping district. ¡°From here, I¡¯ll get down and check.¡± Even though this city seemed quiet and had a seemingly low risk, Wooster was an unknown territory for Aiden. So, before dragging the vehicle any further, he judged it was safer to conduct reconnaissance firsthand. Arian, with an expressionless face, nodded and spoke. ¡°So, do we wait here?¡± Aiden was about to nod absentmindedly, but at that moment, a certain memory flashed through his mind. It was one of the stories Victor shared with him while they were on sentry duty last night. It was about Sadie. ¡°...No, everyone comes with me this time.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a good opportunity. That¡¯s what I think.¡± While trying to nod casually, Aiden¡¯s mind was touched by a certain memory. It was the memory of Victor praising Sadie. ¡°Yesterday, I heard you¡¯re good with guns. Victor praised you.¡± Sadie reacted with a start at Aiden¡¯s words. ¡°Y-yes.¡± Sadie lowered her head with a faint smile, as if she was embarrassed. Aiden continued. ¡°He said you have skills. But he also mentioned that you were very scared.¡± ¡°W-well...¡± ¡°I¡¯m not blaming you. But if you were really scared, you need to get used to it,¡± Aiden said, skillfully parking the vehicle between buildings. Afterward, the group all got out of the car. Arian, stepping on the ground, glanced at the empty street for a moment before asking Aiden: ¡°Get used to what exactly?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just going to scout the path we need to cross. It¡¯s a short distance, around 30 minutes. If there¡¯s no problem, we can discuss the next steps after that.¡± Saying so, Aiden took the lead and started walking. Arian shrugged and followed Aiden¡¯s steps with Sadie. A shopping district with low buildings lining the two-lane road. Aiden¡¯s group passed by well-known franchises, a pizza place, an abandoned clothing store with discarded clothes behind broken glass walls, and a tobacco shop, continuing forward. Gradually, they entered the densely packed central area of this small city. However, just like the residential area, silence, fitting the term ¡®ghost city,¡¯ prevailed in this small city¡¯s center. In the streets filled with debris, where not a soul was in sight, not even zombies could be seen. ¡°Really quiet place,¡± Arian murmured while observing the street. Aiden¡¯s group quickly finished exploring the route. There were no specific threats to worry about. Returning to the point where they had to turn back, Aiden looked back at Arian. ¡°Were there no zombies along the way?¡± ¡°There were some.¡± Arian detected roughly about ten zombies with her senses. Even then, they were either stuck inside buildings or in places like basements, making it unnecessary to avoid them. Ten zombies in a 30-minute walk. It was an unexpectedly low number, almost hard to believe in comparison to other cities. Aiden nodded in satisfaction. ¡°It worked out well. Seems like this is indeed an empty ghost city.¡± A city with few people and zombies. This phenomenon was common in nearby small towns. Small towns with initially limited resources would run out faster than larger cities. Consequently, even the few remaining survivors would leave for big cities. Since there were no people in the deserted small towns, the number of zombies gradually decreased, eventually leaving the town completely empty. Convinced that Wooster was such a ghost city, Aiden soon took out a small pistol. It was the same gun Sadie had used yesterday. He extended it towards Sadie, proposing: ¡°Sadie, why don¡¯t you practice shooting here?¡± ¡°Practice... here?¡± Sadie widened her eyes in surprise. If the intention was to get used to it, was that what he meant? Seeing the specific method of the exercise, fear flashed in Sadie¡¯s eyes. It was because she recalled the madness of the zombies she saw in the dark office yesterday. But Aiden spoke, saying that she needed to get used to that fear. Soon, Sadie nodded resolutely with a determined expression. In the meantime, Arian intervened. ¡°Isn¡¯t that too risky?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re worried, stay close and watch over Sadie. I¡¯ll be the one luring the zombies.¡± With Aiden saying so, Arian had nothing more to say. The group began to retrace their steps. Before long, Arian detected the presence of a zombie. ¡°There¡¯s one behind that black store.¡± Upon Arian¡¯s words, Aiden headed confidently in that direction. As they turned the corner of the store, they indeed saw a lone zombie. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The zombie momentarily glared at Aiden, who suddenly appeared, but once it confirmed he was just like the others, it lost interest. However, Aiden grabbed the zombie¡¯s arm and forcefully pulled it towards him. ¡°Kiii!¡± As the zombie growled, it bit Aiden¡¯s shoulder, but only rotten body fluids flowed from his shoulder. The creature then groaned and turned its head away. Meanwhile, Aiden brought the zombie with him to the open path where Sadie and Arian stood. The distance between Sadie and them was about 20 meters. It was a distance where even a zombie with deteriorated vision could be seen clearly. As a result, the zombie soon spotted Sadie. ¡°Kghaaa!¡± It screamed, rushing towards her. Sadie, pointing her shaky gun, aimed it at the approaching zombie. Chapter 36 ¡°...!¡± The zombie fiercely pounded the ground with momentum. A loud, rhythmic sound echoed, disorienting. The distance between them rapidly closed due to the sprint of the living corpses. Fear welled up in Sadie¡¯s eyes. Bang! There, Sadie¡¯s first gunshot rang out. The distance between them was 15 meters. The zombie, running towards them, staggered. Flesh from the chest, hit by the bullet, flew backward. However, it didn¡¯t fall. It merely paused its sprint momentarily. Regaining its balance, the creature swiftly raised its torso again, charging forward with a pierced chest. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Kiiiie!¡± The distance further closed, tension crept onto Sadie¡¯s face. When there were less than 10 meters left, Sadie¡¯s gun echoed again. But this time, the bullet didn¡¯t hit the zombie at all. Frozen in the face of the horror emanating from the charging zombie, Sadie¡¯s consciousness stiffened. Finally, the zombie approached Sadie¡¯s very nose. Chack! Its head fell, severed by Arian¡¯s hand. ¡°...¡± As the zombie collapsed to the ground, Sadie lowered her gun. Then, with a face that seemed about to cry, she lowered her head. ¡°Sadie! Are you okay?¡± Although Arian asked, Sadie couldn¡¯t respond. Sadie believed she hadn¡¯t done well enough. Despite receiving praise, she felt she had disappointed them. However, Aiden, who approached, calmly spoke to Sadie: ¡°Remember the fear you felt just now. You need to get used to it.¡± It wasn¡¯t comforting at all. Just a stern reminder of what Sadie had to do. Arian glared at Aiden with sharp eyes, but Sadie, looking up slightly, gazed at Aiden. His indifferent tone resembled the legacy left by her mother. ¡°Wanna try again?¡± Aiden asked Sadie calmly. Sadie was lost in thought for a moment. Facing zombies again was still frightening. But Sadie couldn¡¯t refuse Aiden¡¯s proposal. If she couldn¡¯t defeat zombies, she would be a burden to others. This directly contradicted the teachings left by Rebecca. Therefore, she had only one thing to do. Sadie slowly nodded to Aiden. ¡°...Yes.¡± Aiden vaguely sensed that Sadie was tense. So, before luring another zombie, he decided to give her some minor instructions. ¡°Let¡¯s start by checking your grip. First, your shooting stance. Sadie, hold the gun.¡± Sadie assumed the shooting stance. It was correct, but her arms were too tense. Aiden quickly corrected Sadie¡¯s posture and continued with advice. ¡°You probably know that a zombie¡¯s weakness is the head. But hitting it won¡¯t be easy. So, it¡¯s better not to shoot from too far away. Start with 5 meters. Slowly increase the distance from there. Like... around here.¡± Aiden positioned himself at that distance. His head, just like a real zombie, turned to Sadie. ¡°When the zombie gets here, shoot at the moment it¡¯s about to reach you. If you shoot from too far away because you¡¯re afraid of them getting close, you¡¯re less likely to hit, just like now. Finish them off with a sure shot. Understand?¡± ¡°...Yes.¡± Sadie struggled to remember Aiden¡¯s words. In the process, the fear she felt moments ago seemed to diminish slightly. Aiden concluded his advice and turned away. ¡°Let¡¯s try it again.¡± Soon, Aiden brought another zombie. The creature spotted Sadie and rushed towards her. It was a repetition of what had happened a little while ago. Sadie raised her gun. Remembering Aiden¡¯s instructions, she relaxed her grip. ¡°Kiiii!¡± Through the barrel, the zombie screamed, rushing towards Sadie. Its rotten eyes, recognizing Sadie only as prey, met hers. At that moment, fear invaded Sadie¡¯s mind. The gun she held suddenly felt heavier, and tension unintentionally tightened her arm. She wanted to shoot right away, to stop that monster. But Sadie suppressed the impulsive urge. It wasn¡¯t time yet. Until the distance she could shoot, the zombies had not approached yet. So, Sadie opened her eyes and stared at the zombies. It was still terrifying to stand in front of them, but she never averted her gaze. ¡°Kiiiii!¡± The zombie continued pounding the ground. Finally, it stepped onto the ground where Aiden stood. At that moment. Bang! Finally, Sadie¡¯s gun muzzle spewed fire. The head of the approaching zombie snapped backward. Its body swayed significantly, and it collapsed right there. Sadie¡¯s shot had splendidly pierced the zombie¡¯s head. ¡°Well done! Sadie, you¡¯re really good at shooting!¡± ¡°Haah...hoo...¡± Sadie, who had been very tense, breathed a sigh and lowered her gun. Arian, while patting her head, praised her efforts. Even Aiden, who had returned to the vicinity, nodded approvingly at Sadie. ¡°Good job.¡± Although his face remained expressionless, and he didn¡¯t say much, Sadie finally managed to smile faintly at his words. Finally... it felt like she had achieved part of the significant task her mother had left behind. ¡°Wanna try again?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Responding energetically to Aiden¡¯s question, Sadie continued her shooting practice against about ten zombies before returning to the car. Aside from the first attempt, there were a few failures, but Sadie didn¡¯t collapse every time. Instead, she tried to correct her mistakes, and she successfully shot the last three zombies. Aiden evaluated it as excellent. It wasn¡¯t an outstanding skill all at once, but considering it was her first time and she was just ten years old, it was a remarkable achievement. ¡°Good job.¡± Upon arriving at the vehicle, Aiden handed the gun back to Sadie. Sadie nodded with a slightly flushed face due to nervousness. Arian kept stroking Sadie¡¯s head as if praising her for being admirable. ¡°Well... Let¡¯s move again.¡± Although there was enough worth investigating, Aiden urged the group forward at a later-than-expected time. They got into the vehicle, passed through the path scouted on foot, and entered Route 30 to Mansfield, their destination for the day. * * * ¡°We arrived more smoothly than I thought.¡± About four hours after leaving Worcester, Aiden, finally arriving at the outskirts of Mansfield, remarked. Hearing this, Arian reacted with a wry smile. ¡°Smoothly? Didn¡¯t you see that the road collapsed a while ago?¡± Contrary to his words, the journey here wasn¡¯t that smooth. The highway that should have been connected by a bridge had collapsed, and they had to spend another hour going back to bypass it. However, according to Aiden¡¯s experience, that level of unpredictability was considered smooth. ¡°But there was no combat. That¡¯s a bit lucky.¡± Encounters with zombies or gangs resulting in combat outside the city were quite common. In the worst-case scenario, someone could get injured, or the vehicle could be damaged. This was one of the threats Aiden encountered regularly, even when he traveled alone on a motorcycle without stopping. So, a day without such encounters, like today, was genuinely lucky. ¡°Still... This place looks similar to that called Worcester, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Arian looked around and commented. Although they hadn¡¯t entered the city center, there were no signs of gang or survivor groups anywhere. The atmosphere was eerily similar to the ghost town they saw earlier. ¡°There doesn¡¯t seem to be anyone here.¡± Aiden also agreed with Arian¡¯s words. Mansfield was larger than Worcester, but it was still classified as a small town. So, it wouldn¡¯t be strange if, like Worcester, only empty shells of buildings remained. ¡°Well, maybe it¡¯s better this way? It means it¡¯s safe.¡± ¡°We¡¯re fine, but...¡± If there was an urgent need to replenish supplies, it would have been problematic. However, Aiden¡¯s group didn¡¯t need essential resources right now. They had enough provisions to last for several days ¨C food, water, fuel, and even blood. So, even if there was no one in Mansfield, it was fine as long as they could spend tonight safely. However, as the vehicle passed through the desolate outskirts, and houses, warehouses, company buildings, and stores mingled into the street, ominous signs began to appear. ¡°Kiiiei...¡± Zombies roamed between the abandoned large and small buildings. Only five were visible right away. However, if those were the ones appearing on the street, there would be several times that number hiding inside the buildings. Therefore, Aiden couldn¡¯t move forward anymore and stopped the vehicle right there. ¡°There seems to be quite a few zombies even though there¡¯s no one around. It¡¯s better to give up going further inside.¡± The car slowly backed away, escaping the area. Arian turned her head while looking at the zombies receding into the distance. ¡°So? Shall we go to another city now?¡± The time was already past 3 in the afternoon. Even if they were to leave Mansfield immediately, reaching another city before sundown was impossible. Acknowledging this, Aiden nodded in response to Arian¡¯s concern. ¡°That¡¯s not it. Let¡¯s just try to find a place to stay on the outskirts for today.¡± Aiden changed the direction of the car. The vehicle, retracing its steps, slowly explored the outskirts of the city. Stores and warehouse buildings were scattered along the road on the spacious plain. It wasn¡¯t an ideal temporary shelter. Moreover, such open places were easily noticeable by wandering eyes of passersby on the road. ¡°It¡¯s probably not around here.¡± Muttering that, Aiden turned the direction toward a small forest that had just appeared. Following the straight road were various-sized houses lined up. And at the end of one such road, Aiden finally spotted a building he liked. A gray three-story house. Interestingly, there was a tall black fence installed around it, and the door was not an ordinary wooden one but made of iron. Although the fence was damaged, judging from the brick walls and blocked windows, it was a much sturdier building than an ordinary house. Considering it would be difficult to find a better building than this, Aiden parked the vehicle next to the building. ¡°I¡¯ll take a look around. Wait here for a moment.¡± Saying that, Aiden got out of the car. Holding a pistol in one hand, he slowly approached the gray house. The interior of the house, blocked with wooden boards, was dim. Moreover, the front door seemed to have been closed for a long time, with little signs of recent use. Externally, it looked like an abandoned, thoroughly empty house. Therefore, Aiden tried to open the front door. However, the door didn¡¯t budge, making a creaking sound. It was locked. Should he find another way in? Aiden circled around the building. But there was no visible entrance. Did someone stay here after the appearance of zombies? All the windows were blocked, and there was no back door. ¡°Hmm...¡± Aiden frowned. Breaking the wooden boards blocking the windows would allow entry, but it would also create unnecessary noise. While contemplating quietly how to handle this, he heard something. ¡°Hmm?¡± A crying sound reached his ears. The direction was upwards, on the roof connected to the second-floor window. There was a black cat. ¡°A cat...¡± It wasn¡¯t a zombie, just a healthy cat. Was it someone¡¯s pet? The cat glanced at Aiden for a moment, then leaped onto the adjacent roof and disappeared. But Aiden was no longer looking at the cat. He had discovered something else near the roof where the cat had been sitting. Near the small window on the second floor, which was slightly open. ¡°There seems to be an entrance.¡± However, the window was small. Even though a cat or a child might pass through, unless Aiden broke the window frame, entering was impossible. So, Aiden called his companions. He first asked Arian. ¡°Is the inside empty?¡± ¡°Yeah, seems like there¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°Then can we enter through that window?¡± Arian looked at the window that Aiden pointed to. Soon, she slightly furrowed his brow. The size of the window was not generous enough for Arian to pass through easily. ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡± Sadie, realizing this, spoke up. Although Arian cast a worried glance at her, she didn¡¯t stop the girl. Sadie was finding her own role within their smal organization. Arian didn¡¯t want to disregard her efforts. On the other hand, Aiden nodded at Sadie¡¯s suggestion. ¡°All right, then first find a way to get up there-¡° ¡°I¡¯ll do that. Come here, Sadie.¡± ¡°Yes? Oh...!¡± Arian swiftly embraced Sadie and leaped onto the second-floor roof. Sadie in her arms widened her eyes. It was an amazing leap, and the posture landing on the roof was smooth and stable. Like the movement of the cat they saw a little while ago. ¡°Can you pass through?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Answering Aiden¡¯s question, Sadie moved through the window. And not long after, with a heavy clinking sound, the lock of the front door was released. The door opened with a creak. ¡°...¡± However, Sadie¡¯s expression as she opened the door was strange. Aiden immediately asked her why. ¡°Why is that?¡± ¡°Well... it¡¯s not a zombie, but there¡¯s something else.¡± ¡°Something else?¡± ¡°Bones... like things...¡± Sadie pointed to a room inside. ¡°I¡¯ll take a look. Don¡¯t approach.¡± Aiden, without hesitation, entered the room Arian had pointed out. It was a reasonably sized room of about 5 square meters. The room contained a chair, a bed, and a small desk. On one side, there was a blocked window, and what Sadie mentioned was there. Sitting on a large rocking chair placed in front of the window, someone¡¯s remains were there. Chapter 37 ¡°...¡± Aiden¡¯s somber gaze observed the corpse. The body, even more emaciated than a zombie, was almost completely decomposed, leaving only the skeleton. However, there seemed to be nothing unusual about the skeleton. Judging by the absence of any weapons... Could have it been a disease or maybe starvation? There were no other peculiarities. At best, the only noticeable element was a shiny platinum ring on one of the corpse¡¯s fingers. However, even that held little meaning. In a world that had fallen apart, where precious metals like gold or diamonds had no value. Aiden, who had been observing the corpse, soon stepped back. A skeleton that doesn¡¯t turn into a zombie or become infected with pathogens is just a skeleton. It didn¡¯t harbor any dangerous potential unless one entered the room. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Doesn¡¯t seem to be a problem. We can spend the night here.¡± Aiden conveyed this to his colleagues who were waiting outside. Arian nodded calmly, but Sadie displayed a slightly frightened expression. To a child, a lifeless body, as unfamiliar as zombies, was equally terrifying. ¡°Really? Then I¡¯ll check the upper floor.¡± ¡°I, I¡¯ll come too.¡± Arian and Sadie ascended the stairs to the second floor. Aiden, after seeing them off, proceeded to inspect the remaining rooms on the first floor. However, the other rooms and the kitchen were all empty. The only room with some furniture was the one with the corpse. So, Aiden returned to that room. While surveying the surroundings, he soon discovered something. ¡°This is...¡± On a small desk, there was a note with someone¡¯s writing. Could it be from the deceased woman? Aiden unfolded the note and read a few pages. From the contents, it seemed to be someone¡¯s diary. The dates written were about three years ago. It was a time shortly after the appearance of zombies, just a few months into the calamity. The diary indicated that the person who wrote it was surrounded by zombies, isolated and in danger. ¡°Hmm...¡± Aiden, while certain that this was the diary of the deceased woman, chose not to cover it. It might be considered disrespectful to the deceased. Moreover, the record of the person who lived here could be useful information for Aiden, visiting this place for the first time. So, Aiden continued moving his gaze, which had momentarily stopped. The woman in the diary was aware that her remaining time was short due to an illness. So, she had almost given up on living longer, but until her death, she worried about only two things. One was her cat, Kety, which was probably the black cat Aiden had seen earlier. The other was her husband. According to the diary, the woman¡¯s husband had gone to the central hospital for medicine and food for his wife but never returned. ¡°A hospital...¡± Confirming this, Aiden¡¯s eyes lit up. If there was a hospital nearby, there were essential items he wanted to secure, especially clean syringes for blood collection. Moreover, the location of the hospital mentioned in the diary wasn¡¯t far from here. With still some time before sunset, Aiden could explore the hospital alone. It was essential, especially since he had used about half of the syringes to receive blood from Victor and his group yesterday. Making use of the remaining time to replenish them would be ideal. ¡°Not bad.¡± Compared to precious metals like gold or diamonds, syringes were generally considered less important. So, even in a hospital that had probably been looted several times before, Aiden could expect a decent harvest. ¡°Are you done checking?¡± Just then, Arian and Sadie descended from the second floor after completing their investigation. According to them, there seemed to be no significant problems on the second and third floors, including the attic. So, Aiden entrusted them with preparations to stay here, while he decided to head towards the hospital. ¡°Is it okay to go alone?¡± ¡°No problem. I¡¯ll be back before sunset.¡± In response, Arian nodded as if understanding, and Sadie conveyed words, hoping for a safe return. Leaving them behind, Aiden, as usual, gathered a few weapons and set out from the temporary shelter. The location of the hospital was within the city center of Mansfield, where Aiden had turned the vehicle. He walked through a dense road leading from a small forest to the city. After about 30 minutes of walking, ¡°Ugh...¡± Gray figures of zombies lurking on the street appeared before him. The first thing that caught his eye was a spacious parking lot. Inside an abandoned car, a zombie was left restrained by a seatbelt. The black belt had penetrated the decaying flesh of the zombie, showing how long it had been in that state. Aiden glanced at such a zombie for a moment and continued walking. Connected to that parking lot was a professionally owned job introduction office. Aiden briefly glanced inside. As expected, several zombies were standing motionless there, staring into space. The door was broken, and most of the windows were shattered. It didn¡¯t seem like a place where supplies were hidden. And moving one block further, he found a fire station this time. Inside, there was an abandoned firetruck, but it didn¡¯t seem like it would work. However, Aiden recalled that firetrucks often stored various items like fire axes, hammers, ladders, and ropes. Intending to check, Aiden approached the firetruck, but, again, the interior was completely looted. ¡°...¡± He reluctantly turned back. Moving one block further down, he found a somewhat different building. Compared to the size of the building, there were few windows facing outward, and those were small. Moreover, each small window had iron bars affixed to it. Aiden heightened his vigilance while looking at the building. Because it was a typical prison building. After the zombie outbreak, abandoned prisons were one of the particularly dangerous places. Most of the prisoners there had turned into zombies due to the lack of proper handling immediately after the incident. As zombies roamed around inside, often in dense numbers, encountering mutated variants wasn¡¯t uncommon. ¡°For a ghost town, it¡¯s quite a dangerous place.¡± Aiden muttered to himself. It was indeed the right decision not to venture into such a place. After memorizing the location of the prison, Aiden hurried his steps towards the hospital. He passed through a dense residential area beyond the prison, where trees grew lushly. There, a large hospital made of orange bricks was situated. ¡°Is this it...?¡± Aiden surveyed the hospital grounds. The scale of the hospital was more extensive than he had expected. Not only was the site spacious, but the hospital itself was divided into several buildings. Aiden stepped towards the entrance of the largest building. Then, ¡°Ugh...¡± Zombie moans echoed unmistakably even within the hospital. Although the immediate visible number was not high, it seemed like there was a considerable number of zombies hiding throughout the hospital. Perhaps it would be better not to go too deep. Thinking so, Aiden checked the map in the hospital lobby. Several places seemed suitable for storing syringes. Among them, excluding locations too deep inside the building or in the basement... the closest one happened to be a staff corridor. Originally blocked for patient access, most of the remaining medical supplies in the hospital were stored in such areas. Aiden entered that staff corridor. Then, he first encountered offices used by doctors or nurses. However, the scene in those offices was slightly different from what he had expected. Bullet holes were vivid on the walls and ceiling, and the desks that should have been in the office were all makeshift barricades lying on their sides, behind which several skeletal remains were visible. And among those remains, there were individuals in white coats like Aiden. ¡°...¡± A corpse dressed in white gazes at a white skull. Even though a long time has passed, dust had settled on it. Yet, even with that, the vivid misery, which had not been erased from Aiden¡¯s eyes, was still apparent. He briefly reminisced about the events of the recent past, the time when the existing order had just collapsed after the emergence of zombies. People who were ordinary citizens until recently had turned into gangs, wielding weapons and storming hospitals. Those who were once doctors and nurses in the hospital had to kill them with guns and knives instead of saving them. Perhaps similar events had occurred here as well. ¡°...¡± Aiden, bypassing such an office, entered a small storage room inside. As expected, there weren¡¯t many resources left. Most of the medicines had been looted, and consumables like bandages were not visible either. But fortunately, the syringes he was looking for were wedged into the bottom drawer along with other odds and ends. Aiden carefully selected the usable ones among them. There were several syringes, but unfortunately, not all of them were useful. Some were already contaminated because their packaging had been removed, and others were too small for blood collection. Aiden sorted through them and carefully gathered the ones that were still usable. A total of six. Not many, but it was a worthwhile harvest. With the syringes in hand, Aiden stepped outside the hospital. Going deeper inside would undoubtedly yield more resources. However, Aiden didn¡¯t let greed take over and turned his steps back. There were quite a few zombies in the hospital. In other words, there might be mutants hiding somewhere inside. Since it wasn¡¯t a matter related to the mission, there was no need to take on such risks. Outside, Aiden looked up at the sky. The signs of sunset were not yet visible. There was plenty of time to return. So, instead of retracing his steps, Aiden chose a different route. The original path had a dangerous prison along the way. Walking a different path might lead him to places where he could explore for more supplies. Aiden set a new direction and walked. Then, residential areas, a beauty salon, and a laundromat appeared. Since it didn¡¯t seem like there would be useful materials, he passed by them. Next was a clothing store. And come to think of it... Were Sadie and Arian¡¯s clothing sufficient? Aiden now wondered why he hadn¡¯t paid attention to their clothing, having focused on immediately essential resources like food and blood until now. Moreover, thinking back, Arian and Sadie hadn¡¯t changed their attire since leaving Pittsburgh. However, even to avoid infection, they needed to continuously wear clean clothes. With that in mind, Aiden gave up neatly on clothing matters and exited the clothing store. And when he walked a few more blocks. ¡°That¡¯s...¡± Finally, a suitable place appeared. A fairly large grocery store, separated with its own extensive parking lot, was in view. Although the entrance was shattered into pieces, showing signs that someone had already entered, it was worth checking at least. Aiden entered the interior of the store. Zombies were lurking around the empty shelves, standing near them. And apart from those zombies, there were also corpses on the floor that had died a long time ago. It seemed like a battle had taken place inside this grocery store as well. Aiden thoroughly searched the grocery store. There was nothing to see on the empty shelves. So, he went to the warehouse behind the store. But there, too, nothing remained except empty boxes. Unfortunately, there seemed to be no items left in this place. ¡°...Can¡¯t be helped.¡± Aiden sighed, expressing his disappointment, and straightened his waist, which had been bending towards the floor. For him, or rather, for everyone in this world, making mistakes during exploration was more common than expected. So, without a hint of disappointment, he was about to leave the grocery store. However... a corpse right in front of him caught his attention. It was a corpse leaning against the wall, dressed in a brown coat. There were clear traces of gunshot wounds on that coat. This was undoubtedly one of the victims of a battle that had taken place here sometime. But what caught Aiden¡¯s eye was not such common traces. It was one finger of that corpse. The ring worn there gave him a feeling of deja vu. Aiden thought curiously, and gently wiped the ring, which was dirty with dust and grime. Then, the platinum gleam hidden inside was revealed again, and Aiden could identify the identity of that feeling. This was undoubtedly an item similar to what that woman had, who died in the temporary shelter. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 38 ¡°...¡± Aiden stared quietly at the ring. Was this ring the same as the woman¡¯s? Did it belong to the husband of that skeleton? It was a remarkable coincidence. This person, who was just a character in a diary, meeting him like this was beyond imagination. ¡°Hmm...¡± Aiden examined the man closely. The man was dead, clutching his stomach with one hand. However, upon closer inspection, something vaguely shiny in silver could be seen inside the torn coat. Aiden cautiously moved the corpse¡¯s arm. Inside the torn coat, which had become rags, there was... roughly a can of medicine and a can of food. The label on the plastic bottle was erased, making it impossible for Aiden to know what kind of medicine was inside. Perhaps it was for the woman who was in the temporary shelter. Moreover, looking closely at the canned food, it wasn¡¯t meant for human consumption. It was cat food. Although it was still well-sealed and could be eaten if necessary, it wasn¡¯t so scarce that they had to resort to eating it. In the end, neither side had the materials Aiden needed. So, about to turn away, Aiden found himself once again gazing at the corpse. After a moment of hesitation, Aiden reluctantly took the small medicine bottle and the can of food that the husband was clutching. ¡°...¡± That way, he left the grocery store with the man¡¯s belongings. The street outside was still quiet. The twilight glow that nestled among the weeds growing in the cracked asphalt was the only indicator of the passage of time. However, he had already covered about half the distance to the temporary base. There was no need to worry about being late. Thinking so, Aiden moved forward with a peaceful mind. However. ¡°Hmm...?¡± After walking about a block, something caught his eye across the road. It was... a black cat. It was undoubtedly the same one he had seen at the temporary shelter. As if it had been waiting for him here, the cat was sitting in the middle of the road. Aiden walked towards the cat, stepping steadily. That direction seemed to be where he should go. There was no need to avoid the cat. He thought the cat would run away on its own. However, even as he approached, the cat didn¡¯t avoid him. It just looked at Aiden as if it found him fascinating. Staring into those yellow eyes, Aiden suddenly remembered something. ¡°...Are you asking for your share?¡± Originally, he intended to leave it at the temporary shelter, but this turned out to be a fortunate event. The cat food was undoubtedly for that cat named Kety. Putting on gloves, Aiden opened the can. Placing it in front of the cat, he stepped back, and the cat, without hesitation, started eating. After finishing the canned food, the cat made a purring sound, seemingly in a good mood, and vanished like it did when he first saw it. ¡°What a peculiar little guy.¡± Aiden mumbled to himself and continued on his way. But not long after, he could see the cat again. The sparsely populated street with scattered buildings ended, and an area with the beginning of the city. The cat, sitting on the roof of a shopping complex on the first floor, was yawning leisurely. ¡°...¡± Aiden had no reason to look at the cat any longer. So, he ignored the cat and silently continued his walk. However, before he could pass by, the cat came down from the roof on its own. And then, at a slow pace, it began to walk in front of Aiden, leading the way. Was it guiding him? But Aiden paid little attention to the cat¡¯s actions. Whether it was leading or not, he only focused on the surrounding buildings. In the shopping district, there were once shops selling shoes, flowers, souvenirs, etc. Although some of the products from that time were still there, none of them were necessary resources. He entered a broken restaurant but found only zombies inside. Aiden continued exploring, moving forward slowly. However, for some reason, whenever he ventured out onto the streets, the cat was always there, never leaving from the front. Perplexed by this, in a timely manner, at the intersection that appeared, the cat turned to the left. It was north. ¡°Hmm...¡± Originally, the direction Aiden was heading wasn¡¯t this way, but the path chosen by the cat didn¡¯t hinder reaching the temporary shelter either. From here, the temporary shelter was in the northwest direction. It was just a matter of whether to walk the road leading north first or the one leading west. Under normal circumstances, he might not have cared about such things, but for some reason, today¡¯s exploration didn¡¯t yield much. So, Aiden decided to indulge a whim. He followed the cat. As a result, what unfolded was a quiet street. On one side, there was a wide open space that seemed to have been used as a parking lot, and construction sites were visible here and there. On the opposite side, there was a 4-story building that still bore traces of a cafe. Neither side seemed to have anything worthwhile. However, as Aiden silently walked that path, he soon noticed something conspicuous. ¡°That¡¯s...¡± What Aiden noticed was a clearly smaller and more worn-out 2-story building compared to the others. Above all, a large phoenix painting covered the entire big window, making a strong impression. What was there was not just a pub... No, upon closer inspection, it was a small brewery. A brewery. Alcohol had a considerably high value as a barter item. Even in the Merchant Cooperative, a bottle of decent alcohol was valued enough to exchange for several grenades or bombs. So, Aiden, pulling out his shotgun, opened the slightly ajar green wooden door and entered. Inside the first floor, there were a few tables and a rectangular bar, and one zombie stood inside like a bartender, staring blankly. ¡°Kik...!¡± Aiden pierced the head of that zombie with a dagger. If there were several, he might not have bothered, but if there was only one, it was a judgment to deal with it for safety¡¯s sake. Having thus taken down the zombie, Aiden checked the bottles and cans lined up on the bar. Fortunately, this small brewery seemed to have not been looted by anyone yet, and the items were still quite intact. However, as Aiden inspected the inside, he felt a slight sense of disappointment. Most of the remaining alcohol was beer. Beer had a shelf life of between six months to a year, relatively short compared to other alcohol. As it started to change in taste once the expiration date passed, by now, after three years since the world fell apart, most of it was likely undrinkable. However, Aiden didn¡¯t give up and decided to examine the brewery more. Maybe there would be something other than beer left, as is often the case with pubs. Having finished searching the first floor, he naturally ascended the stairs to the second floor. He opened the small door at the end. What he saw was pitch darkness, where nothing could be seen even a step ahead. Unlike the first floor, where the walls were dotted with windows, the second floor was completely blocked from all sides without a single window. To gain visibility, Aiden was about to turn on the light attached to the shotgun when he released his hand from the shotgun¡¯s trigger. ¡°¡ª¨C!¡± An unpleasant sound, like a crying child, echoed. It was the fierce wailing sound of a cat. Scratching at his nerves, Aiden unconsciously tensed up, and suddenly, from the darkness, he sensed something sharp reaching out. Quack! Aiden, who barely managed to fend it off with the shotgun, retreated back down to the first floor at a speed akin to rolling. Then, the one waiting for him in the darkness finally thrust its face out. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A pitch-black, emaciated face with a long torn mouth. And there was nothing but a large eye with no nose or ears, and it was all black. ¡°...!¡± Staring at that grotesque face, Aiden furrowed his brow. It was none other than a mutant zombie. A Stalker. Mainly active in dark caves, buildings, or only at night, this mutant had an entirely black, dry, twig-like body. The dangerous aspect of such a Stalker was that it was extremely difficult to observe with the naked eye in the dark. Utilizing this characteristic, they approached people like assassins, inconspicuously, and bit their necks without anyone noticing ¨C a specialty of theirs. ¡°Kiik...!¡± However, the Stalker couldn¡¯t chase Aiden back down to the first floor. Because sunlight was still too bright for the mutant that primarily operated only at night. Perhaps, to its eyes, the twilight glow that pierced through the windows might have appeared like a constant barrage of illumination flares. Taking advantage of the wave of light, while the Stalker flinched in the darkness. In that brief moment, Aiden didn¡¯t miss the opportunity. Bang! Immediately, the shotgun¡¯s muzzle spewed fire. Due to the Stalker¡¯s thin body, adapted to avoid detection, its resilience was even lower than that of ordinary zombies. As if to prove this, the Stalker was swept away by the storm of buckshot. Just like an assassin who failed an assassination attempt and fell futilely to the blow of a guard. ¡°...¡± Aiden remained vigilant, not letting his guard down, but there were no further movements. Therefore, Aiden completely withdrew from the stairs, turned on the light, and ascended the stairs again to check the Stalker¡¯s condition. The Stalker, hit directly by the buckshot, was miserably dead. Having confirmed the Stalker¡¯s death, Aiden carefully searched the second floor. Fortunately, there were no other mutants. Moreover, there was only one bottle in the brewery on the second floor, but it was a harvest. It was wine. Aiden, who had little knowledge about wine, couldn¡¯t estimate its value even by looking at the writing on the label. Nevertheless, the fact that the bottle was securely sealed made it likely that it hadn¡¯t gone bad. Having taken it, Aiden went outside. The street was now completely darkened. There, Aiden tried to find the cat¡¯s figure, but as if to signal that its job was done, the cat was nowhere to be seen. ¡°...¡± After wandering around for a moment, he turned his gaze forward again. It was time to go back. Aiden hurried his steps towards the temporary shelter. * * * ¡°You¡¯re back?¡± Returning to the temporary shelter, Arian was the first to react. And shortly after, Sadie appeared as well. They were relieved to see Aiden return safely. ¡°Was there anything unusual?¡± ¡°Yeah. The surroundings were quiet. But... what¡¯s this, did you bring alcohol?¡± Looking at the wine bottle Aiden brought, Arian spoke. Aiden nodded. ¡°Do you happen to know anything about wine? It would be nice if it had some value.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know much about wine either. Still... it doesn¡¯t seem to be rotten.¡± Sniffing the wine bottle¡¯s mouth, Arian said so. Could her senses even detect the smell of wine corked with a cork? In any case, it hadn¡¯t spoiled, which was a fortunate turn of events. ¡°So, are we going to rest for the night?¡± ¡°Of course. It¡¯s almost nighttime.¡± The sky was gradually darkening. It was a time to hide indoors rather than going outside. ¡°I¡¯ll stay on the first floor. You need to rest well since we have to leave early tomorrow.¡± The group nodded and went upstairs. Aiden, after briefly watching their backs, moved towards the room where the house owner was. She was still sitting in the room, gazing only at the blocked window. Aiden approached her. And in her bony, remaining hand, which was once her husband¡¯s belonging, he placed a small medicine bottle. ¡°The debt has been repaid,¡± Aiden muttered. He knew this was a meaningless act. However, Aiden had intruded into this woman¡¯s house, even peeking at her diary. So, he felt he should at least repay something for it. That¡¯s what the meaningless action was for. ¡°...¡± In silence, Aiden left the room after leaving the skeleton behind. Thus, the sun set, and the night deepened. In the distance, the wailing sound of a cat could be heard. Aiden spent the night sitting quietly in the kitchen on the first floor. * * * The next day. Aiden¡¯s group spent a safe night at the temporary shelter, and made preparations to leave again. They reorganized the luggage that had been somewhat loosened for their stay and refueled the car. ¡°Preparations are done.¡± ¡°M-me too.¡± Arian and Sadie said so, climbing into the vehicle first. Aiden neatly organized the fuel canister and also got into the driver¡¯s seat. Vroom! The vehicle carrying Aiden¡¯s group left the small residential area in the forest where the temporary shelter was located. In the rearview mirror of the vehicle, a black cat on a red roof looked down at Aiden¡¯s group for a moment, then quickly disappeared. Chapter 39 ¡°Where to next?¡± ¡°I¡¯m planning to go to Lima today,¡± Aiden replied to Arian¡¯s question after leaving Mansfield. Lima was a city about 160 km away from Mansfield. It was the last checkpoint they had to pass before reaching the major city of Fort Wayne. ¡°What¡¯s there?¡± ¡°Well, I only know it¡¯s one of the ordinary small towns.¡± ¡°Hmm...¡± Arian gazed out of the window absentmindedly, her chin resting on her hand. All that could be seen along the straight road was a monotonous field of weeds. After a brief moment of silence, Aiden, who had suddenly remembered something, spoke up. ¡°By the way, I forgot to ask yesterday.¡± ¡°Ask what?¡± ¡°Did you take care of Sadie¡¯s clothes?¡± The question arose because Sadie and Arian¡¯s clothes had somehow switched after yesterday. Arian nodded, as if it were obvious. ¡°Of course. Who else would take care of it if not me? I can¡¯t leave this to you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a valid point. Thanks. It¡¯s less of a burden.¡± Aiden responded calmly to Arian¡¯s words, accompanied by a sigh. To him, it was preferable this way. Clothing, just like food, was something that should not fall into the dirty hands of a zombie. ¡°But finding clean clothes won¡¯t be easy, right?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have to compromise. Can¡¯t help it.¡± ¡°Then where did you get the clothes you¡¯re wearing now?¡± ¡°At that large store in Canton.¡± Arian mentioned that she had personally picked out a few relatively well-preserved pieces among the abandoned clothing at the store. From Aiden¡¯s recollection, it wasn¡¯t exactly a clean place. So, he said in a low voice: ¡°Then you might need something like soap.¡± ¡°Hmm? Can we find such a thing? Where would we get water to wash?¡± ¡°Well... that¡¯s a point.¡± In a world where even getting drinking water was difficult, using water for washing every time you used soap would be wasteful. No matter how important cleanliness was, it was an unreasonable waste. So, after contemplating for a while, Aiden came up with a solution. ¡°In that case... let¡¯s at least try to find some hand sanitizer for now.¡± Whether fortunately or unfortunately, due to the global impact of the coronavirus that spread worldwide before the zombie outbreak, hand sanitizers were still commonly found items. Moreover, due to the nature of their ingredients, they had a relatively long shelf life. As long as they were sealed, they could still be used. While it might not clean the entire body, being able to sanitize hands alone could prevent many infectious diseases. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After listening to Aiden¡¯s explanation, Arian nodded. ¡°That should be fine. But what is this ¡®corona¡¯?¡± Arian spoke as if she had never heard of the coronavirus. In their conversation, it turned out that in her original world, this virus didn¡¯t exist. As Aiden realized once again that she was a being from a different world, Sadie, who had been quietly listening, spoke up. ¡°Sister... Are you really from a different world?¡± Sadie showed interest in Arian¡¯s words. It wasn¡¯t strange at all. The idea of a different world would be unbelievable even to an adult like Aiden. So, it must have sounded fascinating to a young child. Arian smiled faintly and nodded. ¡°Well, do you have any questions?¡± As if she had been waiting, Sadie threw a few questions at Arian. And Arian earnestly answered, leading to a casual conversation. Meanwhile, Aiden focused on driving, and the vehicle smoothly continued along the road. Fortunately, the road conditions were quite decent. Thanks to that, they were making noticeably better progress than when heading to Worcester or Mansfield. At this rate, they should be able to reach their destination early in the afternoon. While thinking about it, unexpected gunshots echoed from somewhere. Bang! Bang! In response to the sudden noise, Aiden immediately reacted. He turned the steering wheel sharply to the left and shouted. ¡°Sadie, lower your head!¡± At his command, Sadie immediately hid her body under the seat. Simultaneously, the vehicle rushed fiercely towards the forest. The road they had been running on had a vast field on the right and a small forest on the left. The neglected field, left untouched for three years, now had weeds growing up to the waist, yet the flat terrain remained the same. In this shallow plain, there was no place to take cover from bullets. So, Aiden¡¯s alternative choice was the forest on the opposite side. Kugugugu! The vehicle, accelerating on the unpaved ground, crushed the small trees of the forest, causing the car to sway violently. ¡°Ouch...!¡± Amidst the noisy shaking, Sadie let out a small scream, and Arian, even in the midst of it all, glared sharply in the direction of the gunfire. Squeak! The vehicle plunged into the interior, covered by trees and bushes, before finally coming to a stop. However, Aiden, without easing his tension, asked Arian. ¡°Can you tell who or where they are?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s too far. I don¡¯t see anyone nearby.¡± Arian spoke with frustration, but Aiden, on the contrary, felt a slight relief. Knowing that there were no enemies in this forest, at least, opened up many options. Meanwhile, the gunshots from somewhere continued even after Aiden¡¯s group entered the forest. However, the gunshots didn¡¯t reach anywhere near their vicinity or the vehicle. This meant... whoever fired the shots did not do so with the intention of sniping Aiden¡¯s vehicle. But they couldn¡¯t immediately move the vehicle either. Even though they knew the opponent had guns, driving again on a road with no cover was too risky. So, Aiden decided to take matters into his own hands. ¡°I¡¯ll go check the situation. You two wait here.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Arian asked with concern. The opponents were not zombies. If it was a person with a gun, even though Aiden was a zombie, he could still be killed. But Aiden nonchalantly nodded. Whether it was a wanderer or a gangster, it was naturally Aiden¡¯s job to find out the true intentions of these dangerous people and examine their intentions. He first put on a helmet and gloves to cover his bare skin. Then he took his weapons, including a rifle, got out of the vehicle, and carefully exited the forest. The sound of gunshots coming from afar was still continuing. Also, the gunshots he heard... there were just two types. And in the direction from which the gunfire came, there was a small rest area surrounded by a forest. ¡°...¡± Aiden¡¯s head hurted as he realized it. Considering the frequency and type of gunfire, there were at most two or three combatants. With that number of people, it doesn¡¯t seem like a battle between gangs. That means... Could it be a battle between no more than five wanderers at most? Having made this observation, Aiden approached the rest area. With his rifle ready, he carefully advanced, and the first thing that caught his eye was a zombie. ¡°Woaaah!¡± This rest area on Route 30 consisted of two buildings smaller than regular houses. One was a restroom, and the other was an old convenience store building with an open front door and scattered vending machines. So, even though the rest area was small, dozens of zombies had already surrounded it. Aiden quickly grasped the situation at the sight. The cause of the gunfire was indeed the wanderers. However, they were not fighting against people but rather engaged in combat with zombies. Probably while looting the rest area, they ran into a zombie horde wandering nearby by chance. ¡°...¡± A conflict arose in Aiden¡¯s mind for a moment. If the wanderers were the cause of the gunshots, Aiden could have left without further involvement. Even if they drove the vehicle across the road. Zombies and those wanderers wouldn¡¯t pay any attention to Aiden¡¯s group. However, what made Aiden hesitate was a different reason. The wanderers were individuals who constantly roamed, searching for supplies here and there, even though they had a small amount. Although they didn¡¯t have many resources, they were frequent travelers, and occasionally, they carried useful information. Already, Aiden had no information about Lima, where Aiden¡¯s group should visit next, and Fort Wayne. So, helping them now and gaining valuable information in return could be a significant benefit for Aiden¡¯s group. Was it worth sacrificing a few rounds of his own ammunition for this? After considering this for a moment, Aiden soon judged that it was. Bang! Aiden¡¯s bullets poured continuously onto the zombies surrounding the rest area. The number of zombies there was approximately thirty. As soon as their comrades in the adjacent building started dying in droves, those who had been focused on the building finally turned their heads. ¡°Kiiii!¡± About ten zombies rushed towards Aiden with unsettling groans. Unpleasant screams emerged from their decaying teeth. There were no mutants among them. Realizing they were all ordinary zombies, Aiden calmly began shooting, starting with those who were running towards him. ¡°Aaaargh!¡± Every second, Aiden skillfully shot off the heads of the approaching zombies, their movements resembling those of machines. Nevertheless, two zombies managed to close in on Aiden¡¯s close range. Aiden, while holstering his gun behind his back, smoothly pulled out a bat. Thud! Thwack! The steel bat shattered the rotten skulls consecutively. In the blink of an eye, two zombies fell. At that moment, someone¡¯s curse burst out like a scream. ¡°Shit!¡± It came from the direction of the rest area. Looking over there, Aiden saw a woman outside the building wielding a lead pipe, engaging in a hand-to-hand fight with zombies. ¡°Emma! Go back!¡± A male voice came from inside. However, despite the man¡¯s warning, the woman called Emma didn¡¯t retreat. No, to be precise, she couldn¡¯t retreat. ¡°I can¡¯t! I¡¯m out of bullets!¡± Shouting like that, Emma swung the pipe at the approaching zombie. She was a white woman in her thirties with a slender physique, not ideal for a melee battle. Whether she had some skill or not, a dull sound accompanied as one of the zombies was knocked down by the pipe. However, within moments, several times more zombies swarmed towards her. Emma desperately confronted the zombies. Her comrade also used up ammunition to protect Emma, but it was insufficient. There were too many zombies closing in. In the end- ¡°Kiiie!¡± One zombie gruesomely grabbed Emma¡¯s right hand, which was holding the pipe. It held onto her hand, exposing its teeth, while another zombie simultaneously opened its mouth wide, attempting to bite into her neck. Embarrassed, Emma¡¯s gaze shook. There was no way to avoid either side. Just at the moment when Emma sensed her impending doom- Bang! A zombie, which was grabbing Emma¡¯s right hand, had its head blown off by a gunshot. ¡°-!¡± There, Emma first became aware of Aiden¡¯s presence. Although she seemed to have received help, Emma had no time to pay attention to Aiden amidst the imminent threat before her. Thud! Emma immediately swung the pipe in her freed right hand, smashing the head of the zombie directly in front of her. ¡°Keu-¡° The zombie¡¯s jaw, which was wide open, was hit by the pipe and turned back. She barely managed to push the jawless zombie away and took a step back. ¡°Woaaahh!¡± ¡°Aaargh!¡± However, three more zombies immediately closed in from all sides. But in the next moment- The head of the zombie on the right flew off again with an unidentified bullet. Emma knocked away one of the two approaching zombies. Then, shortly after, the head of the remaining zombie flew off with a gunshot. It wasn¡¯t the skill of her colleague, Michael. He didn¡¯t have that skill, and he was too busy dealing with the zombies rushing towards him to focus. In other words, this flawless marksmanship belonged to the unknown wanderer who had helped her. Emma felt a mix of astonishment and, at the same time, a creepy feeling. Even if a single shot deviated slightly from its trajectory amidst the continuous gunfire, it would pierce not the zombie but her head. Yet, whoever this unknown person was, he poured bullets in seconds, as if firing in bursts. Thus, in the continuous gunfire, Emma experienced a nerve-racking battle for a brief moment. When the last remaining zombie finally fell due to gunshots, Emma dropped the pipe to the ground with a hot sigh. ¡°Emma! Are you okay?¡± A male voice was heard. However, instead of responding to the man who came out of the building with her head held high, Emma extended her hand towards him and signaled to stop. Her gaze then slowly turned towards Aiden. Aiden¡¯s gun was still pointing in her direction. While raising both hands towards Aiden, she opened her mouth. ¡°What do you want?¡± Even though Aiden had saved her life, Emma was still cautious. That was only natural. In this world, there were no places that simply saved people out of goodwill. Aiden slowly spoke. ¡°I want information from you.¡± ¡°Information...?¡± ¡°Yeah. And the price for that is what you¡¯ve just been through.¡± At Aiden¡¯s words, a fleeting sense of relief crossed Emma¡¯s face. It wasn¡¯t a loss to speak about what she knew, considering it wasn¡¯t goods or life. Of course, she couldn¡¯t believe it blindly, so while maintaining her guard, Emma accepted Aiden¡¯s proposal. ¡°...Alright. What do you want to know?¡± Chapter 40 ¡°First... what¡¯s your name?¡± Aiden¡¯s initial question was just that. In response, Emma tersely replied: ¡°I¡¯m Emma, Emma Wilson.¡± ¡°And the friend inside the building?¡± ¡°...Michael Brown. And what¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Aiden Lee.¡± His low-pitched voice stating his name carried no emotions. Emma tried not to be conscious of the gun pointed at her, simply nodding. Aiden¡¯s questioning continued. ¡°Where are you from?¡± ¡°Michigan, Lansing.¡± ¡°What route did you take?¡± ¡°We passed through Coldwater from Lansing, then went through Fort Wayne. From there, we crossed over to here, through Van Wert.¡± Michigan is an area adjacent to Ohio, where Aiden is, and beyond that is Canada. So, they moved south from there, passed through Fort Wayne, and headed east. ¡°Have you ever been to Lima?¡± Emma shook her head. It was a somewhat disappointing answer, but if they had passed through Fort Wayne, there would be much to inquire about. So, Aiden shifted the gun he had aimed at Emma to the side. He was well aware that Emma¡¯s companion was still hiding inside the convenience store building. Aiden had been entrenched near the restroom building from the beginning. Inside the convenience store, there was no position from which to shoot, making it impossible to determine the shooting angle. Because of that, he judged that there was no need to threaten her as long as Emma¡¯s companion didn¡¯t move first. ¡°You can put your hands down. The story might take a while, so feel free to speak comfortably.¡± ¡°...If you say so.¡± At Aiden¡¯s words, Emma lowered her raised hand. She sighed briefly and waited for Aiden¡¯s questions. ¡°How¡¯s the situation in Michigan?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not great. No, it¡¯s the worst. Last winter was exceptionally cold.¡± At that, Aiden recalled memories from a few months ago. It was indeed a winter colder than usual. But if Lansing, which is north of Pittsburgh, was colder than Pittsburgh, Emma continued even more bitterly. ¡°A considerable number of people froze to death back then. As many people froze to death at night trying to keep warm by the fire as were eaten by zombies. There probably aren¡¯t many survivors left there now.¡± ¡°So, you eventually came here because of the cold.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. The situation here may not seem good either, but going south would be much better to endure the winter, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± Aiden sighed at Emma¡¯s words. The reason he inquired about the situation in Michigan was not mere curiosity; it was also to find a place for Sadie to stay. But if Emma¡¯s words were accurate, Michigan didn¡¯t seem to be such a place. So, Aiden put aside any lingering regrets and moved on to the main topic. ¡°When did you stay in Fort Wayne?¡± ¡°About two weeks ago.¡± ¡°How was it there?¡± When the story turned to Fort Wayne, Emma slightly furrowed her brow. ¡°You¡¯re planning to go to Fort Wayne? I wouldn¡¯t recommend it. It¡¯s not a friendly place.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no city welcoming to wanderers.¡± ¡°Even considering that, it¡¯s different. They¡¯re so strict, like a military, that we couldn¡¯t even get into their barricade.¡± At that point, Emma glanced briefly to the side, tilting her head slightly. It was because Michael, who had been inside the building, seemed to be trying to come out. Perhaps he was concerned about Emma being exposed to danger alone. But now, Emma judged that it was better not to provoke Aiden. So, quietly nudging her companion, she casually continued her conversation. ¡°Fort Wayne was dominated by a single large organization that occupied the entire city. And when I went there... they said something about conducting a cleaning.¡± ¡°Cleaning?¡± ¡°Completely driving zombies out of the city, building a safe zone inside. I¡¯m not sure about the details.¡± For Aiden, this was an unexpected story. It¡¯s a common practice for gangs to clear a certain area of zombies and fortify it, but attempting to control the entire city through such a method was a completely different story. The high-rise buildings in the city are like large nests containing dangerous mutated zombies inside. So, eliminating them all without considerable force and resources is a challenging task. That meant the gang that took over Fort Wayne had significant power. ¡°Because of that, they were extremely hostile to visitors from the outside. They¡¯re busy enough dealing with zombies, and they don¡¯t want to deal with people bringing trouble, too, right?¡± ¡°...I see.¡± Although Emma spoke with a negative tone, Aiden didn¡¯t hear it that way. A survivor group with enough manpower and resources to attempt to control an entire city. From what he heard so far, Sadie had found a place to live under at least minimal conditions. Of course, more details needed to be investigated, but finding a city worth looking into was already a harvest in itself. Continuing, Aiden nodded after asking about the road conditions on Route 30 leading to that place and any information about zombies in the vicinity. Now, there was no more canal information for them. ¡°That should be enough. Well then... pardon me.¡± Aiden said so and tried to hide behind the building towards the forest. Emma, however, stopped him with words. ¡°Just a moment.¡± ¡°...What is it?¡± ¡°If it¡¯s alright, I¡¯d like to propose a deal.¡± ¡°A deal?¡± ¡°As you might have seen, we need ammunition.¡± Aiden¡¯s helmet glanced at Emma, who spoke like that, indifferently. Emma was well aware that Aiden also understood the urgency of the need for ammunition. It was only a short while ago that they had to engage in hand-to-hand combat with zombies due to the lack of ammunition. However, the deal proposed by Emma was a risky venture, to say the least. It seemed more like a trade among desperate wanderers who barely had anything. Therefore, trades among wanderers often ended not with an honest exchange of goods but rather with one side killing the other and looting their items. ¡°The caliber?¡± Nevertheless, after a slight hesitation, Aiden decided to agree to the deal with them. The somewhat stiff expression on Emma¡¯s face softened at Aiden¡¯s question. ¡°.308 Winchester.¡± ¡°Do you have any resources to offer?¡± sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°We have some food. Not much, but... it should be enough to buy a few rounds of ammunition.¡± .308 Winchester is a caliber with a diameter of 7.62mm, not the 5.56mm caliber that Aiden primarily uses. It was an item kept as a contingency in case the current rifle malfunctioned, and there was enough of it stored in the vehicle. So, the deal itself wouldn¡¯t incur any loss. However, there was something Aiden needed more than food. ¡°Instead of food, how about giving blood?¡± ¡°Blood? Human blood?¡± ¡°Yeah. The idea is that if you donate blood, I¡¯ll take it as payment for the ammunition.¡± Aiden briefly explained the specific method and procedure. Emma¡¯s face subtly wrinkled upon hearing this. ¡°Why would you...?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, we can trade with food instead... What do you say?¡± From Emma¡¯s perspective, this was an extremely suspicious request. But she couldn¡¯t easily refuse it either. The food she offered as a condition for ammunition was the only food they had managed to find at a small rest area. If Aiden agreed to the trade, they would secure ammunition, but they would have to starve without a doubt for at least a day or two. However, if Aiden simply took blood instead, they could save that food. It was a dilemma. Understanding this, Aiden decided to give them some time. ¡°I¡¯ll bring the ammunition. Decide by then.¡± ¡°You¡¯re bringing it?¡± ¡°I have a vehicle.¡± Emma¡¯s gaze changed slightly at those words. To ordinary wanderers, a vehicle was almost a luxury item. Given the current harsh reality where it¡¯s difficult to find both immediate food and ammunition, managing a means of transportation was almost impossible. In that case, could this man in front of her be not alone? As if planting confidence in her speculation, Aiden spoke. ¡°And I have other colleagues.¡± His stern voice sounded like a warning to Emma. It meant that they were superior in both numbers and weapons, so she shouldn¡¯t entertain thoughts beyond a straightforward trade. Although Emma had no intention of such thoughts from the beginning. More precisely, from the moment she witnessed Aiden¡¯s marksmanship, she had an intuition that antagonizing this man would be absolutely undesirable. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll be waiting here then.¡± So, Emma said that. Leaving her behind, Aiden disappeared into the forest behind the rest area. And a short while later, Aiden truly returned to the rest area with a black van. Outside the rest area, Emma was still the only one present. Aiden got out of the car and approached her. ¡°You didn¡¯t run away.¡± Aiden spoke as if surprised. In response, Emma offered a wry smile. ¡°Well... what could I have done? If you were going to kill me, you wouldn¡¯t have saved me.¡± Aiden silently nodded in agreement. ¡°So, what are you going to give in exchange for the ammunition?¡± ¡°...Blood.¡± Emma said so with a somewhat uncomfortable expression. From her perspective, it was a decision made after much deliberation, but for Aiden, the result was as expected. He naturally took out a paper box containing a syringe from his pocket. ¡°Do you know how to use a syringe?¡± Emma shook her head. For her, a blood donation syringe was something she had never touched in her entire life. ¡°...I guess there¡¯s no choice.¡± Aiden sighed briefly and tore open a new pair of gloves. In the meantime, Emma noticed Aiden¡¯s name tag hanging on his neck. ¡°Are you... really a doctor?¡± ¡°I used to be. In the past.¡± At those words, a faint sense of relief flickered in Emma¡¯s eyes. ¡°Well then, let¡¯s get started. Roll up your sleeve and extend it towards me.¡± Aiden checked the syringe¡¯s condition and gently inserted it into her arm. ¡°Ouch...¡± Feeling the needle pierce her skin, Emma let out a groan. In the meantime, Aiden skillfully drew out the blood. 200ml. It was about half the usual blood donation amount. Aiden considered the possibility that prolonged wandering might have weakened her stamina. After drawing the blood, Aiden spoke while showing the extracted blood. ¡°This is the amount we take from one person. This is the payment for one cartridge of ammunition.¡± ¡°...¡± Saying so, Aiden handed over a box containing 20 rounds of ammunition. The message was clear. If they wanted more ammunition, she had to bring another hidden comrade along with her. Emma hesitated for a moment, then turned her body towards the inside of the rest area. ¡°Just wait a moment.¡± Soon, a man walked out from the building. He was a black man of similar age to Emma. While glancing suspiciously at Aiden, he silently extended one arm. ¡°...¡± Aiden drew blood from him as well, then handed over the ammunition. Upon receiving it, Michael quickly entered the rest area as if escaping. Aiden, having observed Michael¡¯s retreating figure for a moment, got into the vehicle. Since there was no intention of exchanging farewell greetings, as long as this ended amicably, the deal would be concluded. But just in case, Aiden turned his head towards Arian. ¡°How is it?¡± ¡°There doesn¡¯t seem to be any unusual movements.¡± Only after hearing that, Aiden started the engine. Slowly, Aiden¡¯s vehicle left the rest area. As the rest area gradually became distant, Arian, who had been quietly waiting inside the car, spoke up. ¡°It ended more quietly than you suggested.¡± Before coming to this rest area, Aiden had seriously warned them about the risks of this trade, mentioning the possibility of a confrontation. So, Sadie remained hidden among the baggage, not even lifting her head. Even Arian seemed to be considering it seriously. However, the wanderers they encountered didn¡¯t seem to have any intention of combat. Moreover, the trade concluded without any issues. Comparing it to Aiden¡¯s warnings, the wanderers behaved unexpectedly peacefully. ¡°Lucky, I guess.¡± Aiden commented on it in that way. Seeing Arian shrug as if not quite convinced, he continued. ¡°There¡¯s no guarantee it will be like this next time. Wanderers are a dangerous bunch.¡± ¡°Then why bother with deals like this in the first place?¡± ¡°Of course, you¡¯re right.¡± Arian¡¯s words were not wrong. It¡¯s generally not advisable to engage in trade among wanderers, as opposed to giving supplies and buying information from them. However, Aiden had his reasons for going through with the trade. ¡°But someday, we¡¯ll have to face that danger.¡± Right now, Aiden and his group were wanderers too So, there wouldn¡¯t always be plenty of supplies like now. Soon, they would have to cooperate with suspicious individuals, risking danger. Today¡¯s trade was a practice for the day that would inevitably come. Understanding this intention, Arian nodded. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, well, I get it. Sadie, you can come out now.¡± ¡°Phew...¡± With a long sigh, Sadie¡¯s head emerged from among the luggage. Arian pulled her out and seated her in the car. ¡°Oh, and... you mentioned getting information. What kind of information?¡± ¡°It¡¯s about Fort Wayne.¡± Aiden proceeded to inform Arian and Sadie about the details he learned from Emma. And during this time... The vehicle carrying them safely entered Lima, the destination for today. Chapter 41 ¡°...This seems like a good place.¡± Upon entering Lima, Aiden soon found a building in the northern part of the city to use as a temporary shelter. It was a Catholic cathedral made of red bricks. A small statue of Mary facing the road made the building noticeable. Although the cathedral had two entrances as per its design, the relatively wide main entrance was securely blocked with a rusted iron gate. The only practical entrance available was a narrow back door. Additionally, there was a spacious parking lot behind the cathedral. Many abandoned vehicles were scattered around, making it an ideal spot for Aiden to conceal the vehicle they arrived in. With sturdy outer walls, restricted entrances, and a garage to hide the vehicle, the cathedral met all the necessary conditions. Without much hesitation, Aiden expertly parked the vehicle in the parking lot, accompanied by Arian. After securing the safety of the cathedral¡¯s interior with Arian, he took Sadie inside. ¡°...¡± The interior of the cathedral was not significantly different from any other cathedral. A pulpit at the front and long rows of chairs facing it. The small stained glass windows poured a red sunset glow inside. If there was anything peculiar, it was the almost complete absence of damage inside the cathedral. While dust had settled, the unique atmosphere of the cathedral remained intact, evoking nostalgia in Aiden. A time when he had promised marriage in a cathedral with his lover. Although it had only been a few years ago, it felt as distant as recalling an old tale from decades ago. ¡°...Tsk.¡± Aiden shook his head, clicking his tongue. It was a cherished memory, but now it was a pointless reverie. Effortfully erasing the scenery from his mind, Aiden turned his gaze towards Sadie. ¡°Wow...¡± Was the atmosphere of such a cathedral unfamiliar to Sadie? She looked around with eyes full of curiosity and interest. Aiden observed her more closely than usual. Last night, Arian had told him that Sadie had been crying in her sleep until late. It wasn¡¯t surprising. The past few days had been strange, fighting zombies with determination even after losing her mother, and not uttering a word of complaint. If anything, it was stranger that such days had passed without a hitch. Sadie was clearly trying to conceal her emotions, perhaps in an effort to fulfill her mother¡¯s last wishes. Aiden and Arian, understanding this, didn¡¯t blame her. Instead, they pretended not to notice, even when they knew she was crying. However, as a doctor, Aiden found Sadie¡¯s emotional suppression admirable but not entirely healthy for mental well-being. Suppressing such emotions indefinitely was never good for mental health, especially for an immature child. So, what measures should be taken? ¡°...¡± Surprisingly, the answer to that question was close at hand, from Arian. Arian was the one. What Sadie needed wasn¡¯t an elaborate treatment. If she had someone empathize with her, someone she could confide in, that alone would be enough for now. Aiden decided to entrust Arian with the role of a counselor to open up Sadie¡¯s heart, allowing her to cry in Arian¡¯s arms during the night if needed. So let Arian take on that role and open Sadie¡¯s heart. Even if she cried in bed in the middle of the night, she needed to be able to cry in her arms. With these thoughts in mind, Aiden looked at Arian. However, for some reason, Arian standing next to Sadie seemed uncomfortable. Aiden asked her: ¡°Is there a problem?¡± ¡°No... well, not really.¡± However, unexpectedly, Arian hesitated with her words. But Aiden patiently waited for Arian to speak again, and soon, her lips parted. ¡°I mentioned it before. Those guys who were chasing me to kill me were affiliated with the church.¡± Come to think of it, he had heard such words before. However, the stories about Arian¡¯s past were mostly incomprehensible to Aiden. So, trying not to dwell on them, Aiden quietly listened to her words. ¡°I was unlucky enough to get caught by those bastards. It just reminded me of that time. Especially things like this. Whether here or there, guys who believe in God seem to like these decorations.¡± Arian pointed to the crucifix and stained glass on one wall. Her words carried a subtle thorn. Considering she had fought hostile factions risking her life until recently, it was understandable. ¡°Are you against staying here?¡± ¡°No, I didn¡¯t mean it that way. I just feel dirty about it.¡± Even after that, Arian didn¡¯t seem to dispel her dissatisfaction, but without saying much, she proceeded to prepare to spend the night in the cathedral. Aiden also did what he needed to do. First, thoroughly inspecting the interior of the cathedral, he checked the main hall as well as several rooms inside. Fortunately, there were no signs of significant threats. Afterwards, Aiden went outside the cathedral. He personally scouted the surrounding streets to ensure safety. ¡°...¡± Fortunately, even zombies were rare in the nearby area. Whether this place had been left as a deserted suburb or not, the streets were quiet as dusk began to settle. However, a couple of blocks away from the cathedral, Aiden discovered some traces. ¡°This is...¡± There were distinct tire tracks on the road cluttered with fallen leaves, trash, and miscellaneous debris. Aiden examined it closely. Even the sand between the tire tracks hadn¡¯t been swept away yet, indicating that these tracks were not made a long time ago. Aiden then looked in the direction the tire tracks led. The tracks continued towards the city center. Apart from this, there were no noticeable signs when they entered the city. Although it seemed unlikely that the group responsible for these tracks had established a presence in Lima, it still wasn¡¯t good news for Aiden. This meant that a group of wanderers or a gang¡¯s reconnaissance unit might be nearby. If they happened to encounter them by bad luck... there was a high chance they might have to engage in a battle. But. ¡°...It¡¯s already too late.¡± Aiden said, looking at the sky. While these tracks were ominous, there was no immediate time to track them. Due to the encounter with wanderers at the rest area, time had already been considerably delayed. The sunset glow was prevalent in the sky. There might be about an hour left until the sun sets. Aiden gave up the investigation with a short sigh and turned his head. But at that moment. ¡°Hmm...?¡± A faint sound came from a distance. It was the second unidentified gunshot sound he heard today. ¡°Again?¡± Aiden furrowed his brow. It couldn¡¯t be said that luck was on their side. Encountering other survivors in such abandoned cities was almost as common as encountering zombies. So, instead of complaining, Aiden focused on the sudden noise. The direction from which the sound came was, again, towards the city center. Moreover, the gunfire wasn¡¯t singular this time. It started with one, but soon, dozens of gunshots became intertwined in a confusing manner. It wasn¡¯t comparable to the noise created by the wanderers Aiden¡¯s group encountered earlier. At least 10 or more were engaged in the fight. Aiden hurriedly returned to the temporary shelter, the cathedral. Arian, seemingly having noticed the gunshot sounds too, immediately approached Aiden. ¡°What¡¯s that sound?¡± Aiden conveyed what he had discovered to Arian and Sadie. Someone had left traces, and it led towards the direction from where the sounds were coming. ¡°So, what do we do now?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no immediate solution. We can only hide for now.¡± Aiden replied bitterly. It was too late to leave Lima. Before the night fell, it was too reckless to leave the city to find another shelter. In this situation, it might have been better to sleep under the open sky. But moving the vehicle hastily was already a risk itself. In the worst case, there was a considerable chance that those engaged in the fight would mistake Aiden¡¯s group as enemies and attack. ¡°But they aren¡¯t too far away, fighting. If we stay here, won¡¯t we get caught up in the fight too?¡± ¡°No, they won¡¯t be able to sustain the fight for long. The sun will set soon.¡± The threat posed by the spreading darkness was not unique to Aiden¡¯s group alone. It was an ever-present danger that came to gangs or wanderers every day without fail. Even if they were anyone, they couldn¡¯t escape the approaching time of death. So, the choice for those fighting loudly now was one of two. Either end the fight somehow before nightfall. Or continue fighting in the darkness, meeting a peaceful demise in mutual destruction. And Aiden¡¯s expectation turned out to be remarkably accurate. The rough sounds of gunfire could still be heard distinctly until just before the sunset. But as the darkness and silence began to descend, it abruptly stopped, like a lie. In the dark and quiet cathedral, Aiden assessed the situation for a while. He was worried that those who fought in the city might retreat towards their direction. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That would be bad. But there was no sign of their approach even after waiting for a while. Aiden took his gaze away from the window with protective bars, contrasting the stained glass in the front. Instead, he turned to look at his companions. ¡°Rest for now. They won¡¯t be able to move either at night.¡± Arian nodded and took Sadie with her. There were improvised beds made by placing several long chairs facing each other in a corner of the cathedral. Aiden watched them lie down on the beds, then approached the window facing the city direction. Unlike the stained glass in the front, this window had security bars installed. Aiden, with his night vision goggles, silently observed the darkened streets. However, after an hour or two passed. Arian, who had put Sadie to sleep, quietly approached Aiden¡¯s side. ¡°...Can¡¯t you sleep?¡± Aiden murmured quietly, trying not to wake Sadie. Then Arian, with a bitter smile, spoke up. ¡°I don¡¯t like the accommodations, and now suspicious people are popping up too. It doesn¡¯t seem like a night to sleep comfortably.¡± ¡°Then are we planning to stay awake all night? Won¡¯t you get tired?¡± ¡°Tired?¡± Arian scoffed at Aiden¡¯s words. ¡°Do you even know what kind of person I am? Unlike you, vampires can go without sleep for a month or two and be perfectly fine.¡± ¡°Then why do you sleep every day?¡± ¡°Well, there¡¯s nothing else to do. I just don¡¯t want to stand idly like you every night.¡± Nonchalantly, Arian, after saying this, silently gazed into the darkness outside the window. The pitch-black streets were much more desolate under the twilight than during the day. Then, suddenly, Aiden spoke again. ¡°Come to think of it, didn¡¯t you say that Sadie cries alone every night?¡± Arian¡¯s expression turned serious at Aiden¡¯s words. Continuing, Aiden asked Arian to take on the role of Sadie¡¯s counselor. ¡°A counselor?¡± ¡°In simple terms, be someone she can open up to about her emotions.¡± It wasn¡¯t just a simple request. Aiden provided specific methods and even guidance on what to say based on Sadie¡¯s reactions. Unexpectedly, Arian looked at Aiden with round eyes. ¡°How do you know about that?¡± What Aiden had shared was quite specialized knowledge about child psychology counseling. Arian couldn¡¯t imagine that a zombie, who had lost emotions, would possess such knowledge. However, Aiden casually replied: ¡°I studied it briefly in the past.¡± ¡°Studied? Ah... as a doctor?¡± Of course, there was a reason. The hospital he used to work at had child patients. But that wasn¡¯t the only reason. It was a trace of the preparations he had made to become a parent once upon a time. However, Aiden didn¡¯t mention the other reasons and just nodded. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then fine. I¡¯ll give it a try. I... wanted to help Sadie too.¡± Arian responded enthusiastically. Aiden nodded and informed Arian of other things to be mindful of. ¡°...¡± And after some time had passed. Even after Aiden finished explaining, it took a while before a bluish light began to appear in the sky on the other side. ¡°The sun is rising.¡± The long night was ending, and dawn was approaching. In the end, nothing happened, and one night passed without incident. However, Aiden didn¡¯t move immediately. The sun was still creating a faint glow in one corner of the sky. The streets were still dark, and between the buildings, it looked ominous like deep ravines. Considering the mutants coming out to escape the light, the safe time would not come until an hour after the sun had completely risen. In terms of time, around 7 in the morning. So, Aiden had decided to wait until then before leaving the city. ¡°...Someone is coming this way.¡± Arian suddenly said, looking towards the inside of the street. ¡°Zombies?¡± ¡°No, definitely humans. Towards the main road.¡± Aiden frowned. It was still too dangerous for people to come out at this time. Yet, they chose to resume their actions. There was definitely a purpose. ¡°How many people?¡± ¡°Three.¡± Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t a large number. Aiden quickly formulated a plan. ¡°Wake up Sadie, take her to the inner room. I¡¯ll deal with them.¡± Aiden approached the window with a rifle in hand. Arian nodded and went to Sadie. Aiden aimed the night vision goggles in the direction Arian had mentioned. Then, not long after, the silhouettes of the people who were coming here appeared in Aiden¡¯s field of vision. Chapter 42 Emerging through the hazy dawn darkness onto the road were two men and one woman. Their movements were extremely cautious. Even though they were passing through a deserted residential area, they continued to advance, taking cover behind buildings and vehicles. Moreover, they didn¡¯t exchange any casual conversation. Instead, they communicated by tapping their weapons with their fingers, giving signals to each other. It was a behavior reminiscent of well-trained soldiers. ¡°...¡± In response, Aiden cautiously aimed his rifle at them. Just by observing their movements, it was clear that they weren¡¯t ordinary wanderers. Most crucially, their attire provided a decisive clue. All three of them were wearing military uniforms. That meant... were they from the ¡®military¡¯? Aiden cautiously speculated about it. Of course, the official military of this country had disappeared long ago, with the government having crumbled. However, some among them utilized the weapons and resources the military possessed, organizing groups by rallying nearby survivors. So, even after the country had vanished, they were still referred to as the military. Although their actions weren¡¯t much different from gangs, and they were usually classified as a part of the gangs, upon closer inspection, their arms and training made them more dangerous than ordinary gangsters. ¡°Hmm...¡± Aiden muttered to himself as he observed their weapons closely. Their faces weren¡¯t clearly visible, but weapons were undoubtedly present in their hands. Military assault rifles capable of automatic fire. If a confrontation were to occur, these were excessively dangerous weapons. Meanwhile, they had just approached a point where a road separated the cathedral and them. The distance was about 10 meters. There were no coverings on the road. So, rather than looking for cover, they chose to swiftly cross the road. Aiden spoke when they were about to cross the road. ¡°Stop.¡± In response to his voice, the two people standing in the middle of the road simultaneously froze. The man who was still in the back quickly pressed against the adjacent wall of a house. However, he was still within Aiden¡¯s line of sight. Aiden didn¡¯t give them any time to regain their composure and immediately spoke. ¡°Lower your guns to the ground. Don¡¯t do anything foolish.¡± It was only after hearing his second command that they finally realized Aiden was in the cathedral. However, the dawn sky was still dark. Inside the thick shadows, the exact location of any potential threats hiding in the cathedral was not visible. The voice of the woman standing on the road urgently continued. ¡°Wait. We-¡° ¡°Shut up and put your guns down. The guy behind you too.¡± With Aiden¡¯s firm words, the three individuals exchanged glances for a moment, then slowly lowered their weapons to the ground and raised both hands. Only then did Aiden continue speaking. ¡°Why are you here?¡± The man in the back answered. ¡°We are on a reconnaissance mission.¡± ¡°Reconnaissance?¡± Reconnaissance during this dangerous dawn. It was not an easily believable statement. However, as if aware of that, the man quickly continued speaking. ¡°We are in combat against fanatics.¡± Aiden¡¯s eyes slightly trembled at the word ¡®fanatics.¡¯ Could this place be the stronghold of those dangerous individuals? ¡°Yesterday, we discovered an unidentified black van entering the city from the north. We judged it to be reinforcements for the fanatics and came here. But now, it doesn¡¯t seem like that. Was that your vehicle?¡± Aiden didn¡¯t respond. However, his silence itself indicated an affirmation. The man continued. ¡°Our enemies are fanatics. We have no intention of fighting wanderers. If you let us go, we won¡¯t do anything and will leave.¡± That was his last statement. For a few seconds, a heavy silence pressed down on the cathedral and the space in front of it. Finally, Aiden¡¯s response came. ¡°...Go.¡± It was an affirmation. Upon Aiden¡¯s permission, they picked up their guns first. However, they didn¡¯t aim them at Aiden. No, they couldn¡¯t. Because Aiden¡¯s whereabouts were still not visible. So, instead, they quietly retraced their steps. Unlike when they came here, they didn¡¯t take cover, but moved swiftly. Once they disappeared from their sight again, Arian¡¯s voice echoed. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Arian asked with a worried tone. Her concern was something Aiden could fully understand. Sending them away from here was indeed a risky decision. Even if they returned immediately with reinforcements, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising. But it wasn¡¯t an option for Aiden to keep them there. Even if Aiden had chosen to fight, he couldn¡¯t kill them without anyone noticing. In the end, the intense gunfire would have awakened the entire city, and their comrades would have realized that something had happened. Above all, they already knew where Aiden came from. So, even if Aiden chose combat, there was no way to secretly eliminate them. Eventually, the city would have been aware of something occurring, especially with a formidable gang. If the gang¡¯s true identity was the military, it would fit together. From the beginning, well-armed groups with a clear command structure were often more extensive compared to other survivor groups. ¡°That¡¯s why I judged it¡¯s better not to be hostile. But... it¡¯s still unsettling. It¡¯s better to leave this place right away.¡± ¡°Where are we going?¡± ¡°For now, we have to go back the way we came. And when we confirm that we are not being tracked, we can head back to Fort Wayne.¡± That seemed to be the best option Aiden could think of. Avoid unnecessary combat and prioritize safety as much as possible. But Arian didn¡¯t seem to like that decision. Above all, it was Aiden¡¯s best decision, not Arian¡¯s. So, she raised her head and spoke. ¡°I¡¯ll go instead.¡± ¡°Go where?¡± ¡°Those guys. I¡¯ll follow them.¡± Arian pointed outside the window. ¡°I will go directly to their base and find out their intentions. That should work, right?¡± Arian said it casually, and Aiden was momentarily speechless. It was something Aiden had not thought of. However, thinking carefully... It was by no means an impossible task. If it were Arian, she could go near their base without being noticed and listen to their conversation. Even without entering the base, her sensory abilities would allow her to overhear their dialogue. The reason Aiden didn¡¯t come up with this method was simple. He was well aware that Arian¡¯s numerous abilities were useful against zombies. However, he hadn¡¯t fully grasped how deadly they could become against humans. ¡°...I understand. Please do it.¡± Upon this, Arian nodded and immediately left the cathedral. When Aiden looked back at the window after a while, Arian¡¯s figure had already disappeared. Meanwhile, the first rays of the sun were slowly rising in the sky. * * * The three people, Frank, Olivia, and Jack, who were forced to retreat from the cathedral by Aiden, walked in silence for a while. Only when the morning sun began to rise and light appeared, Olivia Henderson cautiously spoke. ¡°...What should we do now?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Frank Daniel replied curtly, and he was the man who couldn¡¯t even move at the road with Olivia. His face was still contorted with displeasure from the previous incident, and he hadn¡¯t relaxed yet. ¡°That guy. What he said. We didn¡¯t even find out if they were fanatics.¡± ¡°Are you stupid? If that guy was a fanatic, he would have shot us all. Would he just let us go?¡± ¡°Then... really just wanderers?¡± ¡°Of course. Wasn¡¯t that obvious, sergeant?¡± Frank spoke to the man behind, Jack Patton. Jack nodded his head with a short sigh. ¡°Maybe that¡¯s the case. He didn¡¯t show the attitude of a fanatic.¡± ¡°But what happens then? If they¡¯re not fanatics, are we just leaving them? The car?¡± ¡°Well... It¡¯s not my decision to make. Let¡¯s report to the commander first.¡± The other two nodded in agreement with Jack¡¯s words. Soon, they entered a hotel building in the heart of Lima. Inside, about ten people lay on the floor, casualties from the gunfire with the fanatics the previous evening. Ignoring the fallen comrades, Jack entered the inner rooms. In one of the rooms, a few injured individuals lay on the beds, and a man next to them looked at Jack and the others with reflection. ¡°Welcome back, corporal Patton. How did it go?¡± His name was Nathan Cooper. He was in charge of this small unit and held the position of a commander in his military. Jack explained the reconnaissance results to Nathan. After hearing the entire report, Nathan sighed. ¡°So, it¡¯s a story about not securing the vehicle in the end.¡± The task assigned to Jack by Nathan was not just reconnaissance. Their unit had won in the battle against the fanatics yesterday but suffered severe casualties. More than half of the original strength of over 20 personnel had died. The remaining half had serious injuries, with half of those numbers critically wounded. However, that wasn¡¯t the end of the problem. All the vehicles they used were lost during the battle. Fortunately, they managed emergency treatment with medical supplies, but at this rate, even the remaining unit members with injuries were at risk of dying. So, Nathan took the risk and sent Jack and the other two relatively unharmed individuals to secure the vehicle seen yesterday. If they had any means of transportation, they could request rescue from their main base in Fort Wayne. However, that mission failed. Moreover, it failed because of an unknown wanderer. ¡°But still, you couldn¡¯t determine the enemy¡¯s numbers and weapon level?¡± Nathan expressed his displeasure with a grim expression. In response, Jack bit his lips in frustration, but he had nothing to say. From a rational perspective, Jack and the other two were just forced to retreat from a life-threatening situation in the dark. ¡°Enough. It¡¯s not your fault to blame.¡± Nathan sorted out his emotions like that and contemplated for a while. But soon, a conclusion was reached. There was only one answer anyway. ¡°We¡¯re going back there. However, this time, I¡¯ll go too.¡± ¡°Why would you do that?¡± ¡°There shouldn¡¯t be a large number of wanderers. At best, there might be five of them.¡± That was true. Yesterday, they saw only one black van. So, the number of enemies should be limited to the capacity of that van. Upon this, Jack tightened his expression. ¡°Are you planning to fight them?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have to see the situation. I¡¯ll try to talk to that wanderer. Whether to fight or not will be decided on the spot.¡± S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Facing an unknown enemy directly on-site, judging their danger and initiating a fight. It was a risky operation, but in the current situation where there was often less information about the enemy than before, it was a common operation. ¡°You two stay behind me. Me drawing this pistol will be the signal.¡± Upon Nathan¡¯s words, Jack and the other two nodded with stern faces. Nathan strapped the silver pistol to the back of his waist. Then, he, along with the other three armed with rifles, advanced towards the cathedral. And above their heads, at that moment, a shadow briefly touched the sky and disappeared. ¡°Hmm...?¡± Nathan scanned the roof where the shadow passed. But nothing was visible. Perhaps a bird had flown by coincidentally? With that thought, he urged the momentarily halted steps forward. Chapter 43 Nathan and his team soon reached the residential area adjacent to the cathedral. Rather than heading straight to the cathedral, Nathan moved first to understand its structure. He circled around discreetly, checking the entrance and building features to avoid being spotted. And the results were in. ¡°There are two visible entrances from the outside. One on the right, and the other on the left, but the left one seems blocked.¡± Jack, having completed the reconnaissance, briefed Nathan on the cathedral¡¯s structure. Upon this information, Nathan gathered the rest of the team to one place to avoid ambush. Then, he gave instructions for the operation. ¡°I¡¯ll approach the front in 10 minutes. I¡¯ll try to negotiate with the wanderer directly. Private Daniel, keep your distance and follow me.¡± Frank nodded in agreement. Nathan then turned his gaze to the other two, Jack Patton and Olivia Henderson. ¡°Henderson, go left. Patton, go right, circling widely towards the cathedral. Be cautious and don¡¯t reveal yourselves. Patton, especially, be attentive to my signal. Shoot the enemy without hesitation when I draw my pistol.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± After conveying a few more instructions, Nathan¡¯s team dispersed to fulfill their assigned roles. Ten minutes later. Nathan started moving towards the front of the cathedral according to the plan. ¡°...¡± The roof of the cathedral came into view. A slight tension crept into Nathan¡¯s face. And so, he reached the road where Jack and the others had arrived. The spot he stood at was behind the houses facing the cathedral. But, as reported by Jack, there were no visible coverings near the road. Nathan didn¡¯t hastily leave the residential area; instead, he opened his mouth loudly. ¡°Are you still there?¡± Soon, an answer echoed back. ¡°...What do you want?¡± Frank, who was behind, nodded at Nathan. A low and thick voice, as if digging into the ground. It was undoubtedly the voice they heard in the early morning. So, Nathan spoke again. ¡°I am Lieutenant Nathan Cooper, affiliated with the 62nd Division in Fort Wayne. I want to negotiate with you.¡± He injected his name and affiliation into the conversation and proposed meeting in person to discuss the deal. The response didn¡¯t come for a while. At that moment, Nathan thought about throwing another bait. ¡°All right. But, you cross the road alone. If anyone else crosses, I¡¯ll shoot immediately.¡± Finally, permission was granted. Nathan glanced at Frank and then strapped the rifle to his back, moving forward. He raised his hand and walked onto the empty road. A gun barrel from a window with a grille protruded outward. ¡°Come to the right entrance.¡± The gun barrel guided him. Nathan silently followed the instructions. As he moved, the gun barrel that was outside the window retracted inside. ¡°...¡± The entrance to the cathedral wasn¡¯t very wide. An unknown wanderer was standing in a short corridor directly connected to the entrance. Nathan quickly observed the opponent¡¯s attire. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even by checking only the clothes, he could roughly estimate the wanderer¡¯s level. However, the wanderer¡¯s attire was not as ordinary as expected. While the worn-out shirt and jeans were typical wanderer clothing, the white coat worn on top and the thick gloves in hand, and most importantly, the black motorcycle helmet on the head, interfered with Nathan¡¯s judgment. Continuing to appraise the wanderer, Nathan focused on the gun in the wanderer¡¯s hands. The type of firearm was an M4 series military rifle. Since most wanderers usually had civilian rifles, which were semi-automatic, it was quite a good armament for a wanderer. Moreover, it seemed well-maintained, showing overall usability. Just by appearances, it wasn¡¯t mediocre. While Nathan was making such evaluations, the man in front spoke. ¡°You said it¡¯s a deal? What do you want?¡± It was the voice of the man who had pointed the gun at him. Nathan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. To give up monitoring the outside and greet him directly. Could this man be alone? ¡°Well, from our side...¡± ¡°I¡¯m Aiden Lee.¡± The man easily revealed his name. Nathan nodded and continued. ¡°We need a vehicle.¡± ¡°A vehicle? Why?¡± Nathan conveyed their situation and the need for a vehicle to Aiden. Meanwhile, he also checked the view of the worship hall through the slightly opened door behind Aiden. There was no sign of anyone being there. Although a few more rooms were visible inside. Currently, there was no need to hide the fact that there were colleagues present. On the contrary, it was a situation where he needed to create non-existent colleagues to inflate his own importance. However, the only visible person was this man named Aiden. As Nathan speculated that the opponent might not be alone, his unease began to grow. ¡°It¡¯s a shame, but I can¡¯t hand over the vehicle.¡± Aiden rejected Nathan¡¯s request and suggested another way. ¡°Instead, let¡¯s do this. I will personally convey your rescue request to Fort Wayne. You can receive the reward there when you return safely.¡± ¡°A request? Are you a junk dealer?¡± Aiden nodded. Nathan pretended to hesitate in front of him. ¡°Well...¡± In reality, there was nothing to think about his proposal. Just believing his words to convey the rescue request, how would they send off this man? If this man betrayed them, not only Nathan but also his subordinates would be the ones to die. Therefore, he had to refuse. ¡°Okay, then let¡¯s discuss the details. How much is the desired reward?¡± Saying that, Nathan looked at Aiden. His hand slowly moved towards the gun holstered behind him. Ultimately, he chose to go into combat. Naturally, he thought he could win. Although Aiden seemed like an experienced veteran, in the end, he was just one person. Believing that if he could shoot first while distracting him, he could secure the vehicle without any damage. Just as his finger was about to touch the gun, a voice whispered in Nathan¡¯s ear. ¡°It would be better to give up.¡± Startled, he looked to the side. Suddenly, there was a girl standing there. ¡°What...¡± Nathan couldn¡¯t hide his confusion. He had barely three meters of space, at most, between the doors. But Nathan had not seen this girl enter from anywhere. It was strange. Even if he was focused on Aiden, it was a narrow space where he couldn¡¯t miss her. ¡°How did you get here-¡° So, before Nathan could unknowingly ask her a question, he was speechless. The girl¡¯s pupils were staring directly at him. Those were red pupils like blood, never seen before. For some reason, the moment he felt those pupils were too ominous, an inexplicable fear took over. ¡°Cough...!¡± Suddenly, an unreasonable terror invaded his mind. A sudden emotional change that couldn¡¯t be understood. But there was no time to feel strange about it. The eerie fear tore through his reason. His whole body trembled as if it had turned into winter, and nausea overwhelmed him with an unfamiliar anxiety. He felt like he was plunged into the deep abyss of the unknown for no reason. He was about to scream like a child. But even that was impossible. His throat, stiffened with fear, couldn¡¯t even breathe properly. There, Nathan felt the anticipation of his own death. And at that moment. As if a taut string had snapped, the fear that had gripped Nathan¡¯s throat disappeared. ¡°Ho...Huh...¡± Suddenly thrown back into reality, Nathan gasped for breath. In front of him, the girl from earlier was still staring at him with a sinister smile. ¡°You should give up on such foolish actions.¡± The girl grabbed Nathan¡¯s hand. Normally, he wouldn¡¯t tolerate a stranger touching his body. However, Nathan couldn¡¯t resist the girl¡¯s hand to the end. In the meantime, her thin, ice-cold fingers gently wrapped around Nathan¡¯s right hand, which had stiffened in front of the gun. And she moved his hand away from the gun, placing it in front of Nathan. ¡°Continue the story.¡± Saying that, the girl stepped back. As if to say, her part was done here. Nathan stared at her in amazement. His mind, still confused, hindered his thinking. ¡°Nathan Cooper?¡± It was Aiden who called out to the perplexed Nathan. The black-helmeted figure silently faced him. Only now did Nathan realize that he wasn¡¯t in a state to focus. ¡°Oh... why, why did that happen?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already explained the request cost. Will you accept?¡± Aiden was talking about the request. Yes, he was clearly discussing such matters. Nathan barely recalled the situation before meeting the girl. ¡°Sorry. Could you say it one more time?¡± So, Nathan discussed the request conditions with Aiden. Unlike before, Nathan was now serious, attempting negotiation. His demeanor had completely changed. ¡°How long does it take to get from here to Fort Wayne?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve repaired all the nearby roads. We should arrive in two hours at the latest.¡± Aiden nodded satisfactorily at Nathan¡¯s words. The distance from Lima to Fort Wayne was about 100 km. If the roads were in good condition, it wouldn¡¯t take more than two hours, as he claimed. ¡°Then we¡¯ll leave immediately. If what you say is true, the rescue team should be able to arrive today.¡± ¡°Yeah. We¡¯ll... go back to the base and wait. Hurry as much as possible.¡± Saying that, Nathan left the cathedral with unsteady steps. Aiden silently observed his retreating figure. Unlike when he first came here, Nathan was now casually showing his back to Aiden, who had a rifle. Clearly different movements, full of openings. Aiden turned his gaze towards Arian. ¡°...What did you do?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything special. Just... heightened the fear in his mind a bit. He¡¯ll recover soon.¡± Watching Arian speak so nonchalantly, Aiden let out a bitter laugh. It wasn¡¯t such a simple explanation to say that she just heightened the fear. Aiden knew that Nathan intended to engage in combat. It was after Arian had returned to the cathedral and relayed all their conversations that Nathan had planned to engage. But just before that, Arian had intervened, and Nathan had frozen in place. Watching from the side, it seemed almost like Arian was controlling his mind. ¡°You know how to do that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not such a great ability, really.¡± ¡°...Don¡¯t use it recklessly in Fort Wayne.¡± ¡°I know that much. Anyway, we avoided unnecessary combat as you intended, right?¡± Despite its dubious nature, Aiden couldn¡¯t deny that the peculiar ability had played a role in resolving the situation. Not only did they avoid a direct confrontation, but if they were indeed part of the military stationed in Fort Wayne, this was an opportunity to incur a favor. ¡°We should prepare to leave here.¡± ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll bring Sadie.¡± Aiden promptly gathered his belongings and moved to the vehicle. Arian headed towards Sadie, who was hiding in a room inside the cathedral. Soon, they left Lima and headed for Fort Wayne. The road to the destination was, as Nathan claimed, in good condition. Not only were there no obstacles blocking the road, but even the trash that had always been visible on the road gradually disappeared. It felt like they were driving on a road before the outbreak of a zombie apocalypse. ¡°They¡¯ve done a pretty good job of cleaning the road.¡± Arian commented as she looked at it. However, for a large gang, road maintenance in the surrounding areas was essential. ¡°If you constantly need to go out to find resources, the road must be in good condition.¡± Saying that, Aiden turned the steering wheel to the left. In the large city of Fort Wayne, the area actually surrounded by walls and controlled by the military was limited to a part of downtown. It didn¡¯t even cover 10% of the entire Fort Wayne. However, compared to the strongholds of most gangs, it was quite large. Aiden and his group had to use the south gate, according to Nathan¡¯s advice. Aiden considered that the gatekeepers of Fort Wayne might not believe him, and he had discussed countermeasures with Nathan. Therefore, Nathan instructed Aiden to go to the south gate, where he had an acquaintance. ¡°Hey there.¡± So, a sturdy steel barrier came into view in front of Aiden¡¯s group. As a gang that needed to defend against outsiders, it was different from the makeshift barriers most gangs created with scrap metal. It was a proper barrier made of gray concrete. Moreover, its height exceeded 5 meters. Even a considerable zombie... no, a quite powerful mutant would find it difficult to easily climb over that barrier. Aiden parked the car in front of the barrier, seemingly flaunting it to those who were on guard and cautious about outsiders. ¡°Wait here.¡± Aiden said that to Arian and Sadie, then got out of the car. Carrying only one rifle, he approached the barrier. ¡°Stop!¡± As he approached a certain distance, a firm command came from inside the barrier. There were a few small holes in the barrier that allowed a view from the inside. Through those, five gun barrels were pointed out, focused on Aiden. Aiden raised both hands obediently. ¡°State your affiliation and name!¡± ¡°Aiden Lee, I¡¯m a junk dealer.¡± ¡°Reason for your visit?¡± ¡°Nathan Cooper.¡± Aiden bluntly mentioned Nathan¡¯s name. There was no need for lengthy explanations. He shouted the information he had brought. ¡°Lieutenant Nathan Cooper has requested support!¡± Chapter 44 At Aiden¡¯s shout, murmurs from behind the barrier reached their ears. Most were questions like ¡®Who is Nathan Cooper?¡¯ However, a certain woman reacted to that name. ¡°Nathan?¡± A Mexican woman in her 30s with dark brown hair peered over the barrier. She cast a suspicious glance at Aiden. ¡°How do you know that name?¡± ¡°I met him in person. I have a message from him.¡± The woman stared at Aiden for a moment, then disappeared behind the barrier. She reappeared after a short while. The side gate beneath the barrier opened, and the woman approached Aiden. The gun barrels atop the barrier were still aimed at Aiden. She stood in front of Aiden, seemingly confident that the guns were secure enough that she didn¡¯t need to aim hers. ¡°What exactly did Nathan say?¡± Aiden conveyed the events of meeting Nathan, the situation he faced, and the requests. The woman listened silently. After Aiden finished explaining, she scrutinized him with a peculiar gaze. ¡°I understand the situation. But I can¡¯t just believe it based on words. Is there any evidence?¡± ¡°There isn¡¯t, but... he mentioned a name. Ayla Collins.¡± Aiden mentioned the name he heard from Nathan. Upon hearing it, the woman, Ayla, blinked. Aiden continued. ¡°Not your head, but judge according to military law, he said.¡± ¡°...Still sticking to military law in the middle of this.¡± Ayla chuckled bitterly and clicked her tongue. It was indeed something Nathan would say. It seemed certain that this merchant had encountered him. ¡°But...¡± Ayla scrutinized Aiden. His worn clothes, the yellowed white coat over them, and the black helmet ¨C it all looked suspicious in various ways. Ayla stepped back slightly, pointing her gun at Aiden without aiming. ¡°If what you say is true, we can wait quietly until we return from the rescue mission.¡± Ayla seemed intent on keeping Aiden detained. It wasn¡¯t unexpected. Aiden, too, had some idea of how things might turn out once he delivered Nathan¡¯s news. ¡°Of course. I should get a reward too.¡± Aiden¡¯s confident response made Ayla chuckle and knock on the barrier three times. At that, five soldiers armed with firearms rushed out from inside. ¡°Then call all your colleagues from the car. How many are inside?¡± ¡°Three, including me. And... put away the guns. We have a child with us.¡± ¡°A child?¡± Aiden gestured towards the vehicle. Arian and Sadie walked out from there. Seeing them, unarmed and without any weapons, Ayla gestured to her soldiers behind her. They lowered their guns that were pointed at Aiden. Then they passed by the girls, heading to search the vehicle. Meanwhile, Arian, who approached Aiden, spoke. ¡°Did everything go well?¡± ¡°Seems like it.¡± Everything up to this point matched Aiden¡¯s expectations. The contents had been thoroughly communicated to Arian and Sadie before arriving here. So, seeing unfamiliar soldiers searching the vehicle didn¡¯t surprise them. Soon, the soldiers signaled Ayla. There was no one hidden in the vehicle. Ayla gestured to Aiden. She pointed to a nearby building beside the barrier. ¡°Then go inside that building. Junk dealer, leave your rifle with us. We¡¯ll return it soon, don¡¯t worry.¡± It was an order to disarm. If Aiden were alone, he might have hesitated to follow that order. However, considering Arian¡¯s presence, there was no hesitation. So, he willingly handed over the rifle. ¡°What about the vehicle?¡± ¡°Of course, if what you say is true, it will be returned as it is.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Then rest for a while.¡± Saying that, Ayla pushed Aiden¡¯s group into a small house. Soon, she left, and two soldiers were stationed at the entrance. ¡°It feels like we¡¯re trapped in prison.¡± Arian said, expressing her discomfort. Aiden didn¡¯t fail to understand that feeling. In a way, they were supposed to be saviors of a comrade in crisis, yet they were being treated as criminals. However, Aiden also knew that from their perspective, it was an unavoidable handling. Even if he brought testimony from a messenger who brought news from a comrade, they couldn¡¯t take it lightly until they could verify whether it was true or not. ¡°Unfortunately, that¡¯s the procedure.¡± Aiden highly appreciated their handling of the situation. Perhaps this organization wasn¡¯t one where Sadie would stay. Dealing with outsiders clumsily would be a demerit rather than an asset. ¡°Make yourself comfortable. It¡¯ll take at least a few hours.¡± With those words, Aiden sat down on a dusty chair inside. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Arian sighed briefly and started chatting casually with Sadie. And after a few hours, someone came to the house where Aiden and his group were staying. It was Ayla and Nathan. ¡°Seems like the rescue went well.¡± Aiden said, looking at Nathan. In response, Nathan gave a stern side-glance at Aiden with a stiff expression. They were where Arian was. However, Nathan couldn¡¯t bring himself to talk to Arian until the end. He turned his gaze back to Aiden. ¡°Honestly... I never thought you¡¯d relay my story to the unit. But now that it¡¯s come to this, I appreciate it.¡± Nathan said with a complex expression. Aiden could fairly well anticipate how he felt at the moment. After Arian manipulated him using her strange ability and sent him away, Nathan probably regained his senses and regretted his decision. He had entrusted his and his subordinates¡¯ lives to Aiden without any guarantees. But now, that regrettable decision turned out to be the one that saved the most lives. Having sensed Nathan¡¯s feelings, Aiden asked for a straightforward compensation more than words of gratitude. ¡°I¡¯d prefer a promised reward rather than thanks.¡± ¡°...¡± Instead of answering, Nathan looked at Ayla, who came with him. Ayla let out a forced cough. ¡°Unfortunately, we don¡¯t trade with external wanderers.¡± ¡°Yeah. But there must be junk dealers trading. Isn¡¯t that so?¡± The 62nd Division of Fort Wayne might dislike wanderers, but it couldn¡¯t completely cut off transactions with the outside world. It was only natural. No matter how abundant the resources inside might be, there were bound to be shortages. Moreover, weren¡¯t they in the middle of a war with zombies in the city? To drive zombies out of the city, a considerable amount of resources and personnel had to be invested, making external trade essential for them. So Aiden predicted that the 62nd Division would select specific junk dealers and limit transactions. ¡°Well... that¡¯s true. But allowing you to join us is something we can¡¯t do from our side.¡± What Aiden demanded wasn¡¯t an item. What he wanted was the trading rights with the division Nathan belonged to ¨C the 62nd Division. In simple terms, he wanted to work with the military here as a junk dealer. ¡°That makes sense. But did you also attach conditions? The trade period is enough with a month. I heard that with the authority of an officer, temporary trade permission within a month can be granted.¡± To this, Ayla glared at Nathan. It was an implicit accusation: Did you tell him everything? Nathan, in response, lost words and just looked down, unable to withstand the gaze of Aiden and Arian beside him. Now, he himself didn¡¯t understand why he had said those things. With a sigh, Ayla spoke again. ¡°...A month should be enough, right?¡± Aiden nodded. Ayla turned to Nathan. ¡°Nathan, do you guarantee their safety?¡± Facing that question, Nathan remained silent for a moment, frowned, then reluctantly nodded, meeting the gazes of Aiden and Arian. ¡°Fine. Take this then.¡± Ayla took something out of her pocket and handed it to Aiden. It was a small metal plate, about the size of a palm, with Nathan Cooper¡¯s name, position, and expiration date engraved on it. ¡°It¡¯s an access card. With that, you can enter the trading zone.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the trading zone?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a space created near the North Gate for trading with external merchants. Nathan will guide you there.¡± Hearing this, Nathan reluctantly nodded. ¡°Now you can go.¡± Ayla opened the door of the house again. There, she looked at Aiden again. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m just curious about something.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Why have you been wearing that helmet since earlier?¡± It sounded like a casual question, but there was a subtle suspicion in her tone. He shouldn¡¯t be revealed as a zombie yet. So Aiden replied simply. ¡°I have a severe skin disease.¡± ¡°A skin disease?¡± ¡°An unpleasant and contagious disease. That¡¯s why I cover it like this.¡± Even when he was in Pittsburgh, many people found his helmet strange. Since then, he had given this repeated excuse countless times. So, the lie naturally came out. Upon hearing the possibility of contagion, Nathan and Ayla distanced themselves slightly from Aiden. ¡°I see. Alright, I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡± It was unclear what they meant by ¡®keeping that in mind,¡¯ but the conversation with Ayla ended there. Aiden¡¯s group stepped back outside, and Aiden retrieved his gun. The soldiers who were standing around Aiden¡¯s vehicle, upon Ayla giving the order to withdraw, also stepped back. Aiden and his group, returning to the vehicle, first checked their belongings. The items were somewhat disorganized due to the soldiers searching, and a few consumables were noticeably missing. However, considering that making a fuss about it wouldn¡¯t get them back, Aiden¡¯s group boarded the vehicle without saying anything to Nathan and Ayla. The vehicle drove towards the North Gate of the 62nd Division. When they had come directly from the South Gate, they hadn¡¯t noticed, but now they saw high watchtowers placed on suitable building rooftops even outside the walls. Although the soldiers on the road stared at Aiden¡¯s vehicle, they didn¡¯t stop or halt. ¡°They are the ones monitoring zombies. You don¡¯t need to worry about them.¡± Nathan, noticing Aiden¡¯s gaze, spoke. ¡°Zombies? Come to think of it, I haven¡¯t seen any zombies nearby.¡± ¡°Of course not. The 62nd Division I belong to has already cleared not only this area but all the zombies south of Fort Wayne.¡± It was a voice with a hidden pride in Nathan. Aiden nodded upon hearing that. ¡°So, you¡¯re planning to clean up the city heading north.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. If we drive out only the zombies in the city, Fort Wayne will become a safe city soon. But... did I mention anything about cleaning to you?¡± ¡°No, I heard it from another wanderer.¡± ¡°...That¡¯s fortunate.¡± Seeing Nathan breathe a sigh of relief, Aiden asked another question. ¡°The size of the base seems quite extensive. How many people live inside?¡± ¡°About 3 000.¡± It was a considerable number. It was more than the product of the combined numbers of all the gangs Aiden had encountered in Pittsburgh. ¡°That¡¯s a lot.¡± ¡°It¡¯s still quite a reduced number. Over 5 000 two years ago. Most of them were lost in frequent battles, though.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°So, where did you guys come from?¡± This time, Nathan asked the question. Aiden continued driving and answered. ¡°From Pittsburgh.¡± ¡°From even further east than here. Must have been tough.¡± ¡°Why do you think that?¡± ¡°There¡¯s more people and supplies to the west than the east. Of course, there are many zombies too, but... it¡¯s better than having nothing at all.¡± The existence of zombies didn¡¯t mean the complete disappearance of the United States as a nation. Until the government lost its functionality, there were evacuation orders over several months. During that time, citizens from all over the U.S. mostly evacuated westward. By then, most of the resources from still-functioning companies had also been moved to the west. As a result, what remained in the eastern U.S. now were the leftovers that the stragglers and companies that couldn¡¯t manage to evacuate had left. Nathan pointed out that fact, and Aiden agreed with his opinion. ¡°You¡¯re not wrong.¡± As they continued their conversation, the car arrived near the North Gate. Upon reaching the vicinity of their destination, Nathan gave specific directions. ¡°There. You can go in there.¡± Perhaps because it was an area for outsiders. The trading zone was outside the outer wall. ¡°Hmm...¡± Aiden examined the trading zone. Originally, it was a large open space used as a parking lot. It was haphazardly enclosed with walls made of wooden planks and wire, and inside, several military tents were set up as makeshift shops. It looked shabby with dusty ground and dilapidated shacks, making it seem unfit even for the name of a market. However. ¡°Wow...¡± Sadie, who had been quietly observing, lit up at the sight of the trading zone. When asked why, she explained that it had been a very long time since she had been in such a crowded place. There were about 50 people in the market, including merchants. It wasn¡¯t a large number, but to the child, it seemed like quite a lot. ¡°...A cute kid.¡± Nathan mumbled while looking at Sadie. But as soon as he noticed Aiden¡¯s gaze, he cleared his throat and changed the subject. ¡°You can park the car over there.¡± Pointing to a corner of the trading zone, Nathan spoke. Aiden followed his instructions and parked the car. ¡°Carrying weapons is prohibited inside the trading zone. If you get caught bringing them in secretly, your pass will be revoked, so be mindful.¡± As they got out of the car, Nathan continued lecturing. Aiden remembered the precautions he mentioned and, along with the group, headed towards the inside of the trading zone. Chapter 45 As they approached the entrance to the trading zone, two guards with guns blocked the way. Aiden showed the metal plate Ayla had given him to the guards. ¡°Is this enough?¡± After glancing at the plate, the guards nodded towards Aiden¡¯s helmet and stepped aside without further inspection. Perhaps it was because it was outside the barrier. They seemed not to conduct a separate body search. If they had, it would have been inconvenient for Aiden, so it was fortunate. ¡°Now, find a suitable merchant for trading. Any more questions?¡± ¡°Where can I receive requests?¡± ¡°Over there, in the innermost tent. It¡¯s called the Trading Post.¡± Aiden confirmed the tent Nathan pointed to with his eyes and nodded. Nathan continued: ¡°Are you planning to take on military requests?¡± ¡°Of course, that¡¯s a given.¡± ¡°Then... what about the girl during that time?¡± Nathan glanced at Sadie for a moment. Sadie avoided eye contact slightly, and Aiden responded indifferently: ¡°Take her with us.¡± ¡°Taking her? While handling requests?¡± ¡°Is there any other way?¡± As Aiden asked this, Nathan sighed briefly. After a moment of consideration, he spoke again. ¡°Inside the barrier, in the residential area, there¡¯s a facility for taking care of children.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°I¡¯ll inform the Trading Post. You probably won¡¯t be able to enter, but leaving the girl in the facility temporarily should be possible. Of course, you¡¯ll have to pay for it.¡± Aiden hesitated at Nathan¡¯s words. It was an offer he hadn¡¯t dared to hope for. Of course, leaving Sadie with someone else was a burdensome task. But this city was one of the candidate cities where Sadie might live, uncertain about her future. The opportunity for her to experience life inside the city was invaluable. ¡°I appreciate that.¡± Aiden expressed his gratitude sincerely, and Nathan just nodded slightly. With a tired expression, he turned away from Aiden¡¯s group. His task was now complete. ¡°Well then... thanks for today. I hope you stay safe.¡± Nathan left Aiden¡¯s group like that. Aiden, who had been briefly watching his back, turned his gaze and observed the atmosphere in the trading zone. ¡°...¡± Most people wandering around the trading zone had worn-out attire. They also had sharp glares and faces tired to the point that even the stench of not having washed for a long time could be sensed. It was a completely neglected state, but it was also the typical appearance of junk dealers. In contrast, the shop owners inside the tents were in a relatively neat condition. The operating side, they said, had relations with the military. Aiden then proceeded to survey the surrounding shops. The variety of goods being traded here was more diverse than Aiden had expected. Not only food and water, but also a few types of firearms were on display, albeit in limited quantities. Besides gasoline, consumables like tissues were available, and there were even places selling clean clothing. Although they didn¡¯t offer explosives, including grenades. Even Aiden¡¯s group, who were relatively laid back among wanderers, couldn¡¯t just pass by without feeling tempted by the items here. ¡°Are they using ammunition as currency?¡± The price for each item was determined by the number of bullets. With enough ammunition, one could purchase all the goods. And conversely, there wasn¡¯t a single store exchanging goods for ammunition. If all the shop owners were calling themselves military personnel, the intention was clear. The military was short on ammunition. Aiden kept this in mind and decided to go to the Trading Post where requests were submitted. ¡°Ugh...¡± Meanwhile, Arian, who was beside him, had a deeply contorted expression. Judging from her appearance, she seemed to be terrified by the overwhelming foul smell emanating from all directions. It was understandable. Even the faint rotten smell inside Aiden¡¯s helmet wouldn¡¯t be noticeable here, where the stench of junk dealers pervaded. Moreover, Arian was a vampire with cognitive abilities surpassing human levels. Her suffering was entirely comprehensible. ¡°This way.¡± So, Aiden decided to leave this place quickly for Arian¡¯s sake, if nothing else. He led the group towards the Trading Post inside the trading zone. There, several military tents were spread out, and among them, the largest tent served as the Trading Post. Inside, numerous wooden boxes of unknown content were piled up, and soldiers with disinterested faces sat at folding desks next to them. In one corner, there was a large bulletin board. An old-fashioned blackboard was used, with chalk and everything. What was written on it was the information about the requests Aiden was looking for. ¡°Hmm...¡± Aiden perused such requests. Each request had a combination of alphabets and numbers assigned as the request number, and most of them were related to transporting materials. Things that the military needed or rewards for bringing back damaged military supplies. Indeed, it seemed like these were the kinds of requests that might be hanging around in a place like this. It was convenient to leave them to junk dealers, and there was no need to provide special information. However, these were not the kind of requests Aiden was looking for. ¡°Is there anything useful?¡± With wrinkles still present on her forehead, Arian asked. Arian, too, was unaware of the reason why Aiden¡¯s group had come to Fort Wayne. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Aiden¡¯s group needed to investigate the organization known as the 62nd Division, which had taken root here. The purpose was to determine whether this place was suitable for Sadie to settle, based on the results of their investigation. However, Aiden couldn¡¯t deeply involve himself with the 62nd Division. This was because he was a zombie, and as a result, he had to indirectly gather information by skirting around the organization. His intention to handle military requests was part of such an act. So, he chose a request that could indirectly extract information from the military. ¡°It seems like it.¡± Having discovered this, Aiden sought out a soldier sitting next to the bulletin board to inquire about detailed information. The soldier was a young man who had just reached his twenties, or so it seemed. When he stood in front of the desk, the soldier looked up at Aiden with a chubby face. ¡°I want to ask about Request C-12.¡± It was a request delegated to confirm and deal with some mutant that had settled in the city. The location was quite close to the public library in the western part of the city. Moreover, the reward offered was quite high. Higher than expected, considering what was left until now. On the other hand, upon hearing Aiden¡¯s words, the soldier let out a short sigh. ¡°What is it?¡± His tone wasn¡¯t very friendly. However, since it wasn¡¯t something to pick a fight over, Aiden asked his question. ¡°There was no information about the mutant. What exactly is the variation?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Hmm. Aiden clicked his tongue. An unidentified mutant. If that was the case, it explained why the reward was high, yet no one had taken the request. ¡°Then, do you have any eyewitness information?¡± ¡°Our scouting unit passed by the area and saw everything. So... ¡° The soldier closed his eyes briefly, as if trying to recall the memory. ¡°Suddenly, filth spewed out from inside the library, and one of the patrol members hit by it died instantly on the scene. The other one got infected and was eventually put down. That¡¯s all the information we have.¡± Aiden listened to the story and smirked. Although the soldier referred to it as an unidentified mutant, Aiden was familiar with this variation. A Vomiter. It was the same mutant he had heard about when buying information from the Merchant Cooperative Association in Pittsburgh. A large-bodied creature with slow movements that spat bodily fluids from its mouth. It was said to be filled with toxic gas inside, making it dangerous even after being killed. At that time, it was reported to have been discovered in Cleveland, and it seemed that information hadn¡¯t reached this place. On the other hand, the soldier in front of Aiden either thought he was hesitating or thought he was contemplating something and spoke a few more words. ¡°Even without that, there were many people asking about this request. But I don¡¯t recommend it. It¡¯s a dangerous request.¡± Although the soldier said that, Aiden, who had knowledge about a Vomiter, didn¡¯t agree. If that creature really was a Vomiter, it was a perfect match for Aiden, who was a zombie. The bodily fluids it spat and the toxic gas inside couldn¡¯t be fatal to Aiden, who was already a zombie. Just be cautious about the pressure of the bodily fluids when it spat. ¡°No, I¡¯ll take the request. What do I need to bring?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a part of the body. Something that can prove it¡¯s not a regular zombie. And you need to provide information about the mutant.¡± Aiden nodded. There were a few disappointing aspects, but overall, the content was acceptable. He posed another question. ¡°Got it. But... can we gather information here?¡± ¡°It depends on what information you want. What are you looking for?¡± ¡°Information about a mutant I don¡¯t know about. Also, I¡¯d like to find out about the situation in the surrounding cities.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, you can ask that guy over there.¡± He pointed to another soldier wearing worn-out glasses. Perhaps he played a role in information gathering. Aiden decided to keep that in mind and moved on to the next topic. ¡°I heard we can leave a child here.¡± ¡°Oh, you must be the ones Lieutenant Cooper mentioned. That¡¯s correct. You¡¯ll have to pay a fee, though.¡± ¡°How much?¡± ¡°60 rounds of 5.56mm standard ammo per day. For special ammo, it¡¯ll be a bit cheaper.¡± ¡°...That¡¯s expensive.¡± Fortunately, Aiden¡¯s group had already stocked enough ammunition in Canton. With that, Aiden¡¯s group soon left the trading area. It was already late in the day, and the sun had set. Although Aiden¡¯s group had arrived in Fort Wayne in the morning, a significant amount of time had passed while waiting for Nathan to be rescued. Therefore, the actual execution of the request would start tomorrow. For now, the priority was finding a temporary base to stay. ¡°Staying around here should be fine for today.¡± Finding a base turned out to be easier than expected. The area around here had already been cleared of zombies by the military. There was no need to move away from the barricade; they just needed to find a building that was still intact. The only potential threat was other scavengers who might be thinking of staying nearby. However, with Aiden capable of providing security through the night, there was nothing to worry about. A night passed like this. Aiden, who had been searching the trading post since morning, decided to temporarily leave Sadie in a facility within the military. ¡°Are you sure about this?¡± Aiden asked Sadie in front of him. He had already explained his intentions to leave her here in detail. However, Sadie was still just a child, and despite logically understanding, she might feel uneasy alone. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine. Please take care.¡± Contrary to those worries, Sadie responded confidently to Aiden. Seeing this, Arian petted her head as if finding Sadie cute and said: ¡°Alright.¡± Aiden nodded firmly and left it at that. Soon, the two bid farewell to Sadie, who entered the military facility, leaving the trading area and watching Sadie¡¯s back as she entered the barricade. Observing this, Arian spoke up. ¡°Even if we come back in a while, they won¡¯t suddenly decide not to return Sadie, will they?¡± She seemed quite worried about leaving Sadie in someone else¡¯s hands. However, Aiden firmly shook his head. ¡°There¡¯s no way.¡± ¡°Why? She¡¯s so cute.¡± ¡°A child doesn¡¯t contribute much to the organization. It might even be burdensome for them. Besides, there¡¯s no reason for them to take Sadie away.¡± That was one of the reasons why Aiden decided to leave Sadie here. If it were a vehicle, as Arian mentioned, there might be a chance they wouldn¡¯t return it. However, in this world, a child was, coldly put, not worth such trouble. No matter how hard Sadie tried, she couldn¡¯t fight like an adult, and her labor wasn¡¯t significant. Moreover, she couldn¡¯t handle everything alone, and having additional help would consume even more resources. Not to mention, she wasn¡¯t mentally strong, making her nothing but a burden to the organization. So, Aiden judged that there was no reason for the military to take Sadie away. Thanks to this judgment, he could leave Sadie by paying for ammunition. ¡°What¡¯s with you? Saying Sadie is a burden?¡± However, Arian sharply reacted to that statement. Her voice was slightly raised. ¡°I didn¡¯t say that much.¡± ¡°Then what?¡± ¡°A child is just a child. While not as affectionate as you, I recognize the value and duty to protect. That¡¯s why it¡¯s a burden. If she were truly a burden, wouldn¡¯t I have just abandoned her?¡± Tutting, Arian clicked her tongue and hesitated in her words for a moment. It was a calm but realistic answer. There was no place to nitpick, as he pointed out. However, she soon warned Aiden in a somewhat threatening tone. ¡°Try saying that burden thing in front of Sadie.¡± There was no need to respond. Even though he was a zombie, he still had that level of discernment. Aiden knew how much effort Sadie was putting in to not become a burden within this small group. Perhaps Arian, having witnessed the child¡¯s efforts up close, had spoken sharply for that reason. ¡°More importantly, it¡¯s about the job. You roughly know what we¡¯re going to catch, right?¡± Aiden changed the subject. Arian nodded with a composed expression. Since he had already shared information about a Vomiter with her a while ago. Arian also noticed the identity of the mutant as soon as she heard the details of the request. ¡°Then let¡¯s go.¡± Saying that, Aiden walked towards the vehicle. Arian followed behind. They soon began moving towards the Fort Wayne downtown public library, the location of the request. Chapter 46 In front of an underground road leading into the city. ¡°It¡¯s getting risky to drive any further.¡± Aiden remarked as he looked at the blocked road ahead. They were now entering the inner city of Fort Wayne. However, the area was not too far from the military base. Despite that, the surrounding roads were in a state of complete disrepair. Abandoned vehicles cluttered the roads, and malfunctioning traffic lights obstructed the way. Moreover. ¡°Be careful. There are some zombies nearby.¡± There were more zombies in the city than Aiden had anticipated. As a precaution, they deliberately took detours, avoiding straight stretches and passing by an abandoned substation. However, the efforts seemed in vain as the presence of zombies in the nearby open space was too easily noticeable. ¡°It seems the military had a reason to establish outposts.¡± Aiden casually muttered as he turned the car. Even at first glance, the density of zombies was higher than in the downtown areas of Pittsburgh or other cities. It was hard to understand why the military neglected the threat so close for three years. So, using the vehicle only got them this far. Eventually, Aiden parked the car in a suitable spot and stepped outside, armed. ¡°Are we going to walk from here?¡± ¡°Yeah, we have to.¡± At Arian¡¯s question, Aiden took out a map from his bag and unfolded it. It was a detailed map depicting the distance from the trading post to the vicinity of the public library. ¡°Hmm...¡± The public library was still quite a distance away. Walking straight would take about 30 minutes. After deciding on the general direction, Aiden looked up. ¡°It¡¯s this way.¡± Their journey began with a short underground road. Perhaps to prevent zombie intrusions, the tunnel itself was artificially blocked. So, instead of going underground, Aiden climbed a shallow incline, crossing over the road. On top of the underground road was an elongated railway track. Passing through that, a wide parking lot came into view. ¡°This is...¡± Numerous zombies lined up on the parking lot like saplings. The total count was well over a hundred. It was a burdensome number to engage in combat recklessly. Pointless battles needed to be avoided. Before determining victory or defeat, there was no one to compensate for the resources invested in entering such situations. So, Aiden unfolded the map again to find a way around. ¡°It¡¯s quite a large parking lot. Was this place special?¡± Meanwhile, Arian asked while looking around. Aiden pointed his finger beyond the parking lot. ¡°There, do you see that white building?¡± ¡°What about it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a baseball stadium. This was probably the parking lot used for it.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Arian exclaimed shortly. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that. I¡¯ve never been to a baseball stadium.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Do you have?¡± ¡°...Yes. Even though it¡¯s been five more years. I¡¯ve been to one.¡± In Pittsburgh, where Aiden used to live, there was a professional baseball team from the largest baseball league in the United States. Consequently, there was a nearby large baseball stadium that he had visited a few times. ¡°That¡¯s unexpected. I thought you wouldn¡¯t go to such places.¡± Aiden just chuckled silently. His fiance at the time had expected that he would enjoy the baseball stadium. So, she took him there, and her prediction turned out to be correct. Since then, Aiden developed a liking for the team, and even with his busy hospital work, he always checked the baseball game results. Though the team never managed to win during his time there, those days were quite enjoyable. ¡°...¡± But those memories quickly became hazy, as if shrouded in mist, bringing Aiden back to reality. He shifted his gaze from the baseball stadium back to the map. ¡°For now, it¡¯s better to go around here.¡± Aiden turned back and decided to follow the railway track on top of the underground road. There were zombies on the railway track too, but it was much better than breaking through the parking lot. So, they continued through the city. Leaving the railway track, they passed through a small residential area, avoiding an apartment complex where zombies were swarming. ¡°Kiiik!¡± A zombie standing between houses fell as Aiden¡¯s dagger pierced through it. Despite Arian¡¯s instincts, the sheer number of zombies made it impossible to completely avoid combat. ¡°Hmm...¡± Aiden had one concern at this moment. The military base stationed in Fort Wayne, the 62nd Division, was openly declaring their intent to clean up the city soon. However, Aiden doubted whether they could really clean up this zombie-infested city. The density of zombies in Fort Wayne¡¯s downtown was higher than any other city Aiden had seen. There were dozens of zombies visible on the streets alone. If they made gunshots here, hundreds of zombies would converge from just a few blocks away. In other words, considering the entire city, there were likely thousands, or even more, zombies and mutants. Facing them was no different from confronting the zombie horde that covered Pittsburgh. ¡°...¡± Of course, the military in Fort Wayne boasted a manpower and resource scale incomparable to Pittsburgh¡¯s gangs. So, victory was not entirely out of the question for them. From their perspective, conquering the city was a necessary task. Conversely, having that many enemies so close to their base meant potential danger. ¡°What are you waiting for? Are we not going?¡± While Aiden was lost in thought, Arian urged him from the side. He seemed to be standing absentmindedly, not realizing it himself. Aiden shook his head, clearing his mind. It was pointless to worry about it now; they had to focus on the task at hand. ¡°Nothing. Let¡¯s get inside for now.¡± Saying so, Aiden approached the library building. The main entrance of the library was tightly shut. Aiden circled the building to find a suitable passage, and soon, he found one leading to the parking lot. The entrance, without a door, was wide open. The space, in contrast to the bright sunlight pouring outside, was unnaturally dark. ¡°Do you know what¡¯s inside?¡± Aiden asked before entering the parking lot. Arian nodded her head. She had already circled the building and thoroughly scanned the interior. ¡°About 50 zombies. And... it seems like the mutant is in the center of the building.¡± Fifty zombies. Though the public library was spacious, the number was not negligible. Aiden gripped his weapon, a large woodcutting axe, different from the usual metal bat he used. Near the handle, there was black rubber, and above it, a metal handle. At the end, a sharp blade, larger sharper than an adult hand, gleamed menacingly. Behind it, there was a protruding part that could be used like a pickaxe. While a metal bat was a decent weapon against regular zombies, it lacked the destructive power against larger mutants. Moreover, using guns rashly was not an option in Fort Wayne¡¯s city filled with zombies. That¡¯s why, for close combat in this situation, Aiden deemed this weapon suitable. ¡°I¡¯ll go first.¡± Aiden entered the parking lot. Arian followed at a slight distance, holding a machete. Soon, their vision was enveloped in a dim darkness. And then- ¡°Uuuagh...¡± The voices of corpses buried in the darkness of the parking lot echoed. Aiden immediately illuminated the area with the flashlight he had. ¡°Argh!¡± In response to the dazzling light that illuminated the darkness of the parking lot for the first time in three years, the zombies reacted. Their rotten pupils flickered with madness. But that madness hesitated briefly when they saw Aiden¡¯s face, corrupted like theirs. In that moment, Crunch! The axe Aiden was holding flew like a flash and struck the neck of the zombie right in front of him. The powerful steel blade split the decayed vertebrae in one blow. The torn-off head soared into the sky. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Kiiii!¡± Zombies reacted with howls to the sight. Corpses rushed towards them. In front of them, Aiden casually gripped the axe again, and at the same time, Arian leaped forward. Slash! In the impenetrable darkness, a zombie collapsed as the machete mercilessly slashed through. A vampire, more accustomed to darkness than zombies, began to dance where the light couldn¡¯t reach. Hearing the noise in the parking lot, corpses poured out from the distance outside, and from inside the library where Aiden needed to go. ¡°...¡± Aiden observed those zombies and increased the speed of the axe in his hand. There were about ten zombies in the parking lot, but by now, there were twice as many, if not more. Nevertheless, he had been prepared for this. He didn¡¯t think he could end the battle without any noise. Unfortunately or fortunately, the mutant seemed motionless. In that case, the first step in dealing with it could be to swiftly eliminate these ordinary zombies. Thinking so, Aiden swung down his axe on the head of a zombie in front of him. The skull of the zombie that split apart fell backward. However, right after that, another zombie jumped out from the side. Crack! Its teeth pierced Aiden¡¯s shoulder. Although there was no pain, the discomfort made Aiden¡¯s brow slightly furrow. Gripping the axe shorter, he thrust the sharp pickaxe part into the zombie¡¯s forehead. With a nauseating sound, disgusting brain matter overflowed. ¡°...¡± How long had he been fighting like this? He pushed away the zombie that was trying to bite his neck and struck its head with the axe handle. With the sound of a rotten wooden barrel breaking, one zombie fell silent. Looking around, it was quiet. There were no more moving corpses except Aiden himself. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Aiden asked into the darkness. Then Arian walked out from there, shrugging her shoulders. ¡°Of course. We can¡¯t afford to be caught by these weaklings. But... I should change clothes.¡± Arian held up her clothes with a disgusted look. It was covered in rotten blood. ¡°...We should consider buying clothes at the trading zone.¡± It was an additional expense, but there was no complaint. Aiden tried to find the entrance to the library, illuminated by the light. But before that, Arian stepped forward. ¡°It¡¯s over there.¡± Aiden illuminated the direction Arian pointed to. A broken side door connected to the parking lot. Aiden approached the door, turned off the light for a moment, and peered inside. ¡°...¡± The library¡¯s interior had pillars standing in the middle, and it was an open structure with holes all over it. First, numerous bookshelves came into view. They rose higher than an adult¡¯s height, half of them fallen, and half still standing. Inside the library, there were also thin and long skylights along the walls. Some were dirty and ineffective, but most had been shattered for a long time. The scouting unit that discovered this place was probably attacked from those windows. Anyway, thanks to those windows, bright sunlight was boldly invading the darkness inside. Fortunately, it seemed that there was no need for a separate light source. ¡°What should we do? The Vomiter is on the second floor.¡± Arian, who had looked inside, asked. The mutant Vomiter was in the center of the library. The library had a structure where the second floor was largely open, allowing a view of the first floor. Vomiter seemed to be waiting for Aiden¡¯s party to come on the second floor. Moreover, the stairs leading to the second floor were on the opposite side. In other words, to hunt the Vomiter, they had to break through the first floor while avoiding its attacks and reach the stairs on the opposite side. Not an easy task, especially while dealing with about thirty zombies along the way. It wasn¡¯t a straightforward job. Especially in the case of the Vomiter, Aiden knew it by the head, but he had never experienced it firsthand. Where unexpected mutants might come from was something no one knew. Nevertheless, Aiden had to go in. There was no commission in this world that could be resolved without taking risks. ¡°I¡¯ll go in. However, I¡¯ll go in first to draw attention.¡± ¡°Being a decoy?¡± ¡°It probably already noticed our presence.¡± The Vomiter was not too far from this parking lot. Surely the noise of Aiden and Arian fighting here would have reached its ears. ¡°Even so, it¡¯s not moving.¡± Unlike ordinary zombies, some mutants could use their heads. In Aiden¡¯s eyes, a Vomiter also seemed like such a variant. So even in this situation, it wasn¡¯t moving. It had probably judged that being on the second floor was advantageous for itself. ¡°It seems difficult to break through there.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. I won¡¯t be infected.¡± Aiden said indifferently. In the end, he was ready to accept even getting hit by the Vomiter¡¯s attack. ¡°But... I¡¯m immune to infection either, right?¡± ¡°Then, will you do it?¡± Arian immediately shook her head at Aiden¡¯s words. It was the expected answer. Considering her personality, she wouldn¡¯t even think of getting covered in the filth emitted by zombie mutants. Anyway, Arian had a role to play. So, being the decoy was enough for Aiden. ¡°I¡¯ll go. Just follow when it¡¯s appropriate.¡± Aiden said so and walked out of the door. First, an unpleasant smell came through the bookshelves. Chapter 47 The Vomiter had the same appearance as Aiden had heard from the Merchant Cooperative Association. The height was about 2 meters. However, the upper body, filled with gas and filth, greatly expanded, and the lower body to support it was also surrounded by muscles, making the overall size much larger. In addition, the face had an impressive square-jawed split like a monster. Aiden, confirming its appearance, immediately struck the ground. The Vomiter would have already noticed Aiden¡¯s presence. So, there was no need to maintain secrecy, and the decision was made to move swiftly. ¡°Woaaaaah!¡± As Aiden rushed into the library, zombies scattered throughout reacted to the noise. The corpses, spread widely in the library, gathered into the central aisle. At that moment, the passage leading to Aiden¡¯s sides was blocked. Thud! Suddenly, a bookshelf in front collapsed, and a stream of filth hit like a spear. Aiden immediately twisted his body. In the end, he ended up intertwined with the zombies that were rushing, but it didn¡¯t matter. Even if they bit him, he was unfazed. However, the power of the filth he avoided by twisting his body was not to be taken lightly. A zombie next to Aiden was suddenly swept away by the flying filth. Under the pressure, its upper body twisted, and it fell backward. ¡°-!¡± Aiden didn¡¯t miss the sight. One of the scouting units that had discovered the mutant was killed on the spot, and even without being infected, it had considerable power. Also- ¡°Kiiii!¡± Zombies that had rushed in stuck to Aiden. Their teeth, attached in this way, were not threatening at all, but the problem was that they blocked Aiden¡¯s movements. He swung his axe, hitting the zombies. Two heads split, and one neck was broken. However, zombies continued to swarm endlessly. Of course, this alone wasn¡¯t a threatening force. If given a little time, Aiden could have smashed the heads of the zombies and broken through this battlefield. ¡°Tsk...!¡± However, the fact that his feet were momentarily bound was a problem. Like this, he would be directly hit by the Vomiter¡¯s next attack. So, he lowered his body as much as possible. If unavoidable, he decided to use the zombies swarming him as a shield. Right after that- ¡°Kiiii!¡± As he expected, the Vomiter¡¯s attack hit again. A gathered mass of filth flew like a cannonball, colliding with the zombies gathered in one place and Aiden. The fierce impact tore the limbs of the directly hit zombie apart. The corpses behind it were sent flying in various directions like bowling pins hit by a ball. Naturally, Aiden was among them. Thrown far back, he got up from the ground nonchalantly. ¡°Hmm...¡± Aiden, checking his body with his eyes, sighed. There was no pain, but there was damage. Despite wearing several layers of cushions from a rotting corpse, the Vomiter¡¯s attack had finally crushed a few of his ribs. There, Aiden couldn¡¯t help but acknowledge the danger of that thing. The filth it spat out had considerable power, and it was fortunate that only a few ribs were crushed. If it had hit his arms or legs, he might have become disabled. ¡°...I need to be careful.¡± Muttering in a low voice, he ran forward again. Having confirmed the danger of the Vomiter, he didn¡¯t proceed on the same path as before. He used the still-standing bookshelves as walls, smashing zombies with an axe to clear his path, approaching the Vomiter cautiously yet boldly. Bang! The Vomiter¡¯s attack toppled the bookshelf as Aiden continued to move. However, at that moment, Aiden had already seen through the Vomiter¡¯s weakness. Its attack was liquid, but practically, it was no different from a gunshot. There was no continuity like the water from a fire hose. It probably generated a momentary high pressure to spit out a certain amount of filth. Moreover, there was a short gap after spitting out the filth. If so... the solution was unexpectedly simple. First, Aiden hid behind the bookshelf. Then, when the Vomiter attacked to collapse the shelf, he took advantage of the gap to move to the next shelf. However, as he repeated this a few times, a change occurred in the Vomiter¡¯s pattern. It no longer attacked the bookshelves. Instead, it fell silent as if waiting for the moment Aiden left the shelf. ¡°...¡± This was the change Aiden had expected. A novice-level, embarrassing cruelty commonly seen in mutants, which could be called psychological warfare. Mocking it silently, Aiden grabbed a nearby zombie and tossed it outside the shelf. In that moment, the Vomiter, who had been anxiously waiting for the zombies that came out from behind the bookshelf, immediately initiated an attack. The zombie hit by the filthy bomb was dismantled and thrown backward. At that moment, Aiden smoothly took another step and approached the Vomiter again. After repeating this several times, Aiden had reached near the second-floor railing where the Vomiter was. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Now, if he could break through just another 10 meters, he could go under the Vomiter where it could no longer attack. Also, in that direction, there was a staircase leading to the second floor. If Aiden reached there, the Vomiter would lose its advantageous position of launching one-sided attacks. However, in front of him was a reading area with a long table, and there was no cover anymore. Exposed to the Vomiter¡¯s attack without any protection. Did the Vomiter know that? Bang! The Vomiter¡¯s bodily fluid collided with the bookshelf where Aiden was hiding. Under the fierce pressure, the paper that had rotted away flew apart, and the bookshelf that couldn¡¯t withstand the weight fell backward. Aiden immediately emerged from behind it and ran. It was in the direction of the stairs. Aiden jumped over the table that was blocking his way without any cover. But, ultimately, time was short. It was impossible to run over 15 meters during the Vomiter¡¯s brief break in attacks. Did it anticipate this? Maybe, as long as it destroyed the bookshelf, it could somehow grab Aiden. So, he adjusted his axe. Just before the Vomiter¡¯s next attack. At the right timing, he threw it with all his might towards the Vomiter. Although there was a strange sound from his arm, he ignored it. ¡°Woaaaah!¡± The axe pierced the Vomiter¡¯s shoulder. He aimed for the head, but throwing a firewood axe not designed for accuracy during a sprint meant not expecting perfect precision. However, it was enough. The Vomiter couldn¡¯t aim at Aiden due to the impact of the axe, and in the meantime, Aiden entered the first floor where it was standing. Aiden immediately ran towards the stairs. He felt the Vomiter turning its body in a hurry. As soon as Aiden reached the stairs, he picked up a book that was lying on the ground, and threw it up the stairs. Then, Bang! The flying filth hit the book, tearing it apart. It meant that the Vomiter was keeping an eye on this place. Already having lost a melee weapon, it was too difficult for Aiden to break through to the second floor and go back to the Vomiter. Moreover, there was no cover on the second floor. Charging at the Vomiter like this was, literally, suicidal. However, Aiden never intended to approach it in the first place. He took out a flashlight he had and turned it on. The brightness was ordinary, but its durability was certain. And with it turned on, he threw it towards the stairs. What Aiden needed now was a reliable bait. As the flashlight flew, a filth bomb came directly at it. Fortunately, the flashlight blinked a few times under the impact, but luckily, it didn¡¯t lose its light. Then, a while later, the Vomiter¡¯s attack detonated again. The flashlight, rolling on the ground, flew into the air due to the impact. Because of that, it bounced off the wall like someone had thrown it, but the LED still fulfilled its role. However, when the third attack hit, the flashlight couldn¡¯t withstand it and broke, losing its light. Aiden just watched the scene. Losing the flashlight was regrettable, but it served as a suitable bait. The three previous attacks. Because of them, the Vomiter had completely failed to notice another presence approaching it. Rumble! Shortly after, a heavy tearing sound emanated from behind the Vomiter. Its head turned directly in that direction, and only then did it notice. Arian leaping over the first-floor table, the machete¡¯s blade reflecting a bloody crimson in her eyes. And that red blade finally beheaded the Vomiter. Swish! The head, likely twice the size of an ordinary person, was cleanly severed like a piece of cheese. Arian vertically cut it once more in the air, and landed calmly on the second-floor railing. Aiden confirmed that the Vomiter¡¯s body, now without a head, swayed unsteadily and collapsed. Arian, after confirming that the body no longer moved, opened her mouth. ¡°It¡¯s over.¡± After hearing those words, Aiden climbed the stairs. He immediately pulled Arian behind him. He remembered that there was gas inside its torso. Although Arian was a vampire and might not die, there was no reason to take unnecessary risks. ¡°More anticlimactic than I thought,¡± Arian said. From her perspective, it was just rushing in and slashing the guy¡¯s throat. ¡°Because they¡¯re not very bright. It¡¯s easy to hunt them when you use that.¡± Aiden said calmly. It was a feasible strategy due to the low intelligence of the mutants. Unlike zombies that just charge like beasts, these guys use their heads pretty well. For example, they understood when Aiden insisted on using the axe that he had no intention of using firearms. Or they recognized the building structure and knew that the only way up to the second floor was through the stairs outside. This made dealing with mutants more challenging compared to ordinary zombies. But on the flip side, there were ways to exploit their intelligence. If Aiden stood near the stairs like now, the Vomiter would have no choice but to focus on him. Humans without firearms must use the stairs, as they firmly believed. So, from their perspective, Arian, who leaped from behind them, attacking them by jumping the height of the second floor, would be slower to react than a normal zombie. ¡°So... do we need to take that with us now?¡± ¡°We just need to take the head. I¡¯ll handle that.¡± Aiden lifted one half of the severed head with his hand. It was quite a gruesome sight, but he casually picked up the other half with his other hand and moved forward. After a while. Aiden was presenting the severed head of the hunted mutant to a soldier. The location was an open area outside the trading zone. Even if it was a requested item, they couldn¡¯t carry a fresh zombie head into the trading area, so Aiden called the soldier through security. ¡°Is this the mutant?¡± The soldier looked at the mutant¡¯s head, and his eyes widened. It was an unfamiliar sight. ¡°This is... really a mutant with no known information.¡± ¡°Then, can I get compensation for this?¡± ¡°Well, just a moment. I need to report this to the higher-ups.¡± The soldier who left came back with a few soldiers and a non-commissioned officer. Among them, the non-commissioned officer was a woman wearing a military uniform with the rank of sergeant on her chest. She looked more relaxed than Ayla, whom he had seen before. She pushed aside the people around her, examined the mutant¡¯s head carefully, and then looked back at Aiden. ¡°It¡¯s unusual. A truly new species? Did you catch this?¡± The woman asked Aiden while scrutinizing him. He nodded. ¡°How did you catch it? And it¡¯s quite large, what about the overall size?¡± The woman bombarded Aiden with questions about the mutant, writing down his answers on a small piece of paper. Paper and pencil. Once common, these items were now hard to come by. ¡°Especially filled with gas? It was a dangerous one. Where are the rest of the body?¡± ¡°It¡¯s still in the library where it was found.¡± ¡°Hmm... okay. That should be enough.¡± The woman, after carefully noting all of Aiden¡¯s answers, instructed one of the soldiers accompanying her to move the mutant¡¯s head. ¡°What¡¯s your name, by the way? Oh, don¡¯t worry if it¡¯s something bad. I need to write it in the report.¡± ¡°Aiden Lee.¡± ¡°Ah, a name I haven¡¯t heard before?¡± ¡°I came recently, introduced by Lieutenant Nathan Cooper.¡± ¡°Oh, I see.¡± After carefully noting Aiden¡¯s last response, she finally put down her pencil. Then, she gave some instructions to the soldier who brought the mutant¡¯s head, and left. Shortly afterward, the soldier returned with Aiden¡¯s reward. ¡°Here you go.¡± What the soldier handed over was not a few sheets of paper. It was a type of currency only used in this trading zone. While the value was equivalent to a predetermined item, for Aiden, who had been considering staying here for a while, it was a more flexible reward than receiving specific goods. ¡°Thank you for your hard work.¡± The soldier bowed his head. A more courteous attitude than their first meeting. Aiden watched the soldier for a moment and then, along with Arian, headed towards the trading zone. ¡°Now it¡¯s shopping time?¡± Arian playfully asked. It wasn¡¯t exactly shopping, but it was time to replenish supplies. Thinking that he needed to replenish the gasoline for the vehicle first, Aiden began to explore nearby shops. Chapter 48 About two weeks later. Aiden was still staying in Fort Wayne. During this time, the routine of Aiden and his group remained remarkably consistent with the first day. From morning, they handed Sadie over to the military, checked for requests at the trading post, and when they found a suitable request, they set out to resolve it. ¡°Are you planning to handle requests again today?¡± Arian, who was getting weapons from the vehicle after leaving Sadie, muttered sarcastically. Aiden nodded briefly. ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯re doing it, but until when? It¡¯s been over two weeks since we started wandering around the city.¡± The content of the requests varied each time, from hunting mutants to rescuing isolated reconnaissance soldiers, or collecting belongings of the deceased. However, the stage for these requests was always the city of Fort Wayne. But there was a clear reason for that. ¡°I¡¯ve said it before. Until we¡¯re sure of the dangers in the city.¡± For the past fortnight, Aiden had been diligently gathering information about the 62nd Division. Not only from buying information from nearby shops but also from the tidbits Sadie shared while resolving requests and moving in and out of the barrier. And the result. Aiden was considering that the 62nd Division wasn¡¯t a bad place for Sadie to stay. ¡°Fort Wayne is a possibility. If only there weren¡¯t the city¡¯s zombies.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t think it was that dangerous. How about from your perspective?¡± ¡°...I¡¯m not sure.¡± With Aiden giving an ambiguous answer, Arian furrowed her brow. Aiden paused for a moment and then spoke again. ¡°It¡¯s still unpredictable. There are many zombies, but the military¡¯s firepower is considerable. If they really start cleaning up, it seems likely to succeed.¡± ¡°Then what¡¯s the problem?¡± ¡°There are too many types of mutants.¡± During the past fortnight, Aiden encountered almost 10 types of mutants in the city. Among them, three were completely new species that even Aiden had no information about. Of course, in a city with many zombies, having various mutants wasn¡¯t unusual. But what bothered Aiden was the diversity of their types. ¡°The mechanism by which zombies turn into mutants hasn¡¯t been understood yet. However, generally, similar types of mutants are found in similar environments.¡± ¡°But, isn¡¯t it different here?¡± Aiden nodded. The city wasn¡¯t so vast, nor did it have various environments to account for the discovery of more than 10 mutant types. Yet, there were mutants of 10 or more types. Clearly, something was off. ¡°Well... what about Pittsburgh?¡± ¡°That was a zombie horde that came up from the south, covering a wide range. The mutants found in Pittsburgh weren¡¯t exclusive to Pittsburgh.¡± ¡°I see.¡± S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Of course, this city is about 500 km further west from Pittsburgh. So, it¡¯s natural that there are many survivors and zombies. But... neither side is as expected. That¡¯s why it¡¯s unpredictable.¡± In the end, there was nothing precise. Upon this, Arian changed the subject. ¡°Then, what about others? Do you think there are no other problems with the 62nd Division?¡± Aiden shook his head. Of course, besides matters related to the city, there were many problems within that organization. The fundamental structure, being a military organization, had a somewhat rigid command system. Also, since it was a society that mainly revolved around armed forces, the care for children wasn¡¯t as meticulous. ¡°It¡¯s a worrying point for Sadie, who doesn¡¯t have parents within the organization to look after her.¡± Aiden explained, adding that. However, despite considering these points, there was no organization in the vicinity like the 62nd Division. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, what¡¯s there to worry about? I can take care of her.¡± Arian confidently replied, but Aiden shook his head. That was an impossible story. ¡°It would be difficult.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because you can¡¯t be part of the military. It¡¯s not a matter of whether they accept it or not. Isn¡¯t that right?¡± At that remark, Arian couldn¡¯t easily give an answer. A vampire mixing into human society. She already knew how difficult that was. ¡°You need to periodically consume blood. If you become a part of the military, you¡¯ll have to explain about that. It won¡¯t be like now.¡± Even now, Aiden and his group were purchasing blood directly from the trading zone. However, Aiden and Arian were outsiders to some extent. Even in the military, it would be considered peculiar, but they wouldn¡¯t delve deep into it. Whatever they did with blood, it didn¡¯t matter, in fact. However, if Arian became their colleague, the story would change. People would inquire about the use of Arian¡¯s blood. As a result, it would inevitably be revealed that Arian was a vampire and the powers she possessed. ¡°But your abilities, from the organization¡¯s perspective, are ridiculously dangerous.¡± Even when facing zombies, Arian possessed formidable strength. But if that enemy turned to be a human. At that point, the potential Arian held was truly beyond imagination. For example, in a hotel in Pittsburgh, Arian hunted a Brutal with the blood of just one person. While this demonstrated the extent of her abilities when hunting zombies, when she fought against humans, it took on a different meaning. Every time she killed a human, her power, surpassing that of Brutals, was endlessly replenished with their blood. In simple terms, Arian was a being with the power to topple an entire society with just one source of power. It was needless to explain how threatening that appeared from the perspective of an organization like the 62nd Division. ¡°...Quite a life you¡¯ve got. Anyone would think you¡¯ve lived as a vampire.¡± Arian muttered bitterly. Aiden casually responded: ¡°Well, I have.¡± If a vampire were to overthrow society with their own power, zombies could reproduce the same through their contagiousness. Aiden understood Arian¡¯s situation because of this. Ultimately, both of them were beings that could be rejected by human society for the same reason. With a sigh, Arian asked: ¡°So, what should we do?¡± ¡°Only do as I do.¡± ¡°Like you?¡± ¡°If Sadie ends up living here, you¡¯ll become a junk dealer, watching from the outside.¡± ¡°Ha...! Are you telling me to do this for several more years?¡± Although Arian grumbled discontentedly, she somewhat empathized with Aiden¡¯s words. Becoming a junk dealer might be the best choice for her. It wasn¡¯t like being confined like in a prison as part of the military. If she cooperated as a junk dealer, the military would likely permit occasional meetings with Sadie. As Arian contemplated her future with Sadie in this way, she suddenly looked at Aiden. ¡°What about you then?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have to stay here for a while. They won¡¯t just accept Sadie for free. Maybe I¡¯ll stay even after that.¡± ¡°Well, you don¡¯t really have anywhere else to go, do you?¡± That was a valid point. Pittsburgh, which had already been his base, had disappeared. If asked why Aiden should leave this place, he couldn¡¯t say there was a reason. ¡°Maybe we¡¯ll end up working together here for quite some time,¡± Arian said. It was at that moment that someone walked towards them in the vehicle they were standing next to. It was a soldier who was in charge of requests at the trading post. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Aiden asked the now quite familiar soldier. The soldier immediately conveyed what he had to say. The military had sent a request to Aiden as a mercenary. ¡°A mercenary?¡± The military was suggesting that Aiden join the mercenary unit they had created. ¡°Yes. Oh, please don¡¯t disclose this to the outside. The cleanup operation will begin soon.¡± The soldier, who spoke in a hushed voice, said that the 62nd Division, which had been preparing for the city cleanup, would finally start the full-scale operation in three days. Aiden wasn¡¯t particularly surprised by this news. He had anticipated the imminent start of the operation from the recent movements of the military. ¡°However, according to the reconnaissance results, the number of zombies and mutants in the city is higher than expected.¡± So, the military was looking to reinforce additional manpower. However, randomly assigning mercenaries to the unit could lead to even more dangerous results. Considering this, the decision was made to select only those who were trusted among the continuously trading junk dealers and form a separate mercenary unit. ¡°I haven¡¯t been here for long.¡± Aiden, who listened to the explanation, asked. The soldier, who seemed to agree, nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. Your case is a bit special. You¡¯ve been recognized for your skills.¡± ¡°Skills?¡± ¡°Yes. Haven¡¯t you been solving requests tremendously for the past few days?¡± For a fortnight, Aiden and Arian had been tackling dangerous urban requests, one per day. This was possible only because they were a zombie and a vampire, a level of work unimaginable for ordinary junk dealers. It seemed like the military somewhat considered his powers suspicious, but at the same time, they evaluated them highly. Aiden inquired: ¡°So, how many mercenaries are there in total?¡± ¡°We sent proposals to around 70 people. Considering possible dropouts, we expect around 50.¡± Fifty people. It was more than he had thought. Of course, compared to the number of junk dealers traversing the trading area, it was a fraction. It seemed that they had selectively chosen people, which was true to some extent. ¡°And the compensation?¡± ¡°The details about that¡ª¡± The soldier explained the rewards and other conditions in detail. The compensation offered by the military was at a considerably high level. In addition, weapons and ammunition were also provided by the military. ¡°Not bad.¡± In terms of net profit, the value of the reward was nearly five times that of a regular request. This suggested that the military was in urgent need of manpower. ¡°So, what will the mercenaries be doing?¡± ¡°They¡¯ll be guarding the defense line at night. Of course, our full force will be deployed as well.¡± Aiden nodded, seemingly expecting this. Even if it wasn¡¯t the city, restoring an area occupied by zombies had two distinct stages. The first stage involved clearing zombies within the area. In a city, power was invested throughout various buildings, finding and eliminating hidden zombies, and occupying those buildings. Naturally, this battle took place during the day, and the success rate was high. Since most zombies only clumsily ran towards the sound of gunfire. However, the problem arose in the next stage. The second stage involved defending the occupied area. When darkness fell, zombies and mutants whose territory had been taken away started attacking, and they had to defend against this onslaught throughout the night. This was by no means an easy task. Midnight battles were accompanied by loud noises and bright lights, which alone could attract numerous zombies. It was literally a reproduction of a zombie wave rushing in like a tidal wave. ¡°Hmm...¡± Therefore, the intention of deploying mercenaries in that defense was thoroughly understood. As it was a risky and precarious nighttime defense battle, it seemed they wanted to mobilize all available forces. However, from Aiden¡¯s perspective, it was an outrageously dangerous request. If Aiden had simply come here as a junk dealer, he would never have accepted it. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take it.¡± However, Aiden accepted the request. Whether or not he would entrust Sadie to this place depended on the success of this cleanup operation. If the 62nd Division conquered the city and completely uprooted the zombies in Fort Wayne, Aiden could entrust Sadie to this military without any worries. Therefore, witnessing this process firsthand was the right decision, according to Aiden. Arian also had no objections. ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll convey that. Good luck then.¡± With a bow, the soldier left. Observing the soldier¡¯s retreating figure, Aiden murmured. ¡°In three days.¡± Time was running out. Aiden had been preparing for this moment since the first day he arrived here, so there was no impatience. However, there were things to be done. ¡°Today, instead of taking on a request, let¡¯s go outside the city.¡± ¡°Why, because of that mercenary thing just now?¡± Aiden nodded. He anticipated that the battle the 62nd Division was preparing for would be as significant as the one against the zombie horde that had covered Pittsburgh. So, Aiden needed to be prepared for it. Three days later, in the morning. At the North Gate, where the mercenary unit was gathering, Aiden could meet the commander of the unit. He wasn¡¯t a stranger. ¡°So, you¡¯re here too.¡± Nathan Cooper, a lieutenant. He recognized Aiden. Chapter 49 ¡°Are you the commander of the mercenary unit?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Thanks to the disbandment of my original unit.¡± Nathan murmured bitterly. Aiden was already aware that Nathan¡¯s unit had suffered significant losses. That might be the reason he wasn¡¯t isolated in Lima at that time. However, Nathan spoke of the unit¡¯s disbandment casually, as if it wasn¡¯t an unusual occurrence. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about your achievements too. You¡¯ve been handling quite a few tasks lately. I didn¡¯t expect your skills to be that good.¡± He said so, glancing at Arian beside him. Although some time had passed, Nathan still seemed to view Arian with a somewhat uneasy look. But Arian paid no attention to such scrutiny. Instead, while continuously stroking Sadie¡¯s head, Arian spoke. ¡°Well, you should be prepared. You know we¡¯re coming late today, right?¡± ¡°Yes. Come back safely. Sir, you too.¡± As always, Aiden silently nodded in response to Sadie¡¯s farewell. Afterward, Arian led Sadie to the northern gate of the barrier. The area inside the barrier was divided into east, west, south, and north zones. Since the facility assigned to Sadie was in the northern zone, they coincidentally came together. Nathan, watching their backs, spoke up. ¡°Is the girl doing well?¡± ¡°It seems so. I heard she made some friends recently.¡± Though he didn¡¯t show it, Aiden kept a close eye on Sadie¡¯s changes every day. Even though the 62nd Division was a reputable organization, it would be pointless if she couldn¡¯t adapt. Fortunately, from Sadie, who shared stories about the facility every evening, Aiden received many positive responses. Even though the facility was too rigid to be considered a school, teaching only things like firearm shooting. Sadie seemed to be adapting well to it. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear.¡± Aiden nodded in agreement with Nathan¡¯s words. ¡°But... is that girl participating today as well?¡± Nathan pointed to Arian, who was waving her hand to Sadie and watching her enter the barrier. ¡°Of course. She has been participating in all the requests until now.¡± Even though she was a vampire, Arian looked like an underage hirl, not even twenty. Perhaps that¡¯s why Nathan seemed momentarily puzzled by the fact that she was a mercenary. ¡°...I see.¡± Soon, he acknowledged Arian¡¯s presence with a short nod. Whether he thought there was no need to doubt or simply gave up on the idea, Aiden couldn¡¯t tell. Since there was nothing to delve into deeply, Aiden changed the subject. ¡°Weren¡¯t the operations supposed to start at night? Why did you gather the personnel in the morning?¡± ¡°Because there¡¯s work to do in the morning.¡± The contract period started today, lasting for three days. So, even if they worked in the morning instead of at night, there was no reason to complain. ¡°Work?¡± Aiden asked. Could it be that they were mobilized for building occupation? ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. It¡¯s just a minor task. For example...¡± Nathan explained the tasks that the mercenary unit would be handling. Ultimately, mercenaries would assist in several chores and small-scale building occupations. While the main force of the military occupied large buildings and structures in the city. They would leave the small buildings between those large ones to the mercenaries. It was indeed a modest task. To relieve the main force from the burdensome tasks before they were deployed. It wasn¡¯t a bad strategy to employ a mercenary unit. Moreover, even if the mercenary unit¡¯s operation failed, the main force would remain unharmed. ¡°Of course, the mercenaries¡¯ work will be finished in the morning. They can take a break in the afternoon, and the main operations will commence at night.¡± Aiden nodded. ¡°It seems like everyone is here. Well then, I¡¯ll leave it to you today.¡± Saying that, Nathan left. Soon, he stood in front of the mercenaries, introducing himself as their commander. He then adeptly began organizing the unit. After a while, the mercenary unit, numbering more than 50, was temporarily named the 8th Battalion, and Nathan divided it into five squads. Among them were the 2nd Squad, where Aiden and Arian belonged. Then Nathan explained the operation for the day to each squad. ¡°Hmm...?¡± A heavy sound came from the direction of the North Gate. When Aiden turned his head to look, the entire gate that had always remained closed was slowly opening. A massive door, over five meters high, was gradually unfolding. Eventually, from inside, emerged numerous soldiers ¨C the main force of the 62nd Division. ¡°It looks like the time has come.¡± Nathan muttered, observing this. The first thing that came into view was a long procession. Hundreds of soldiers, clad in digital-patterned military uniforms and carrying rifles, poured out of the North Gate. Following them were various vehicles and artillery carrying cannons and mortars, around ten in total. There were also vehicles carrying anti-tank weapons, recoilless rifles. And following them, Aiden finally exclaimed in amazement at the sight of a massive chunk of metal. It was... a tank. A model that used to be the main battle tank of the U.S. Army. It proudly adorned the end of the procession. There were three such tanks. Additionally, five armored vehicles and two self-propelled artillery guns were visible. ¡°Are there still operational armored vehicles?¡± Aiden, like other mercenaries, was looking at the tank, marveling. Arian, however, seemed indifferent. ¡°That, we probably won¡¯t be able to use it in the occupation battle.¡± Arian muttered. It was a valid point. In daytime occupation battles where buildings needed to be occupied, such tanks wouldn¡¯t play a significant role. Yet, the military invested in these giants, undoubtedly for the upcoming night defense. Tonight, the area they needed to defend, relying only on temporary barriers, was just a few blocks away. Although not very wide in the context of the entire city, they had to be prepared to face the zombies of the entire Fort Wayne in that area. And at that moment, the usefulness of such tanks was self-evident. With powerful firepower and impenetrable armor against regular zombies, especially when guarding the defense line with infantry, there was no equal force. ¡°8th Battalion! Move!¡± After the main force entered the city, Nathan ordered the mercenary unit to move. Bang! Tatatang! Boom! Whether the operation had already started or not, there were loud sounds of gunfire and explosions inside the city. Nathan, before entering the city, informed each squad about the buildings they needed to secure. Among them, the 2nd Squad, which Aiden was a part of, was assigned to a parking building in the center of the city. ¡°Hmm...¡± It was a noticeably low three-story building compared to other high-rises. Being a parking building, it was open on all sides without glass windows. Zombies inside the building had already heard the noise and rushed out. However, the military entrusted this place for a reason. ¡°There¡¯s an underground parking lot, up to the third floor. Be careful of that part.¡± Nathan said, instructing the 2nd Squad to go down to the underground. In that thick darkness, the other junk dealers showed a slight tension on their faces. ¡°Shall I lead the way?¡± Arian murmured to Aiden. But Aiden shook his head. ¡°There¡¯s probably no need for that. If the military properly selected people, that is.¡± Everyone here was carefully selected veterans from the military. Moreover, a total of ten people were deployed to explore this small parking building. Usually, for Aiden and Arian, who were used to exploring larger buildings in a pair, this seemed like an excessive number of personnel. So, even if they were just average junk dealers, the operation was by no means difficult. Aiden¡¯s expectations were soon pleasantly met. Two hours after being deployed in the building. The 2nd Squad of the mercenary unit easily secured up to the third floor of the underground parking lot. During that time, they encountered a Bigfoot mutant, but it couldn¡¯t withstand the concentrated gunfire of ten people and quickly fell. They were skilled in fighting in the dark, illuminating the area with lights, and no one acted clumsily. ¡°Good. The next task is building the defense line.¡± After reporting the completion of the mission to Nathan, the next mission was assigned immediately. Building the defense line, creating sandbag positions, and so on, to create a temporary barrier to block zombies. Now it was just physical labor. Moreover, the defense lines were thoroughly protected by other soldiers even in the chaotic city. The mercenaries silently built sandbag positions. After constructing the defense lines, it was already afternoon. They were given a short break to rest for the night they were about to spend and the sun was quickly setting. The time had come for the sunset. ¡°Are you ready?¡± ¡°No problems.¡± Nathan calmly replied to a man¡¯s question, looking around the defense lines where Nathan and the mercenary unit were stationed. Then the man, perhaps Nathan¡¯s superior, after inspecting the defense lines and the mercenaries, handed Nathan a black radio. ¡°Well then, good luck.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The man who spoke quickly moved to another location. Aiden was holding a rifle behind the barricade made of sandbags. Next to him was a stationary machine gun, held by Arian. Originally assigned to Aiden, Arian became interested in the machine gun, so due to her indifference to other firearms Aiden yielded it. Behind such barricades, there was also an armored vehicle with a mounted machine gun. While sturdy, Aiden cast a slightly worried glance beyond the barricade. Now was the moment when even the red light of the sunset was buried in darkness. The scenery of the streets turned into ruins from the daytime battles was gradually being covered in black. Aiden looked at the remnants of zombies hunted during the day scattered on those streets. The numbers were quite substantial. However, for some reason, there weren¡¯t many mutants among them. Did that mean there were few mutants? Or simply that they hadn¡¯t hunted them yet? At that moment when such questions crossed Aiden¡¯s mind. Pop! Bright lights installed on the barricade above, behind, and all around brightly lit up. Not ordinary light bulbs but special lights emitting intense brightness. Instantly, darkness was pushed away from the occupied area, hiding in the corners of the field of view. In nighttime battles, light was an indispensable factor. Especially with many mutants possessing night vision abilities, in cases like this, securing the maximum luminosity was preferable. ¡°Hoo...¡± Someone took a deep breath in the bright light. The bright light, once a symbol of prosperity in the evening, was now nothing more than a display of battle. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Because of that, junk dealers and soldiers felt more tension than relief, staring at it. ¡°...¡± Finally, the sun set. The red sun barely holding onto the western sky slipped away, disappearing below the horizon. So the entire sky was dyed black, precisely ten minutes later. ¡°Kyuuk...!¡± Somewhere, the sound of a zombie¡¯s howling was heard. Since everyone was holding their breath and staring into the darkness, the sound was distant but painfully clear. And such cries gradually spread from outside the line of sight. One soon became a dozen, and that turned into dozens again. To those standing on the defense line, a tremendous pressure descended like a heavy boulder. ¡°If they come into sight, open fire.¡± Nathan reassured the mercenaries in a low voice. Even if it was certain that there were zombies in the darkness, shooting blindly at unseen enemies would only waste bullets. While this frustrating standoff continued, Arian whispered to Aiden. ¡°They¡¯re mutants. And there are three of them.¡± Unlike others, Arian¡¯s eyes were penetrating the darkness completely beyond the light. Upon hearing this, Aiden quickly spoke up. ¡°Positions and types?¡± ¡°One is on the rooftop of the building to the right. It¡¯s a Siren.¡± At the mention of a Siren, Aiden frowned. In such a large-scale battle, the presence of a Siren, which could unleash uncontrollable wide-area sound attacks, was fatal. It was fortunate that the lights were illuminating beyond its effective range. Aiden kept an eye on the right and continued to listen to Arian. ¡°The other two are in the front. A Wielder and a Bigfoot. Looks like they¡¯re coming straight at us.¡± ¡°You take the front. I¡¯ll handle the Siren.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± As they were discussing, a loud roar erupted from the front. ¡°Graaagh!¡± Almost simultaneously- Tatatatatatat! Sounds of a machine gun and explosions were heard from the other side of the barricade. The direction... north. It meant that the wave of zombies coming from all directions was just beginning. Chapter 50 ¡°Here they come!¡± Someone shouted. The western defense line that Aiden was guarding. Finally, zombies hidden in the darkness revealed themselves within the illumination. ¡°Woooah!¡± The forefront was, as Arian said, the Bigfoot and the Wielder. Leading the pack, dozens of zombies appeared from all directions. Zombies that had been hiding throughout the city, upon seeing the bright light and humans, ran towards them like mad. ¡°Open fire!¡± Nathan¡¯s command echoed. Arian¡¯s machine gun spewed flames, and other mercenaries fired bullets. Even without precise aiming, zombies were crowding the four-lane road illuminated by the lights. But Aiden calmly raised the muzzle. As he did, the Siren, just now entering the line of sight, appeared. Amidst the chaos, a creature on the rooftop, only showing its head while hiding, slowly opened its mouth. Was it planning to shout and retreat while staying hidden there? But there was no noise escaping its mouth. Bang! In the midst of the pouring gunfire, Aiden¡¯s sharp shot exploded the Siren¡¯s head and passed through. Meanwhile, Arian¡¯s machine gun and the armored vehicle¡¯s machine gun were also exerting their power. The Bigfoot rushing from the front was the first to be shredded by the barrage, its body torn to pieces, collapsing on the spot. On the other hand, the Wielder, carrying a steel plate like a shield, ran forward. Bam! Stepping on a pre-buried mine, its body exploded into pieces. In an instant, dozens of zombies, who had been approaching, were erased from sight. The overwhelming firepower of the defense line crushed the zombies. ¡°We did it...!¡± Someone murmured like that. However, it was a big misconception. Due to the nature of the zombie wave hitting in the middle of the night, this was just the beginning. ¡°Kiaaaa!¡± A sharp, ear-piercing scream was heard. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The appearance of another mutant. At the same time, the figures of mutants and zombies, previously hidden in the darkness, came into view within sight. ¡°It¡¯s a Stinger!¡± ¡°A Wielder is coming again!¡± A small group of zombies rushed, beating the wall, while the Wielder, holding a chunk of metal, trampled a car as it charged. And then- ¡°Ahh!¡± One junk dealer fell backward with a scream. Covered in filthy mud, he was crushed, and his upper body was pressed down, clearly dead. Immediately, Nathan shouted. ¡°A Vomiter! Locate its position!¡± ¡°Inside the left building!¡± The response came from Arian. At the barely illuminated edge of the light, the creature¡¯s face appeared. Arian¡¯s machine gun and the shouts of the armored vehicle bombarded the building. As gunshots poured onto the concrete wall, it rippled like hail falling on a lake. Soon, the Vomiter¡¯s head became a hive and collapsed. ¡°The Stinger on the right! Aim for the Wielder on the left!¡± Nathan, confirming the Vomiter¡¯s death, ordered the other mercenaries. So the gunfire continued frantically. For almost an hour, zombies and mutants relentlessly surged toward the defense line. Even at a glance, their numbers were considerable, exceeding several hundred. Facing such a relentless onslaught, the defense of the army was quite sturdy, but even that nearly collapsed a couple of times before the enemy¡¯s assault. ¡°Why is this happening?¡± Arian asked, looking at the glowing barrel of the machine gun. Aiden, holding the hot barrel with his bare hands, skillfully replaced it with a new one. Decayed flesh melted onto the gloves, sticking. To an onlooker, it might have seemed like a shocking sight, but there was no room for anyone to spare attention or be surprised in the surroundings. ¡°Kik!¡± Just as the Stinger was about to overcome the barricade, Aiden¡¯s rifle butt struck it, sending it flying. The zombies had come dangerously close. ¡°The zombies are crossing the wall!¡± A few agile Stingers had jumped over the wall like a spring. They were quickly dealt with by other junk dealers, but the problem was in the front. Aiden decisively grabbed a grenade placed in the defense line. Boom! The grenade Aiden threw sent a group of zombies flying, giving a brief respite. Following the explosion, an incomparably louder noise erupted along the road. Tatang! It seemed like artillery support. Even if I don¡¯t know exactly what kind of weapon it is, the overwhelming firepower not only swept away the zombies but also shattered the concrete on the road. Furthermore, the bombardment didn¡¯t end with a single round. It seemed that intense battles were taking place not only in this western defense line but also in other locations. At that moment. ¡°Situation at N1 Barricade!¡± The sound came from the radio held by Nathan. N1 was one of the defense lines blocking the north of the occupied area. Since the radio had been silent until now, Aiden unconsciously focused on the sound. Something must have happened. And as expected, the radio soon conveyed the anticipated message. ¡°A Brutal appearance at N1 Barricade! Repeating. A Brutal appearance at N1 Barricade!¡± A Brutal. At the name of that monster-like mutant, Aiden¡¯s eyebrows twitched. ¡°What should we do?¡± Arian asked. She, too, didn¡¯t miss the voice coming from the radio. However, Aiden, changing the magazine of his rifle, casually replied. ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do. We just have to follow orders.¡± ¡°Just let it go?¡± ¡°This is their fight. We don¡¯t need to get involved, and we don¡¯t have the luxury to do so.¡± Aiden asserted. Here, Arian and Aiden were just mercenaries. But Arian, knowing the power of a Brutal, fired her machine gun while expressing her concern. ¡°But if the operation fails, it won¡¯t be good.¡± ¡°...That won¡¯t happen.¡± Certainly, a Brutal was an exceptionally strong monster, different from other mutants. Considering that it survived the firepower of a claymore bomb head-on, a simple gunfire wouldn¡¯t be the answer. However, if you were to ask whether the weapons the 62nd Division had were weaker than a claymore, it was not the case at all. This army had tanks, self-propelled artillery, and howitzers using high-explosive shells, in addition to heavy machine guns. So there was more than enough advantage against a Brutal. ¡°Tsk...!¡± Arian made a short clicking sound with her tongue. It wasn¡¯t directed at Aiden. Her eyes were once again looking into the darkness on the other side. ¡°It¡¯s here too.¡± There was no need to ask what had appeared. A Brutal. That monster had come here as well. ¡°Kraaaa!¡± A roar, incomparable to what they had heard so far, shook the ground as the massive figure of the Brutal finally revealed itself within the illuminated zone. Decaying flesh fluttered like a cloth over its black and shimmering muscles, resembling a corpse. The monster, leading various mutants and zombies, rushed like a shell. ¡°The Brutal is coming!¡± Nathan¡¯s shout directed the continuous gunfire of the mercenaries gathered at the barricade toward the creature. Although a Brutal had recently been discovered as a new type, its notorious reputation was enough for anyone in the junk dealing business to know its strength. Arian, holding a machine gun, and the armored vehicle¡¯s machine gun also showered it with bullets. However, the Brutal effortlessly withstood every bullet of the downpour. ¡°Crazy...!¡± Someone exclaimed with astonishment. It hadn¡¯t used any tools. It was just running towards them with its face covered by its two arms. Not a single one of the pouring bullets pierced its body. The weight of the gunfire alone barely suppressed its speed. ¡°...¡± The power of the Brutal, which even resisted the firepower of the machine gun, was surreal. It was impossible to stop it with just rifles. Just as Aiden was about to reach for a grenade, something seemed to brush against the Brutal. Boooom! ¡°Kwaaaaah!¡± With a loud roar and explosion, a powerful blast enveloped the monster. The sound was so powerful that it could be felt with the skin rather than just the ears. Aiden turned around, and in the distance, one of the tanks was facing their direction. With a 105mm tank gun, incomparable to 5.56mm or 7.62mm machine gun rounds. The shell that turned the firepower of the claymore bomb upside down hit the Brutal. And the result was as expected. The arms that had easily withstood gunfire were now twisted like rags. Furthermore, the body of the Brutal, whose right leg had been blown off, tilted and collapsed. ¡°Wow...!¡± The mercenaries cheered at the tremendous power. To think that they had managed to bring down the Brutal in one go. Moreover, this victory was not only for this western defense line. Through Nathan¡¯s radio, it was reported that Brutals had appeared and been repelled in the north and east defense lines as well. The army had wiped out three Brutals in an instant. ¡°...Quite something.¡± Their power was something even Aiden had to acknowledge. The number of zombies currently attacking the downtown of Fort Wayne was much larger than the zombie horde Aiden and Arian had fought against in Pittsburgh, risking their lives. However, the 62nd Division was steadfastly holding its ground amidst the intense battle. Meanwhile, the momentum of the zombies, who had lost a Brutal, had significantly waned. Until just a while ago, zombies had been pouring out like a broken faucet, but their numbers were gradually decreasing. Then, finally, as the last remaining zombie fell, the defense line fell silent. All that remained were numerous piles of corpses. Afterward, a brief period of silence ensued, but no one easily spoke of victory. The zombie waves during the midnight would not end with just one round. It was far from sunrise, and everyone knew this was just a short break. ¡°Check your equipment. Anyone need ammunition?¡± Nathan spoke, checking the mercenaries, equipment, and the quantity of ammunition. Aiden also inspected the firearms he had emptied hundreds of rounds with. Unexpectedly, Arian¡¯s machine gun was still in good condition, but the rifle Aiden received from the military was in a precarious state. Should he prepare another rifle just in case? While contemplating, Aiden received a new rifle from Nathan. ¡°Just a moment.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Something is coming.¡± The next wave? However, Arian¡¯s words seemed strange for that to be the case. She, who always informed about the types of mutants approaching, did not mention its type this time. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. This is the first time I¡¯ve felt this kind of presence.¡± ¡°...A new type.¡± Aiden furrowed his brow. The 62nd Division had provided mercenaries with information about all the mutants they had identified, as these would be the people fighting alongside them in the future. Even so, Arian not knowing the type of mutant was unusual. Not to mention, it was a new variant that even Aiden and his group had never encountered. This wasn¡¯t good news. However, the bad news didn¡¯t end there. ¡°Moreover, there are many other things. Where did they all come from?¡± ¡°...¡± Aiden calmly prepared for what was to come. It had been quite a while since the battle had started. So, it wasn¡¯t just zombies hiding in the city. Perhaps even the zombies in the north of Fort Wayne, which the 62nd Division hadn¡¯t cleaned up, were crawling out. ¡°It¡¯s going to be more dangerous than we thought.¡± Just as Aiden murmured so. From the curtain of darkness that had maintained silence, a disturbing sound reached their ears. A noise as if rough metal plates were scraping against each other. ¡°...What is this sound?¡± Someone asked, but no one could answer. It was an unpleasant sound that no one had heard before. Gradually, the owner of that sound revealed itself, wetting the black curtain. Gray fur and underneath, torn and tattered skin. And breaking through that skin, enlarged red muscles. The creature had the height of a human, but its body size was much larger than a regular zombie of the same height. That¡¯s because it wasn¡¯t a human but a wolf walking on its hind legs. ¡°A Beast? No, that¡¯s...¡± Aiden scrutinized the wolf and a sense of crisis overwhelmed him. Usually, a Beast was classified as a mutant on its own. That was because there weren¡¯t many cases of animals infected with the zombie virus. However, the Beast Aiden was looking at now was beyond that classification. A wolf standing on four legs but with the height of a human was originally non-existent. In other words, after becoming a zombie, it had undergone a mutation like other mutants. After making that conjecture, Aiden observed the body of the creature. Its large and swollen body and extremely developed muscles seemed as if he were looking at a Wolf or a Brutal. ¡°A mutated Beast...¡± Aiden¡¯s sense of crisis heightened as he examined the wolf. If a regular zombie could be enhanced to the extent of a Brutal, how much more dangerous would it become if a wolf, originally dangerous, underwent the mutation? There was no need to think about that. ¡°¡ª¨C.¡± The scraping noise, as if scraping against iron plates, was heard again. It was the growl of the creature. An eerie sound that couldn¡¯t be considered something from a living being. The sound made the surrounding mercenaries shiver. Kik! The creature that had lingered at the edge of the light like a glimpse of a ghost now fully stepped into the illuminated zone. And, it charged. In the blink of an eye, the monstrous wolf rushed forward, closing the distance with the group. Chapter 51 ¡°Commence firing!¡± The putrid stench of corpses and the acrid smell of gunpowder mixed together, creating a nauseating odor permeating the western defense line. Gunshots erupted once again from that area. ¡°Kraaaa!¡± The sound of shattering windows echoed through the ruined high-rise buildings. Among the already collapsed roads, living corpses were trampling over the remains of their comrades, their unpleasant footsteps creating a surging tide of discomfort. However, amidst the waves of these zombies, there was a particularly noticeable monster. ¡°¡ª¨C!¡± A distorted howl erupted from its jaws. A mutant Beast in the form of a wolf. It bared its menacing fangs, exuding an unmistakable hostility in all directions. Against such a wolf, gunfire rained down like a storm. Unlike a Brutal, the wolf had no means to protect its head while running. That¡¯s why the junk dealers at the defense line thought the Beast was more manageable than a Brutal, even upon seeing it. They believed that if they could somehow pierce through its skull, they could easily bring it down. However, that judgment turned out to be a miscalculation. Thunk! A launched grenade aimed at the creature only excavated chunks of concrete. Unlike a Brutal, the Beast didn¡¯t charge straightforwardly. It knew how to evade the gunfire directed at it. Moreover, its speed was incomparable to regular zombies. It was too fast. Even the seasoned junk dealers with experience in shooting couldn¡¯t keep up with the gun barrels following the creature. In such a situation, they couldn¡¯t expect tank support either. How could they hit a Beast moving at a speed even faster than the aiming of rifles in human hands with a tank¡¯s main cannon? It was then that the wolf freely roamed from the road and the building walls to the rooftop. Thud! Among the many bullets chasing its tail, only one bullet managed to catch up with the creature. It hit the wolf¡¯s face, puncturing one of its eyes. A bizarre wail escaped from the creature. The wolf, running along the walls, swayed in the air like a loose rope before plummeting to the ground. Unfortunately, whether it reached the brain or not, the creature immediately got up, but the bullet had cleanly pierced its right eye. And the only remaining left eyeball, without exception, was focused on the owner of that gunshot. Aiden. The wolf glared fiercely at his black helmet, then slammed back onto the ground. It was at that moment. ¡°Bow your heads!¡± Nathan¡¯s shout rang out. Following his lead, Aiden hid behind the shield. Immediately after, a deafening explosion shook the ground, as if an earthquake had occurred. A lethal blast radius of over 25 meters. Several of these shells had fallen onto the road where zombies were rushing. Some fragments embedded themselves in the sandbags piled up like a popping sound. ¡°...¡± Once the shelling ended, Aiden quickly raised his head and surveyed the surroundings. All the zombies that had filled the field of view had turned into rotten flesh. And that wasn¡¯t all. The road had turned into fragments of broken asphalt, and even the nearby buildings were no longer intact. However, despite the intense artillery support, the mutant Beast, without falling, proudly stood atop the crumbling three-story building. Whether it was just bad luck or the creature sensed danger? The mutant Beast seemingly avoided direct hits from the lethal blast radius just before the shelling. Of course, even so, the creature¡¯s hide wasn¡¯t completely unscathed. Some fragments were stuck all over its body. The belly had been penetrated by shards of metal, and its tail, which had been healthy until a while ago, now had completely disappeared. However, even with that level of artillery support. The mutant Beast didn¡¯t retreat. Rather, it seemed to sense that the bombardment had ended and immediately leaped from the building rooftop towards Aiden without hesitation. A dense shadow covered the defense line as if covering the sky. ¡°It¡¯s coming!¡± Upon this, chaos erupted around Aiden. The shouts of mercenaries scattering in all directions and Nathan¡¯s cries trying to restrain them overlapped. In the midst of it all, Aiden, standing alone, remained unshaken. He simply aimed his gun at the wolf. And- Bang! Aiden¡¯s gun muzzle spewed fire. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This time, his bullet pierced through the wolf¡¯s remaining eye along with the rest of its brain. Immediately after, Aiden leaped to the side of the defense line. Grrra! Thud! With a mournful cry, the wolf¡¯s massive body crashed onto the defense line. Sandbag fortifications and various weapons, painstakingly assembled, were swept away by the waves. Only Arian, holding a mounted machine gun, managed to escape to safety without harm. However, the mercenaries had no time to repair the damage. Various mutants and zombies began to swarm the area where the shells had fallen. ¡°They¡¯re coming again, focus!¡± Although there were no mutant Beasts this time, the numbers were much larger than before. A Vomiter¡¯s sludge bombs rained down in succession. A massive Bigfoot, showcasing its large stature, swallowed zombies that were nearby, obscuring the view. A Wielder, wielding a broken concrete column like a club, threatened the mercenaries. Another Brutal let out a roar. ¡°There!¡± Arian¡¯s machine gun mowed down the Stingers charging along the wall. Meanwhile, Aiden¡¯s bullets pierced through the head of a mutant, and grenades rained down from all directions. Numerous gunshots and explosions overlapped. The ground, previously covered with rotten flesh, was once again concealed under putrid meat. Aiden¡¯s rifle, unable to endure, finally malfunctioned. However, instead of fixing it, Aiden immediately grabbed another rifle he had prepared. How long had they been fighting? The ammunition, thought to be sufficient, was gradually running out. It meant they had fought for a considerable time, and that many zombies had gathered here. Not even concrete was visible on the ground anymore. Was this what hell looked like? Zombie bodies piled up, creating a path of decay. ¡°Ahh!¡± Meanwhile, the casualties kept increasing. The mercenary unit, originally over 50 strong, now had only around 30 members left. But there was a glimmer of hope. Finally, the number of zombies was decreasing. If they held on a little longer, they could repel the wave. Everyone in the defense line was thinking the same when suddenly Nathan¡¯s order came. ¡°8th Battalion! Retreat! Retreat!¡± The mercenaries, who had barely held the defense line, looked at Nathan with confusion. But soon they understood the reason for the retreat. Behind Nathan. Inside the inner area of the defense line they were supposed to protect. There were already numerous intruders. ¡°What¡¯s that...?¡± Someone murmured in astonishment. No wonder artillery support seemed lacking. The central street, where tanks and howitzers were originally stationed, was now filled with zombies. A giant bear, the size of a house, was literally flipping tanks. Next to it, a Brutal had smashed the barrel of an armored vehicle, and another wolf was devouring soldiers. Unfortunately, the mutant Beast wasn¡¯t just one. ¡°The defenses in other areas have collapsed,¡± Nathan said. It wasn¡¯t strange. If Aiden hadn¡¯t eliminated the mutant Beast, the same fate would have befallen them. ¡°All other forces are retreating as well. If we linger here, we could be surrounded. So, retreat immediately.¡± The mercenaries¡¯ expressions hardened. ¡°Is the mission a failure?¡± Aiden also muttered, feeling bitter. But to him, Arian spoke with an even graver expression. ¡°It¡¯s not the fault of the mission.¡± ¡°What do you mean...?¡± Aiden observed the movements of the zombies. They weren¡¯t heading towards the western defense line but were focused on another direction. The south. In other words, the direction where the headquarters of the 62nd Division was. Upon this, Aiden went to Nathan, who was commanding the retreat, and asked. ¡°Is the residential area under attack?¡± ¡°It seems like they¡¯ve bitten the tail of the retreating unit. I¡¯m sure they reached the Wall.¡± Nathan replied with a devastated expression. Then there was only one thing Aiden had to do. ¡°Hurry.¡± Nathan nodded solemnly. The mercenary unit immediately moved towards the stronghold. * * * A while later, when the mercenaries reached the north gate, they were left speechless. The situation was much worse than they had expected. ¡°What happened here?¡± The towering wall of the 62nd Division, which should have been secure, was now ablaze and echoing with explosions. Moreover, the north gate, supposed to be closed, was shattered by something, leaving it wide open. And zombies were freely crawling in. ¡°Did an accident happen while withdrawing the troops?¡± Several military vehicles were scattered chaotically. But more noticeable than that was the giant mutated Beast leaning against the wall. A colossal bear with a body length of over 5 meters. Fortunately, its head was smashed, but it was evident that the beast had wreaked havoc before its demise. It had caught up with the retreating troops and destroyed the wall. ¡°Then...!¡± Arian¡¯s face, who had thought they would at least defend the wall, became contemplative. The junk dealers who had come as mercenaries were also shaken. It wasn¡¯t the time to discuss the contract when things had turned out like this. In the worst case, the organization known as the 62nd Division itself might face ruin. While the junk dealers hesitated, a voice came from Nathan¡¯s radio. ¡°...¡± A voice that wasn¡¯t audible to Aiden. However, Arian heard the content, and her expression became cold. After ending the radio communication, Nathan turned to the mercenary unit. ¡°Is this okay?¡± One of the junk dealers asked him. Nathan briefly explained the current situation to the hesitating mercenaries. According to him, only the north gate and the adjacent northern area were in danger among the four divided zones of the base. ¡°All areas are separated by internal barriers. So, if we block only this place, the disturbance will end soon.¡± In other words, he was saying that the 62nd Division wouldn¡¯t be completely ruined because of this incident. The mercenaries were skeptical, but they were already aware that the base¡¯s interior was divided into different sections. In short, it wasn¡¯t an unbelievable story. Nathan continued to desperately persuade the mercenaries and issued orders for the operation. ¡°Stay here.¡± Some were to stay at the north gate to support the defense force. They were to block the entrance to prevent any more zombies from entering. ¡°And 1st and 2nd Squads, follow me.¡± Nathan led the remaining personnel to cross the north gate. Arian, who had only observed the wall for a while, asked: ¡°Where are we going?¡± ¡°To the armory in the northern section.¡± The armory. It was undoubtedly an important strategic point. But for Aiden, there was a more critical place. ¡°What about the facility where the kids are?¡± ¡°...Well, I don¡¯t know. The current orders given to the troops are to block the north gate and guard the armory.¡± In response to Nathan¡¯s hesitant answer, Aiden smirked. According to him, there was no mention of rescuing the kids in this situation. ¡°So, is that okay?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Those kids... they are likely your children.¡± The facility housed not only Sadie but also many other children, mostly children of the soldiers living here. Yet there was no instruction to rescue the children in this situation. ¡°I believe it¡¯s the best... choice. Without weapons, we¡¯ll all die.¡± But Nathan replied with a bitter expression. If the armory were destroyed by zombies, the military would undoubtedly lose a significant amount of firepower. In comparison, children had no value as military assets. So, was he going to abandon that side? Aiden clicked his tongue lightly. Whether he confused means and ends or simply didn¡¯t know anything beyond his own life, it was a foolish statement in the end. ¡°... Foolish.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°Using weapons guarded by abandoning even your own children, what are you trying to protect?¡± Aiden¡¯s words left Nathan speechless. Aiden turned his head. There was no time to argue with him here. ¡°That¡¯s enough. We¡¯re getting out of here.¡± Aiden and Arian said so and left the group. Behind them, Nathan shouted. ¡°This is a breach of contract!¡± ¡°We¡¯re canceling the contract. No need for compensation.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll never be allowed back in Fort Wayne.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not necessary either. Apparently, this place... doesn¡¯t seem to be a suitable place for a child to stay..¡± Aiden threw the access card to the trade area he received on his first day here under Nathan¡¯s feet. Nathan¡¯s eyes shook at his resolute attitude. Aiden turned to Arian. ¡°Do you know the direction?¡± Arian nodded and ran into the fiery northern area. Aiden followed silently. Chapter 52 Sadie already knew what would happen in Fort Wayne today. Cleaning. Her colleagues Aiden and Arian made that clear. Reclaiming the city of Fort Wayne and clearing out the zombies there. Sadie couldn¡¯t quite understand why the military would want to do such a thing. The facility she was assigned to in the military, referred to as the school on the inside. For Sadie, staying there brought a sense of peace she hadn¡¯t felt in a long time. It had been three weeks since she arrived in Fort Wayne. During that time, Sadie had been experiencing the same days repeatedly. In the morning, Aiden and Arian would escort her to the so-called school. During the day, she would spend time with friends at school. And at night, she would return to the temporary shelter where Aiden and Arian were. Sadie found comfort in such repetition. It resembled the peaceful routine she enjoyed before the world frighteningly changed. She wished these days would continue forever. So, Sadie couldn¡¯t comprehend why adults insisted on going to the city. And why they wanted to clean up the zombies in the city, she simply couldn¡¯t understand. Isn¡¯t it okay as it is? ¡°Are you asleep?¡± In the dark night, while lying in a blanket in the classroom, Sadie, lost in thought, was addressed by a girl named Nora. Nora, aged 10, the same as Sadie. Nora was Sadie¡¯s first friend she made in this place. The surroundings were quiet. Due to the ¡®cleaning¡¯ today, all the soldiers were staying up at their positions through the night. As a result, all the kids were gathered at the school. For Sadie, it was her first overnight stay with peers. So, she couldn¡¯t sleep. That seemed to be the case for other kids too, as everyone had been awake for a long time. It was undoubtedly midnight now. So, while most other kids were sleeping, Sadie kept her head up as if to indicate she wasn¡¯t. Then Nora, with a wide smile, immediately started talking. Nora was a somewhat talkative friend to Sadie. ¡°It was amazing, right?¡± Although there was no context, Sadie quickly understood what she was referring to. It was about the long procession they passed by in the morning, with numerous soldiers and even several large tanks. It was an impressive sight for any child to see. But Nora had another reason for making such remarks. ¡°The howitzer! My dad is a howitzer operator.¡± Even today, Sadie had heard this several times, but she simply nodded in response. All the kids at school, including her, said that. Someone¡¯s father had a gun, someone¡¯s mother had a car. There were also children who made eye contact with their family during the procession and waved to each other. And Sadie just looked at those children and their parents. Naturally, she thought of her mom and dad. She felt lonely. But before the thought deepened and tears came, Nora¡¯s voice continued. ¡°Your dad... He is a junk dealer, right?¡± ¡°No, not dad.¡± ¡°Then who?¡± Nora asked innocently. She was undoubtedly talking about Aiden. But Aiden wasn¡¯t Sadie¡¯s father. That was for sure. Certainly, though... what should she say in response to Nora¡¯s question? ¡°Um...¡± The first time she saw Aiden, he was a doctor who treated her illness. She was surprised when she found out he wasn¡¯t a human but a zombie. But still, Aiden didn¡¯t bite or growl like a typical zombie. He behaved like an ordinary person. Although he rarely smiled and had a stern way of speaking, Sadie¡¯s grandfather was the same way. Up until then, Aiden had been a kind zombie uncle to Sadie. But after. Her mother died, and Sadie left Pittsburgh. Since then, she had become less aware of him. Aiden took care of Sadie, taught her how to shoot, and many other things. Now, for her sake, he came all the way to Fort Wayne. She heard all of this was because of a request her mother left. But if Aiden decided otherwise... If he decided to throw away such a request, Sadie would understand. What to call Aiden then, Sadie didn¡¯t know. He wasn¡¯t family. But she couldn¡¯t just say he was a completely unrelated stranger. Yet, to call him a colleague would be too much, and he certainly wasn¡¯t a friend. ¡°... I don¡¯t know.¡± So, that¡¯s how Sadie replied. Grateful and precious as he may be, she still couldn¡¯t come up with a word to address him. At that moment, Nora tilted her head. Thud! Suddenly, somewhere, the sound of an explosion resonated. It wasn¡¯t an incredibly loud noise. The sound came from a distant place. However, some children woke up in the school, having never heard such a noise before. ¡°What¡¯s that sound?¡± Nora asked. Sadie shook her head. It was impossible to identify her at that moment. What could have happened? Up until then, Sadie had only shown vague curiosity. But then... Bang! Tat-tat-tat-tat! After a while, more explosions were followed by the echoes of small gunfire. The noise woke up all the children. Soon, the classroom was engulfed in chaos. ¡°Quiet!¡± A soldier, playing the role of a teacher, tried to calm the children. But looking at their faces, it was evident that they, too, were quite bewildered. ¡°What¡¯s happening? Contact headquarters.¡± While they tried to assess the situation, the explosions and gunfire were approaching the school. Sadie suddenly got up from her seat and approached the window. Nora followed her. ¡°Sadie?¡± ¡°Look over there.¡± In front of the small school made of containers, there was a narrow playground, and beyond it, there was a wide road where a tank could pass. And from the direction of the north gate, a red light was visible. It wasn¡¯t the sun. The red light emanated from the ground, not the sky. ¡°I-Is there a fire?¡± Fire. If only it were just a fire. But Sadie had already discovered the shapes of bodies passing through that flame. ¡°There are zombies!¡± Sadie informed the soldiers about it. Then one of the soldiers, frowning, approached the window. ¡°Zombies? Kid, enough, go back to your place-¡° It was when the soldier spoke like that. ¡°Raaaaah!¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Amidst the explosions and gunfire, a mad and frenzied scream echoed from somewhere. At this, he looked at the window that Sadie was pointing to, and he, too, saw the zombies roaming the streets. ¡°This is insane...¡± Confusion settled in the soldier¡¯s eyes. ¡°What should we do? Hey, what does headquarters say?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know! Communication is down!¡± Chaos spread among the soldiers. All the soldiers here were new recruits with little experience. It made sense since the skilled ones were all deployed for the cleanup operation. The soldiers assigned to this school were mostly young, not much older than high school students. So, there was no way they could adequately handle such an unexpected situation. Seeing those soldiers, Sadie, who couldn¡¯t bear to see such soldiers, spoke up. ¡°We need guns.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°We need to get weapons first.¡± It was Aiden¡¯s teaching. Whenever something happened, the first thing to do was to secure weapons. ¡°Oh, that... right.¡± In response to that, the soldiers belatedly armed themselves. Their hands putting bullets into the magazines were shaking faintly. Perhaps because they never thought they would meet zombies within the safe barricade. After a while, they finally got into a combat stance. Meanwhile, the sounds of gunfire and explosions were getting closer to the school. The same for the zombies. One zombie limped across the school playground. Whether it hadn¡¯t noticed the children yet or it was just walking, it was only a matter of time before the situation changed. ¡°What about us?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°We need guns too.¡± So Sadie demanded. There were training pistols in the school. They used them for actual shooting practice. But the soldier shook his head. ¡°No, you can¡¯t. Just stay quiet here.¡± It was a frustrating answer for Sadie, but it was a reasonable judgment. Even if they had practiced shooting, there weren¡¯t many among these kids who could properly handle a gun. And how many of them could maintain a steady aim in front of those crazed corpses. ¡°Absolutely do not come outside.¡± After urging the children like that, the soldier left the classroom. The school was a one-story building, a modified old military barrack. And as he stepped outside, soon, disruptive gunshots began to echo even in the school. ¡°... ¡° There, Sadie quietly observed the situation outside. There were twelve soldiers. For a while, it seemed like they could hold off the zombies by themselves. The number of zombies infiltrating the school¡¯s surroundings was small, and all of them were just regular zombies. But the situation changed dramatically as mutated ones began to appear, turning everything in an instant. ¡°Why won¡¯t that one die!¡± Looking at the Bigfoot walking across the playground, one soldier shouted. He was pouring all of his bullets toward the Bigfoot, but... The giant body, as if mocking him, didn¡¯t slow down, continuing to chew on one zombie¡¯s leg. ¡°Head! Aim for the head!¡± Another soldier shouted. But it wasn¡¯t as easy as it sounds. The head was much smaller than the body, and there was only the light from the fire behind it. Moreover, it was an unexpected emergency. For the inexperienced soldiers, it was a situation where shooting accurately was almost impossible. ¡°Aaargh!¡± At that moment, someone¡¯s scream echoed. ¡°Jason!¡± A soldier who turned towards the direction of the scream shouted. Having been hit by something that came from nowhere, he witnessed his comrade being brutally killed. ¡°Jason is dead!¡± ¡°Damn it...!¡± Fear spread among the soldiers. Yet, the zombies continued to pour in. Now they were aware that there were humans here too. ¡°There are too many of them...¡± ¡°We can¡¯t, we absolutely can¡¯t win!¡± One soldier left his position and ran in the opposite direction. But even that place wasn¡¯t safe. ¡°Aaahh!¡± In the flames, the silhouette of a soldier surrounded by numerous zombies writhing in agony shook. Seeing this, the other soldiers frantically fired in all directions. However, one by one, they began to be killed by the approaching zombies. ¡°...¡± Watching the situation unfold, Sadie could no longer bear it and left the school. She judged that staying still was no longer an option. ¡°Sadie, where are you going? We were told to stay here.¡± ¡°We need to find weapons.¡± Sadie approached the corpse of the first soldier who had died. A gruesome sight, buried in filth behind the school building, with a broken neck. Nora swallowed hard as she saw it. Sadie, too, was surprised, but at the same time, she quickly realized how this soldier had died. Sadie lowered her body and approached the soldier. ¡°Don¡¯t come close. Don¡¯t step on this water.¡± Thanks to Aiden, who had shared information about all kinds of mutants with Sadie, she was well aware of the danger of a Vomiter. So, Sadie cautiously approached the soldier, avoiding the contaminated water, and pulled a pistol from the soldier¡¯s waist. A solid black semi-automatic pistol. Having carefully picked up the magazine and bullets, Sadie stood up from her position. ¡°Wooooah!¡± As they approached the building, a zombie that had come near the building suddenly noticed them. Madness filled its vacant eyes. The creature let out a scream, and the ominous sound of worn-out sneakers approached rapidly. ¡°Eek!¡± Caught off guard by an unimaginable fear, Nora froze in front of it. Before she could react, the distance quickly closed. Bang! A surprisingly loud noise echoed right next to them. The zombie rushing towards them collapsed with a thud, a small hole in its head. Nora stared blankly at the scene. ¡°Nora.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Nora!¡± ¡°Huh... what?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go back.¡± Sadie grabbed Nora¡¯s hand and led her. Nora, seemingly enchanted, followed Sadie and asked: ¡°Sadie... Aren¡¯t you scared?¡± ¡°No, I am scared too.¡± Sadie¡¯s words were not a lie. Her trembling was transmitted to Nora through their joined hands. ¡°But I can endure it,¡± Sadie said. She attempted to re-enter the building. However, in the meantime, the school had turned into chaos. A zombie stuck to the window broke it with its bare hands and pushed its body inside. Fortunately, the window was small, and the zombie couldn¡¯t get in. Meanwhile, a dangling zombie on the window frame reached out, trying to grab the children inside the building. Upon hearing the screams, several other zombies rushed towards the walls of the makeshift barricade, shaking it as if they were about to collapse it. Luckily, the door was closed, so they couldn¡¯t find an entrance. The sound of gunfire from the soldiers was no longer audible. Only the cries of zombies echoed everywhere. ¡°What... what do we do?¡± Nora asked with a trembling voice. ¡°Let¡¯s get inside for now.¡± ¡°Inside... into the school?¡± Sadie nodded. Moreover, Sadie knew that the kids were still inside the building. They weren¡¯t as close as Nora, but they were friends who exchanged a few words and greetings with each other. So Sadie couldn¡¯t just ignore them. ¡°...Okay.¡± Nora and Sadie cautiously approached the entrance. But soon, the zombies spotted the two girls. ¡°Run, Nora!¡± Sadie shouted. Without thinking, Nora followed Sady¡¯s words. Bang! A zombie hit by a gunshot stumbled and fell backward. When the second gunshot rang out, Nora had safely reached the entrance. Nora opened the door and looked back. However, Sadie wasn¡¯t there. ¡°Sadie?¡± Sadie was running towards the playground, as if luring the other zombies. Gunshots continued. Zombies beating on the walls of the school, one by one, started to fall. ¡°Kraaaaa!¡± Finally, except for the one hanging on the window frame, the other zombies turned away. Spotting Sadie with a gun, they fell from the building. More than ten zombies rushed towards Sadie. ¡°No!¡± Sadie wasn¡¯t particularly fast. In the end, just as Sadie¡¯s shadow was about to be hidden by the back of the corpses, Nora could see the silhouette of Sadie falling among the undead. Even the Bigfoot that had been lingering around the playground turned its head towards Sadie. Amidst the sporadic gunfire, the scene was interrupted. It was that moment when Nora was about to scream due to an ominous premonition. Thump! The zombies gathered in the playground were scattered by a bright red shock wave that came from nowhere. Limbs of the rotten corpses tore apart, and their bodies shattered into pieces, floating into the air. It looked like a scene from a bomb blast. However, behind the scattered corpses, the unharmed figure of Sadie was visible. She seemed unharmed. Watching this, Nora breathed a sigh of relief. And standing beside her was another person who had appeared unnoticed. That was an unknown girl with blood-red eyes. The girl held Sadie dearly in her arms. At that moment, Sadie, who had appeared unshaken, began to emit small cries. Chapter 53 ¡°Yeah, it was scary, huh?¡± Arian said, hugging Sadie tightly. The body of the child who burst into tears at the sight of Arian was shaking like a willow. It wasn¡¯t strange at all. This little girl was just about to be surrounded by dozens of zombies. Even for adults, it would have been difficult to stay sane. Nevertheless, Sadie continued to shoot at the zombies until the end. Arian looked at the pistol in Sadie¡¯s hand. Now, the gun had an empty magazine. Arian took it out of Sadie¡¯s hand. Today, such weapons were no longer needed for this child. ¡°Don¡¯t worry now. Sister will protect you.¡± As Arian spoke, a giant zombie appeared behind them. The Bigfoot. The mutant that the soldiers defending this place couldn¡¯t eliminate was approaching Arian. But Arian had nothing to do there. Right after that, the sound of explosives, qualitatively different from guns, swept through. 12.7mm, 50 caliber bullets. The storm of those bullets, tearing through armored aircraft like paper, exploded the Bigfoot¡¯s head in one go. In the center of that sound, there was Aiden, who had torn apart a stationary machine gun. ¡°Is the child okay?¡± ¡°...Looks like it.¡± Aiden sighed as if relieved. He immediately scanned the surroundings. Three old military barracks. Inside, there was a clear sign of life. It meant there were people. ¡°Other... kids are here too.¡± Hugging Sadie, who had spoken with a sob, Arian opened her mouth. Understanding her concerns well enough, Aiden nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t leave them behind.¡± Some zombies were still clinging to those tents. But what needed to be dealt with first was something else. Shuuck! Something that flew towards Arian was shattered by her machete. It was the Vomiter¡¯s doing. Although not a drop of the dirt touched Sadie, Arian glared as if to kill the Vomiter. Aiden, rather than showing emotions, aimed the heavy machine gun at it. The distance was about 100 meters. There was no cover in the open area. Then, it wouldn¡¯t take long. Another shot blasted the Vomiter away, and he fell back into the flames. Confirming that sight, Aiden put down the heavy machine gun, took out a pistol and a dagger. Stabbing the ground forcefully, he cleared the zombies surrounding the barracks. Eventually, Aiden rescued the survivors and came out. There were about 30 surviving children. Seeing this, Arian couldn¡¯t hide her sadness. She already knew from Sadie that there were over 50 students in this facility. It meant that almost half of the children couldn¡¯t come back. Unlike the barracks where Sadie had lured and dropped zombies, the other barracks had zombies breaking through the walls and doors, invading inside. ¡°Sadie!¡± ¡°Nora...¡± The two reunited children held each other¡¯s hands. Watching those children for a moment, Aiden opened his mouth towards Arian. ¡°Arian, take the kids to the west zone.¡± Arian nodded. The west zone, separated by barricades, was close even here. Moreover, there probably were no zombies inside yet, so it was supposed to be safe. So, it was better to entrust these kids there right away. However, Sadie was an exception. ¡°Sadie.¡± Aiden called Sadie. Aiden judged that this place wasn¡¯t suitable for Sadie to stay. But that was just Aiden¡¯s thought. If Sadie wanted to stay here, he couldn¡¯t force his choice on her. ¡°We¡¯re leaving this place. Will you come with us?¡± So, he asked the child. Was it really okay to leave this place? Sadie¡¯s gaze turned to Nora. Her first friend she made here. Of course, she didn¡¯t want to be separated from her. But... ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll go too.¡± Sadie followed Aiden¡¯s decision. The fact that Aiden was evaluating the safety of this Fort Wayne, she already knew. So Sadie had no choice but to agree with his words. Surviving. That was the only earthly task left by her mother. To achieve that, it was so clear who she should follow. ¡°Sadie... Where are you going?¡± Nora, sensing the farewell, asked. Sadie, with a sorry and sad expression, replied. ¡°To the west.¡± ¡°West... are you, by any chance, going to LA?¡± Sadie couldn¡¯t answer that question. There was no predetermined destination on this journey. As the child remained silent for a moment, Nora¡¯s words continued. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of it. They¡¯re calling people to LA. It¡¯s a much larger city than here. Sadie really going there too?¡± This time, Nora looked at Aiden¡¯s black helmet and asked. ¡°Maybe, who knows.¡± Aiden replied calmly. He couldn¡¯t give a more definite answer at the moment. Then, a muffled sound came from nearby. The spreading flames seemed to have caused something to explode. Aiden looked up at Arian. ¡°Let¡¯s stop the conversation here. Hurry up.¡± ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°I still have things to take care of.¡± Aiden pointed his finger backward. An empty barracks where survivors have already been killed. Arian, who already knew what was inside, with a firm expression, just nodded her head. ¡°Then go. We¡¯ll meet in the vehicle after I finish.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Arian led the children away. As soon as they left the playground, zombies appeared, but Arian¡¯s machete swiftly cut off their heads. Arian and the children moved away from Aiden¡¯s sight and eventually disappeared. Only then did Aiden finally step towards the empty barrack. ¡°...¡± Aiden slowly walked into the building buried in darkness and silence. Now, someone was inside the building, covered with filth of blood and guts. It was a boy who looked about the same age as Sadie. The boy, who had his head buried in the dirty blanket, raised his head as he sensed someone. ¡°Are you awake?¡± Aiden asked the boy. Whether the boy realized from Aiden¡¯s tone that there was no hostility. The boy slowly spoke. ¡°Where... where is this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a school. Don¡¯t you remember?¡± ¡°I... I don¡¯t know.¡± The boy shook his head. Aiden walked towards that side and sat next to the boy lying down. Aiden continued speaking. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°...Jacob.¡± Jacob struggled to sit up. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But whether he still wasn¡¯t fully conscious, the boy asked a question. ¡°Why am I here? What about my mom?¡± ¡°She¡¯s at work. And you, today, decided to stay overnight at school.¡± ¡°Oh, right. Staying overnight...¡± Jacob looked around. The ruined scenery of the messed-up surroundings reflected in his retinas. The boy¡¯s pupils shook. Finally, memories from a little while ago came back to him. ¡°Zombies appeared during the overnight stay. And my... leg...¡± Jacob slowly pulled up the blanket. His thin left leg was missing below the knee. Instead, there were gruesome bite marks. And an enormous amount of blood was still pouring out. ¡°Mister... It¡¯s strange. I¡¯m bleeding so much, but it doesn¡¯t hurt at all.¡± The boy¡¯s voice slowly grew louder, and confusion filled his eyes. The boy trembled with fear. ¡°Sir... Why is this happening to me? Could it be... I too...?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, Jacob. You won¡¯t become like them. Trust me.¡± Aiden embraced Jacob, who leaned against him. ¡°Do you see this?¡± Aiden showed the nameplate hanging around his neck to the boy. ¡°I¡¯m a doctor. And not just any doctor, but a doctor from a very big hospital.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°I¡¯ll treat you, Jacob.¡± Jacob, leaning on Aiden, nodded his head. But soon, he showed a worried expression. ¡°How is that possible? I don¡¯t want to be in pain.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t hurt. Just close your eyes. Close your eyes and quietly breathe out.¡± ¡°Like this...?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say anything, just for a moment... keep doing that.¡± The boy with closed eyes obediently followed Aiden¡¯s words. The sound of the quiet breath of the calm boy spread in the silent darkness. However, not long after, his breathing gradually became rough. As if suffering from a fever. And eventually, the boy¡¯s eyelids that couldn¡¯t endure were lifted. In those eyes, which were clearly different from a little while ago, cloudy pupils flickered. ¡°Jacob?¡± Aiden asked. However, from the boy¡¯s throat, which just a little while ago answered innocently, only an unpleasant, boiling sound of phlegm could be heard. The evidence that the boy who was here had died, and only a monster that devoured his life had been born. Upon this realization, Aiden aimed the small pistol he held in one hand at the boy¡¯s head. And... ¡°Rest in peace.¡± A short gunshot echoed through the dark barrack. Silence quickly returned, but there was no sound of breathing as before. Aiden gently placed the lifeless body of the child on the blanket and stood up. Just as he was about to leave, it happened. A commotion could be heard from outside. When Aiden went out, several soldiers were running towards him. ¡°You are...¡± At the front was Nathan. Having changed his mind, Nathan had gathered parents who had left their children in this facility and came here. ¡°What happened? Where are the kids?¡± Aiden didn¡¯t say anything in response to Nathan¡¯s question. But Nathan and the others quickly understood the situation when they saw the corpses of zombies and soldiers scattered around the tent. Parents rushed into the bulilding. ¡°Oh my God, Anna!¡± ¡°David! Where are you, David!¡± Some of them endlessly searched for their unseen children inside. Others found the lifeless bodies of their children and wailed. Among them was Jacob¡¯s mother. ¡°No!¡± She cried out upon seeing her child lying in a corner of the tent. She immediately tried to embrace the lifeless body, but Aiden blocked her. ¡°It¡¯s better if you stay away from there.¡± The woman looked up at Aiden with a despairing gaze. Nathan, too, showed a puzzled expression. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°That child has been infected by a zombie.¡± Nathan glanced at the child¡¯s body with his eyes and soon discovered the gruesome injury. The torn left leg and the distinctive bite marks, stained green, were undoubtedly from a zombie. But at the same time, Nathan noticed another injury. A small hole pierced through the child¡¯s head. ¡°Did you... shoot him?¡± Did she figure it out? The woman asked in a trembling voice. Sensing an uneasy atmosphere, Nathan tried to intervene. ¡°Calm down, ma¡¯am.¡± ¡°Did you shoot him?¡± The woman pulled out a pistol. Nathan shouted in surprise. ¡°Ma¡¯am!¡± Amidst the commotion, the eyes of the people around focused on the woman and Aiden. Despite the stares and the gun pointed at him, Aiden calmly spoke. ¡°Yes, you¡¯re too late.¡± Her eyes rolled back upon hearing those words. The gun she aimed at Aiden emitted flames. A dry sound of a bullet piercing through a rotten log was drowned in the gunshot. Nathan was left speechless in astonishment. Everyone in the vicinity, including the woman who fired the gun, was shocked. However, Aiden, who stood before her, didn¡¯t even take a step back. His gaze hidden behind the black helmet was fixed directly on the woman. ¡°Feeling relieved now?¡± He spoke calmly. The woman, who had shot the gun, fainted, and Nathan supported her while looking at Aiden with confusion. ¡°How...?¡± ¡°Surviving kids went to the west area. You can check for survivors there.¡± Parents hurriedly left the barracks in a frenzy. Only a few parents, who were still crying while holding their dead children, and Nathan remained. Aiden also left without a word. ¡°Wait a moment.¡± Nathan followed Aiden. In the silent playground, Aiden turned around when Nathan spoke. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°How many surviving kids are there?¡± ¡°About thirty.¡± Nathan couldn¡¯t feel joy or sadness at that news. It meant that half of the young people here, including newly recruited soldiers, hadn¡¯t survived. But if it weren¡¯t for Aiden, all of them might have died. Nathan let out a deep sigh and asked another question. ¡°Your child... Sadie, is she safe?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡± Nathan managed to give a faint smile. Aiden, who was being stared at for a moment, turned away. He moved towards his vehicle, where he was supposed to meet his colleagues. ¡°...¡± Nathan silently watched Aiden¡¯s back. As the sun rose faintly in the eastern sky, time passed unnoticed. Chapter 54 When Aiden returned with the vehicle, Arian and Sadie were already there. ¡°Was there any other problem?¡± ¡°...No.¡± Arian¡¯s voice, slowly breaking the silence, lacked strength. Aiden knew the reason. She had a fondness for children, especially the young ones, so what happened today must have been a considerable shock for her. The same applied to Sadie, who was by her side, with moist eyes. Aiden shifted his gaze towards Sadie. ¡°Sadie, we¡¯re leaving Fort Wayne now. Are you really okay?¡± It was a question thrown, wondering if Sadie might have any regrets. But even with a sad expression, Sadie firmly nodded her head. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m okay.¡± ¡°...Alright then. Let¡¯s depart immediately.¡± Sadie¡¯s determination seemed firm. Aiden nodded and started the vehicle. Up until then, gunfire hadn¡¯t ceased within Fort Wayne¡¯s walls. It meant that fierce battles were still ongoing inside. ¡°What will happen to that place now?¡± Arian asked, inquiring about the future of Fort Wayne, now that its walls had crumbled. Sadie, too, seemed subtly concerned about Aiden¡¯s response, showing worry for the friends they left behind. Aiden replied calmly: ¡°The sun has already risen, morning has come. The chaos will soon be settled. Besides, the collapse of the 62nd Division won¡¯t happen because of this.¡± While the clean-up operation ended in failure, the 62nd Division undoubtedly suffered significant losses. However, these losses were limited to the northern sector. In simple terms, only a quarter of the garrison suffered damage, and there were still many survivors. The organization itself wasn¡¯t at the risk of disbanding. Moreover, despite the failure of the clean-up operation, they achieved significant results by hunting down a large number of zombies in the urban area and the northern part of Fort Wayne. For them, it was removing the most significant threat nearby. Unless there were other unforeseen factors, the 62nd Division would remain robust in that area. ¡°So, there¡¯s no need to worry too much.¡± Aiden consoled them, pressing the accelerator. Vroom! The black van carrying Aiden¡¯s group traveled down a narrow road. Watching the walls of Fort Wayne grow more distant, Arian spoke. ¡°But... do we have a destination?¡± Until just yesterday, they intended to stay in Fort Wayne for a while. Leaving Fort Wayne so abruptly raised concerns about whether they had properly decided on a new destination. To this, Aiden lightly nodded. ¡°Of course.¡± He wasn¡¯t a man who stuck to a single plan. Even in Fort Wayne, he continued to gather information about surrounding cities. If things went awry, he had already thought about where to go first. ¡°For now, let¡¯s head to Indianapolis.¡± Indianapolis was the capital of Indiana, located about 200 km southwest of Fort Wayne. Up until three years ago, when the world was still intact, it was a metropolis with more than three times the population of Fort Wayne. Arian, who clung to that new destination, shook her head. Whether she wanted a change of mood or not, she continued with her questions. ¡°But... what kind of place is it? Are there bigger gangs there than here?¡± Considering its size, she might have thought there would be a much larger group of survivors than in Fort Wayne. However, Arian¡¯s thoughts were ultimately incorrect. ¡°In Indianapolis, only a few camps are established around the city. Besides that, there aren¡¯t any noteworthy groups.¡± ¡°Camps?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Indianapolis is... quite a peculiar city.¡± After the appearance of zombies, it was one of the cities that didn¡¯t follow the evacuation order issued by the central government. Instead of abandoning everything and evacuating westward, as most other cities did, the citizens of that city chose to completely seal off their city, gather people and resources, and endure. ¡°But in the end, that attempt failed. The zombie virus couldn¡¯t be stopped by a blockade.¡± Aiden said bitterly. At that time, there was no knowledge about this new epidemic. It was an inevitable mistake, as even Aiden, who studied medicine, couldn¡¯t comprehend this virus. Firstly, the zombie virus wasn¡¯t a single virus. It consisted of two viruses named Alpha and Beta, coexisting. Regardless of being infected with either, the person would turn into a zombie and, after becoming a zombie, produce both viruses. The Alpha virus was the most common and well-known virus found abundantly in the bodily fluids of zombies. Once injected into the body, becoming a zombie is unavoidable, and no exceptions have been discovered so far. However, during the early stages of the zombie crisis, the Beta virus was the issue. The infectivity of this Beta virus, transmitted through the air, surpassed any other pathogen. Even a slight breeze could spread it up to several hundred meters from the infected individual. Moreover, with an incubation period lasting around three months, it was an initially unnoticed virus. The somewhat fortunate aspect was that due to its structure being similar to the common cold virus, over half of the population already had immunity. So, the infection rate was around 20%. However, inversely, this meant that one out of every five people at that time became a zombie without even knowing it, just by hiding in their homes. ¡°Then what happened to the cities that were under lockdown back then?¡± ¡°They¡¯ve all been devastated from the inside. The citizens have turned into zombies, and they are still trapped within the barricades. There are said to be over several tens of thousands of zombies just inside Indianapolis.¡± Several tens of thousands. To those who had risked their lives to fight a few thousand zombies, this number was unimaginable. Arian smirked at this. ¡°Why would you go to such a dangerous place, then?¡± ¡°That¡¯s because there¡¯s more than just zombies inside those barricades.¡± The immensely dangerous metropolis also held a massive treasure ¨C abundant resources. Before deciding on the blockade, Indianapolis had already stored a substantial amount of resources that citizens could sustain themselves with for an extended period. But they never got the chance to use those resources; the zombie crisis swept them away. So, the amount of resources hidden in the city surpassed any other city in the Northeast or Midwest. ¡°Is that information trustworthy?¡± Arian expressed skepticism, treating it like a rumor of a probable treasure chest in a dangerous dungeon. However, it wasn¡¯t just a mere rumor. ¡°Of course. The evidence is the existence of camps around the city.¡± Upon hearing about the resources in Indianapolis, wanderers flocked from all around. For a while, they risked their lives entering Indianapolis, and although some didn¡¯t return, the rest successfully discovered the abundant resources and managed to bring them out of the city. That was the beginning of the camps now in Indianapolis. The large city was like a treasure trove filled with dangerous zombies. Naturally, hungry wanderers wouldn¡¯t miss such an opportunity. The camps became a hub for accommodating such wanderers and functioning as a trading post for exchanging resources found within the city. So, the existence of the camps itself proved the presence of abundant resources in Indianapolis. ¡°Then... are you also planning to enter the city?¡± Aiden shook his head in response to Arian¡¯s question. ¡°No, that¡¯s too risky. We¡¯ll only stop by the camp.¡± ¡°Why bother going to the camp then?¡± ¡°Of course, to replenish supplies.¡± During the nearly three weeks spent in Fort Wayne, Aiden and his group had consumed a significant amount of resources, including gasoline and food. Most of these resources were replenished through the mission payment they received in Fort Wayne and restocked at the trading area there. However, the items that weren¡¯t sold in the trading area were already running out, especially urgent were weapons, including ammunition. These two types of resources were crucial not only during resolving missions but also for strategic use. Tonight alone, they had consumed a considerable amount, and there was no immediate way to replenish it. Additionally, items like batteries, which could be strategically useful, were also in short supply. Therefore, Aiden planned to procure these supplies at the camp. ¡°Furthermore, if you¡¯re lucky, you can acquire rare items that are hard to find elsewhere. So, I decided it¡¯s best to replenish resources and information there before moving on to the next city.¡± Arian silently nodded in agreement with Aiden¡¯s words. If that was the case, she had no reason to oppose. ¡°How long will it take to get there?¡± ¡°About a day... no, it will take two days.¡± Considering the distance of 200km, taking into account the risks and variables, even with a vehicle, it was quite a distance to cover in a single day. However, the roads in the vicinity had been maintained once by the military in Fort Wayne. So, if Aiden decided, he could easily make the journey within a day. ¡°...Rest up, both of you. You probably didn¡¯t get much sleep last night.¡± Aiden didn¡¯t insist on pushing forward, considering they might not have rested well the previous night. ¡°Fine... Let¡¯s close our eyes, Sadie.¡± In response to Aiden¡¯s words, Arian sighed and replied. And Sadie, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, nodded without hesitation. Although Arian had recovered somewhat, Sadie still seemed visibly fatigued. Spending a whole night on edge was not an easy task for a young child. So, Sadie leaned her tired head against Arian. ¡°...¡± Aiden glanced at the back seat, observing the scene before focusing on driving. Hoping they wouldn¡¯t wake up. For a while, the vehicle moved along the road without any issues. However, the once well-maintained road deteriorated as they distanced themselves from Fort Wayne. Aiden carefully drove, paying attention to the broken road to ensure Sadie stayed undisturbed. After several hours, they were near a small town called Kokomo. Considering the distance between Fort Wayne and Indianapolis, they were halfway. ¡°...It¡¯s quiet.¡± Aiden muttered to himself. What stretched on both sides of the road were neglected cornfields. In the cornfields left unattended for over three years, tall weeds grew instead of corn. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And from somewhere in those fields. Eeeek! Suddenly, an unidentified cry echoed. A strange noise that seemed like a chaotic mix of various animal sounds. Aiden, with a furrowed brow, slowly parked the vehicle. Unfortunately, due to the tall weeds that grew up to an adult¡¯s waist, the source of the noise couldn¡¯t be seen. ¡°...What¡¯s that sound?¡± Arian, who had been closing her eyes for a moment, also asked with a puzzled expression. But even Aiden had never heard this sound before. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Doesn¡¯t seem like a human sound. I¡¯ll go check it out.¡± Aiden turned off the engine and picked up his rifle. Meanwhile, Arian, who had carefully awakened the sleeping Sadie, pointed towards a certain thicket. ¡°Be careful. Something is coming this way. Seems like a zombie.¡± Just as Sadie, rubbing her sleepy eyes, got up. Part of the high weeds covering the cornfield shook. Aiden¡¯s gun immediately pointed in that direction. A moment later, emerging from that thicket was a deer. ¡°A deer?¡± But the condition of the deer was strange. Continuously making strange noises from its mouth. And, despite one side of its hide being torn, revealing the bone, it moved very roughly. ¡°No, is that... a Beast?¡± Aiden, who quickly identified the deer, increased his tension. Deer turning into zombies was surprisingly not uncommon. Deer, being common wildlife, often had a habit of eating corpses even if they were herbivores, contrary to common knowledge. So, inadvertently consuming zombie remains and getting infected was not unheard of. The zombie deer noticed Aiden and, making squeaking sounds, rushed towards him. As if it intended to knock Aiden down with its head. ¡°Tsk...!¡± Aiden didn¡¯t hesitate and fired the gun. Three bullets pierced through the deer¡¯s head and passed through. As a result, the deer lost its momentum and collapsed. However, because Aiden was right behind the vehicle when the deer fell, and they were already quite close, it collided with the car. Thud! The impact shook the vehicle. Arian frowned, and Sadie let out a small scream. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Aiden asked, and both Arian and Sadie nodded their heads. Aside from being slightly startled, there didn¡¯t seem to be any major problems. So, Aiden went on to carefully remove the fallen deer. Dry and cracked skin, broken antlers, muscles protruding through a pierced hide. There was nothing particularly unusual. All traces of a typical Beast. However, on the deer¡¯s leg, Aiden found something strange. It was a number. Someone had carved the number 6 near the deer¡¯s thigh with a knife. ¡°This is...¡± It was a suspicious trace. It seemed someone intentionally engraved it before it turned into a zombie. However, since that alone couldn¡¯t deduce anything, Aiden first cleared the deer and checked the condition of the vehicle. Fortunately, the body of the vehicle seemed fine, just a bit dirtier. Unfortunately, one of the tires was damaged. Perhaps the broken antlers of the deer brushed against the surface. ¡°...This is troublesome.¡± Aiden frowned as he looked at the damaged tire. Luckily, he had tools to replace the tire. But the problem was he couldn¡¯t find a replacement tire here. The best option would be to take a relatively intact wheel from an abandoned vehicle and replace it entirely. However, in the middle of this deserted road, there was no sign of a discarded car. ¡°...¡± Aiden took a moment to feel the atmosphere around. He wondered if someone, upon hearing the gunshots earlier, might approach ¨C wanderers or zombies. But there was no subsequent sign of any living presence. Aiden got back into the car. Considering the situation with the tire, it was better to quickly change it. But in any case, he couldn¡¯t obtain a new tire from here. More importantly, since he had already made gunshots, staying here for a long time was a risky move. So, Aiden cautiously moved the squeaky vehicle and headed towards the downtown of the nearest small town, Kokomo. Chapter 55 ¡°Hmm...¡± Entering a residential area of Kokomo, Aiden looked around the neglected streets with a sigh. Broken asphalt, overgrown gardens with weeds, and shabby houses. At first glance, it didn¡¯t look much different from the residential areas of any other small town. ¡°I don¡¯t see many cars around.¡± In such a residential area, Arian remarked. She was well aware of the fact that they needed replacement parts for the damaged tire. However, there were hardly any abandoned vehicles in the vacant residential area. The few discarded vehicles that could be seen were so old and rusty that they seemed almost useless. But Aiden wasn¡¯t particularly worried. If it was abandoned vehicles they were looking for, there should be plenty in the city. ¡°You¡¯ll find vehicles further in. But... there¡¯s another issue.¡± ¡°Problem?¡± ¡°There are traces of someone passing by.¡± What Aiden discovered were marks on the road indicating the passage of a vehicle. Imprints on some of the garbage strewn across the road. And beneath them were very faint tire tracks. But Arian chuckled at Aiden¡¯s words. ¡°You always manage to find such things. I wouldn¡¯t have noticed even if I looked.¡± ¡°More importantly, is there anything around here?¡± Arian gazed silently at the residential area. Within her perception range, there were neither humans nor zombies. ¡°There¡¯s nothing visible right away. Are there survivor groups in this city, perhaps?¡± ¡°I doubt it. It doesn¡¯t seem likely. Probably just people who stayed here temporarily, like us.¡± ¡°Really? Anyway, if there¡¯s anything around, I¡¯ll let you know right away.¡± Aiden nodded in response to Arian¡¯s words, and the vehicle continued towards the center of Kokomo. ¡°That¡¯s...¡± Aiden spotted something and squinted his eyes. Where his gaze went, there was a large open space, and several vehicles were neatly lined up on it. It was a parking lot. Behind it, visible in the distance, was a three-story apartment. Although not very large in terms of the number of floors, the building¡¯s structure, shaped and connected like a school. ¡°Let¡¯s check there first.¡± The parking lot seemed to have a considerable number of abandoned vehicles at first glance. Aiden, who wouldn¡¯t miss this, carefully towed a vehicle with a damaged tire into the parking lot. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just as he was about to enter the parking lot, Arian pointed to the front. ¡°Aiden, look over there.¡± What Arian pointed to was the entrance of the apartment. A single entrance, located right in the center of the apartment. Around it, makeshift barricades, such as steel plates, were densely arranged, protecting the entrance. This place wasn¡¯t just an abandoned apartment. ¡°Could it be...¡± As Aiden felt a sense of crisis and was about to stop, Arian continued speaking. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. There¡¯s no one inside.¡± ¡°Is it empty?¡± ¡°Yeah. Judging by the traces of people you mentioned earlier, maybe those who used this place as a hideout have left.¡± It was a story that could very well be true. It was common for wanderers or gangs exploring to create temporary shelters and operate from there. ¡°...¡± Aiden calmly surveyed the surroundings. Entering someone else¡¯s hideout without permission was, to put it bluntly, a risky move. The owner of the hideout might return at any time. And if they happened to encounter each other, a fight would inevitably break out. However, in a situation like now, where they were looking for supplies, it was a different story. Those who used this place as a hideout might have left and abandoned what they were looking for. ¡°Wanna go in?¡± ¡°Seems like we should.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t be for long, right?¡± Arian asked with a sharp gaze. But Aiden had no intention of staying here for long. ¡°I¡¯ll just check for the tire and leave. Any problem?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing.¡± Although Arian seemed to be hiding something, Aiden pretended not to notice and nodded. There must be a reason for her sudden concern. Soon, Aiden parked the car in one corner of the parking lot. He then took tools like a wrench from the car and began to look around the parking lot. ¡°...¡± There were quite a variety of vehicles in the parking lot. Among them, Aiden found a tire that matched his vehicle¡¯s specifications sooner than expected. The fact that there was an identical model to the vehicle he was driving was the reason. ¡°Hmm...¡± Aiden approached the vehicle. Finding the same make of the vehicle abandoned was considered fortunate, but it couldn¡¯t be purely attributed to luck. The reason Aiden had prepared this black van in the first place was that it was one of the most common vehicle models nationwide in the United States. In other words, the selection of the vehicle was made with the supply of parts in mind. Unfortunately, all four tires on the found vehicle were not in great condition. They could be used immediately, but upon reaching their next destination, the tires would need to be replaced right away. ¡°...Can¡¯t be helped.¡± Still, it was better than driving with a completely damaged tire, so Aiden skillfully began dismantling the vehicle¡¯s tires. Arian approached Aiden. She, with a subtle stiff expression, seemed to have something to say. ¡°Why is that?¡± ¡°That apartment over there.¡± Arian pointed directly at the large apartment in front. ¡°I smell blood from there. It¡¯s intense.¡± ¡°Blood smell...?¡± ¡°And the smell of zombies. Of course, it doesn¡¯t mean there are living ones. It just smells like that.¡± Aiden raised an eyebrow. The combined scent of a significant amount of blood and zombies inside a hiding place. The immediate conclusion was that those staying there had been attacked by zombies. However, even so, the exterior of the apartment looked too intact. There were only signs of the passage of time, neglect, and not much damage, even if a fierce battle had taken place. Aiden observed the apartment for a moment and then turned his head to Arian. ¡°Did you come to tell me that?¡± ¡°Yeah. I didn¡¯t want to unnecessarily worry Sadie today.¡± So, she didn¡¯t speak when they entered here, and now she was telling him. Aiden nodded. It was a wise decision. ¡°How¡¯s Sadie doing?¡± ¡°She¡¯s sleeping.¡± ¡°Hmm...¡± Aiden fell into thought for a moment. If that place had really been attacked by zombies, there was time to explore the inside. Even if the owner of the hiding place was alive, they probably wouldn¡¯t come back. Moreover, if it was a hiding place where a battle with zombies had occurred, Aiden might find the ammunition he needed. As Aiden was contemplating whether he should be a bit more ambitious here. ¡°Do you want to check inside?¡± Whether she was trying to see through Aiden¡¯s thoughts or not, Arian asked. Aiden nodded. ¡°I think it¡¯s worth it.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Aiden glanced at the van where Sadie was supposed to be sleeping. If Arian explored the apartment while Aiden looked at the tires, Sadie would inevitably be left alone. But the distance between the apartment and the vehicle was only about 10 meters. It wasn¡¯t much of a distance as long as Arian was there. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s take a look after changing the tires.¡± It took about 15 minutes for Aiden to change the tires safely. During that time, Sadie, who had been sleeping in the car, didn¡¯t easily wake up even with the shaking of the car. Aiden took care not to disturb her, but more than that, Sadie herself was probably too exhausted. ¡°Now let¡¯s go.¡± After finishing the vehicle maintenance, Aiden immediately entered the apartment. He approached the entrance surrounded by makeshift barricades. The floor was covered with white dust, and judging by the lack of footprints, it seemed to have been abandoned for a while. Aiden shone a light towards the dark interior untouched by sunlight. Looking inside, Aiden suddenly furrowed his brows. ¡°This is...¡± Arian looked over, wondering what it could be. But nothing conspicuous caught the eye. All that could be seen were empty gray walls and strange symbols engraved on them. A symbol formed by a diagonal line drawn from the top left to the bottom right on a common cross. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a symbol of fanatics. This is bad.¡± To Aiden, fanatics were a group with whom dealing was more than unwise. No trade, no proper communication with these fanatics. They were even more dangerous than zombies in this world. ¡°What exactly are these fanatics?¡± Arian asked. Arian had only heard from Aiden that they were not in their right minds. Burning down a village and conducting purification work. Doing crazy things like sacrificing a living person to zombies. But Aiden didn¡¯t fully understand them either. ¡°I don¡¯t know well. However, they call themselves the Light. Claim to serve eternal light.¡± ¡°Light?¡± ¡°That¡¯s just what their leader blabbers about. Probably inspired by the zombies that start rampaging at night.¡± ¡°So, the leader of that cult is also insane?¡± ¡°Hmm. But whether they¡¯re insane or not, it doesn¡¯t make much difference. The leader is already dead.¡± The fanatics referred to their religion as EL (Eternal Light). The origin of EL was speculated to be somewhere in the southern regions of the United States, but Aiden didn¡¯t know the exact details. Initially, EL wasn¡¯t the fanatic group it is today. In the beginning, they were like any other cult, venerating a leader and peddling fantasies of mediocre immortality. However, they began to deviate significantly after the death of their leader. ¡°Rumor has it that the leader turned into a mutant, became a zombie, and that¡¯s why these EL folks are particularly obsessed with zombies. Some turn into zombies themselves, while others shoot bullets coated with zombie fluids.¡± ¡°And those kinds of people were here?¡± ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be strange if they were. I didn¡¯t know, but apparently, they had a significant presence in this area.¡± The fanatics were known to be more active around Indianapolis, Indiana, than the eastern region where Pittsburgh was located. Due to their considerable size, they posed a thorny problem for the military forces in Fort Wayne. ¡°However, a few months ago, they occupied Columbus. So, it was relatively quiet for a while.¡± ¡°For a while means... they¡¯ve reappeared?¡± Aiden nodded. According to the information he acquired in Fort Wayne, the fanatics, after occupying Columbus, abandoned the city and scattered to various other cities. ¡°So, they took a city by force and just abandoned it? Why?¡± ¡°They¡¯re incomprehensible. There¡¯s no point in thinking too deeply about them.¡± This was the dilemma Aiden faced when dealing with the fanatics. Their actions were beyond common logic, making it impossible to analyze their intentions based on their behavior. ¡°Moreover, just before we arrived at the 62nd Division, fanatics were spotted north of Fort Wayne.¡± Upon learning this, the 62nd Division, realizing that fanatics were nearby, immediately took action. They dispatched reconnaissance forces to nearby towns. One of those forces was none other than the troops led by Nathan, whom Aiden had encountered in Lima. Arian, having roughly understood the situation, looked again at the symbol drawn on the wall, a crossed-out cross. ¡°So, is this...?¡± ¡°It¡¯s probably a hiding place the fanatics who spread to the small towns used.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Let¡¯s keep going. We might be able to gather information about the fanatics.¡± Since fanatics were undoubtedly a significant threat to Aiden and his group, any information about them was worth obtaining. Understanding this, Arian nodded, and together with Aiden, she walked along the apartment corridor. The apartment had a central corridor with doors on either side. The central corridor was filled with peculiar structures, mostly crosses made of all sorts of debris like grass or branches. But that alone wouldn¡¯t be considered strange. Above such symbols, there were clear traces of dried blood, and there were even objects with human skulls hanging above them. ¡°What kind of creatures are these? They¡¯ve done all sorts of weird things.¡± Seeing that, Arian let out a bitter smile. All the apartment doors were wide open. Whether it was the doing of the fanatics who stayed here or the fact that all the locks were broken, Aiden couldn¡¯t tell. So, Aiden started exploring the apartment slowly, beginning with the first room. ¡°Hmm...¡± However, after going through several rooms on the first floor, there was no significant discovery. They found only traces of a room used as a bedroom, with remnants of people and garbage left behind. The rest of the rooms were no different from abandoned apartments filled with dust. Aiden scratched his head. He couldn¡¯t think of this place as having been attacked by zombies, as there was no evidence to support that. ¡°No apparent issues here.¡± ¡°Well, the smell of blood is coming from upstairs, so.¡± Was that so? Having finished the exploration of the first floor, Aiden climbed to the second floor upon hearing Arian¡¯s words. And there. ¡°This is...¡± Aiden and Arian simultaneously frowned. The entire corridor was filled with bloodstains. However, even with so much blood spilled, not a single corpse was in sight. ¡°This is strange.¡± Arian nodded at Aiden¡¯s words. So much blood had flowed, yet not even a single bone fragment was visible. Perceiving this as suspicious, they immediately began searching other rooms on the second floor. Soon, they understood the reason. Chapter 56 ¡°...¡± Aiden momentarily lost his words at the gruesome scene inside the apartment. In the center of the room, there was a wide table. It was a wooden table much more severely dirtied than the corridor he had thought was drenched in blood. The table was covered in knife marks. It appeared as if something had been cut on it. In the corners of the room, there were piles of bones. Next to the table were large knives and saw blades, still coated with decaying flesh. In a scene that could have come out of a cheap horror movie, Arian¡¯s brow furrowed naturally. ¡°These guys... they¡¯re not really eating people, are they?¡± Arian spoke as if in bewilderment. After all, the thought of casually mentioning cannibals had not become a reality. But rather than reaching a conclusion, Aiden first examined the bones in the corner. Once a doctor, he could roughly distinguish whether the bones were human just by looking at their appearance. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And when Aiden, with his eyes accustomed to such sights, looked at them, most of the bones piled up here were undoubtedly human. His hand holding the light trembled slightly. ¡°What kind of place is this?¡± Arian asked. But even Aiden couldn¡¯t answer that question. Simply put, he hadn¡¯t heard that the fanatics would go this far. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Let¡¯s explore the remaining floors. It¡¯s quicker to find other clues.¡± ¡°Is there more to see here?¡± As if she didn¡¯t want to stay here any longer due to the discomfort, Arian said. But for Aiden, it was the opposite. This gruesome scene was a reason to scrutinize this horrible place more accurately. ¡°The more dangerous they are, the more we need information about them. If you think about understanding the behavior of mutant zombies, it¡¯s not much different.¡± ¡°Well... that¡¯s true.¡± Arian sighed. It wasn¡¯t a wrong statement. So Arian quickly accepted Aiden¡¯s words, and together they went up to the third floor. At first glance, the scenery on the third floor seemed similar to the second floor. Tables and weapons inside the rooms were the same as on the second floor. However, what was dismantled on the third floor was not human. ¡°This... they¡¯re all zombies.¡± Pointing at a large container filled with decaying flesh, Arian said. Aiden pushed Arian aside and kicked it over. As a result, disgusting substances like decaying flesh, bones, and skin mixed messily spilled onto the floor. Aiden examined it closely. Flesh alone didn¡¯t reveal anything. But bones were different. The shape of those bones wasn¡¯t human. So... animal bones? But Aiden couldn¡¯t tell exactly which animal. While searching for clues, something caught Aiden¡¯s eye. It was rotted leather. He didn¡¯t know what animal¡¯s skin it was, of course. However, on that skin, the number 3 was carved with a knife. ¡°...¡± Aiden had definitely seen such a mark before. Before entering this small town. It was still on the zombie-fied deer that had a flat tire. Did that Beast have some connection to the fanatics here? ¡°Aiden, take a look at this.¡± At that moment, Arian pointed to one side of the wall. There was a map. Either they had torn off part of a large map or it was a small section of a bigger one. On it, only Indiana, where Indianapolis and Fort Wayne were located, and Ohio, where Columbus was, were marked. ¡°Hmm...¡± Several numbers were written on the map. 10 for some small towns, including Lima. And 300 for Columbus and Fort Wayne. Finally, 10,000 for Indianapolis. ¡°What does this mean?¡± ¡°Well... I have no idea.¡± Aiden shook his head at Arian¡¯s words. Although it seemed like the bigger the city, the bigger the number. But for some reason, Indianapolis had an unusually high number. In the end, they couldn¡¯t deduce anything from just these numbers. ¡°In any case, let¡¯s leave this for now and look for something else.¡± So Aiden and Arian thoroughly searched the apartment. However, even after exploring the entire third floor, there were only disgusting pieces of corpses everywhere. They didn¡¯t find any significant information. ¡°In the end... we didn¡¯t find much.¡± Arian said as if expressing disappointment. She was right. The fanatics had stayed here, and it was evident that they had dismembered both human and zombie bodies. However, the ultimate purpose and what they intended to do remained entirely unknown. But Aiden knew one thing. He was grasping the most crucial fact. ¡°Still, there¡¯s something to gain. The fact that they did something or intended to do something in Indianapolis is certain.¡± ¡°How do you know that? Is it from that map earlier?¡± Aiden nodded. The meaning of those numbers was still unclear. But the fact that numbers were written for Indianapolis itself was a clue. ¡°All the cities with numbers witnessed the presence of fanatics. So, Indianapolis should be no different.¡± ¡°Okay, I get what you mean.¡± Arian agreed. Since fanatics appeared in all cities marked with numbers, it meant the same for Indianapolis. ¡°But then, what do we do? We were heading to a camp near Indianapolis.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the problem. Going to another city now is difficult.¡± Aiden muttered lowly. Now that they knew the fanatics were targeting Indianapolis, the best course of action was to avoid the area altogether. However, Aiden¡¯s group needed to fix the vehicle immediately. The camp near Indianapolis, close to the northern part of Morse Reservoir, was now less than 50 km away. Even if the road was a mess, it would still take at least three hours to arrive. The vehicle¡¯s tires might not endure any longer. So, Aiden made a prompt decision. ¡°For now, it¡¯s better to go to the camp and assess the situation. It might be risky, but there¡¯s no other choice for now.¡± ¡°...Alright.¡± In response to his words, Arian replied. While she wasn¡¯t without concern, if Aiden made the decision, it was undoubtedly the best option. Thus, they quickly left the apartment and got into the vehicle. Sadie continued to sleep soundly during all this. There was no need to wake her up, so the vehicle left Kokomo quietly, heading towards Morse Reservoir. * * * The camp Aiden was heading towards was in a small forest at the western end of Morse Reservoir. It was an area that had been used as family-sized campgrounds even before zombies appeared. Now, real forts made of wood and sheet metal were established there. Aiden chose this place among several camps in the area based on information gathered from Fort Wayne. Many junk shops that had interactions with various camps in this area near Indianapolis and Fort Wayne agreed that this Morse Reservoir camp was the most reliable. The prices for buying and selling as a trading post were reasonable, and the gang that owned the camp was not overly oppressive. So, Aiden chose the Morse Camp as their destination. As a result, Aiden and his group had just arrived in front of the camp. However. ¡°This is...¡± An unusual scene unfolded before Aiden¡¯s eyes. As the road leading into the forest ended, makeshift barriers and watchtowers made of logs came into view. However, there was no one standing on the walls or towers. Moreover, the large door leading into the barricade was wide open, clearly indicating that something had happened. ¡°Perhaps they were attacked.¡± Aiden quickly found traces of battle carved all over the walls. There wasn¡¯t a single spot on the wooden outer walls without bullet holes, and the shattered door clearly showed signs of explosive residue. It was evidence of a fight between humans, not zombies. Fortunately, the battle itself seemed to have ended a long time ago. There were no gunshots or any signs of life inside, and Arian detected no presence. So, Aiden decided to explore the interior himself, gearing up for any potential threat. ¡°Get ready, both of you. We need to check inside.¡± ¡°Is Sadie going in too?¡± ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s not necessarily safe in the car, so it¡¯s better if we all move together.¡± Arian nodded, and soon the three of them got out of the car and entered the camp. ¡°Hmm...¡± The first things that caught their eyes were the roughly made cabins. There were only five visible cabins. However, two of them were completely destroyed, and one was only partially standing, unable to serve its intended purpose. Only two cabins retained their shape, but there were no people inside. As they passed the cabins, signs of tents and other makeshift structures appeared. ¡°It¡¯s quite extensive, isn¡¯t it?¡± Arian remarked, finding the area larger than expected. But Aiden had anticipated this. ¡°It was a place that used to accommodate over 50 gang members. Considering the wanderers who visited here, it might have housed more than a hundred people.¡± Aiden started inspecting inside one of the cabins, hoping to find some clues. Soon, Sadie retrieved something from a corner. ¡°I found this.¡± In her hand were a can of food and a small box of bullets. When Aiden asked where she found it, the answer came that she found it in a drawer. ¡°Good job. I¡¯ll keep these bullets.¡± When Aiden praised her like that, Sadie smiled faintly. Aiden looked at the bullets she had found. Just ordinary 5.56mm, a 30-round box of bullets. It wasn¡¯t a large quantity, but it was a very welcome sight since their bullet stock was running low. Meanwhile, the supplies Sadie found were more than just their intrinsic value. Along with the empty cabins, they provided Aiden with some clues. Leaving all the supplies in such an obvious place, even a child could find them. It meant that the attackers¡¯ goal was not the supplies. ¡°Could this be the work of the fanatics?¡± Arian, who was exploring the interior, asked. Aiden nodded. He was coming to the same conclusion. Although it was evident that there had been a battle here, there was no sign of human bodies anywhere. They left the supplies and took the bodies. It wasn¡¯t the behavior of a typical gang. Moreover, considering what they saw in Kokomo¡¯s apartment, it seemed evident that the fanatics were involved. ¡°Wait, there.¡± At that moment, Arian pointed towards the interior of the camp. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°There, underneath, there¡¯s someone.¡± What Arian pointed at was one of the dilapidated cabins. Could someone be lying beneath the debris? Aiden, contemplating for a moment, soon spoke. ¡°It¡¯s better to check.¡± ¡°What if it¡¯s the fanatics?¡± ¡°Well, it can¡¯t be helped. Isn¡¯t it better to know?¡± For Aiden, who needed information, it didn¡¯t matter which side they belonged to. If they were survivors from this camp, he could hear about what happened here. And even if they were part of the fanatics, they could still extract the same information. Arian followed Aiden. Sadie stayed behind, asking only to search the undamaged cabins for safety. Thud! The debris of the collapsed cabin was cleared away. There were also logs too heavy for ordinary people to deal with. However, in the hands of a zombie unfamiliar with fatigue and a vampire with mysterious abilities, they were effortlessly moved, almost as if by magic. But until the floor of the cabin was exposed, there was still no sign of a person. ¡°Did we get the location wrong?¡± Aiden asked. Arian shook her head. She pointed her finger downwards again. ¡°Further down.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case...¡± If it was more below the floor, there was nothing but a basement. So, Aiden inspected whether there was an entrance on the floor. He quickly found a hidden trapdoor under the carpet. Thunk! But the entrance was locked. As a last resort, Aiden knocked on the entrance, attempting to communicate with the person inside, but there was no response. ¡°We have to break it.¡± Aiden said. He didn¡¯t know the situation inside the basement, but the entrance was a trapdoor that opened upward. So, whoever was inside must have been trapped without the entrance being able to open due to the cabin debris. Thus, when Aiden suggested breaking it, it meant that the lack of response was more likely due to the person being trapped and unable to communicate. ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± Arian held the machete she had brought. The machete, painted in a bloody red color, easily cut through the latch of the trapdoor leading down. The sight of steel bending steel was an unbelievable spectacle. But even now, Aiden, who had become accustomed to such things, focused his attention on shining a light into the dark basement. Inside, a woman was lying. Chapter 57 Arian moved the woman who had collapsed in the basement to the surface. She appeared to be in her thirties, an African-American woman. Aiden observed her for a moment. ¡°...What do you think?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like a fanatic. Their appearance is distinctive.¡± The fanatics who believed in EL always drew their emblem, a crossed line, somewhere visible on their clothes or skin. But this woman had no such markings. She seemed to be either a member of the gang that operated this camp or a wandering traveler who had stopped by. ¡°Besides that, how¡¯s her condition?¡± ¡°She shows symptoms of dehydration. Looks like she was trapped in the basement for several days. Should I fetch water from the car?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get it!¡± Upon Aiden¡¯s words, Sadie quickly retrieved a bottle of water from the minivan. She even brought a black helmet without being asked. ¡°I almost forgot about this.¡± Aiden put on the helmet that Sadie had brought. It was just in case the woman woke up. ¡°Be careful not to let the water go into her windpipe. Keep her conscious. Let her drink by herself.¡± And he handed the water to Arian. Since feeding water and waking up someone were both inappropriate tasks for a zombie, Arian nodded silently. ¡°Wake up!¡± Arian woke the woman and slowly poured a little water into her mouth. Upon doing so, the woman made faint groans but managed to swallow it. After a short while. ¡°Ah...!¡± The woman¡¯s eyes opened. As soon as she regained consciousness, she grabbed the water bottle next to her and gulped it down. It was only after drinking all the water that she finally looked around. ¡°Phew... Thank you. But who are you people?¡± Although the woman didn¡¯t show hostility, her eyes betrayed a reasonable caution. It was a normal and appropriate reaction. Upon this, Aiden calmly began to explain the circumstances that led them to this place. After exchanging stories for a while. ¡°So... Were you a member of the group that operated this camp?¡± ¡°Yes. My name is Emma Morris.¡± ¡°What on earth happened here?¡± Emma¡¯s expression distorted at Aiden¡¯s question. Anger and regret emanated from her voice. ¡°The fanatics... those bastards broke in. They blew up the door with a bomb, and they poured in like a flood.¡± ¡°When exactly did the attack happen? How many of them?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know when... I couldn¡¯t see anything in the dark basement. It¡¯s been about three days, I think.¡± Emma sighed, seemingly frustrated. Three days. Emma might have rounded down, but it was still a quite plausible figure. If Emma had been hiding in the basement without water for a much longer time, she wouldn¡¯t have been alive. ¡°And, their numbers were a bit over thirty, I guess. I didn¡¯t count, but.¡± ¡°Thirty?¡± The number was much lower than expected. To be frank, with this barricade, it wouldn¡¯t be difficult to fend off such a small group. When Aiden threw that doubt, Emma explained as if making an excuse. ¡°At that time, most of the camp members were outside. It was a surprise attack.¡± ¡°Outside? Why?¡± ¡°The fanatics attacked the camp, not for the first time.¡± There were five camps around Indianapolis. Hancock to the east, Hummel to the southwest, Whiteland to the south, and Geist to the northeast, in addition to the one where Emma operated. The first conflict with the fanatics occurred in the eastern Hancock camp. ¡°Were the camps friendly with each other?¡± ¡°Not particularly. We didn¡¯t fight because our powers were evenly matched. If there was a shortage, it was better to go into the city.¡± Aiden nodded, understanding what she meant. Thinking about it, the gangs he encountered in Pittsburgh were similar. In battles between gangs of similar sizes, risking all lives wasn¡¯t a choice. So, unless it was a desperate situation, they wouldn¡¯t make such a decision. ¡°Anyway, the fanatics didn¡¯t have a large number from the beginning. Occasionally, I saw fewer than ten guys entering the city. But one day, they suddenly brought a huge number from the east.¡± ¡°Numbers? How many?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know exactly. They say it¡¯s hundreds.¡± This time, the number was overwhelmingly large. Did the fanatics who had taken over Columbus gather again in Indianapolis? While Aiden was internally shocked by this revelation, Emma continued speaking. ¡°So, to stand against them, we decided to join forces between camps. The camp members weren¡¯t all in good shape, but still, they were better than those fanatics.¡± ¡°But... they took advantage of that opportunity.¡± ¡°Yes. We left only the minimum forces at the base, and most of the troops went to Hancock camp. The situation was that serious. But during that time, the fanatics attacked.¡± Emma sighed as she looked at their poorly collapsed base. The base had crumbled, and it had been three days. The fact that no one had returned until then was a clear sign. ¡°But seeing that the main force hasn¡¯t returned, it seems like things haven¡¯t worked out well on that side either.¡± ¡°...¡± Having roughly grasped the situation, Aiden fell into deep thought. Unfortunately, the fanatics¡¯ actions were even faster than Aiden had anticipated. They had only planned to replenish the necessary supplies and leave the camp, but they ended up destroying it. However, it had already happened, and there was no use blaming them. In this situation, repairing the vehicle seemed difficult. So... should they even consider abandoning the vehicle? In that moment of complexity in Aiden¡¯s mind, Emma threw a question at Aiden with a slightly different tone than before. ¡°But why did you come here?¡± ¡°To replenish supplies. Though it doesn¡¯t seem like a situation where we can do that.¡± Aiden¡¯s words made Emma look at him with a peculiar expression. ¡°If you need supplies, I can provide them.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like you have anything to offer.¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t come unprepared for a war. Naturally, most of the supplies were hidden separately.¡± Emma confidently stated. It didn¡¯t seem like mere boasting. Storing supplies before a big battle was something any organization would naturally do. But even so, verification was needed. ¡°Then show me the evidence.¡± ¡°What do you need?¡± There was no need to think about the most urgent items. Tires and ammunition. Upon hearing that, Emma opened her mouth with a slightly stiff expression. ¡°There¡¯s almost no ammunition. Most of it was taken by the main force, and what was left here was mostly used in the fight. You might find some left if you search nearby.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already found that.¡± ¡°But we have spare tires. We had several vehicles at the camp, so we kept them as spares.¡± Aiden asked Emma to show him the vehicle and then inquired if there were matching tires. Perhaps because it was a common model. Emma¡¯s face brightened. ¡°Of course. Wait a moment.¡± Having gone out to the back of the camp, Emma soon returned, rolling one tire. It was the model Aiden was looking for, and its condition was not bad. ¡°How about this?¡± Aiden looked in the direction Emma disappeared for a moment. Did she hide the supplies outside the camp? It was bold, but ultimately a wise move. Thanks to that, the resources held by the gang in the camp remained intact. ¡°So... why would you give this to me?¡± ¡°You look like a junk dealer. I wanted to entrust you with a request.¡± Aiden let out a short sigh at Emma¡¯s words. It was as expected, but what request could Aiden handle in this situation? ¡°It¡¯s not something like asking me to kill those hundreds of fanatics, is it?¡± ¡°I wish that were the case... but I¡¯m not stupid. What I want is the 30 who attacked here.¡± Emma¡¯s gaze swept over the ruined camp. She recalled the battle that had taken place here and spoke. ¡°About ten of them must have died fighting us, so there should be about twenty now. They took my colleagues with them, and they¡¯re still alive.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°So, I want at least to confirm the life and death of my friends. If possible... even rescue them.¡± That much was understandable. The only problem was that they didn¡¯t know the location of those people. ¡°Do you know their location?¡± ¡°They¡¯re in the middle school building across the reservoir. They should be there.¡± ¡°How can you be so sure?¡± ¡°One of my comrades who was being taken by them shouted that. He knew I was hiding in the basement. He must have heard it directly from the fanatics.¡± ¡°Well, I can¡¯t say it¡¯s reliable information.¡± Aiden pointed out, and Emma nodded honestly. Aiden asked the next question. ¡°Moreover, it hasn¡¯t been three days yet. There¡¯s a possibility they might have joined the main force.¡± S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°That¡¯s true. I know, it¡¯s a reckless request. If they¡¯re not there, I¡¯ll give up cleanly. So, please just check if they¡¯re still in the building.¡± If Aiden was willing to go this far, there was nothing more to say. Aiden calmly considered the risks of the request. The distance to the middle school building was about 5 km. It was a manageable distance to walk without using a vehicle. Checking the school building, and if there were no enemies, the mission would end there. However, if there were still around 20 fanatics, a confrontation would be unavoidable. Aiden had a record of fighting and winning against dozens of gang members. So, defeating the fanatics there wasn¡¯t an impossible task, especially considering Arian¡¯s power. But there was a concern. Regardless of them being fanatics, this involved killing people. Arian might not accept such a task. ¡°We need to discuss this among ourselves. Excuse us for a moment.¡± Aiden said this and led the group away from Emma. At a distance where Emma couldn¡¯t hear, Aiden looked at Arian. ¡°What do you think?¡± In reality, refusing the proposal was not something Aiden considered. Although it was regrettable to waste bullets during the battle, without the reward of tires, Aiden and his group would have to give up bullets and vehicles to leave this place. So, in a way, this request was equivalent to exchanging Aiden¡¯s ammunition and tires. Aiden pondered on this, even though he didn¡¯t want to give up on either side. ¡°What does it matter? Of course, we should save them. You saw what they did, didn¡¯t you?¡± In contrast to Aiden, Arian responded decisively. However, her reason was somewhat different from Aiden¡¯s. She seemed to be recalling the scene she witnessed in Kokomo¡¯s apartment, her expression twisting. Arian¡¯s answer itself was something Aiden had expected. Her sense of certainty was like the naturalness of the world three years ago, not now. But precisely because of that, Aiden asked again. Since the tasks to be done now might be somewhat contradictory to her way of thinking. ¡°Are you really okay with it?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Doing something that involves killing people.¡± At Aiden¡¯s words, Arian raised an eyebrow slightly. She seemed to be about to say something when she glanced at Sadie. Receiving Arian¡¯s gaze, Sadie tilted her head. ¡°By the way, what about Sadie?¡± Instead of answering, Arian changed the subject. She might not have wanted to say it in front of the child. It wasn¡¯t the wrong thing to say. Matching her intentions, Aiden decided to comply. ¡°Well. But no matter what, we can¡¯t take her with us.¡± In most cases, if it were just about going out to hunt zombies, Aiden would have taken Sadie along without hesitation. However, this time, the enemy was human. Aiden could fend off approaching zombies, but he couldn¡¯t stop bullets flying blindly. Taking Sadie into such a battlefield was excessively risky. ¡°Maybe we should utilize the basement where Emma was.¡± ¡°Leave her here? What if someone comes?¡± ¡°Discovering the basement won¡¯t be easy for anyone, no matter who comes. We have no choice. It¡¯s the safest option.¡± Upon hearing this, Arian frowned as if she didn¡¯t like the idea. Arian felt uncomfortable with Aiden¡¯s proposal, as secure as it might be, it was also potentially dangerous. Even though the likelihood of someone coming and discovering the hidden basement was low, it wasn¡¯t non-existent. That possibility made Arian uneasy. However, since there wasn¡¯t an alternative, she sighed. ¡°Do you agree?¡± ¡°...Yes.¡± Normally, he would have sought Sadie¡¯s agreement as well. He made a conscious effort to treat her as an equal companion. However, this mission was different. Accepting the mission meant taking responsibility for all actions related to it, even if it involved killing. Aiden didn¡¯t want to burden Sadie with any responsibility related to a mission involving murder. ¡°So, Sadie, you stay here with Emma.¡± So, instead of proposing to Sadie, Aiden gave her a command. Perhaps someday, Sadie would have to face such situations, but Aiden believed that it wasn¡¯t the right time. ¡°...Yes.¡± Whether she understood the implications or not, Sadie followed Aiden¡¯s words with a slightly dubious look. The direction of the request had been decided. Aiden, along with Arian, headed towards the middle school where the fanatics were said to be. Chapter 58 Walking along small bridges and the lakeside, Aiden and Arian arrived at a small residential area by the lakeside. The dazzling afternoon sun illuminated the fields, houses with moss starting to grow from the ground, and the calm lake. The surroundings were quite beautiful. While Arian gazed at the scenery of the lakeside village, she turned her head in the direction of their destination. ¡°...Is it over there?¡± She pointed through the trees that had grown green. The distance to the school was still quite far, so it wasn¡¯t visible yet. Aiden silently followed behind Arian, then broke the silence. ¡°By the way, have you ever killed someone before?¡± ¡°...¡± Despite going to kill humans, there was no tension felt from Arian, which was why he asked. But Arian didn¡¯t immediately respond. Instead of answering, she looked at Aiden with a puzzled expression. ¡°What are you calling me, anyway...¡± Arian, who was saying that, soon stopped talking and let out a small sigh. It was a perplexing question for her. Vampires that never killed humans? But, in the end, it was her fault. Arian had never properly talked to Aiden or Sadie about her past. She thought there was no need to. It wasn¡¯t a pleasant story to hear, after all. So ultimately, Arian¡¯s response led to this misunderstanding. Internally blaming herself, Arian asked Aiden. ¡°What about you? Have you killed a lot?¡± ¡°A lot... I guess you could say that. If you count the numbers, it might be over a hundred.¡± Aiden answered calmly. Killing over a hundred people. For an individual who didn¡¯t rely on the power of authority or society, it was an outrageously high number. Even for a notorious serial killer, it was an unthinkable figure. However, even that number wasn¡¯t particularly surprising to Arian. ¡°I could count mine in tens of times more.¡± Arian said it as if making a joke. But anyone could tell from her gaze that it wasn¡¯t a joke. So, Aiden asked a question. ¡°How did that happen?¡± ¡°Well, you wanna hear?¡± Arian asked, and Aiden nodded. Then, in a calm voice, Arian began her story. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you. In the world I was in, humans were enemies.¡± The world Arian was in was similar to the one Aiden lived in only in appearance; many things were different. Starting from the history. Their history was a struggle against various monsters, including vampires, and in the end, it was a history where humanity triumphed. Several centuries had passed since humans conquered the world. During the long period of peace, humans became arrogant and eventually drew their swords against their own kind for trivial desires. And then, the war among humans escalated. To the point that individuals appeared who awakened ancient sealed monsters just to kill other humans. The time when Arian was born was when such chaos was at its peak. In a laboratory of a country on the verge of collapse, her ancestors, who were the strongest and the first vampires, created another vampire with the blood of the original. It was for the purpose of making her a weapon for their war. However, immediately after that, the country fell into ruin, and Arian escaped the laboratory by the hands of a researcher who sympathized with her. From then on, under the care of that researcher, Arian spent her childhood, but during that time, the war among humans also came to an end. Humans who barely survived the war soon appeared to clean up the unleashed monsters in the world. Under the pursuit of the church, which led the charge, the researcher who took care of Arian died. From then on, Arian began her true escape. ¡°During that time, killing a few people was nothing.¡± Arian was not an ordinary monster. She was one of the five original vampires who inherited the blood of the first vampire. The other four had caused severe damage to humanity to the point that each one of them was recorded in history. The church, which regulated the extinction of monsters, didn¡¯t spare any means to kill Arian. So, numerous enemies came after her, and she killed them with her own hands. It wasn¡¯t intentional, but it wasn¡¯t a joyful experience either. At that time, she was undoubtedly tired of surviving. ¡°Then, I came to this place. And... I quite liked it here.¡± In her original world, Arian had no one to rely on. Her fellow vampires despised her. Unable to inherit the sacred bloodline, created as an experiment by humans, they didn¡¯t acknowledge her as a kin. And other monsters and humans feared Arian. As her kind, vampires devoured humans, and even monsters feared her as a predator. Only pure-hearted children who didn¡¯t know what vampires were reacted sincerely to her. So Arian liked children. And, she liked this world where no one knew what vampires were. Even in a world ruined by an unknown virus, even if it¡¯s filled with zombies, this place did not reject her. ¡°Still, it¡¯s an unbelievable story.¡± Aiden said in response to Arian¡¯s words. Arian gave a bitter smile. It was a natural reaction, of course. If Arian hadn¡¯t come to this world herself, she would never have believed in the existence of such a world just by hearing about it. ¡°But I understand.¡± ¡°Understand?¡± ¡°You... had that kind of personality.¡± Arian¡¯s head tilted slightly at the somewhat absurd statement. ¡°I used to think that you might eventually become a threat to humans.¡± Of course, not the current Arian. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She, on the contrary, belonged to a more trustworthy side than others. Showing empathy for the dying, caring for children, and such. Arian still retained the common sense lost by this world. But Aiden thought it was because Arian hadn¡¯t adapted to this world yet. She was just maintaining her past way of thinking. Aiden worried that as she continued to live in this world, she might eventually give up on it. ¡°But... it seems like my judgment was wrong.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°It means exactly what it is.¡± Arian asked as if she still didn¡¯t understand what he was talking about. Without saying anything, Aiden turned his head. After all, he didn¡¯t originally intend to demand an answer from Arian. ¡°More importantly, it seems we¡¯ve arrived.¡± Aiden, who had just reached the end of a small residential area, pointed to a building visible across the road. It was the middle school Emma mentioned. A fairly large two-story building. Although it had fewer floors, its size was even larger than most gymnasiums. Moreover, the surroundings consisted of a flat plain with only a few trees scattered around, making it difficult to approach without being noticed. And what was sporadically placed around the school building were the diagonal crosses, the symbol of the EL. Not only were the trees stained with blood, but there were even symbols made from human bones, making it gruesomely terrifying at first glance. ¡°We need to find a way to approach the building first.¡± However, Aiden, without paying attention to such structures, calmly surveyed the surroundings. Arian looked at Aiden blankly. Aiden, sensing her gaze, asked: ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Arian, who suddenly snapped out of her thoughts, shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± With a sigh, Arian forced a hollow laugh inwardly. At times like this, it was rather fortunate that Aiden was an emotionless zombie. She explained the deployment of forces inside the school to Aiden and planned the infiltration operation together. And soon after. ¡°Enemy!¡± Inside a house about 50 meters away from the school building where a noisy sound began to be heard. Aiden, hiding in the shadows inside the building, aimed through the scope at the school building, where the loud noise started. ¡°I can see them now... about five of them.¡± Aiden muttered. Two were guarding at the entrance on the first floor, another was inside a window on the first floor, and the other two were guarding on the second floor. A quite well-organized surveillance posture, not easy to approach. However, they soon began to falter, looking around in confusion when gunfire from the opposite side of the school building started. It signaled that Arian, who decided to enter the second floor through the roof, had started to move. ¡°...Good.¡± In response to the agreed signal, Aiden quietly observed the guard on the second floor. Bang! The head of one of the fanatics guarding the entrance on the first floor exploded from a gunshot. Another fanatic, who confirmed the corpse, looked around in surprise. To him, the next bullet flew. ¡°Hmm...¡± Aiden¡¯s role in this operation was that of a sniper. With a silenced rifle, he only needed to shoot and kill any visible enemies from a distance. Having infiltrated the building and prepared to flip over explosives and gunpowder, Aiden¡¯s task was quite comfortable. But at the same time, he was worried. Arian was doing the job that was originally supposed to be his. She entered the building alone, carrying only a single machete and armed with a gun, guarded by twenty humans. Of course, it was Arian¡¯s idea in the first place. Since she had originally conceived the operation. But... is it really okay? Arian was so confident in pushing for it, and although he said to do it as she wished, Aiden couldn¡¯t find any logical explanation for the operation. Of course, Aiden knew to some extent about Arian¡¯s strength. The fact that her strength couldn¡¯t be explained by common sense. And he naturally knew that she was much stronger than them. But Aiden didn¡¯t think that was a reason for Arian to willingly take on the danger. Arian insisted that this operation was the most certain, so she would take the lead even if it was dangerous. But Aiden¡¯s idea of the best was always the safest method. In that regard, Arian¡¯s plan seemed lacking to Aiden, making him uneasy. ¡°...¡± With such thoughts, another bullet flew, silencing one of the fanatics. It was time for the snipers on the other side to notice the presence of a sniper, but there was no corresponding gunfire. Rather, in the midst of their confusion, Aiden swiftly took down all five visible enemies. And suddenly, two more who emerged from the building were also added. Seven in total. According to Arian, there were 28 inside the school building. Also, eight were taken by the enemy from Emma¡¯s camp. Even if all the hostages were dead, more than a quarter of the enemies, 28 in total, had already died. ¡°...I need to move.¡± For a while, there was no sign of the enemy where Aiden was. Moreover, the noise coming from the opposite side gradually diminished. Aiden, confident that the number of enemies had decreased, quickly picked up his firearm. Then, he quickly swept through the 50 meters, where the fallen guards were guarding the entrance. With the rifle slung on his back, Aiden held a pistol in his hand. As he entered the first-floor corridor, footsteps became audible. Tap-tap-tap-tap, urgent footsteps. It wasn¡¯t Arian. Aiden didn¡¯t miss the sound mixed with a clanking noise, indicating someone was running with a gun. So Aiden aimed the pistol in that direction. And soon, someone popped out at the end of the corridor. A brief hesitation passed through Aiden. During that moment, his gaze swept over the person¡¯s body. Soon, he discovered a diagonal cross tattooed on the person¡¯s forearm. ¡°You-¡° The fanatic opened his mouth. But before he could raise the gun, a gunshot had already been fired. With pinpoint accuracy, the fanatic¡¯s chest was pierced by a bullet. As he fell, Aiden, who was once again pressed against the wall, calmly listened. In battles within such a large building, relying on hearing was crucial. But then. Suddenly, a voice came from behind him without warning. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re here?¡± Surprised, Aiden looked behind. He didn¡¯t aim the pistol because the voice was Arian¡¯s. Her appearance relieved Aiden, but at the same time, he was puzzled. Could she move without making a sound? ¡°Yeah. What¡¯s the big deal with this?¡± Well, considering the abilities she had shown, it wasn¡¯t a big deal. Aiden let out a short sigh and asked. ¡°How many did you handle?¡± ¡°All of them. The one you shot was the last.¡± ¡°...Fast.¡± It hadn¡¯t been even five minutes since they infiltrated the building. Arian¡¯s speed was much faster than Aiden expected. Moreover, the state of Arian, who had dealt with about fifteen fanatics, was completely fine. Not a scratch on her, not even a speck of blood on her clothes. While Aiden was relieved by the unharmed Arian, he couldn¡¯t help but be puzzled. What were the limits of Arian, especially considering the stories about the world she originally came from? But hiding such questions, Aiden asked only the questions he needed to at the moment. ¡°What about the hostages?¡± ¡°They are gathered in the center of the building. But... only three left.¡± ¡°Three...¡± Since Emma mentioned eight, it meant that five had died. ¡°For now, let¡¯s go that way.¡± Arian nodded with a firm expression. Chapter 59 ¡°In the world, Robert!¡± Emma shouted as she saw her colleagues returning to the camp. Arian and Aiden had successfully rescued the hostages. However, among the three colleagues, only one was standing on their own two feet. The sight of a colleague being carried by Aiden and Arian respectively. ¡°Robert, your arm... John, Susan, what the hell happened?¡± Emma exclaimed, looking at the man lifted by Aiden. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was Robert, a late teenager among the colleagues, and one of his arms was missing. But the man called Robert was gasping heavily with a heavily distorted face. Aiden, who hadn¡¯t seen this, advised Emma. ¡°For now, how about laying him down somewhere. He seemed to struggle to get here.¡± ¡°Oh... okay.¡± Emma looked around anxiously. She soon took her colleagues to one of the cabins that hadn¡¯t collapsed yet. She laid Robert down on the bed inside the cabin first. As she did, he soon closed his eyes while groaning. It seemed challenging for him even to maintain consciousness. The other two, John and Susan, were also allowed to rest. They were covered in blood as well, not as much as Robert, who had his entire arm severed. But chunks of flesh were torn from various parts of their bodies, such as thighs, arms, and back. Emma laid them on the bed as well and left the cabin. She had a somewhat confused expression. But soon, she shook her head and approached Aiden, who was waiting outside. ¡°What happened to my friends?¡± Emma asked frustratedly. Upon hearing this, Aiden briefly explained about where they were trapped. Blood-stained workbenches, rusty saw blades, and a barrel filled with bones. It was no different from Kokomo¡¯s apartment. And the events that unfolded there were exactly as Arian and Aiden had expected. They were disassembling humans and zombies, making something out of their flesh. ¡°These insane bastards...!¡± After hearing the explanation, Emma spat out curses with a pale face. Then, barely regaining her composure, she turned to Aiden again. ¡°Are my colleagues going to be okay? You... you should know.¡± Emma¡¯s gaze was fixed on the worn-out name tag hanging around Aiden¡¯s neck. Aiden calmly conveyed his judgment to her. ¡°It¡¯s not good. They¡¯ve lost too much blood. And they¡¯ve been in the contaminated area for too long.¡± ¡°So?¡± ¡°Do you know about tetanus?¡± Emma shook her head. She had heard of the disease, but that was about it. She didn¡¯t know what kind of disease it was or how dangerous it was. Aiden continued. ¡°The man with the severed arm is showing symptoms of tetanus.¡± He went on to explain tetanus. Tetanus is contracted when tetanus bacteria penetrate through a wound. Nine out of ten times, it was because of these fanatic bastards. ¡°Then what should we do?¡± ¡°Do you have anything for disinfecting wounds? Antibiotics?¡± ¡°Well, we do have... but no. It¡¯s not like this. It¡¯s better for you to see for yourself.¡± Emma¡¯s desperate expression, perhaps seeing dying colleagues. Without hesitation, Emma boldly took Aiden to the storage shed. Under a large rock in the forest outside the camp. There was a small basement hidden with its entrance concealed. There, Emma showed Aiden all the medical supplies she had. Even medications that Aiden had never seen before were present, thanks to the camp gathering rare materials. Aiden selected several items, including antiseptics and antibiotics. ¡°For now, disinfect their wounds with this. Not just the man, but all three. And...¡± Aiden gave Emma a few more instructions. They were the best options he could think of. However. ¡°If we do this... can Robert survive?¡± Emma¡¯s subsequent question left Aiden unable to answer easily. Tetanus was a disease with a mortality rate exceeding 10% even in the perfectly healthy world three years ago. So, in the current situation with no definite cure or proper medical equipment. Furthermore, Robert had lost his arm, and a considerable amount of time had passed. In truth, the chances of his survival were, frankly, desperate. ¡°With tetanus, the wounds need to be disinfected, and the necrotic parts need to be excised. But he has lost too much blood. If we perform surgery here, he¡¯ll bleed to death due to excessive bleeding.¡± ¡°That means...¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing more we can do. The rest is up to him to overcome on his own.¡± Hearing this, Emma bit her lip. Soon, she regained her composure and rushed back to her colleagues with what Aiden had mentioned. Aiden also followed her back to the camp. * * * And a few hours passed. During that time, Arian helped Emma treat their injured colleagues with Sadie. They disinfected the wounds of their injured colleagues and wiped away the blood. They also replenished food and fluids and administered antibiotics if necessary. As a result, a man named John among the colleagues quickly regained consciousness. He had the least injuries and, unlike the other two, was able to walk to this place on his own. Also, fortunately, it seemed he wasn¡¯t infected with any diseases, as there were no apparent symptoms. And the woman named Susan was still lying in bed, but fortunately, her condition was not showing serious signs of any illness, only a significant drop in stamina. Aiden diagnosed that she would probably get up again in at least a day or two. However, for the one whose condition was most critical, Robert, luck was not on his side. In the twilight when the gradually reddening sunlight began to turn into darkness in the forest camp. Despite Emma¡¯s efforts, Aiden had to pronounce a death sentence on Robert. Upon this, Emma collapsed with a scream-like wailing. Arian, who had cared for him, had a cold expression, and Sadie also had tears in her eyes. Aiden, after briefly looking at them, left the cabin. Then, there was a man walking towards them outside the door. He was John, a white man in his mid-20s. Although he had just regained consciousness, he had already cleaned up and stood up. ¡°...Is Robert gone?¡± However, John¡¯s face was not bright. The sounds of wailing coming from inside the cabin were vividly reaching his ears. Aiden simply nodded his head in response to his question. ¡°Damn it...¡± John muttered curses under his breath. His face wrinkled with sadness. Aiden quietly watched him for a moment and then spoke. ¡°Is your body okay?¡± ¡°...Yes.¡± John replied tremblingly. As if he felt ashamed that he was the only one unharmed. After staring into the air for a while, he let out a deep sigh. ¡°What a damn cruel world. He shouldn¡¯t have died like that.¡± John mourned Robert for a while, then remembered other colleagues. ¡°No, not just Robert. Six out of eight people taken by those fanatics are dead.¡± There were a total of eight people taken by the fanatics. However, they couldn¡¯t even find their bodies, and one of the three brought back just died. For John, who considered them all as his colleagues, it was truly a dismal outcome. ¡°Regrettable.¡± In response to Aiden¡¯s words, John just nodded without saying anything. After a moment of silence, this time Aiden spoke first. ¡°I have one thing I want to ask.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Do you know why they took you, the reason?¡± In fact, Aiden didn¡¯t expect much when he asked the question. He thought John, who was just a hostage, wouldn¡¯t have the leisure to dig into the enemies¡¯ motives. However, contrary to his expectations, John nodded immediately. ¡°...Yes.¡± ¡°Do you know it?¡± ¡°Yes. I had to know. Those bastards kept yelling about it without a moment¡¯s rest. Something about the light and the zombies.¡± Then John told Aiden what he heard from those fanatics. Aiden furrowed his brows at the unbelievable content. ¡°...Creating mutants?¡± ¡°Yes. They said that zombies eating zombies is a way to create mutants.¡± Aiden, even, didn¡¯t know for sure about the conditions for the occurrence of mutants. But if the method those guys found was true. If, indeed, one of the trapped zombies, unable to overcome hunger, had to resort to cannibalizing fellow zombies to create mutants. The low number of mutants, and the fact that mutants often prey on the same kind, would make sense. ¡°Then the reason they mutilated human bodies...¡± ¡°To make bait. Since zombies don¡¯t eat zombies. So, they cut up human bodies and mix them with zombie flesh. Like peanuts in chocolate.¡± ¡°Bait...¡± It was a horrifying story. However, at this moment, Aiden was contemplating an even more serious speculation. First, he recalled the map he had seen at Kokomo¡¯s apartment. More precisely, the numbers written as 300 for Columbus and Fort Wayne, and 10,000 for Indianapolis. Next was the urban battle in Fort Wayne. In the downtown area of Fort Wayne that he saw, there were an unusually large number of mutants. The numbers, as well as the types, were diverse. There were even mutant Beasts that Aiden had never seen before. And crucially, fanatics were reported to have been found in the north of Fort Wayne shortly before Aiden arrived. Facts that he had considered unrelated began to fit together in Aiden¡¯s mind like pieces of a puzzle. ¡°...So that¡¯s it.¡± Aiden finally grasped the intention of the fanatics and muttered. Perhaps it was true that fanatics could create mutants. The evidence was Fort Wayne itself. The numbers written on the map in Kokomo¡¯s apartment, 300. Whether that figure was simply the number of decoys they spread or the target number of mutants to be created, Aiden didn¡¯t know for sure. But the number of mutants that swarmed from all sides of Fort Wayne¡¯s defense line was close to that level. In other words, the various and numerous mutants in Fort Wayne were intentionally created by the fanatics. And that meant... ¡°It¡¯s dangerous.¡± It also meant that the surrounding area would become extremely dangerous soon. To the fanatics, the mutant forces that were dangerous enough to destroy Fort Wayne¡¯s army might have been just a simple test. The number written above Indianapolis on their map was a whopping ten thousand. Now it made sense why the scattered fanatics came to that heavily infested city of zombies. They intended to spread the bait they brought there. For the purpose of creating ten thousand mutants, as written on that map. ¡°...Foolish bastards.¡± It was an incredibly foolish act. And all that would be left was annihilation. But those creatures were not originally beings capable of understanding with their minds. If they were, they wouldn¡¯t have even thought of using the human body as bait from the beginning. ¡°Yes?¡± In response to Aiden¡¯s sudden muttering, John asked. Aiden was about to tell him his thoughts, but he closed his mouth. There was no need to talk about facts that could not be changed, especially since it was already time for the sun to set. After that, the deceased Robert was buried in a corner of the camp, and Emma and John cried in front of him until the night fell completely, then they went into the cabin. Complete darkness enveloped the camp, and night arrived. Aiden volunteered to take the night watch for the tired people. One by one, those who had been tossing and turning in bed eventually fell asleep, exhausted from crying. And after midnight. Aiden, who stood guard at the camp entrance and in front of Aiden¡¯s group¡¯s vehicle, turned his head at the sense of presence from behind. There, Arian and Sadie, who had been sleeping earlier, were standing. Chapter 60 ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Responding to Aiden¡¯s inquisitive question, Arian turned the tables and asked: ¡°What about tomorrow?¡± In response to Arian¡¯s question, Aiden let out a short sigh. Without saying anything, the schedule for tomorrow had already been decided. ¡°We plan to leave as soon as it gets light.¡± ¡°Where to?¡± ¡°Springfield, Illinois. There¡¯s supposedly a decent gang there.¡± It was a city 300 km further west from this camp. Arian nodded in response to Aiden¡¯s answer. After a short pause, Arian spoke again. ¡°Are we just going to leave them be?¡± Aiden knew exactly who ¡®they¡¯ referred to. The conversation between Aiden and John just a while ago would undoubtedly have been heard by Arian as well. And most likely, Arian had come to the same conclusion as Aiden. So, she was asking whether they would just stand by and watch as Indianapolis was overwhelmed by ten thousand mutants. But even so, Aiden¡¯s decision didn¡¯t change. ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do. It¡¯s the best option.¡± His words were true. It was a massive group numbering in the few hundreds. The only thing an individual could do against such a group was at best to run away. ¡°Is there any blood left?¡± ¡°There is.¡± ¡°I hope you¡¯ve given them all mine.¡± So, Arian just said that. She didn¡¯t blame Aiden. She didn¡¯t label him as cowardly or make any judgments. It was a perfectly natural and wise decision. What was peculiar was that Arian, herself, was the only exception. ¡°...¡± Even with Arian¡¯s request, Aiden did not move. Instead, he asked a question. ¡°Are you planning to go to them?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Why?¡± There were several reasons. For example, Arian was angry at their atrocities. Especially after witnessing Robert¡¯s dying moments a while ago, she felt deep anger. On the other hand, she was also worried about Emma and the others here in this camp. Mutants emerging from Indianapolis would quickly spread in all directions. But more than anything else, what strongly motivated Arian was Sadie. ¡°Sadie¡¯s words.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°On the last day in Fort Wayne. While we were waiting for you in the car, she told me a story.¡± Arian, who had been playing the role of a counselor for Sadie based on Aiden¡¯s advice, had now naturally become someone Sadie could confide in. And in that role, Sadie revealed a promise she had made with her friend Nora before leaving. ¡°Sadie made a promise to meet Nora again before leaving. She said they should meet again when they become adults and when the world becomes a better place.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°So, she plans to go.¡± Arian¡¯s voice was calm, as if explaining an obvious fact. ¡°Because if we leave like this, Sadie will inevitably become sad someday. Keeping the promise of the children is what adults should do, right?¡± Aiden sighed for a moment. Arian¡¯s decision seemed firm, likely because if ten thousand mutants really appeared in Indianapolis, the nearby city of Fort Wayne would inevitably be threatened. Perhaps that¡¯s why Arian¡¯s determination seemed so resolute. Instead of stopping her, Aiden posed a realistic question. ¡°But is that possible?¡± Their opponents are an armed force numbering in the hundreds. Aiden had previously mentioned to Arian that she was a threat capable of dismantling organizations by herself, but that didn¡¯t mean she could win in a direct confrontation with an organization. That was too unreasonable. However, Arian casually nodded. ¡°Of course.¡± Aiden was momentarily speechless at her response. Soon realizing that it wasn¡¯t a joke, he spoke again. ¡°But isn¡¯t that too risky? Do you know their location? The exact number of enemies? Do you know what weapons they¡¯re using? And how do you plan to go to them during this night?¡± Aiden bombarded her with reasonable questions. However, Arian was prepared to counter all of that. ¡°I know their location. I checked it all during the day.¡± ¡°During the day?¡± ¡°The fanatics who were there. Their blood told me everything.¡± Aiden recalled the scenery of the school he had visited during the day. Somehow, except for the fanatic he had taken down, he hadn¡¯t seen the bodies of any others. Only ragged clothes and weapons were scattered on the ground. Arian had mentioned that the one she sucked blood from wouldn¡¯t even leave a corpse. Had Arian already ignited a desire for revenge against them at that time? It wasn¡¯t impossible. Arian¡¯s senses were much more developed than Aiden¡¯s. So maybe she heard them making noise incessantly before the attack. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Or perhaps she found a crucial clue that Aiden hadn¡¯t discovered yet. ¡°And... the number and weapons? If there¡¯s blood there, those things are meaningless to me.¡± ¡°Meaningless?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m a vampire.¡± Arian asserted. She spoke with a mysterious smile. ¡°Even if you tear apart their hearts, smash their brains, behead them, or incinerate their whole bodies, vampires won¡¯t die. They can come back to life as long as there¡¯s enough regenerative blood.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°The only condition for a vampire to die is when not a single drop of blood is left for them.¡± That¡¯s why she was called a weapon of war in her original world. Because she would never lose if the opponent was a human. But conversely, her power in this world, overflowing with rotting corpses, was only half-baked. That¡¯s why it was time for her to use this power positively, as there would be very few opportunities. ¡°So don¡¯t worry too much. And going there... now it¡¯s your job to provide the blood. The distance is quite far.¡± ¡°...Can I trust those words?¡± Aiden asked, and Arian nodded. Even with her firm answer, Aiden hesitated for a moment. Finally, with a long sigh, he spoke. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll believe you.¡± ¡°You couldn¡¯t believe it until now?¡± ¡°Well, I still can¡¯t believe it, but let¡¯s go with that.¡± Aiden turned around and opened the vehicle¡¯s door. While rummaging through the luggage, he found the blood he was going to give to Arian, which he had brought from Fort Wayne the day before. Since there was no refrigeration equipment available, the blood had a short shelf life anyway. So, even if Arian used all of it, it wouldn¡¯t be a big loss. As Aiden searched through the luggage, Arian continued speaking. ¡°But aren¡¯t you... unusually calm about this?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Well, you know. Usually, you¡¯d be scared. Of someone like me.¡± Aiden let out a short bitter laugh. ¡°It¡¯s too late to be scared now.¡± Aiden already knew that Arian was no longer someone to be afraid of. No, now he believed it. ¡°Well, that¡¯s true.¡± Arian accepted it with a faint smile. ¡°Take this too.¡± Aiden handed her the machete Arian often used. She took it with a slight smile and, with light footsteps as if going for a night walk, began walking into the thick darkness. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be back.¡± When her figure melted into the darkness, her presence was no longer felt anywhere in the forest. * * * Arian returned after the break of dawn. Between the dawn and morning, as the faint sunlight gradually illuminated the forest. Arian walked towards the entrance guarded by Aiden, facing the sunlight on her back. ¡°I¡¯m back.¡± Aiden observed her demeanor. She was dressed just as shabbily as when she left ¨C worn-out clothes, dusty shoes, and clean fingers. There was no sign of battle anywhere. Only the slight fatigue in Arian¡¯s eyes and the severely bruised jungle blade showed that she had finished her work. ¡°Here. I brought this for you while I was at it.¡± Arian threw a water bottle. It was the bottle of blood Aiden had given her from Fort Wayne the day before. The bottle was still filled with blood. If there was any difference, the blood was slightly warmer and fresher than before. ¡°And this too. There might be more if you search, but I didn¡¯t have the time.¡± Next, Arian handed over bullets. Again, exactly 30 rounds. Arian apologized as if feeling sorry, but Aiden just nodded. ¡°More importantly, is your body okay?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°What happened to those guys?¡± ¡°Well... whatever. You don¡¯t need to worry about them now.¡± Aiden just nodded towards Arian, who spoke calmly. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll take a break then.¡± After Arian entered the cabin where Sadie was sleeping, some time passed. One by one, other people woke up, and a new day began. ¡°Anything happen overnight?¡± The first to come out was John. Aiden asked him some questions and checked his physical condition. Fortunately, there didn¡¯t seem to be any problems. Next was Emma. And today, another woman named Susan was seen beside them. Both of them seemed to have recovered quite a bit of strength overnight. Aiden, after checking their condition, then carried Sadie, who had just woken up, into the car, as planned to leave the camp. ¡°Leaving in the morning?¡± Emma asked. She was giving Aiden a look as if hoping the doctor would stay a bit longer. But there was nothing more for Aiden to do here. Although the camp¡¯s population had decreased significantly, there were still plenty of supplies left, enough for them to live for a while. So, he nodded calmly. ¡°Yes, I hope you all stay safe.¡± ¡°...Alright. Thank you.¡± With a lingering look, Emma bid farewell. John and Susan also expressed their regrets and gratitude to Aiden¡¯s group. Aiden got into the vehicle as it was. And just before pressing the accelerator, something came to his mind. He opened the window and looked at Emma. ¡°Oh, and... this is something I heard yesterday.¡± A slight confusion appeared in Emma¡¯s eyes. This kind of story might be unnecessary, but Aiden decided to inform Emma reasonably about what had happened overnight. There was no reason to leave them in unnecessary anxiety. ¡°Fanatics coming from the east seem to have left.¡± ¡°What...?¡± ¡°The camp they occupied in the east was also completely empty. How about checking it when you have time?¡± Although Emma¡¯s face showed some bewilderment at the unexpected remark, she didn¡¯t have a chance to reply. The vehicle carrying Aiden¡¯s group drove out of the camp through the entrance. In the rearview mirror illuminating the back, the dumbfounded expressions of Emma, John, and Susan were visible. The vehicle eventually left the forest where the camp was located and headed west to the next destination. * * * Indiana State Route 36, extending west from Indianapolis. Aiden¡¯s black van smoothly passed through the narrow two-lane road. Fortunately, the road itself was in pretty good condition. There were no cracks in the asphalt, and the road only led to a plain, so there was no reason for bridges to be broken. However, Aiden¡¯s group¡¯s journey was not as smooth. There were many zombies blocking the road today. ¡°There¡¯s another group up ahead.¡± Arian¡¯s warning made Aiden look ahead. As she said, a zombie was slowly crossing the road. But that wasn¡¯t the end. Leading the way, dozens of zombies emerged from the forest on both sides of the road, forming a group of zombies. A zombie horde. ¡°...¡± Aiden turned off the car¡¯s engine and silently waited for the zombies to pass. Fortunately, the horde of zombies wasn¡¯t heading in their direction. It was enough to wait a while like this. But it wasn¡¯t a good thing either. Today was already the fifth time their path was blocked by a zombie horde. Moreover, two of those times resulted in battles, consuming time and resources. As a result, the distance Aiden¡¯s group covered was far from what was expected. The plan was disrupted. But it wasn¡¯t a situation where he could recklessly run over them with the car. Just a while ago, the tires were damaged while doing something like that. To avoid such unnecessary malfunctions, it was best to wait quietly for them to pass. ¡°Hmm...¡± Seated in the driver¡¯s seat, Aiden let out a short sigh. The faint restlessness circulating in his consciousness quickly disappeared. If the plan went awry, he would simply come up with a new plan. After a moment of silence, Arian in the backseat spoke. ¡°Why is that?¡± ¡°Why what?¡± ¡°Why are you like that?¡± ¡°I might need to change the destination.¡± Aiden unfolded the map. They couldn¡¯t reach the originally planned destination today. Continuing on the path they had originally intended to take to the west, he changed it to the south. As a result. ¡°This place looks good.¡± Aiden decided to head towards the nearest town called Rockville. Chapter 61 Rokville was a village about 130km away from the camp where Aiden stayed. It was much smaller than the small towns Aiden had passed through so far. It would take only about 20 minutes to walk through the village¡¯s main road. But even so, it was a suitable place to spend the night today. Vroom! With the low engine sound, Aiden¡¯s vehicle passed the outskirts of the village, where he could see an old factory and entered through its entrance. Starting with a house with a red roof and white walls, houses and shops lined up along the road came into view. A quiet, tranquil, peaceful scenery. However, not long after, Aiden detected an unfavorable signal within that scenery. ¡°That¡¯s...¡± In front of a building with a black roof adorned with star-shaped decorations, there was a figure sprawled on the ground. A zombie. Not just any zombie, but one with its head smashed as if hit by something, and it wasn¡¯t moving. Aiden got out of the car and examined it closely. The bodily fluids were not even dried yet, probably no more than 2 or 3 days had passed. Aiden turned his head to look at the road. But there were no traces of vehicles on the road. It could either mean that wandering travelers had passed by on foot, or someone was still living here. ¡°It seems like someone is there.¡± Aiden, who returned to the car, informed his companions. Then he assigned Arian to monitor the surrounding movements and had Sadie hide safely under the seat. Continuing to move the vehicle, he decided to hide the car in a safer place. Moving the vehicle into the village without knowing if there were people inside was a risky move. However, leaving the village was also uncertain. Because camping outside where a zombie horde roamed wasn¡¯t an option. So Aiden put on his helmet and decided to hide the vehicle first. If there were wanderers staying in a place like this without a vehicle, there wouldn¡¯t be many of them. So, even if he had to fight with them, he judged that he could handle it. ¡°...¡± So he passed through the entrance and went inside. But due to the small size of the village, he couldn¡¯t see any suitable place to hide the vehicle. There weren¡¯t many abandoned vehicles to begin with, and parking lots were scarce. Leaving it between buildings would be too conspicuous. However, soon he found a suitable place on the opposite side of the village. It was an old car repair shop that had closed down a long time ago. In front of it, there was a large parking lot, and fortunately, there were many other vehicles, making it suitable for hiding. When Aiden parked the car in the repair shop, something caught his attention. ¡°Wait, there¡¯s something.¡± Arian said, pointing beyond the repair shop. Although it was hidden by trees, it seemed to be the beginning of a small shopping district. ¡°Zombies?¡± ¡°No, it looks like a person?¡± ¡°How many?¡± ¡°Just one.¡± Just one. Perhaps a lone wanderer. Aiden immediately picked up his rifle and bat. ¡°I¡¯ll go check.¡± Leaving Arian and Sadie in the car, he went outside. When Aiden looked in the direction Arian pointed, there was a restaurant. The logo of a once-famous hamburger brand was prominently displayed on a large sign. Aiden observed the interior of the restaurant. Behind the broken glass door, the figure of a man was visible. The man seemed to be rummaging through the interior of the restaurant without any hesitation. ¡°...¡± Aiden pondered for a moment on how to deal with the man. The safest way was to shoot the man in the back. That way, Aiden could cleanly eliminate the threat, and he might be able to get through the day without any trouble. But that was against Aiden¡¯s principles. The man was not yet aware of Aiden¡¯s presence. He was not an identified enemy. The man might be part of a group of wanderers operating separately. Aiden decided that killing him without any reason wasn¡¯t an option. Besides, the man¡¯s comrades might not be visible right now. It wasn¡¯t worth creating unnecessary resentment. Then... should he try talking. Thinking so, Aiden was about to reveal himself when he noticed something. ¡°That¡¯s...¡± On the opposite side of the wide four-lane road. Behind another shopping mall building, the figure of a zombie came into view. With its characteristic staggering walk, a zombie was approaching from that side. And behind that one, more zombies began to appear, one by one. From one to five, and from five to over twenty in an instant, a rapidly growing horde of zombies. Here as well, was there a zombie horde? Aiden furrowed his brow. The man was still engrossed in exploring, unaware of Aiden¡¯s presence. At this rate, he would likely be surrounded by the zombie horde. Aiden, acting deliberately uncharacteristically, lightly tapped the ground with the metal bat, creating a small noise. Clang. At the sudden sound, the man was startled and turned around. Aiden discovered the man¡¯s presence before he noticed Aiden and aimed his gun first. Even though Aiden was holding a rifle, instead of pointing the muzzle directly at the man, he silently raised his finger. The direction from which the zombie horde was approaching. The man glanced in that direction, and as soon as he saw the approaching zombie horde, his face stiffened. However, he couldn¡¯t move easily. He had to escape from the zombie horde, but Aiden was in that direction. ¡°...¡± Aiden gestured for him to come over. It meant that Aiden wouldn¡¯t be hostile, and he should come this way. But the man hesitated. It was a natural reaction if it was natural at all. In this world, anyone who easily trusts people is probably already dead. ¡°Kiik...!¡± However, the man¡¯s suspicion didn¡¯t last long. One of the zombies at the forefront had come across the road and reached near the restaurant. And that zombie finally spotted the man. ¡°Kiaaaa!¡± The zombie screamed, and the man¡¯s face turned pale. Late to react, the man rushed out of the restaurant towards Aiden. But behind that man, zombies followed. The speed at which they were chasing was so fast that the man, who had started to run, looked as if he had stopped. Panic-stricken, the man was about to turn the muzzle backward just before the zombies caught up. ¡°Don¡¯t shoot!¡± Aiden said firmly, cutting off the sound. Aiden ran towards the man. The metal bat he was holding shattered the head of the zombie rushing towards him. And then, another zombie that followed. Thunk! He cleanly snapped its neck with a powerful swing. Breathing heavily, the man, who stood watching the fallen zombies, finally looked at Aiden. ¡°Phew... thank you...!¡± Now that Aiden properly saw the man¡¯s face, he nodded once. Perhaps of Indian-American descent. Also, he seemed to be in his early thirties. ¡°Is there a safe place to go?¡± Aiden asked, looking at the approaching zombies. Although they had dealt with the two, more than ten zombies were now aware of the disturbance and were converging. The man¡¯s face turned blue as he saw the horde of zombies rushing towards them. He barely nodded. ¡°Then go that way. Run!¡± The man, who led the way, ran ahead. Aiden followed, fending off the pursuing zombies. The direction the man was heading to was where Aiden had hidden the vehicle. So, Aiden gestured for them to come out when they reached there. Then Arian and Sadie came out from the car. Arian had already noticed the presence of zombies and was preparing to go out. ¡°Who are these kids, huff...?¡± ¡°They are my companions.¡± The appearance of Arian and Sadie surprised the man, but he didn¡¯t stop. Meanwhile, two zombies caught up with the group. Aiden skillfully dealt with one of them. Swish! Arian¡¯s machete struck the neck of another zombie that was following. ¡°Hoo...!¡± The man, now with a moment of respite, took a brief breath. There were still fewer than 10 zombies pursuing. Fortunately, it seemed that the entire zombie horde hadn¡¯t yet noticed the man¡¯s presence. However, there was no time to waste. The zombie horde was approaching the village. So, the man continued running, while Aiden and Arian dealt with the pursuing zombies. After a while. ¡°Huff... huff... It¡¯s here.¡± The place the man led Aiden¡¯s group to was a small inn. The location was near the courthouse in the center of the town, where Aiden had passed by. ¡°...It¡¯s an unusual place,¡± Aiden remarked, surveying the exterior of the inn. He had been concerned that the man¡¯s hideout might be in a vulnerable place, but unexpectedly, it was well-secured. The walls and pillars were made of sturdy bricks, strong enough that unless mutated, it couldn¡¯t be easily broken. The entrance and windows were made of steel, with grid-patterned prison doors. In other words, every door of the inn was a double-door structure, with a regular door behind a door made of iron bars. It explained why the inn¡¯s sign hanging on the old signboard read ¡®The Old Prison.¡¯ It seemed like they had converted an old prison building into an inn, intentionally leaving traces of the prison to create a unique atmosphere. However, now it wasn¡¯t just about the atmosphere; it directly contributed to their survival. ¡°Honey, hey, it¡¯s me!¡± The man knocked on the inn¡¯s door. Someone behind the iron bars opened the door. It was a Mexican-looking woman of similar age to the man. ¡°Who are these people...?¡± ¡°For now... huff, let them in. There are zombies coming.¡± At the urgent words of the man, the woman, although with a troubled expression, nodded. Aiden and his group entered the inn this way. The interior wasn¡¯t very spacious, but being an inn, it was divided into several rooms. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a zombie horde. They¡¯ve appeared again. Let¡¯s go upstairs for now.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°Oh, what about the kid?¡± ¡°She¡¯s fine. She¡¯s sleeping now.¡± The sounds of the man and woman conversing reached Aiden. They seemed to be a married couple, and having a child here, too, was unexpected. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Aiden thought about that while ushering Arian and Sadie into one of the rooms. Then, the couple looked at Aiden¡¯s black helmet with subtle suspicion. A faint sense of wariness and doubt pierced Aiden with their gaze. It wasn¡¯t an unpleasant treatment. Becoming raiders from wanderers was a matter of a moment. Aiden wanted to explain and foster mutual trust, but unfortunately, there wasn¡¯t time for that. ¡°Please stay on the first floor. We¡¯ll be on the second floor.¡± The man told Aiden that way. Aiden nodded and followed his instructions. The couple went up the stairs. The hallway leading to the stairs also had a grate door, and the man meticulously locked it. ¡°Uggrh...¡± Then, the groaning corpses revealed themselves on the street. Aiden pressed against the wall, cautiously observing the outside without showing himself. The immediate number of visible zombies was dozens. Considering the limited field of view, this zombie horde was almost a hundred in number. ¡°There are so many this time. It could have been a big problem.¡± ¡°Hush! Be quiet!¡± The conversation of the couple from upstairs could be heard. When the man made an idle comment, the woman was giving him a warning. ¡°Um...¡± ¡°Shh...¡± Dozens of zombies passed around this small inn. Some zombies even pounded on the iron-barred door blocking their path, but, of course, the robust door remained shut. Eventually, even the zombies causing a ruckus left the inn. It took another hour for the entire zombie horde to leave the vicinity of the inn. Silence finally returned after the eerie wailing sounds in all directions. What broke the silence was the long sigh of the man. ¡°Phew...¡± Aiden glanced at his group. Sadie was sitting quietly on the bed with Arian. Whether hiding like this was familiar to her or not, fortunately, Sadie didn¡¯t seem fearful. A little more time passed. Once Aiden felt reasonably safe, he approached the stairs leading to the second floor. The front of it was still blocked by iron bars. But instead of trying to open it, Aiden spoke. ¡°Thank you; we owe you.¡± If it were Aiden and Arian, fighting against a horde of a hundred zombies was manageable. However, in the current situation, just fighting itself was a loss. Even if they won, the supplies they used wouldn¡¯t come back. Ultimately, thanks to this couple, unnecessary bloodshed was avoided. So, Aiden expressed his gratitude. It was to emphasize that, despite narrowly escaping zombies together, there was no intention of hostility towards them. Soon after, the man descended from the stairs. He awkwardly smiled and replied: ¡°No, not at all. You were the ones who saved me first. Oh, I¡¯m Nairik Rao. And this is my wife, Mariana.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Aiden Lee, and over there is...¡± So, the two men introduced themselves and their respective companions. However, until then, the metal bars between them didn¡¯t open easily. It was understandable. Entering his hideout was inevitable due to the danger of the zombie horde. However, from Nairik¡¯s perspective, bringing unknown wanderers this far was an unreasonably risky move. During that brief and awkward silence, Sadie peeked her head outside the room she had been staying in. Nairik¡¯s tension eased a bit as he looked at her. He inquired: ¡°Is she your daughter?¡± ¡°No, not at all. Just a traveling companion.¡± Following Sadie, Arian also stepped into the hallway. Although not as young as Sadie, she appeared to be in her mid-teens, prompting Nairik to ask: ¡°And her?¡± ¡°...Not her either.¡± ¡°I see...¡± Nairik scratched his head with a wry smile. After all, Aiden¡¯s group might seem like an unusual combination when considered in a normal way. To avoid unnecessary questions, Aiden shifted the topic. ¡°Rather than that, it seems like you also have a child.¡± ¡°Huh? Oh, did you hear? His name is Zaid. He just turned ten months.¡± ¡°A baby that young...?¡± Aiden couldn¡¯t help but be surprised by the information. He expected a child but didn¡¯t anticipate one so young. ¡°Do you really have a baby?¡± Perhaps reacting to the word ¡®baby,¡¯ Sadie asked Nairik. Nairik confidently nodded his head. Chapter 62 ¡°Well then, would you like to see him?¡± Upon Nairik¡¯s question, Sadie nodded her head. Nairik, finally easing his suspicion, seemed to have judged that Aiden¡¯s group was safe. However, to avoid unnecessary awkwardness, Aiden deliberately stepped back from the stairs leading to the second floor. Then, with a clink sound, the door leading to the second floor actually opened. Following Nairik, Sadie and Arian went upstairs. ¡°Wow...!¡± There, Sadie¡¯s eyes sparkled. On the second floor of the inn, there was indeed a small baby on the bed. ¡°Nairik...?¡± Mariana, who was with the baby, turned to Nairik. In response, Nairik raised both hands, expressing a somewhat apologetic look. ¡°It¡¯s okay. They¡¯re just like our kids.¡± ¡°You really...¡± Mariah, who took a short breath, briefly glanced at the stairs. Until then, only two girls had come up to the second floor. Neither of them looked too dangerous to the eyes of people who didn¡¯t know their background. Meanwhile, Aiden remained on the first floor. There was no need to go up to the second floor, and it was also a declaration that he wouldn¡¯t do anything suspicious. ¡°Um... Can I hold the baby?¡± Sadie asked Mariana at that moment. Mariana nodded with a faint smile. Sadie extended her hand towards the baby sitting on the bed. The small fingers of the baby met with even smaller fingers. Then, the baby blinked at Sadie. In response, Sadie showed a surprised expression. ¡°Elder sister, pretty elder sister.¡± Mariana told Sadie like that. While Sadie and the baby interacted, Arian looked on with a pleased expression a bit away. On the other hand, Nairik, who had been watching the children for a moment, went back down to the first floor. It was to talk with Aiden. ¡°...¡± Aiden, while listening to the conversation sounds from upstairs, was keeping an eye on the outside through the window. Unnoticed, the sunset had dyed the sky red. As it was a sign that night was approaching, the best choice was to stay in this hideout. Of course, there was a possibility that the other side would express refusal. In that case, they would have to stay in the courthouse building visible over there. While thinking about that, Nairik came down. ¡°Cute kids.¡± He sat down in the chair next to the window where Aiden was sitting and said so. Kids. If he meant Sadie, it made sense. Subjectively and objectively, she was an adorable child. However, Arian gave a slightly different impression from being cute. Even if one didn¡¯t know Arian¡¯s true nature, Nairik probably saw her beheading zombies a while ago. So, Aiden neither affirmed nor denied, just nodded silently. Nairik continued speaking: ¡°What are your thoughts for tonight?¡± Perhaps sensing Aiden¡¯s concern, Nairik asked. Aiden responded promptly: ¡°I want to stay here. But I won¡¯t force it. If you want us to leave right away, we will.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s how it is. Still, I don¡¯t have any intention of kicking out my benefactors. However...¡± Nairik trailed off with a sly expression. Naturally, it implied that there was a need for compensation. Aiden, relying on Nairik¡¯s goodwill, had no intention of taking advantage. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Do you have any supplies you brought?¡± Nairik asked, scrutinizing Aiden¡¯s demeanor. The question seemed audacious, given that there were no visible items. Apparently, he hadn¡¯t witnessed the moment when Arian and Sadie got off the vehicle, chased by zombies. ¡°We have a vehicle that brought us here. There¡¯s some resources there.¡± ¡°Oh, really? That¡¯s fortunate. Then... do you have any food or water?¡± Aiden nodded his head. It hadn¡¯t been long since he restocked on food and water in Fort Wayne. While not overly abundant, there was enough to cover the accommodation for tonight. After negotiating a suitable price, Aiden personally went to the vehicle and brought back food and water for Nairik, Sadie, and Arian to use for the evening. ¡°Is this for the child?¡± Handing over the requested items, Aiden asked Nairik. Especially, Nairik wanted vegetables or greens among the provisions. These were somewhat inefficient foods if one only considered calories. Simultaneously, they were items that had become difficult to obtain lately. Aiden had some fruit and vegetable canned goods and a few canned nuts that he had acquired in Fort Wayne, so he handed them over. ¡°Yes. The gathered food here is all meat. Of course, I know canned food isn¡¯t great for a baby, but what can you do? We have to feed him something.¡± Understanding that sentiment, Aiden nodded his head. In a world where it was challenging to find food for adults, it was even more difficult for babies who had restrictions on consumable foods and required many nutrients. To Aiden¡¯s eyes, being able to raise a child until now was already astonishing. ¡°You¡¯ve been through a lot.¡± Nairik just forced a bitter smile in response. He wanted to say that it was nothing when it came to his child, but honestly, it was quite a struggle. ¡°By the way, where are you from?¡± ¡°Pittsburgh.¡± ¡°A far place.¡± Nairik spoke with admiration, even though it was just two states away across the entire United States. However, in this era where one had to risk their lives for even that much movement, it was impressive. ¡°And you?¡± ¡°I came from St. Louis. After that, I stayed in Tuscola for two years. I was part of a small survivor group there. It¡¯s been about a month since I came here.¡± St. Louis was a large city about 300 km southwest from here. It was one of the candidate cities after Springfield, the current destination. However, compared to that, Tuscola was a name Aiden heard for the first time. ¡°Tuscola?¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s a town about 100 km away from here. Similar to here.¡± ¡°How did you end up here from there? What about the other companions?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t come here because I wanted to. There was an accident...¡± Nairik said that much and let out a heavy sigh. Aiden just nodded his head. There was no need to ask about the details of that accident. Aiden asked another question: ¡°Just today, there were a lot of zombie hordes. Is this area usually like this?¡± ¡°Yes. This level is common.¡± ¡°...I see.¡± No wonder he wasn¡¯t so surprised by the zombie horde. Aiden decided to keep this in mind and continued with his questions. ¡°Could you tell me about St. Louis, by any chance?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not difficult. But it¡¯s been over two years since I left there. When I left, there was a war going on.¡± ¡°A war?¡± ¡°At that time, St. Louis had three major gangs. They were always fighting over the city and resources. Eventually, a big war broke out, and I didn¡¯t want to get swept up in it, so I went to the small town of Tuscola.¡± Aiden asked Nairik about the details of the past. According to his words, just two years ago, the gangs in St. Louis seemed like large groups, each with over two thousand members. If that were the case, there were more than six thousand survivors there. It was a number surpassing Fort Wayne. As one went west, the population, resources, and zombies increased. Without realizing it, Aiden was vividly experiencing that. ¡°How is the situation in the east? Is it livable there?¡± This time, Nairik asked. Aiden briefly conveyed the situations of the cities he had passed through. There were fewer zombies than here, but it was a desolate wasteland with nothing. ¡°Well, that¡¯s not reassuring either,¡± Nairik commented after hearing Aiden¡¯s words. Aiden then asked about Springfield, but Nairik replied that he didn¡¯t know. This meant that he had heard all the information he could from him. However, Aiden decided to ask one more thing. ¡°Well... do you have any plans to search for supplies outside of this town?¡± ¡°Supplies, huh...¡± Nairik adopted a subtle, guarded attitude. The supplies in this town were potential resources that Nairik, who had established himself here, would use in the future. Asking him to reveal their location was akin to saying he would loot the warehouse. But that wasn¡¯t Aiden¡¯s intention in asking. ¡°I¡¯m a junk dealer. I¡¯m asking if you have any thoughts of employing me as a mercenary, providing the supplies there as a reward.¡± Although Nairik lived here, judging from the situation, there were no reliable companions. Moreover, he seemed not to be an ordinary human. Therefore, there would undoubtedly be many restrictions on solo travel and combat actions, even if there were large warehouses full of supplies. For example, if there were more than ten zombies wandering around the vicinity. ¡°...¡± Nairik¡¯s pupils calmly sank at Aiden¡¯s suggestion. Due to the baby, he couldn¡¯t easily join other survivor groups, and during the past month in this quiet town, he had come to clearly realize his limitations. Aiden thought he was well-prepared before coming to this town, but it wasn¡¯t easy to explore alone or deal with zombies. So, Aiden¡¯s proposal to Nairik seemed quite appropriate. If they managed to drive away the zombies in the town somewhat with Aiden¡¯s help, Nairik calculated that even after Aiden left, it would be easier to search for resources more smoothly. Thus, the schedule for tomorrow was set. Arian and Sadie, who had gone up to the second floor, came down. ¡°How was the child?¡± ¡°Very adorable!¡± Sadie replied with a slightly excited face to Aiden¡¯s question. It seemed like Sadie was seeing a baby for the first time here. Next, Aiden informed Arian about the newly decided exploration schedule. ¡°Tomorrow? Okay,¡± Arian casually nodded. Afterward, Aiden handed over the food and water he brought from the car to the group. The sun had already set. Now it was time for people to eat and rest. * * * The next day. Aiden and Arian were preparing to go out. It was because of the request from Nairik that they had promised yesterday. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. During the mission, Sadie decided to stay at the hideout. The hiding place was sturdy, and there were no suspicious corners with Nairik and his wife, Mariana. And Sadie seemed to like the baby so much that she wanted to stay here, so Aiden made that decision without much hesitation. ¡°Is the child going too?¡± Nairik asked, looking at Arian, who had brought a machete from the car. Given her appearance, she was no more than a teenager, so it wasn¡¯t a strange question. ¡°Didn¡¯t you see it yesterday? Despite the looks, she¡¯s quite strong...¡± ¡°Ah, I did see. She fights better than me.¡± ¡°Yes, so there¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡± With Aiden¡¯s assurance, Nairik nodded his head with a slightly uneasy expression. Is it awkward to make Arian, who still looks like a girl, fight zombies? But that might just be for now. There¡¯s no need to reveal the power of the vampire. If he sees Arian tearing apart zombies with a machete a few more times, any sympathy might quickly disappear. ¡°Let¡¯s start moving,¡± Nairik said. The group, armed with their weapons, headed outside the hideout. ¡°Where are we going?¡± ¡°To the supermarket. It¡¯s in the northern part of the town, the largest store around here. Just follow the road straight up from that hamburger place we met yesterday.¡± Nairik already knew what Aiden wanted ¨C ammunition. And since Nairik was looking for food and water, choosing a mart as the destination made sense. In the United States, it was common for supermarkets to sell ammunition. ¡°That¡¯s fine. Then...¡± Aiden said that while looking at Arian. Arian tilted her head slightly. It was a signal that there were no zombies nearby. ¡°We¡¯ll lead the way.¡± Aiden walked towards the outskirts of the village. Chapter 63 Following Aiden, the outskirts of Rockville that the group entered were typical, with wide roads and scattered low buildings. There were parking lots for each building, and not many barricades on the roads. It wasn¡¯t a completely open area, but the terrain offered little hiding space if needed. ¡°Kiiii...¡± On the road, zombies were noticeable. Whether they were stragglers from the zombie horde that passed through here yesterday or creatures emerging from nearby buildings was uncertain. Nevertheless, for such a small shopping district, the number of zombies was quite significant. ¡°...¡± Nairik, hiding in the hamburger store they investigated yesterday, swallowed his saliva at the sight of those zombies. Controlled tension was felt in his eyes. The axe he was holding trembled slightly. ¡°We need to deal with them quietly.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better to avoid them?¡± Aiden raised his head at Nairik¡¯s words. This path would soon be their return route anyway. So, it was wise to clean up the zombies along the way beforehand. ¡°I¡¯ll lure them one by one.¡± Aiden made a sound by lightly tapping the wall with the metal bat he was carrying. The nearest zombie immediately looked in that direction. However, as always, it didn¡¯t glow with excitement. Aiden intentionally kept himself hidden and only made noise. ¡°Kiiik!¡± The zombie, exploring and making noises, walked towards Aiden and the others. Once again, a sound tempting the zombie echoed on the ground. Just as the zombie was about to turn the corner, curious and expectant. Thud! Aiden¡¯s bat mercilessly shattered its head. With a dull sound, the zombie fell backward like a rotten branch. At that clean strike, Nairik inwardly admired. ¡°One down.¡± Aiden continued to lure and eliminate zombies in a similar manner. Although it took some time due to the large number, it was still morning. There was no need to hurry. Moreover, they were currently in a state of traveling with an ordinary person like Nairik. So, dealing with zombies head-on and wasting bullets was not as wise as handling them safely and saving resources. ¡°Keep going.¡± Soon, they passed the spacious intersection where the hamburger shop was located. Following a straight road, they saw shops lined up at intervals of tens of meters. Among them was a general store ¨C various tools and subtly useful items, such as rust removers. ¡°Can I stop by there for a moment?¡± Nairik asked if there were any supplies there. Aiden nodded. Aiden was also curious about what was left there. He led the group and moved near the general store, carefully hiding himself. ¡°Look, they¡¯re visible.¡± Aiden pointed with his finger. The general store was a red-colored building with a glass entrance. Thanks to that, the interior was clearly visible without the need to go inside. Inside the store and around it, as expected, there were zombies standing idly. Their numbers weren¡¯t too many ¨C one inside the store and two in the outdoor parking lot. However, their close proximity made luring them one by one challenging. ¡°There¡¯s no choice but to handle them all at once. Is that okay?¡± Aiden said, looking at the group. Arian nodded lightly, and Nairik, holding his axe tightly, responded similarly. Aiden assigned each person a zombie to deal with. Nairik would handle the zombie in the nearest parking lot, while Arian and Aiden would take care of the remaining two. ¡°...Let¡¯s start.¡± Those hiding behind the bushes moved accordingly. Arian circled the outskirts of the parking lot, smoothly sliding behind abandoned vehicles. Though there was no sound like a cat walking, her movements were swift. On the other hand, Aiden circled to the opposite side and hid behind a large, neglected trash can. After confirming everyone had moved to their designated positions, Aiden signaled Nairik. ¡°...¡± Nairik nodded, emerged from the bushes, and, with slight trembling hands due to tension, approached the zombie standing idly in the parking lot. ¡°Kiiik!¡± The zombie, sensing prey approaching, turned toward Nairik. Just before its rotten eyes gleamed with madness at the sudden appearance of food. Thunk! Nairik¡¯s axe descended upon the zombie. With a squelching sound, the axe blade passed halfway through the zombie¡¯s neck. A heavy blow was loaded with weight. However, the zombie¡¯s head was not completely cut off, revealing the partially severed neck bone inside the decayed flesh. ¡°Kiee-¡° The zombie emitted a scream from the torn neck hole. Nairik kicked away the approaching zombie¡¯s chest with his front foot, causing the creature making strange noises to momentarily step back. During that moment, Nairik readjusted his grip on the axe. Then, thunk! The second strike finally completely severed the zombie¡¯s neck bone. Relief and tension flickered rapidly across Nairik¡¯s face. ¡°Coo...!¡± At that time other zombies, hearing the noise, simultaneously turned their attention toward Nairik. In the brief moment when the creatures were about to unleash their screams upon discovering fresh prey. Swish! A machete and a metal bat swooped down from behind them. The two simultaneous attacks effortlessly split and crushed two heads. After a momentary disturbance, silence returned to the general store. Aiden, confirming there were no more zombies, gathered the group. ¡°Whew...¡± Nairik, who had rejoined, exhaled as if releasing built-up tension. Although he seemed somewhat frail, compared to that, his recent axe skills were quite impressive. ¡°You¡¯re quite skilled with the axe.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯ve used it a lot. Huh... But no matter how many times I do this, it always makes me nervous.¡± Nairik replied with a slightly fatigued voice. Even so, there was a sense of relief in his gaze. Surviving for the past three years wasn¡¯t just a matter of luck. Although he couldn¡¯t sever a zombie¡¯s neck in one go, it wasn¡¯t a matter of skill. It was just a lack of strength. Nairik¡¯s limitations were in having the strength of an ordinary person. Severing a neck bone along with decaying flesh was not an easy task, even if it was a decaying corpse. ¡°By the way, you two are really amazing. Especially... Miss Clifford. How do you cut a zombie¡¯s neck with a blade in one go? Is there a trick to it?¡± Nairik asked Arian. However, since the answer was not a trick but something outrageous, Aiden smoothly changed the topic. ¡°We¡¯ll talk about that later. For now, let¡¯s search the surroundings. Wasn¡¯t there something we needed to find?¡± ¡°Oh, right.¡± Nairik roamed the general store and picked up several tools. Aiden also discovered some useful items in the automotive goods section, taking up about half of the general store. Items like lubricants and engine oil, necessary for vehicle maintenance, ended up in Aiden¡¯s hands. While these vehicle items were useful, they couldn¡¯t always be carried around since there were clear limits to the capacity of the belongings they could carry. No matter how much they use a vehicle, it would take up more than half of its total capacity, even if it¡¯s just for food, water, and gasoline. Moreover, when including weapons and ammunition, there¡¯s no way to carry such consumables with ease. Therefore, the only answer for such supplies was to scavenge them on-site, and that¡¯s exactly what they found. Aiden had hidden some of these vehicle supplies in the bushes by the road outside the general store. ¡°Why did you put them there?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll pick them up on the way back. No need to carry them unnecessarily, right?¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Oh... I guess that makes sense.¡± Having heard Aiden¡¯s words, Nairik also placed the toolbox he was carrying next to them. ¡°Now, let¡¯s move again.¡± The group, having gathered some useful items at the general store, continued walking towards the north. The destination, a supermarket, was not too far away, approximately 1 km. However, within that short distance, zombies appeared relentlessly ¨C inside sparsely standing buildings, on the wide road, and even in the small residential area and cemetery on the opposite side of the road. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of that one. And...¡± Aiden thoroughly dealt with the zombies appearing with the rest of the group. By the time they had cleared more than fifty zombies, the target destination, the supermarket, finally came into view at the northern end of the village. ¡°Here we are.¡± It was a one-story building with a light brown color, lacking a single glass window. The size was just average, but the central door was firmly closed, with an iron shutter pulled down. There were only five zombies wandering around the vicinity, fortunately keeping some distance from each other. Aiden and the group easily took care of them. After dealing with the zombies, Aiden and the group searched for an entrance to get inside. ¡°Hmm...¡± Aiden, who circled around the store once, sighed in frustration. There was no visible entrance to go inside. Windows were still unseen, and besides the entrance at the front of the store, there was only a small back door for employees. Even after using abandoned vehicles as footholds and climbing up to the top of the building to inspect ventilation openings, it was still not large enough for a person to enter. A completely sealed building. Seeing the closed door, Arian frowned. ¡°We might have to break the door or something.¡± Arian muttered as if expressing her difficulty. However, Aiden, unlike her, was quietly surprised. ¡°It seems a place like this still exists.¡± ¡°...What do you mean?¡± ¡°It seems like no one has come here since it closed.¡± Hearing Aiden¡¯s words, Arian widened her eyes. In other words, unlike the many stores Aiden and Arian had encountered so far, this place remained untouched by anyone for the past three years. ¡°I knew the front entrance was blocked, but I didn¡¯t expect there to be no entrance at all.¡± Nairik remarked, a slight hint of perplexity in his words. At first glance, opening and entering such a closed building may seem like discovering a treasure trove. Surprisingly, the results might not be that good. Sometimes this way you open the door to a cave full of zombies. ¡°Can you detect anything inside?¡± So Aiden asked Arian. Arian shook her head. This meant that there were no zombies inside. ¡°Are you going in?¡± This time Nairik asked. Upon hearing his words, Aiden let out a short sigh. If there were no zombies inside, there was no reason not to enter. The problem was the method. The easiest to break through immediately was the small back door for employees. However, it was made of steel and was a type of door that opened from the inside to the outside. With the current tools, an axe or a bat, there was simply no way to open it. So Aiden naturally looked at Arian. ¡°Is it possible?¡± He asked her, and Arian nodded her head. As if it was nothing special, she said to Nairik: ¡°Lend me the axe.¡± ¡°The axe?¡± ¡°My machete won¡¯t work. Also, it might be quite noisy. There¡¯s a good chance the surrounding zombies will gather. Is that okay?¡± Arian warned Aiden. Aiden, seeming to understand, prepared his gun and magazines. He glanced at the rooftop where he had looked down on the scenery earlier. Nearby, there were no tall buildings, so just climbing up there provided a clear view. Aiden had already identified the positions of nearby zombies at that time. Fortunately, this place was at the end of the village, with only abandoned fields beyond it. So, there weren¡¯t too many zombies there, and there were no zombie hordes passing by. Even if Arian made noise, at most, only a few dozen zombies would come rushing. Was it worth fighting them, investing bullets, and entering the supermarket? Aiden pondered this and soon came to the conclusion that it was worth the investment. ¡°Alright. We¡¯ll handle the guard duty.¡± So, Aiden eventually said that. Nairik handed the axe to Arian, taking the gun instead. Aiden and Nairik moved away from the employee door, not only for guarding but also because Aiden didn¡¯t want to show Arian breaking the door. ¡°Are you sure about this?¡± Nairik asked with a bewildered face. Aiden, not being a sturdy guy and with a teenage girl about to break a steel door with an axe, understood why Nairik asked. However, the answer came from behind. Bang! As if a bomb had exploded, an unexpectedly loud noise burst out from the iron door. Nairik¡¯s eyes widened, but he couldn¡¯t turn around. The noise was much louder than Nairik expected. He knew all too well what such a loud noise would attract. ¡°They¡¯re coming!¡± Aiden shouted. Corpses were rushing from the north. Chapter 64 There was still a distance of several dozen meters, but the number gathered in an instant looked like dozens, at least... around thirty. Nairik quickly aimed his rifle at the zombies¡¯ heads. The heads of the rushing ones were shaking beyond the sights as if crazily running toward them. Then... Bang! Aiden fired a quick shot. A zombie running along the road about fifty meters away collapsed as it was. ¡°Wow...!¡± It was an amazing shooting skill. Upon witnessing it, Nairik swallowed his saliva and calmly aimed at the nearest zombie. He couldn¡¯t afford to stand by. And then, a gunshot echoed in his ears. Fortunately, one zombie that was rushing toward them turned its head back and fell. That¡¯s how Aiden¡¯s group continued shooting. Fortunately, the majority of the zombies were concentrated in the north. Thanks to Aiden¡¯s group clearing the zombies in the shopping district, zombies rushed only through the road to the north. So, the zombies running through the limited passage became easy prey for Aiden¡¯s precise shooting. Aiden fired shots almost every second. Zombies were swept away by the storm of bullets, and their numbers rapidly decreased. By the time his magazine was almost empty, there was no one standing on the ground except Aiden. ¡°Phew... is it over?¡± ¡°It seems like it.¡± Nairik lowered his gun, taking a deep breath. He looked at Aiden, who was gazing at the corpses scattered on the road. From Nairik¡¯s perspective, it was an astonishing shooting skill that could only be described as amazing. Aiden fired several times faster than his own shooting speed, and not a single one of his bullets missed. ¡°Is it over?¡± Following that, a somewhat relaxed voice reached him. It was Arian. Somehow, she had already managed to crush the door she had been pounding on. The door she had been tapping on was now lying on the ground, twisted and deformed. ¡°...¡± Once again, Nairik was amazed. How could someone crumple a door as thick as a finger with an axe? It was definitely not something that could be done with a single axe handle. However, before Nairik could say anything, a voice came from behind. ¡°Then let¡¯s go in.¡± Aiden urged him in a low voice. As if the voice was telling him not to ask anything, Nairik simply nodded silently. Led by Aiden at the forefront, the group entered the store that had been closed for three years. ¡°...¡± The building, completely sealed without a single window, was pitch dark. Pop! To illuminate the darkness, Aiden turned on the light attached to the end of his rifle. The corridor between another door leading from the back door was revealed. Looking at the door leading to the store, Nairik felt a slight sense of excitement. He unknowingly anticipated what might be hidden inside, untouched by anyone for three years. Squeak- Fortunately, the door on the inside was not locked. Aiden cautiously opened it, revealing the interior of the store. ¡°Ah...¡± Upon seeing it, Nairik let out a short groan. Contrary to his expectations, the shelves in the store were all empty, bathed in darkness. ¡°Hmm...¡± Aiden also sighed. It would have been good if the supplies were left untouched, but it seemed like the owner had at least made some effort to organize and leave this place. ¡°For now, it¡¯s best to search the surroundings.¡± But disappointment was premature. The post-zombie society was a chaotic time, as chaotic as it could be described. The previous social order had collapsed with a bang, and even the subsequent order hadn¡¯t been properly established. So, it was likely that the owner of this place couldn¡¯t leisurely take away all the supplies. ¡°Do you have any light sources?¡± Aiden asked Nairik. However, he shook his head. ¡°No, I don¡¯t have any.¡± It wasn¡¯t that Nairik had forgotten to bring it. He simply didn¡¯t have such an item. While tools for illuminating darkness were useful, be it LED lights or even small candles, they required consumables like batteries or lighters. For ordinary survivors who barely managed to find and eat food and water, obtaining such items was a luxury. Understanding this, Aiden nodded. ¡°Then let¡¯s move together.¡± So, Aiden and Nairik moved together, while Arian walked separately in the darkness. Aiden first entered the empty store. Even though the shelves were empty, there was something underneath. ¡°This is...¡± What he found was a cardboard box. He tapped it with his foot, and it wasn¡¯t empty. However, clear traces of black liquid were visible underneath. Probably, it was a dried-up, once-flowing rotten liquid. There was no need to open it; it probably contained decaying food from a long time ago. ¡°...¡± Aiden turned away without hesitation, not dwelling on it. Something like a black cockroach scurrying across the floor could be seen. At this, Nairik¡¯s brow furrowed. But Aiden didn¡¯t care and this time he went to the front of the store. Near the checkout counter, there were several boxes piled up, about the height of an adult. ¡°Hmm...¡± Aiden examined it closely. Most of them were similar to the decaying food boxes he saw earlier, containing items like cabbage and potatoes. Difficult to preserve for a long time and not very valuable. It seemed that the owner of this place had wisely selected the materials to take away even in the midst of chaos. Aiden cleared away the boxes that were piled up. Almost all of them were worthless trash. However, one of them, in the corner, was different. Its weight alone was substantial. What could be seen inside the torn cardboard box was clearly a plastic bottle. Upon inspection, it turned out to be bottled water, unopened and untouched, appearing undistorted even in the pitch-darkness. ¡°Found something useful.¡± There was a whole box of such bottled water, about 40 liters in quantity. Nairik smiled at the unexpectedly abundant harvest. However, no matter how much they searched, the ammunition Aiden was looking for was nowhere to be found. Unfortunately, it seemed that there were no bullets left in this place. ¡°There¡¯s something here.¡± At that moment, Arian, who was rummaging through the freezer behind the mart, called out to the group. Whether the items had spilled due to being piled up or if someone had taken the supplies from the warehouse, various canned goods were scattered on the floor. The number of these canned goods was in the tens. ¡°Here too. Isn¡¯t this quite a lot?¡± In a corner of the warehouse, boxes of a well-known brand of canned ham were discovered. Although it wasn¡¯t a type favored by people, it was a high-calorie canned food that had once been a wartime supply. ¡°This... We can¡¯t take all of this.¡± Seeing this, Aiden said. Even if they could manage the 40 liters of bottled water, adding canned goods made it impossible to carry. It was not only the weight but also the lack of a bag to carry it all. So, Aiden decided to selectively take only a few items. It wasn¡¯t a large quantity. It was less than 10% of the discovered supplies. So Nairik asked: ¡°Are you leaving all this behind?¡± ¡°Yeah. Is there anything wrong with that?¡± Aiden replied, looking at Nairik. Aiden had mentioned earlier that once today¡¯s mission was over, he would immediately leave for the next city. In other words, all the remaining supplies would be Nairik¡¯s share. Hearing this, Nairik asked with a somewhat uncomfortable expression: ¡°Are you sure about this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like I can carry everything. We can¡¯t even fit this in the car. We¡¯re not here to settle down.¡± Aiden didn¡¯t just altruistically offer supplies to Nairik. If it were ammunition or weapons, he might have made an effort to take them, but food and water were not that scarce to begin with. So here, they would replenish only what they had used. There was no need to accommodate more supplies. ¡°...¡± Nairik remained silent, seemingly touched. Aiden quickly added, sensing a possible misunderstanding: ¡°Of course... There has to be some compensation.¡± ¡°Compensation? I don¡¯t have enough bullets, so I can¡¯t give you much.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it. Do you happen to consider donating blood?¡± Aiden explained the process of blood donation, specifically targeting Nairik. Nairik quickly nodded his head. ¡°My blood is not that difficult to give. But... No, it¡¯s nothing.¡± Nairik cut off his words. He had intended to ask why they needed blood, but he didn¡¯t want to pry until the other person spoke first. Surely, there must be some reason. Aiden, like that black helmet he was wearing even in this dim place, had undoubtedly convinced him. Understanding this, Nairik kept quiet. ¡°Then let¡¯s go back.¡± Aiden and the group left the store, taking their harvest of the day. ¡°...¡± While retracing their steps, they headed back to their hideout. During this time, a smile never left Nairik¡¯s face; his biggest concern had been the ample supply of food and water. Meanwhile, on the way back, Aiden stopped at the vehicle to load the group¡¯s share of supplies. He also placed the vehicle supplies found in the miscellaneous store around the car. This was to prepare for maintenance on the vehicle just before departure. Now, all that was left was to bring back Sadie. ¡°How about staying one more day today?¡± At that moment, Nairik suggested such an idea. It was appreciated, but it wasn¡¯t necessary. It wasn¡¯t even noon yet. Even after fixing the vehicle, there was still plenty of time to leave. However, just before rejecting his proposal- ¡°...¡± Arian grabbed Aiden¡¯s sleeve. With a sharp gaze, she gestured towards the direction of the inn where the hideout was. It indicated that something had happened there. ¡°Let¡¯s discuss it after going back.¡± So Aiden immediately left in the vehicle towards the hideout. Across the street from the inn, on the opposite side of the courthouse, the commotion took place. ¡°Ah, another day of Zaid crying.¡± Nairik commented with a bitter smile. However, Aiden responded with a stern voice: ¡°It doesn¡¯t feel right.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I need to unload the baggage for a moment. Looks like something¡¯s going on.¡± At this sudden statement, Nairik looked puzzled, but he followed Aiden¡¯s instructions. The two cautiously circled around the courthouse. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Finally, they reached a point where the inn was visible. ¡°People?¡± There were three unknown men standing in front of the inn¡¯s door. Two of them were holding guns, while the other one was trying to break down the door with a hammer. ¡°We know someone is inside! Come out!¡± One of the men shouted. The one with the hammer smashed the inn door as if endorsing the threat. However, the sturdy door, like iron bars, did not break easily. Perhaps that¡¯s why they started shooting towards the building. Sudden cries could be heard from inside. The situation was clear. Unknown wanderers were trying to invade the inn. Chapter 65 ¡°They...!¡± Nairik immediately tried to shoot them. Inside the inn were his wife and child. But Arian stopped him. ¡°Wait. That¡¯s not all.¡± Although only three were visible in front, Arian mentioned that other wanderers were lurking around the building. Nairik looked at Arian with a skeptical gaze. ¡°How did you...¡± ¡°Look over there.¡± Arian pointed to a white building across the road on the right side of the inn. It was a small antique shop, familiar to Nairik. However, inside the broken window of that place, the muzzle of a gun was protruding. Nairik¡¯s face turned pale as he discovered this. ¡°There are four in total. They¡¯re spread around the inn.¡± Arian¡¯s words made Aiden furrow his brow. The wanderers had already assumed that there were people inside and intentionally created a disturbance, waiting for someone to show up. ¡°It¡¯s not their first time doing this. Revealing ourselves now will only attract a hornet¡¯s nest.¡± Aiden added. Most wanderers had the potential to become marauders, but some particularly nasty individuals survived solely by plundering. The men in front of them seemed to be that type. ¡°What are we going to do?¡± Nairik asked in a serious tone. Aiden turned to Arian for an answer. Although he didn¡¯t want to show Nairik, now wasn¡¯t the time to be indulgent. ¡°Arian-¡° ¡°I got it.¡± Before saying anything more, Arian picked up a machete and turned around. And she disappeared from that spot. ¡°No, just now...¡± Nairik, who had witnessed the scene right next to him, was amazed. But that amazement didn¡¯t last long. The sound of the hammer trying to break the iron bars resounded again. His attention was fully focused on the safety of his family. ¡°They¡¯re breaking the door!¡± ¡°Wait.¡± Aiden said that because if not stopped, they might just pull the trigger. Nairik responded urgently. ¡°What do you mean, wait?¡± ¡°Arian will send a signal.¡± ¡°If we sit here, it might be too late.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t be too late.¡± Nairik looked at Aiden¡¯s black helmet with a frustrated expression. From inside it, like an echo reverberating from a deep cave, a low voice crawled up. ¡°I have my comrades inside too. If the people inside are in danger, I won¡¯t just stand by.¡± The tone was no different from before. But that voice sounded even heavier to Nairik. Aiden¡¯s gun barrel was already pointing steadily towards the people in front of the door. Aiden himself, as much as Nairik, seemed to be uneasy about this situation. ¡°To the left, keep an eye on the guy with the gun.¡± Aiden continued to instruct. Nairik, with a sense of urgency, aimed at the head of the unknown man. How much time passed? Just when it seemed that they had barely withstood the onslaught of the hammer, a tearing sound as if the prison door was torn apart echoed. ¡°Aah!¡± A scream was heard from somewhere. The direction was neither towards the inn nor towards Aiden. It came from one of the houses that stood between the inn and Aiden, where one of the enemies was in ambush. The intruders heard the ominous scream and faltered. Even Nairik was surprised by the sudden noise Only Aiden understood that this was a signal from Arian. It meant that all the interfering guys were gone. ¡°Shoot!¡± At Aiden¡¯s command, Nairik readjusted his gun. Simultaneously, two gunshots echoed, and two of the three in front of the inn, holding guns, fell, spraying red blood. As for the one holding the hammer- Swish! From somewhere, a red machete flew and embedded itself into the guy¡¯s forehead. In an instant, the three marauders turned into lifeless bodies. Confirming there were no more enemies, Aiden and Nairik rushed towards the inn. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Tearing down the distorted grid door and entering, Aiden first checked on Sadie¡¯s condition. Sadie was holding a pistol on the first floor. She hadn¡¯t been taught how to deal with people yet. Smartly, she hid near the stairs leading to the second floor. ¡°The guns are no longer needed. You can put them down now.¡± ¡°...¡± At Aiden¡¯s words, Sadie could only nod her head. The eyes that seemed on the verge of crying, just by looking at them, indicated that she was extremely shocked. It wasn¡¯t strange. Suddenly, intruders were breaking the entrance with hammers and shooting guns. Aiden recovered the gun from Sadie and left the rest to Arian. She could reassure Sadie more than Aiden could. ¡°Phew...¡± Having confirmed the safety of his wife and baby on the second floor, Nairik breathed a sigh of relief. The baby¡¯s crying was still loud, but fortunately, it seemed that no one was hurt. Having hastily gone up to the second floor, he came down to the first floor again. ¡°Is everyone okay?¡± ¡°...Yes.¡± Answering Aiden¡¯s question, Nairik replied with an exhausted expression. He stared blankly at the broken front door. Nairik¡¯s pupils, looking at the door, were shrouded in severe anxiety. In times like these, it was better to move than just stare. Aiden urged him. ¡°There¡¯s still work to be done.¡± ¡°Yes...?¡± ¡°Supplies. Didn¡¯t you come for food?¡± ¡°Ah... right.¡± With a complicated expression, Nairik, who had lost the joy of finding a lot of supplies in no time, stood up from his seat. There was no trace left of the joy of finding so much material. He, together with Aiden, retrieved the supplies they had placed near the courthouse. Afterward, they examined the bodies lying in front of the inn and the ones Arian had dealt with. There were no signs indicating their affiliation. They seemed to be just wanderers roaming around. Aiden searched the bodies, collecting a few bullets as well as blood. Although it wasn¡¯t a pleasant task, but there was no need to throw away useful resources. ¡°...¡± Meanwhile, Nairik¡¯s expression did not brighten at all. Aiden asked him. ¡°Have you experienced something like this before?¡± ¡°No. There were a few occasions when zombies gathered, but... encountering people is a first.¡± Nairik, looking nervous, splashed water on his face as if trying to shake off the uneasiness. His worry was fully understood by Aiden. The threats in this world weren¡¯t just zombies. Sometimes, humans with guns could be more dangerous than undead bodies, and now was exactly such a case. The inn, protected by the iron bars, was like a sturdy fortress against ordinary zombies. While regular zombies couldn¡¯t enter, guns or cold weapons could deal with zombies clinging to the iron bars from the inside. However, such advantages didn¡¯t apply when facing people. If a person with a gun was an enemy, the inn would eventually become an imperfect fortress. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better to join a gang after all?¡± Aiden cautiously suggested to Nairik. Living alone in this world is inherently challenging, especially for ordinary individuals like Nairik. If he had nothing to lose except his life, it might be different, but Nairik has a family to protect. So, he needed allies. ¡°...¡± However, Nairik didn¡¯t respond to Aiden¡¯s words. Was he hesitating? Aiden continued his inquiry. ¡°Is it because of the child?¡± He thought it would be so. A child who couldn¡¯t walk properly would indeed be a significant burden to an organization. It might not be easily accepted. However, Nairik had another reason besides that. ¡°...Partly.¡± A strange answer. Nairik soon spoke again. ¡°I told you before, right? I used to live in Tuscola.¡± ¡°...That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°The survivor group there disappeared, all because of me.¡± He briefly recounted the events of that time to Aiden. A massive zombie horde attacked the village where he stayed. It was a group of over a hundred. However, for the 32 survivors in that place, it wasn¡¯t a significant threat. Zombie hordes passing through the village were a common occurrence, happening several times a month. The people living there knew how to deal with them. But, unfortunately, on that day, luck was not on their side. The baby, who happened to be hiding underground, started crying right in the middle of the zombie horde passing by. The sound reached the zombies¡¯ ears. ¡°They pounded on the basement door as if they were going to break it. So, we couldn¡¯t stop the baby¡¯s crying.¡± In the midst of the zombie horde¡¯s march, the small disturbance spread in an instant. In the blink of an eye, the zombies rushed in like a tidal wave. Just that, and the hiding place of the small survivor group became a beacon in the wind. They dealt with the corpses rushing through the windows and holes by shooting guns, but their misfortune didn¡¯t end there. The loud noise from the zombies and gunshots eventually attracted mutants. The door protecting the hideout from mutants was torn apart by them. After that, mutants and zombies invaded the hiding place, and the survivor group there disappeared without a trace. Out of over thirty people, only Nairik and his family survived. ¡°All my colleagues were good people. But only our family survived. How can I say that I¡¯m lucky?¡± Nairik raised his voice with a somewhat agitated tone. He testified that his family survived because of the sacrifices of his colleagues. Although no one was unaware that the baby¡¯s crying had attracted zombies. None of his colleagues blamed the ignorant baby. ¡°That¡¯s why... That¡¯s why I came here. There was no one left here.¡± The reason he came to this village was that it was a silent, small place where no one lived. He thought that here, he wouldn¡¯t have to commit any more sins. ¡°I was going to try it alone until the child grew up a little more. Just until the crying could be endured. But... it¡¯s not that easy.¡± Nairik said, looking at the distorted iron bars. Since there was no one here, he thought he could fend off zombies gathering only due to the baby¡¯s crying. But that wasn¡¯t the case. In this harsh world, the crying of a powerless baby attracted not only corpses but also cunning packs of living sly cats. And today, they almost faced death at the hands of those creatures. If Aiden and the others weren¡¯t there... the door would have been broken through. ¡°So what do you plan to do now?¡± ¡°...I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Whatever it is, how about fixing the door first?¡± Aiden stood up and walked slowly towards the iron-barred door. He held the tools he had brought earlier. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s not the right time to be like this.¡± Following him with a wry smile, Nairik also moved. ¡°Do you know how to handle tools?¡± ¡°Of course. I doubt there¡¯s anyone alive who can¡¯t handle them at this point.¡± ¡°Good, then I¡¯ll help too.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you leaving?¡± ¡°You said it was okay to stay for another day.¡± Nairik nodded in response to Aiden¡¯s words. ¡°...Thank you.¡± Soon, Nairik and Aiden began repairing the broken iron door. First, they straightened the bent bars of the window. Then they disassembled the fallen latch and removed the broken lock. They attached a new latch and only put a hook on the inside where a lock used to be. This type of latch wouldn¡¯t stop a person, but it was meant to prevent zombies. After a day¡¯s worth of repairs, the front door finally regained its shape, although its durability had significantly decreased compared to before. Even so, it should be enough to fend off zombie intrusions for a while. ¡°Are you really considering staying like this?¡± The time when the sunset began. Aiden asked while examining the repaired lattice door. ¡°...No.¡± Was Nairik¡¯s thoughts somewhat organized during that time of contemplation? Nairik, who had been hesitating, finally expressed his opinion. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I think we should leave. Now that it¡¯s come to this, it¡¯s better to join a larger organization.¡± ¡°A larger organization?¡± ¡°Yes. Even if our child cries, we need a place so big that it won¡¯t attract attention.¡± ¡°Are there such places nearby?¡± Aiden asked, and Nairik nodded. ¡°You told me about it. It¡¯s called Fort Wayne.¡± ¡°Well... it¡¯s quite far away.¡± ¡°We need to find a car first. More importantly, how is it there? Would it be safe for our family to go there?¡± Fort Wayne. Even Aiden, who left the city disappointed, couldn¡¯t know how it would be for Nairik. So, he decided to provide information only. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you what I know. The rest is up to your judgment.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Aiden told Nairik in detail about what he had seen and heard there. Such a conversation continued until nightfall. * * * The next day. After the morning sun had risen for a while, Aiden was preparing to leave Rockville. Having finished all the postponed maintenance on the vehicle, he came back to the inn to pick up the others. As they were about to leave the inn, Nairik and his family came out to see them off. ¡°Are you leaving?¡± Aiden nodded. ¡°Thank you for the past two days.¡± ¡°No, I should be thankful.¡± Meanwhile, Sadie was saying her goodbyes to the baby. Although they had experienced such an incident yesterday, fortunately, after a night had passed, she seemed to have recovered a lot. Watching the family bidding farewell, Nairik, who had been silent, opened his mouth again. ¡°...Are you really going to Tuscola?¡± Aiden nodded. It was the decision he made last night. He had heard information that there might be some ammunition left in Tuscola¡¯s old hideout where Nairik had been. Of course, it was risky, but Nairik handed over all the information he knew about Tuscola to Aiden in exchange. And in return, he made a small request. Since it wasn¡¯t a difficult task, Aiden accepted it. ¡°All right. Please take care.¡± Nerik bid farewell. In response, Aiden¡¯s group also exchanged final greetings with them and turned away. So, they left Rockville and began to head towards Tuscola, the village Nairik mentioned. Chapter 66 Leaving Rockville, a few hours later. In the early afternoon, Aiden¡¯s group¡¯s vehicle arrived in Tuscola. Screech- A place 100km away from Rockville. Also, for Aiden, it was the moment of setting foot in a new state for the first time in the week. ¡°From here... it¡¯s Illinois, right?¡± Aiden muttered as he parked the vehicle in a suitable spot. Pennsylvania, where Pittsburgh was located. Ohio, where they visited small towns like Canton and Wooster. Indiana, where Fort Wayne and Indianapolis were. Although Aiden had arrived in his fourth state, the surrounding scenery hadn¡¯t changed much. The place where he parked the car used to be a truck repair shop, and Aiden¡¯s group¡¯s vehicle was perfectly hidden between two large trucks. Aiden turned around in that state. Sadie¡¯s eyes, sitting in the back seat, stared at Aiden. ¡°Do you really want to go?¡± Aiden asked Sadie. Aiden¡¯s task here was to go to the hotel he had heard about from Nairik, retrieve supplies, and come back. So, Sadie didn¡¯t need to go out, and it was right for her to wait in the car if she prioritized safety. However, a little while ago, Sadie volunteered to go with Aiden. She wanted to gain experience. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Alright, then get your weapon.¡± Aiden replied to that request. Sadie hesitated for a moment, then picked up a handgun. Arian looked at Sadie with an uneasy look, but didn¡¯t say anything. Both Sadie and Arian had learned something from their experiences in Fort Wayne and Rockville. Even if you¡¯re a child, you need to know how to protect yourself to survive in this world. Thud! With the sound of the door closing, Aiden got out of the vehicle. Arian and Sadie followed Aiden. ¡°Isn¡¯t it too heavy for you?¡± Aiden asked, looking at the handgun Sadie was holding. Then Sadie shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Sadie said so, but in Aiden¡¯s eyes, that handgun wasn¡¯t a suitable weapon for Sadie. A model with a magazine capacity of 17 rounds and a long barrel to increase accuracy. It was a temporary weapon given to Sadie because Aiden prioritized performance such as penetration and accuracy rather than the convenience of weight and recoil. For Sadie, it was too heavy and big. Of course, there are types of handguns with magazines that hold just 10 rounds or even fewer. It¡¯s not ideal to have a low ammo capacity. But if the size of the magazine is reduced, the overall size of the gun also decreases, and the weight can be much lighter. If Sadie wants to be more proactive, she may need to look for such a model. ¡°Then let¡¯s go.¡± Aiden remembered this and moved forward. They were on the outskirts of the village. A place with scattered buildings on a wide plain, with one road dividing it. And where Aiden was going was a hotel at the end of such an outskirts. A three-story building covered with a neglected roof for three years and a dull color entered their sight. Even on the outskirts of the village, it stood alone at the very end. And in the parking lot in front of the hotel, there were, as expected, zombies wandering around. Only three of them. Aiden stepped forward to the ones who hadn¡¯t noticed the group yet. ¡°I¡¯ll handle those.¡± There was no need for even a bat for these guys. Without his helmet, Aiden, with his face exposed, casually approached one of them and stabbed the military sword under its chin. ¡°Ki-!¡± With that sound, one zombie fell along with the head. The remaining two turned to look at Aiden in response to the noise. But they couldn¡¯t immediately distinguish which one among the fallen zombie and the standing one was the enemy. In the meantime, Aiden approached another one and repeated the same action. Only then did a zombie perceive the threat and rush towards Aiden. Aiden extended his left arm towards the approaching zombie, as if offering it as prey. Squelch! The zombie bit into Aiden¡¯s arm. However, before its teeth could cut into the flesh of the arm, the putrid bodily fluid squirting from there touched the zombie¡¯s mouth. ¡°Kiek!¡± Upon this, the zombie quickly released Aiden¡¯s arm as if it had just ingested poison. Aiden seized the opportunity. One of his hands grabbed the zombie¡¯s head, while the other raised the broadsword. Thunk! Just like the previous two, the blade pierced from the zombie¡¯s chin to its brain. In this way, the three corpses fell to the ground without making a sound. Aiden scanned the surroundings as if nothing had happened. There was no sign of any movement. ¡°It seems like this is all outside. Let¡¯s go in.¡± With that, Aiden and his group entered through the main gate of the hotel. The first thing that greeted them was the dusty lobby. Torn red carpet and a broken chandelier embedded in it. They testified to what had happened in this place in the past. On both sides of the lobby, long corridors led to rooms. Zombie figures weren¡¯t yet visible there. Were they inside the rooms or hiding on different floors? Meanwhile, the entrance to the basement, where Nairik¡¯s colleagues were supposed to be, was easily noticeable. Inside the quiet lobby. A collapsed barricade blocking the stairs downward was visible. ¡°...¡± It was a barricade installed inside the building, not at the hotel entrance. It was easy to guess the reason. It must have been a small group of survivors who didn¡¯t want to attract the attention of wandering outsiders. Aiden examined the barricade. It was a sturdy barricade, but it had been torn apart by force. It didn¡¯t seem to be the work of an ordinary zombie. So, Aiden asked Arian. ¡°Is there a mutant downstairs?¡± Arian casually nodded. Upon this, Aiden sighed briefly. There was information about the mutants that had killed Nairik¡¯s colleagues that he had heard just yesterday. A new type of mutant, something Aiden had never heard of before. Whether the mutant below was that one or another one, he didn¡¯t know. Encountering an unknown mutant wasn¡¯t good news for Aiden. However, having come this far, there was no turning back. In that case, he could only do what needed to be done. Continuing to head towards the corridor, he suddenly turned to look at Sadie. ¡°...Sadie.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°What do you think is the first thing we should do now?¡± Sadie¡¯s eyes widened a bit at the unexpected question. But soon, she realized. This was a test from Aiden. Sadie pondered deeply on it. She had been observing Aiden¡¯s fighting style and moment-to-moment judgments. Aiden prioritized safety. Rather than winning against the enemy in a fight, he prioritized avoiding conflict whenever possible. When forced into combat, he didn¡¯t hesitate, but always considered the possibility of defeat and prepared for it. This tendency of Aiden manifested not only in battles but also in other aspects. Even when organizing items in the car. He always had two backpacks with a certain amount of food, water, and ammunition, ready in case the vehicle was damaged. In other words, he prepared for the worst. Now, faced with the situation, Aiden was likely anticipating the possibility of losing to the mutant underground. After thinking it over, Sadie slowly opened her mouth. ¡°Before going downstairs, we need to attack the other zombies on the upper floor.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°To create an escape route.¡± Aiden nodded in response. It was the right answer. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. Besides, if we use firearms underground, it might attract all the zombies on the surface. If we don¡¯t deal with them, in the worst case, we could be isolated in the basement.¡± Aiden then pointed out something Sadie hadn¡¯t realized. He was undeniably teaching Sadie. Since Sadie had decided to learn something on her own, it was his way of responding to that decision. ¡°Now, I¡¯ll go deal with the zombies on the surface. The numbers don¡¯t seem too large. Be cautious of your footsteps and follow behind me.¡± Aiden walked down the corridor leading to the rooms before going underground. Then he pointed to the door of a certain room. ¡°Do you hear it?¡± Aiden whispered. As Sadie listened, she heard a strange sound, like a tongue clicking softly. Sadie nodded. ¡°Remember that sound. It means there¡¯s a zombie there. Follow me this way.¡± Aiden pushed the group into another empty room. Then, he casually picked up a piece of trash rolling on the floor. ¡°Next is a method of luring zombies with sound.¡± He taught Sadie how to detect the presence of zombies without seeing them, lure them out, and avoid being caught by them. Finally, as they dealt with the zombie that played the role of a practice dummy, Aiden spoke. ¡°That¡¯s how it works. Do you understand?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Sadie replied with a subtly uncomfortable expression. ¡°Why is that?¡± ¡°These zombies here were...¡± Sadie¡¯s words trailed off, but Aiden quickly understood what she meant. The inn where Nairik stayed yesterday wasn¡¯t a large building. So, all the conversations between Aiden and Nairik there would have been heard by Sadie. It bothered her that some of the zombies here were Nairik¡¯s colleagues. ¡°No, zombies are just zombies.¡± Aiden firmly nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about who those bodies were in their past lives. Just focus on staying alive. If using them helps you survive, then it¡¯s okay to use them like we are now.¡± Sadie nodded hesitantly. Perhaps what she heard didn¡¯t feel real. So, Aiden decided to give her a chance. ¡°Then, this time, try it yourself.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Take the lead on the opposite corridor. Find the zombies first.¡± After hesitating for a moment at Aiden¡¯s words, Sadie nodded with a tense face. Arian, who had been quiet, approached. ¡°Is it really okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be by her side. And you... It might be better for you to stay behind.¡± Arian frowned at his words, but ultimately followed Aiden¡¯s suggestion. With Arian retreating, Sadie cautiously walked towards the opposite corridor. While silently moving and cautiously stepping, she soon pointed to a slightly opened door in one of the rooms. ¡°...¡± Aiden nodded, watching her. The sound that Aiden had pointed out was coming from inside. Finding the zombies was successful. But just as Sadie was about to retreat from the guest room to lure it out. Crunch! A noise came from under Sadie¡¯s feet, who had been moving quietly. An insignificant noise made by stepping on a piece of plastic left on the floor and breaking it. But the sound was loud enough for zombies to recognize. ¡°Kiiik!¡± The zombie that was right in the nearby room suddenly rushed out into the corridor. It immediately spotted Sadie, who hadn¡¯t hidden her body yet. Thunk! Aiden¡¯s sword was thrust directly into the zombie¡¯s jaw. Aiden laid the zombie down on the ground and turned to Sadie. ¡°You should watch your step on the floor.¡± ¡°...Yes.¡± ¡°Want to try it again?¡± Sadie nodded. That way, Aiden assisted Sadie with her practice up to the 3rd floor of the hotel. Finding the zombie¡¯s location, luring it out, and avoiding its awareness. Success in this series of processes came after more than ten failures. ¡°Kie...¡± A zombie lured out into the corridor wandered around. But standing there was Aiden, another zombie. Sadie had already entered the room where the zombie was hiding, remaining concealed. ¡°...¡± Peeking her head out from the room, Sadie smiled at Aiden. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was a joyful expression after many failures ended in success. To that Sadie, Aiden nodded approvingly. ¡°Good job. You learn fast.¡± As Aiden said that, the zombie in front emitted a growl, a cautious sound of alertness. It was as if it encountered a fellow creature that could speak for the first time. Aiden thrust his knife into the zombie¡¯s jaw. In the now-silent corridor, Aiden approached Sadie. ¡°What do you think the meaning of this practice is?¡± ¡°Uh... Learning how to avoid zombies?¡± ¡°That¡¯s part of it. But that¡¯s not all. For example, even if the terrain changes a little, the methods you learned today might not be applicable.¡± Sadie¡¯s eyes showed confusion at Aiden¡¯s words. He continued. What Aiden wanted to tell Sadie was about zombies themselves. How much cognitive ability zombies exactly possessed. How they reacted sharply to certain stimuli. And exactly what level of intelligence they had. Basic knowledge that anyone who had survived alongside zombies in the past three years would naturally learn. However, it was also crucial information, so Aiden wanted to teach it to Sadie. ¡°So, you need to understand the existence of zombies itself. Based on that, you should be able to come up with methods that suit the situations you find yourself in, not just the ones I taught you. Do you understand?¡± In the end, it was about improvising based on basic knowledge in each moment. Sadie quietly nodded at Aiden¡¯s words. ¡°Alright. Then let¡¯s stop here for today.¡± Aiden, having said that, went back downstairs to the hotel¡¯s first floor with the group. Now, all the zombies in the hotel had been dealt with. What remained was... only the basement with the rumored mutant. Aiden stood at the stairs leading to the basement. Below, the darkness seemed to engulf everything ominously. Chapter 67 ¡°Are we not supposed to learn about mutants?¡± Sadie asked. Sadie¡¯s proactive attitude was quite welcome, but this time, Aiden had nothing more to teach. ¡°Acquiring knowledge about mutants is essential. However... this time, I also need to learn.¡± He first checked the weapons he had. A silver revolver with six bullets, one grenade, one flashbang, an assault rifle with two 30-round magazines loaded with armor-piercing rounds, and a greatsword, among others. Though the variety was there, the armament wasn¡¯t abundant. Especially concerning was the limited ammunition. Facing mutants might require pouring hundreds of rounds, so caution was needed with just 60 bullets. The fortunate aspect was Arian¡¯s presence, but Aiden couldn¡¯t entirely rely on her. Now, the remaining blood was around 400ml received from Nairik and his wife. It would be depleted after just one intense battle. Aiden, who had no means to replenish blood immediately, didn¡¯t want to burden Arian more than necessary. He expressed these concerns to her before the battle. She smiled faintly and nodded. ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll be careful too.¡± ¡°Good. Sadie, you¡¯ll stay here.¡± While it would be beneficial for Sadie to witness the fight against mutants directly, Aiden couldn¡¯t bring her all the way to face an unfamiliar mutant. So, Aiden decided to leave Sadie in the secure hotel lobby. ¡°Yes.¡± Whether she understood this intention or not, Sadie calmly nodded at Aiden¡¯s words. Lastly, Aiden checked the light attached to the end of the rifle. Although it emitted enough light to secure visibility, its brightness was noticeably weak, indicating the battery was running out. He felt the supplies and resources slowly dwindling. Hoping for a way to replenish them beneath the stairs, Aiden stepped into the darkness. ¡°Alright, then I¡¯m going.¡± Aiden swiftly descended the stairs. The first thing he saw was the torn canopy hanging from the ceiling. ¡°...¡± This underground space used to be a restaurant operated by the hotel. Except for a separate kitchen on the opposite side of the entrance, the remaining space had a simple structure with holes in it. However, the tables and chairs that were there had all been removed by Nairik and his companions. Instead, they had set up a makeshift camp using furniture from the rooms. Because of that, the field of view wasn¡¯t wide. Just the torn fabric swaying eerily. But somewhere in this space, there would be a mutant hiding. Keeping this in mind, Aiden moved slowly. By the time he reached the center of the restaurant, it happened. ¡°It¡¯s coming!¡± Arian, who had been scanning the darkness, warned. And right after that. Whoosh! Something flew from the darkness, and Aiden barely managed to turn his body to avoid it. What passed him was a concrete fragment about the size of a head. It hit the opposite wall with a loud noise, breaking into pieces. Aiden¡¯s light immediately turned to where the rock came from. Then, as if the light was unpleasant, ¡°Ug-urrgh-¡° A low growl, echoing through the underground restaurant, sounded like the roar of a monster. Finally, tearing through the swaying fabric, a mutant appeared with a menacing presence. ¡°Is this the one?¡± Facing the mutant, Aiden carefully observed the creature. The name Nairik gave to this mutant was Hedgehog. Seeing it firsthand, the name seemed fitting for this creature resembling a hedgehog. The zombie was over 2 meters tall, covered in a decent amount of muscle and flesh. Its physique was a mix of well-defined muscles and a bloated Bigfoot-like appearance. What stood out the most, however, were the thorns that pierced its entire body, as if the creature wore a suit made of spikes. Hedgehog had sharp objects such as iron bars and blades embedded all over its body, serving as both weapons and armor. ¡°Woaaar!¡± With that, Hedgehog charged towards Aiden. While not incredibly fast, its speed combined with the unstoppable force of a charging juggernaut. The torn fabrics scraped by the sharp spikes were torn once more, and even the concrete of the walls crumbled as Hedgehog approached. Aiden felt a sense of crisis due to the destructive power of this creature. The space was too confined to evade its attacks. It was a sealed basement. ¡°Tsk!¡± Helplessly, Aiden retreated in the direction he came from. While doing so, he pulled out his revolver. The six rounds inside turned into flames aiming for Hedgehog¡¯s head. However... Ping! Most of the bullets didn¡¯t hit its head but instead bounced off, thanks to the thorns protecting it. This was because the steel bar that pierced hits neck and was embedded in the chin and one of the eye sockets tightly protected its head. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it!¡± Arian stepped forward. Hedgehog twisted its thorn-covered arm. With a violent sound of the wind, its colossal fist fell towards Arian. Crack! Avoiding the attack with a move that resembled flight, Arian dodged the strike. The force of Hedgehog¡¯s punch only hit the barren ground, leaving deep scars in the sand. Immediately after, Arian leaped onto Hedgehog¡¯s bicep. Mockingly, she lightly stepped on the iron bar near its elbow, then swung her machete towards its neck. Crunch! However, instead of a clean cutting sound, what echoed was a deafening crack. ¡°This thing is like it¡¯s made of steel everywhere.¡± Arian said with a furrowed brow. The iron bar pierced through its jaw and emerged from its back, and a long blade stuck into its shoulder. Various steel pillars were hidden inside its body, making Arian¡¯s attack only cut through the creature¡¯s skin, not reaching the bone. It was a more formidable opponent than expected. Of course, if Arian pushed her strength even further, she could cut through the steel. However, in that case, the blood consumption would be immense. Sensing this, Aiden¡¯s voice echoed. ¡°Back off for now.¡± Arian followed Aiden¡¯s words. Then, Hedgehog either prepared for another charge or lowered its posture slightly. Seeing this, Arian asked: ¡°What¡¯s the plan?¡± ¡°Do you know how to use a grenade?¡± Arian nodded. Upon Aiden¡¯s prompt, he handed the grenade to her without hesitation. Holding a flashbang himself, he said: ¡°Take this. Aim for the head. I¡¯ll create the opportunity.¡± As soon as Aiden finished speaking, Hedgehog charged again. As if they had made an agreement, Aiden and Arian simultaneously dodged in opposite directions. Tat-tat-tat! Aiden¡¯s rifle emitted a bright light along with the gunfire. Despite the limited ammunition, Aiden spared no rounds. He aimed for the area of Hedgehog¡¯s legs where thorns were relatively sparse. In an instant, the entire magazine was depleted. However, the creature¡¯s thick legs proved resistant to the gunfire. ¡°Woooagh!¡± Hedgehog roared and went mad. Could the legs be a potential weakness? While swiftly changing the magazine, Aiden directed the flashlight toward Hedgehog. Then, Hedgehog rushed towards Aiden. The distance between Aiden and Hedgehog was around 5 meters at best. However, Aiden didn¡¯t pull the trigger. Without any hesitation, Aiden tossed the flashbang in between them. And... Baaaaang! An enormous burst of light, accompanied by a deafening explosion, shook the entire underground space. Aiden¡¯s ears were filled with an uncomfortable ringing even though he had covered them. The loud noise was beyond what could be defended against by simply tearing up nearby debris. During this temporary pause in Aiden¡¯s movements- ¡°...¡± Hedgehog also halted in its tracks. Then, as if sensing something strange, it looked around, confused. Flashbangs, when detonated against regular individuals, not only caused a momentary loss of vision but also possessed enough power to incapacitate one¡¯s motor skills by impacting the vestibular system. However, when facing zombies, they didn¡¯t exhibit such a powerful effect. At most, it rendered them temporarily blind and deaf, offering a few seconds during which Arian, with her exceptional physical abilities, could make the most out of. During this momentary pause in Hedgehog¡¯s movement, a dark shadow swiftly approached it. Arian inserted the safety handle of the detached grenade into its neck, into the very wound left by her machete. Hedgehog, who had remained oblivious to Arian¡¯s actions until now, only vaguely sensed something entering its body. However, that sensation was quickly forgotten. Its body was already filled with hundreds of foreign objects. ¡°Uoooh...¡± As the flashbang¡¯s effects wore off, vision and hearing were restored. Hedgehog¡¯s eyes locked onto Aiden once again. Aiden was in the process of retreating. Beside him, Arian was also seen near the stairs. The prey was escaping. Hedgehog, realizing this, swiftly changed its focus as it attempted to move its legs. Boom! The grenade inside Hedgehog¡¯s neck exploded. Although small, the fragmentation radius of the grenade reached 15 meters, making it a deadly bomb. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even with a body covered in iron bars, Hedgehog couldn¡¯t withstand such explosive force. In an instant, its head and upper torso exploded, scattering in all directions. Moreover, the shrapnel from the grenade, while already having destroyed the small underground room once, shattered it again, turning it into a chaotic mess. Pak! One of the fragments flew and embedded itself into Aiden¡¯s calf. Although he had already moved near the stairs to avoid the blast radius of the 50-meter grenade, he couldn¡¯t escape it entirely. However, Aiden paid no attention to it and used the flashlight to check Hedgehog¡¯s condition. The thorny, half-headed body lay impaled on the ground. Clearly dead. Upon this sight, Aiden let out a brief sigh. ¡°...It¡¯s over. Are you okay?¡± Arian nodded. ¡°I¡¯m fine. And you? That flashbang was quite loud.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. They¡¯re just zombies, after all.¡± Confirming Arian¡¯s safety, Aiden organized the expended resources. Besides the valuable grenade and flashbang, there was only one spent magazine. Hunting this new mutant didn¡¯t consume much. Anyway, with this, there were no more dangerous corpses in the underground room. Now was the time to do what needed to be done. ¡°Go upstairs first. We¡¯ll explore the supplies shortly.¡± ¡°...Alright.¡± Arian went upstairs. Aiden pulled out an LED flashlight and surveyed the surroundings. Furniture was shattered, and the floor was broken. The former hideout, now turned into a mess by the battle, was beyond recognition. Aiden walked inside the basement. Past Hedgehog¡¯s corpse, deeper inside. Having reached the innermost part of the basement where Hedgehog had originally stood, Aiden let out a deep sigh. ¡°...¡± What he found wasn¡¯t supplies. Just torn and shredded pieces of clothing. And... a few bones. Aiden recalled the request Nairik made to him. Nairik was concerned that his colleagues might have turned into zombies and were wandering here. So, he asked Aiden to let his colleagues rest. But Nairik¡¯s colleagues weren¡¯t in the upper floors of the hotel. You could tell just by looking at the clothes they wore. Zombies on the upper floor were still clad in rotten garments. None of Nairik¡¯s colleagues were among them. Hence, Nairik¡¯s colleagues were all in the basement. Unfortunately, the mutant that attacked this place didn¡¯t seem to spare even those who had turned into zombies. ¡°...¡± Aiden, having retrieved the remains of those turned into mutant¡¯s prey, exited the basement. In Aiden¡¯s hand was a hefty bag. He buried it in the small garden in front of the hotel. And on that makeshift grave, he placed the small bag sent by Nairik. It was an invitation to the first birthday of Nairik¡¯s son. ¡°Rest in peace.¡± With this, Nairik¡¯s request was fulfilled. Aiden turned around. Behind him were Sadie and Arian. Perhaps they knew the nature of the request. Arian stood with a bitter expression, and Sadie was shedding tears. Aiden gently stroked Sadie¡¯s head with his gloved hand. ¡°Take Sadie and go to the car. I¡¯ll handle the supplies and come back.¡± Arian nodded silently. So, the two went back to the vehicle, and Aiden walked back into the basement. Chapter 68 After Aiden descended into the basement for a while, he returned to the vehicle with the anticipated rewards in his hands. ¡°Now, are you feeling a bit calmer?¡± Aiden asked Sadie. Sadie, who had been sobbing until a moment ago, quickly composed herself and nodded. ¡°Alright, then. It would be great if you could help with organizing the supplies.¡± Upon Aiden¡¯s words, Sadie and Arian got out of the vehicle, and they started sorting the supplies that Aiden had brought. The remaining supplies in the basement of Tuscola were in reasonably good condition. Most importantly, they found about 300 rounds of ammunition, which was a relief for Aiden, who was running low. Although not an overly generous amount, it was all standard ammunition, but for Aiden, who had no bullets to spare, it was a valuable find. Additionally, about 100 rounds of pistol ammunition were discovered, and somehow, a pack of cigarettes was found. Even though cigarettes were considered unnecessary items, they held value as trade goods. Since their next destination was Springfield, rumored to have a gang presence, Aiden could potentially exchange these cigarettes and the wine found in Mansfield as additional supplies. So it was a decent harvest. After finishing the supply organization, Aiden and his group got back into the vehicle. The time was already heading into late afternoon. It was too late to travel to another city, so Aiden decided to find temporary shelter here. The vehicle carrying them entered the quiet residential area of Tuscola. * * * The next day. Having spent a safe day in Tuscola, Aiden and his group headed towards Springfield, the capital of Illinois. Originally a city where about 100 000 people lived, Springfield was approximately 100 km away from Tuscola. Since it wasn¡¯t too far to drive, Aiden and his group could reach there shortly after noon. ¡°Hmm...¡± The eastern entrance of Springfield, connected to Highway 29. At the place where you could see a restaurant of a famous chicken brand, Aiden parked the car for a moment. The four-lane road ahead was in quite good condition. Moreover, structures with gang markings were scattered here and there along the road. Circular symbols roughly drawn on wooden boards or sheet metal, using paint. It seemed like there were gangs in this place, just as indicated by those symbols. ¡°Is it safe here?¡± Arian asked, perhaps because those structures looked somewhat threatening. Aiden replied: ¡°According to the information, it shouldn¡¯t be a dangerous place. Still... you can¡¯t be entirely at ease.¡± All the information Aiden knew about Springfield came from Fort Wayne¡¯s information network. According to that information, the gang in Springfield was a group with a minimum level of common sense. They communicated, didn¡¯t engage in insane activities like fanatics, and didn¡¯t shoot bullets indiscriminately at junk dealers visiting them. However, naturally, you couldn¡¯t entirely trust the information. There was a possibility of it being false, or the situation might have changed between the time the information was gathered and now. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°So, we still need to be careful,¡± Aiden added. He then asked Sadie to hide between the luggage, ensuring her safety even if gunfire were to erupt. Arian was requested to stay alert. With the rifle next to him, Aiden slowed down the vehicle and entered the city. Upon entering, the residential area of Springfield was notably greener compared to other residential areas. Large trees that could hardly be called garden trees stood between houses. Now unmanaged, weeds had grown abundantly, reaching up to the waist. Aiden progressed through such a neighborhood that seemed to be buried in a forest. Soon, the residential area ended, and abandoned stores began to line the street. And when he finally reached the end of the shopping district, Aiden could spot the gang¡¯s outpost... ¡°...There it is.¡± The road where Aiden¡¯s vehicle was currently parked was just before entering the city center, passing under a bridge. Right on that bridge, the gang¡¯s barricade and outpost were visible. Meanwhile, the path leading under the bridge was blocked with sandbags. Aiden promptly parked the vehicle between two buildings. With his rifle and a black helmet in hand, he turned around. ¡°You two wait here.¡± Arian looked at Aiden with a worried expression upon hearing that he was going alone. ¡°You¡¯re going alone? It looks dangerous.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. But it¡¯s something I have to endure.¡± Aiden didn¡¯t deny Arian¡¯s concerns. It went without saying that directly approaching a gang without any contact was an extremely risky business. It was like stepping out unarmed towards the main entrance of a fortress guarded by a group armed with guns and knives. But for junk dealers like Aiden, it was an inevitable risk to be faced and handled simultaneously. ¡°Keep an eye on your surroundings. If they have any malicious intentions, they might target the car before me.¡± Afterwards, Aiden said the same to Arian and Sadie. Just as Aiden discovered them, they might have also noticed Aiden¡¯s vehicle. So, just in case, if they were to choose robbery over trade, they should target this vehicle, as all the resources for plunder were inside it. ¡°No need to worry here. So go.¡± Arian confidently stated. Aiden nodded calmly. Arian¡¯s prowess when dealing with people was as reliable as her words suggested. Thunk! Aiden got out of the car and walked towards the barricade. His rifle was slung across his back. There was no need to provoke the gang unnecessarily. As Aiden approached the barricade, a voice came from above. ¡°What¡¯s your business!¡± Two men were sticking their heads out over the barricade. Seeing another sign of movement, it seemed there were a total of three guards. Compared to the military barriers in Fort Wayne, this was quite modest. However, it was mainly because of the group¡¯s larger size while staying in Fort Wayne. In fact, most of the gangs in Pittsburgh, where Aiden had spent a long time, were at this level. ¡°I¡¯m a junk dealer. I¡¯ve come for a trade.¡± Aiden answered the question while examining the unfamiliar outpost as if it were familiar. The response from the guard at the gang¡¯s outpost was quite natural. Perhaps it was a place that frequently traded with wandering junk dealers. If so, that wasn¡¯t a bad thing. ¡°What goods?¡± ¡°Alcohol, cigarettes, and...¡±. Aiden decided to trade the items he had originally intended to sell and some of the provisions and water he had obtained generously from Rockville. Hearing this, one of the guards nodded. ¡°What do you need?¡± ¡°Weapons. 5.56mm armor-piercing rounds, grenades including dynamite, small-sized handguns. And... we also need blood.¡± ¡°Blood? Like, actual blood?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Wait here.¡± Afterward, the guard¡¯s voice sporadically reached Aiden. Looking at the top of the barricade, one man was holding a black walkie-talkie. A walkie-talkie, huh. Though he saw it in Fort Wayne, this place was nowhere near a military outpost. Common items used in small gangs like this were not usually seen. Could there be someone with relevant technical knowledge inside? While Aiden was having such thoughts, one of the guards opened his mouth again. ¡°Bring the trade goods!¡± Aiden nodded and returned to the vehicle. At this rate, the trade would probably take place right near the outpost. Usually, that¡¯s how transactions between junk dealers and gangs took place. From the gang¡¯s perspective, they didn¡¯t want to allow a junk dealer, whose origin and intentions were unclear, inside their stronghold. So, the danger began now. If it was a low-quality gang, they might seize Aiden¡¯s goods as they were, or even try to kill and rob him. Of course, committing such acts would likely isolate them quickly, as information would spread among junk dealers. However, in this world, there were individuals who didn¡¯t care about that at all. ¡°...¡± Aiden, keeping himself sufficiently alert, returned to the outpost with the trade goods ¨C alcohol, cigarettes, etc. ¡°Junk dealer! If you want to trade, come down to the lower level.¡± The guards on the bridge shouted at Aiden. Aiden followed their instructions, bypassing the piled sandbags and entering the lower part under the bridge. There, a small table for two and several boxes were placed. Sitting at the table was a Hispanic woman. Three gang members with rifles stood behind her. The woman spoke to Aiden. ¡°Is this your first time here?¡± Aiden nodded silently. The woman smiled and pointed to the table. ¡°Welcome to Springfield Militia. Just put the items here.¡± It seemed to be the name. For a gang, it was a rather ordinary name. Aiden silently placed the trade goods he had brought on the table. First, the gang would assess whether Aiden¡¯s items had genuine value. ¡°Well, the packaging looks fine. Doesn¡¯t seem like fakes.¡± Examining the opened cigarette pack, the woman commented. Upon this, the guards holding rifles behind her became slightly less vigilant. ¡°Now show us your goods.¡± Aiden said, and the woman signaled one of the wary members to bring something. The man brought a large wooden box near the table. Upon opening it, Aiden could see ammunition and several weapons. ¡°Unfortunately, we don¡¯t have armor-piercing rounds. Instead, we¡¯ll give you regular bullets. Only two grenades, and no dynamite. But we brought a few small handguns. You can choose from those.¡± The woman casually adjusted Aiden¡¯s requested items. Such modifications were common in deals with gangs, so Aiden nodded. But the woman¡¯s words didn¡¯t end there. ¡°Oh, and blood is not allowed.¡± ¡°Not allowed?¡± ¡°We have rules about the items that can be traded with junk dealers. Blood is not one of them.¡± At that, Aiden clicked his tongue softly. Acquiring blood was as crucial as securing resources. However, convincing the woman seemed difficult. She was now looking at Aiden with a suspicious gaze. ¡°Why would you need that in the first place? Don¡¯t tell me... you¡¯re not a fanatic, are you?¡± ¡°As if.¡± Unable to help it, Aiden decided to exclude blood from the trade items. He first examined the handguns presented by the woman. Aiden¡¯s request for a small-sized handgun was, of course, to find a weapon for Sadie. ¡°Hmm...¡± There were five handguns in the wooden box. However, two of them were visibly in poor condition and not small enough, so Aiden ignored them. Aiden first picked up one of the remaining three. The smallest handgun among them. While the weight and size were not bad for Sadie to use, Aiden, examining the barrel, shook his head. It was a pistol using .22 LR rounds, the smallest and least recoiling ammunition among easily obtainable pistol rounds. So, in some aspects, it could be suitable for Sadie, but its stopping power was weak. If shot at a person, it could penetrate the skull and go into the brain, but it wouldn¡¯t come out, bouncing around inside the head. However, Aiden wasn¡¯t pleased with that. Always considering the worst-case scenario, he envisioned a situation where the bullet might not penetrate a zombie¡¯s skull at all. So, while Aiden was inspecting the handgun he would give to Sadie, the woman interrupted. ¡°With this kind of goods, I can¡¯t give you more than 50 rounds of ammunition. How about that?¡± The evaluation of the items Aiden handed over was concluded by the woman from the militia. In the end, the deal was about to be made with 50 rounds of ammunition, two grenades, and one handgun. However, from Aiden¡¯s perspective, that was an unacceptable demand. ¡°You¡¯re pushing it too far.¡± The woman shrugged her shoulders at that. It was unclear what she meant by that, as if to say she couldn¡¯t understand. However, Aiden knew exactly where the woman was playing tricks. ¡°The value of wine shouldn¡¯t be that high.¡± ¡°Hey, it¡¯s not beer; it¡¯s wine. We have a few bottles of this kind of wine too.¡± Now, three years since they couldn¡¯t produce alcohol, fermented drinks like beer with poor shelf life became more precious than other alcoholic beverages. And in such a world, wine wasn¡¯t an exceptionally rare drink. For red wine, the average shelf life was three years, and it could be over 10 years in some cases. However, Aiden shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s not it. This wine hasn¡¯t changed its taste.¡± ¡°...¡± At Aiden¡¯s remark, the woman¡¯s eyebrows twitched. As Aiden pointed out, wine didn¡¯t easily decay. However, wine that had been left untouched for several years without refrigeration often went bad. But the wine Aiden brought was not like that. Perhaps because it was inside a sealed building, it hadn¡¯t discolored due to sunlight. The subtle fragrance emanating from the cork proved that the current state of the wine was good. Thus, negotiations between Aiden and the woman continued for a while. And as a result, Aiden achieved the outcome of raising the price to 100 rounds of ammunition. ¡°Fine. Let¡¯s go with that.¡± Aiden nodded at the woman¡¯s words and collected his share. However, Aiden remained vigilant about his surroundings. Fortunately, there were no signs of an ambush among the men with rifles watching this place. ¡°...¡± Until the moment Aiden put the traded items into his bag, there was no sign of an attack. Seeing that Arian¡¯s side was also calm, it seemed they weren¡¯t bandits. Moreover, there was a familiar feeling of dealing with junk dealers in the woman¡¯s attitude and the other guards. That means... The information obtained in Fort Wayne was indeed correct. ¡°Hmm...¡± Aiden clicked his tongue. As long as minimal trust was confirmed, he had something to say to this Springfield Militia. ¡°Wait a moment. There¡¯s one thing... no, two more things to see.¡± Saying that, Aiden put 30 rounds of ammunition back on the table. The eyes of the puzzled woman turned to Aiden. Chapter 69 ¡°You got something to say?¡± ¡°I want to buy information first.¡± The woman looked at the 30 rounds of ammunition that Aiden offered. It was a bit less for an information fee, but it was a fair price. The woman asked: ¡°What kind of information do you want?¡± ¡°Information about nearby cities and mutants.¡± Aiden wasn¡¯t demanding overly sensitive information from them, so the woman nodded and took the 30 rounds of ammunition. ¡°Okay. Feel free to ask about that. What about the other one?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you have a request for me?¡± At Aiden¡¯s words, the woman raised an eyebrow slightly. ¡°A request? Well, if it¡¯s an urgent request... ¡° The woman hesitated, furrowing her brow. ¡°Is there something urgent?¡± ¡°...I don¡¯t know. If it¡¯s urgent, it¡¯s urgent; if not, it¡¯s not. It seems suitable to leave it to a junk dealer I met for the first time today.¡± The woman hinted at Aiden in a suggestive manner. However, Aiden just nodded silently. ¡°Let¡¯s hear the details first.¡± With that, the woman began to explain the request. * * * After a while. Aiden returned safely in his vehicle after concluding the conversation with the Springfield Militia. Arian, who had been quietly observing the vicinity near the outpost while Aiden was away, reflected upon seeing Aiden return. ¡°Took quite a while, didn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s how it turned out.¡± It had been over an hour since Aiden left in the vehicle. The originally planned trade, as well as the time-consuming negotiations for information and coordination of the request, contributed to the delay. ¡°So... how is it? Does it seem okay here for Sadie to stay?¡± Arian asked. It was a question about whether this place was suitable for Sadie to stay. However, Aiden shook his head in response. ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t seem like it.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°This place is dangerous.¡± Aiden asserted based on the evaluation of Springfield formed with the information he acquired there. Arian gazed at Aiden as if she wanted a more precise explanation. ¡°Are those guys from the Springfield Militia the problem?¡± ¡°No, they seem like a relatively harmless gang. They don¡¯t seem to be reckless marauders.¡± ¡°But?¡± ¡°The problem lies outside. In St. Louis. Didn¡¯t Nairik mention there was a war there two years ago? Remember?¡± St. Louis was a major city about 150 km south of Springfield. Since Arian already knew the geography around here, she nodded. ¡°The war in that place is over now, and the forces that fought in the war have integrated into one large gang. But... it seems like that gang isn¡¯t made up of decent people.¡± Aiden explained the situation in St. Louis. The enormous gang currently dominating St. Louis was the most brutal and violent faction among the groups that originally existed. Moreover, as they believed only in strength, the first thing they did after taking over St. Louis was to expel children and the elderly from the city. This was because the weak didn¡¯t contribute to their survival. Furthermore, they forced all members to regularly contribute a certain amount of resources and established extremely strict rules. Those who violated the rules were publicly executed, displaying a tyrannical rule based on power. In the end, many people who couldn¡¯t endure it escaped from St. Louis. They became junk dealers, wanderers, or marauders roaming the area, as mentioned. ¡°As it turns out, they are also from St. Louis. They created a militia here after fleeing from there.¡± No wonder they seemed quite favorable towards the junk dealer. There was a reason for them to be sympathetic. ¡°...Then, this place won¡¯t do.¡± Arian, after hearing the circumstances, sighed briefly. If that was true, the gang in St. Louis was in a considerably unstable state. If people kept leaving, the strength of the gang itself would weaken. However, those guys wouldn¡¯t just sit back and watch the crisis. They would undoubtedly try to reclaim those who left, and the edge of their blade might soon point towards this Springfield militia. In other words, a war might break out here again before long. Naturally, it was impossible to leave Sadie in such a place. ¡°Shall we head to the next city right away?¡± ¡°Not exactly. We¡¯re running low on stored fuel. So, I took on a request to get it. It won¡¯t take long, but... there¡¯s a problem.¡± ¡°A problem?¡± ¡°They refuse to sell blood here. Probably because they find me suspicious. So, I won¡¯t be able to secure blood for at least two days. Is that okay?¡± ¡°...Understood.¡± Arian nodded, and with a humming sound, the engine of the vehicle started. Slowly, the car moved away from the Springfield outpost, just as it did when they arrived. In the shaking cargo of the car, Sadie¡¯s head popped up. Arian helped Sadie sit back in her seat, and in the meantime, Aiden continued talking. ¡°So, let¡¯s continue discussing the request. About 100 kilometers north from here, there¡¯s a city called Peoria. I¡¯ve received a request to go there and guide back some members who went for exploration and haven¡¯t returned. That¡¯s the content of the request.¡± Arian smirked. At first glance, the request seemed too troublesome. ¡°We know where people are in the city, right?¡± ¡°Of course, we know their locations.¡± The Springfield militia had its own system in place. Before exploration, reports were made in advance about which city to explore, and detailed routes were reported. Temporary hiding places were designated for each city, and members were trained to go there in case of trouble. This was to make it easy to dispatch a rescue team when the planned return date was exceeded, just like now. ¡°Then the request is to kill the zombies on the way to the hideout and open the road, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± ¡°Hmm...¡± In Arian¡¯s opinion, the content of the request itself wasn¡¯t bad. The same goes for dealing with zombies instead of humans. Since the purpose of the request itself was to save people, there was nothing to feel uncomfortable about. But. ¡°Why are they sending us?¡± The fact that they entrusted such a task to Aiden, especially when it involved the lives of their comrades, was something Arian couldn¡¯t understand. Aiden continued speaking. ¡°The militia has banned entry to Peoria a few months ago. The reason was that there were too many zombies inside the city. But still, those members went there, acting on their own judgment.¡± ¡°Self-employments?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not necessarily that.¡± Aiden let out a short sigh. ¡°There seems to have been an isolated family there. That¡¯s why even the militia, who knew the situation, reluctantly wanted to help.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, why not just help them?¡± ¡°Doing so might make the regulations infamous. From the organization¡¯s perspective, it¡¯s an important matter.¡± Aiden¡¯s words made Arian wear a puzzled expression. She, with limited experience in human society, couldn¡¯t quite empathize with Aiden¡¯s words. ¡°But is it really infested with zombies there?¡± S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Peoria is a place where the eastern and southern sides of the city are blocked by a river. So, the only way out in that direction is a narrow bridge. It¡¯s a suitable place.¡± ¡°Then... there might be no one to save.¡± It was a cruel story, but it could very well be true. That¡¯s why Aiden didn¡¯t make the mistake of omitting negotiations on that part. ¡°In that case, they asked for the retrieval of supplies at least. They promised to consider the mission accomplished even if we do that. So, I have the reported exploration route as well.¡± With that, Arian had nothing more to say about the request. So, Arian, as usual, absentmindedly stared out the window. But from there, Aiden¡¯s voice continued. ¡°However, there¡¯s a catch.¡± ¡°A catch?¡± ¡°I also got information from them about the mutants. But... the contents are a bit unsettling.¡± Indeed, among the mutants Aiden learned from the militia, there were a whopping five types that he had never heard of before. Compared to the newly discovered mutants during the journey from Pittsburgh to Indianapolis, it was an oddly high number. Aiden immediately conveyed that information to Arian. ¡°...It¡¯s a bit strange, isn¡¯t it? Is the information correct?¡± Arian asked, seemingly discontent after hearing the contents. It was understandable; the information about the mutants provided by the militia was subtle overall. Firstly, it was unclear whether they were genuinely new mutants. What they claimed to be novel, like a Bigfoot with enlarged arms, was a bit ambiguous. Moreover, most eyewitness information was about confirming the corpses. Witness accounts of intense combat and hunting those entities were surprisingly scarce. So, although Aiden felt uneasy, it was irrational to suspect them without evidence. ¡°Well, it might be, but... there¡¯s no reason for them to deliberately leak false information.¡± Aiden deliberately combined information about nearby cities and mutans in his inquiry. Even if there was nothing Aiden didn¡¯t know among the mutant information they possessed, it was a demand for accurate information, even if they didn¡¯t return the information fee. Thus, Arian shrugged her shoulders, indicating she didn¡¯t know either, and changed the subject. ¡°More than that. When this request is over, have you decided where to go?¡± ¡°For now, I¡¯m thinking towards Kansas City.¡± Kansas City was located about 500 kilometers west of Springfield, at the end of Missouri next to Illinois. It was one of the representative large cities in central America, with a population in the city center even larger than St. Louis. Perhaps because of that? Although the distance from Springfield was quite far, fortunately, there was information flowing in from there. ¡°I heard there¡¯s a group with over a thousand people in Kansas City. If that¡¯s true, it might be worth a visit.¡± At those words, Arian¡¯s eyes widened. Over a thousand people. It was a scale larger than any group they had seen so far. ¡°Is that information reliable?¡± ¡°Similar information has come in several times. So, the statement itself is likely to be true. However, there have been rumors that information has been scarce recently. We can¡¯t rule out the possibility that something might have happened.¡± While discussing this, Aiden drove the vehicle north. Today¡¯s destination was a small town called Morton. It was a sub-city just below Peoria, where the request was, and it was where they planned to spend the night. Already, the time was approaching 3 p.m. Although they had received the request, it was insufficient time to resolve it immediately tonight. So, they decided to spend the night in a nearby town first, and tackle the request tomorrow morning. After a while, Aiden¡¯s group arrived in Morton. The fact that this was an empty small town was already confirmed in Springfield. So, Aiden found temporary lodging with a slightly lighter heart and soon discovered a suitable building. Crunch! Their vehicle stood in the middle of a spacious parking lot. The place Aiden chose today was a gray bank building. * * * The next day. As planned, Aiden moved towards Peoria from morning onwards. ¡°Peoria was completely blocked by rivers and lakes on the way south. The only way to cross was through bridges built over those rivers. Perhaps that¡¯s why the zombies were confined. The woman from the militia who handed over the request mentioned that a considerable number of zombies lurked inside.¡± Said Aiden, as he parked the vehicle in front of the bridge leading to Peoria. The location was south of Peoria, across the Illinois River. There were a total of three bridges connecting this side to Peoria. Among them, the bridge Aiden was going to cross was the ¡®Illinois River Bridge,¡¯ a four-lane bridge for vehicles. There were almost no signs of collapse or destruction; however, the top was jammed with abandoned vehicles. ¡°Looks like we¡¯ve reached the limit for vehicles,¡± Aiden remarked, bringing the group to the bridge. During the crossing, there was also the figure of Sadie among the party. Holding the small pistol Aiden had gifted her yesterday, she calmly followed Aiden, who led the way. Crossing the bridge, Aiden spoke to the following companions: ¡°Our destination is the administration building near the cemetery. We need to walk over 2km through residential areas starting from the bridge.¡± 2km. In reality, it couldn¡¯t be considered a long distance. It was a distance that could be covered in about 30 minutes of walking. However, the residential area they had to traverse was overflowing with zombies. ¡°Then... can¡¯t we use guns?¡± Sadie asked. Usually, it would be necessary to avoid the use of guns as was advised. Firing shots hastily could attract a swarm of zombies from the residential area in no time. However, Aiden shook his head in response to her question. ¡°It would be better if we can, but it won¡¯t be easy.¡± This time, the mission was to rescue people from the city outskirts. The number of people they would rescue was three, but the condition of those three couldn¡¯t be guaranteed. If there were people with mobility issues, navigating obstacles and deceiving the eyes of zombies might be impossible. Thus, Aiden was quietly preparing for a potential combat situation. ¡°Are we going to fight the zombies, then?¡± Arian asked. Aiden nodded. ¡°They also have firearms. If those people join forces, breaking through using force is entirely possible.¡± ¡°But... won¡¯t it be dangerous?¡± ¡°If it wasn¡¯t dangerous, they wouldn¡¯t have entrusted it to us.¡± Aiden had just finished speaking when they were about halfway across the bridge. Then, Arian furrowed her brows and pointed forward. ¡°...It seems to have come out.¡± Aiden, wearing a black helmet with the visor raised, raised the metal bat he had brought and passed by a lying bus. There, as expected, stood a single zombie. ¡°...¡± The vacant eyes of the zombie looked at Aiden slowly, scrutinizing him with movements quite different from an ordinary zombie. However, right after that, Thwack! Aiden¡¯s bat smashed the zombie¡¯s head as it passed by. The zombie, whose head suddenly burst, collided with the bus and slid down to the ground. ¡°...¡± Silently, Aiden looked around as he ended one zombie. Between the abandoned cars on the bridge, the wailing sounds of zombies could be heard. Chapter 70 A shopping street between the bridge and residential area. In that place filled with neglected grassy patches, roads, rusty vehicles, and grey buildings adorned with broken glass, Aiden swung the metal bat he had been holding. They were now at the outskirts of the city. His weapon, however, was already covered in decaying bodily fluids. Nevertheless, Aiden, unfazed by this, scanned the surroundings with a sharp gaze and soon spoke. ¡°You can come out now.¡± Upon his words, Arian and Sadie, who had been hiding behind a building in the rear, quickly walked forward. Arian frowned as she looked at the four corpses scattered around. ¡°There are quite a few here too.¡± The place they were in was a parking lot between buildings. Originally, they would have walked along the road, but there were more zombies on the clear city road than expected. Even without using guns, it was dangerous to face dozens of them while avoiding confrontations with the zombies and looters. Thus, Aiden¡¯s group had to take routes behind buildings or narrow alleys instead of the road. However, even that wasn¡¯t straightforward. Zombies were scattered between the narrow alleys, making the passage challenging. ¡°Kiik!¡± Shortly after, a zombie emerged from behind a vehicle. Although it spotted Arian and Sadie, Aiden¡¯s bat was faster than the zombie¡¯s reaction. Thwack! Another zombie fell as Aiden cleared the way. Arian, who was walking in front of him, asked: ¡°Shall I help too?¡± ¡°No, I can handle it alone.¡± Aiden shook his head. There was also the fact that he had no more blood to spare. He wanted to conserve her strength just in case. Moreover, Aiden, in such narrow terrain, didn¡¯t need the help of others. ¡°Keep going.¡± Thus, Aiden¡¯s group passed through the shopping street and entered the residential area. The cemetery they needed to reach was in the central part of Peoria. They had to go north through the residential area, deep into the city. However, the residential area was crawling with zombies. ¡°There are quite a lot here, aren¡¯t there?¡± Arian asked as she looked through the broken windows, seeing the entrance to the residential area. At the intersection they had to cross immediately, there were about twenty zombies visible. Even with Aiden leading Arian and Sadie, crossing the road quietly was impossible with that many zombies. Moreover, there were no alleys to retreat, like the shopping street. ¡°...What should we do?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll gather them in one place.¡± ¡°Using bait?¡± Aiden nodded, handing his helmet to Arian. Then, he took out his pistol. ¡°I¡¯ll make a gunshot to attract the zombies. You guys move north during that time, one block at a time. Understand?¡± Arian tightened her expression at Aiden¡¯s words. ¡°With a gun? Is that okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve used this method occasionally before.¡± So, there¡¯s no need to worry. Aiden calmly continued: ¡°Specifically, like this: I¡¯ll lead the zombies to the left block using this road. You guys move along the right side. Of course, don¡¯t walk on the road. It¡¯ll catch attention quickly.¡± ¡°What if it¡¯s not the road?¡± ¡°Use abandoned houses for cover.¡± He pointed at the houses along the road. ¡°Move through them, preferably entering through windows and exiting through the opposite ones. I¡¯ll leave the zombies inside to you.¡± ¡°But it will be too slow.¡± ¡°No need to rush. We still have plenty of time. I¡¯ll move accordingly. About 10 minutes per block should be enough, right?¡± ¡°...Okay. I¡¯ll send a signal if something happens.¡± After Arian nodded, Aiden looked at Sadie. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Sadie, do you understand?¡± At Aiden¡¯s question, Sadie nodded. ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s begin.¡± Aiden immediately left the convenience store building. Holding a pistol in one hand, he walked towards the adjacent block with his usual stride. As the zombies¡¯ gaze focused on Aiden, they turned away upon seeing his decaying skin. Aiden turned into the left block, obscuring himself from the view of the zombies. Soon after. Bang! A sharp gunshot echoed in the quiet residential area. ¡°Kiik!¡± Immediately, the zombies in the vicinity, who had been idly wandering, responded to the sound. The ones who lacked enthusiasm immediately gathered, emitting light from their dull eyes, and rushed toward the left block. The group of zombies running wasn¡¯t limited to the twenty near the intersection. Since the gunshot didn¡¯t fill just one block but echoed beyond, in an instant, over fifty zombies from all directions gathered, heading towards the left street that Aiden had aimed for. ¡°...¡± Arian and Sadie silently watched this scene, listening to the chaotic sounds of footsteps and the clashing of teeth in the air. Gradually, the sounds diminished, and soon, the intersection they needed to cross was cleared. Arian, checking the surroundings once more just in case, looked at Sadie. ¡°...Let¡¯s go.¡± In response to her words, Sadie nodded with a tense expression. They crossed the intersection, suppressing their footsteps. Beyond the road, between the houses on the left, the back of a zombie was visible. Though the zombie didn¡¯t turn its head towards them, any slight movement might cause it to look directly at them. Arian felt a faint tension and pressed against the wall. ¡°Through the window.¡± Arian whispered. The closest house to the intersection was a white one-story house. Fortunately, the window was open, and there were no signs of zombies inside. Arian first pushed Sadie inside, then, although a bit narrow, she easily crossed the gap in the window. Inside the building, Sadie, who had received guidance from Aiden, softly sighed. Was this... originally a kitchen? Dusty tables, a sink, and a refrigerator were visible. Arian moved further inside the house. ¡°Follow me. Watch your step on the floor.¡± Arian pointed to the floor covered with broken glass. Sadie quietly passed over it, avoiding making any noise. Arian then opened the kitchen door, went through a short corridor, and entered another room. It was a bedroom. A room with a double bed spread out in the middle. Arian cautiously pulled the curtain. Both Sadie and Arian could easily pass through the window there. But Arian didn¡¯t go out immediately. The presence of zombies could be felt in the next house, just a few meters away. ¡°Wait here for now.¡± Arian said after a short contemplation. Leaving Sadie alone here might be dangerous, but there was no other choice for now. So, Sadie, as instructed by Aiden, hid her body in a corner not visible from the entrance. ¡°...¡± Arian soon went to the next house. The sense of zombies was coming from... the second floor of the house. The sound of a zombie growling in frustration was heard. Probably, the zombie heard the gunshot but couldn¡¯t figure out how to come down the stairs and was expressing its anger. Arian quietly climbed the stairs. Then, she saw a zombie attached to the window on the second floor. Arian silently approached the zombie from behind. Chop! With one hand, she covered its mouth, and at the same time, like an assassin, she sliced the zombie¡¯s throat with the machete she was holding. Even the zombie couldn¡¯t react in that brief moment. Its throat was cut off, and soon, the blade covered in blood extended to its head. ¡°...Good.¡± Having dealt with the zombie, Arian immediately returned to join Sadie. In this way, the two of them quickly crossed one block. At the next small intersection in the residential area, zombies were, as expected, present. However, waiting for a while, another loud gunshot redirected the zombies elsewhere. ¡°...¡± Once again, Arian and Sadie crossed the now clean intersection. For a while, Aiden¡¯s group meticulously cleared the residential area in the same way. After passing several blocks like that... They had only moved a mere 2 kilometers, but suddenly, two hours had passed. ¡°Haah... haah...¡± The marching seemed to be quite exhausting, as Sadie let out a light breath. Considering the numerous times she had to climb over windows higher than her height, it wasn¡¯t surprising. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°...Yeah, I¡¯m okay.¡± ¡°Hang in there. We¡¯re almost done.¡± They had already passed the last block of houses in the residential area. Once they crossed this, a wide road would appear, and beyond that was the cemetery, their destination. Arian glanced at the final road they had to cross from inside one of the houses. ¡°Oh, there...!¡± Sadie pointed to a corner of the road. Aiden, who had been luring zombies, revealed himself on the road. He soon walked towards the house where Arian was hiding. ¡°Safe. Luckily.¡± Looking at Arian and Sadie by the window, Aiden spoke. But his appearance didn¡¯t look good, despite his words. Probably due to continually attracting dozens of zombies and firing shots in that state. There were tears and holes in his sleeves all over. ¡°Uncle, are you okay? Not hurt?¡± Sadie asked. Her expression showed genuine concern. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Nothing to worry about.¡± Aiden spoke with a tone that didn¡¯t differ much from usual. Sadie¡¯s worry seemed to ease a bit. Aiden handed his black helmet to Arian. ¡°Just the clothes got a bit torn. Is there anything like fabric inside?¡± ¡°Wait a moment.¡± Arian soon brought a few sets of old clothes left in the house. Though not clothes to be worn for a long time, they could at least be wrapped around the torn sleeves like bandages to cover exposed skin. Aiden tidied up his attire and turned his head towards the street. ¡°We need to cross this road now.¡± ¡°From here, no need to lure them, right?¡± ¡°Right. That building you see there is the one the militia mentioned. If they plan to bring people from there, we need to clean up this area. Will you help?¡± ¡°Of course. Sadie... wait here.¡± Arian and Aiden walked towards the road. The moment the zombies spotted them, they screamed. Over ten zombies rushed towards them. However, that number wasn¡¯t challenging for the two. * * * Parkview Cemetery management office in Peoria. In the long-abandoned brown brick building, three people were now isolated. Two men and one woman. They all looked quite haggard, and there were already empty cans of food scattered around. ¡°How many days has it been now?¡± The man who spoke, Oliver, was the older brother. His words were met by his sister, Mia. ¡°It¡¯s the third day.¡± ¡°Why hasn¡¯t anyone come for days?¡± Oliver complained, and Mia frowned. ¡°You know the reason.¡± In response to her low-toned words, Oliver gritted his teeth. ¡°Even though it¡¯s been days, why isn¡¯t anyone coming?!¡± ¡°Why did we come to this hideout, knowing that rescuers won¡¯t come?¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°You knew they wouldn¡¯t come even if we came here.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t we have come here anyway? Is there any other way? We don¡¯t even have bullets to shoot them now.¡± As Oliver was about to retort, James, who had been quiet until then, spoke up. ¡°Doesn¡¯t anyone hear something?¡± At James¡¯ words, both Oliver and Mia turned their attention to him. ¡°Sound?¡± ¡°Yeah. It sounded like a gunshot just now.¡± ¡°Could it be...?¡± Oliver was about to say something, but the gunshot didn¡¯t come again, despite waiting. ¡°...Did I hear it wrong?¡± With a short sigh, Mia spoke. There was a sense of disappointment, but she couldn¡¯t blame her younger brother. Even if he heard auditory hallucinations, the situation was urgent enough to be understood. ¡°But just now...¡± While James muttered like that, A gunshot was heard from a distance. It was a faint sound that could only be heard if you concentrated, but for them, it was the eagerly awaited sign of human presence. ¡°Rescue team! The rescue team is here!¡± Oliver couldn¡¯t conceal his excitement. Mia, who was looking at him, didn¡¯t say anything, but inwardly, she was smiling with relief. The supplies they had brought wouldn¡¯t last until today. ¡°But why is there only one shot?¡± In such faint joy, James asked. Listening, it sounded strange. All three siblings knew how many zombies were outside. They had entered this city recklessly, and it was just three days ago that they almost died. So hearing only a single gunshot was ominous. In the worst case, the entire rescue team might have perished, leaving only that one gunshot. But the gunshot didn¡¯t stop there. With approximately a ten-minute interval, that single gunshot continued. And it was gradually approaching their direction. What on earth was happening outside? Mia couldn¡¯t provide any answers, and only Oliver cautiously made a guess. ¡°Could it be... our father?¡± The three siblings came to this city because of their father. Peoria was their hometown, both for the three siblings and their father. However, now the three siblings became members of the militia in Springfield. Their father, who didn¡¯t like group activities and until recently had been wandering around nearby cities as a junk dealer, had returned to Peoria. He left a short letter saying he would visit the house they used to live in. So the three siblings came to dangerous Peoria to find their father. However, they hadn¡¯t arrived at the house they used to live in. So there was no clue for their father to notice his children¡¯s plight. ¡°No way. Father wouldn¡¯t even know we came.¡± ¡°Then what is this sound...¡± While the three were speculating, Bang! Suddenly, the gunshot was right in front of them. So they stretched their heads out of the window, which they hadn¡¯t dared to do until now. Then, after a while, ¡°Look over there! They¡¯re here, they came!¡± A man and a woman were seen walking up the road, and James shouted with a suppressed voice. But Mia, who saw their appearance, rather tightened her expression. ¡°Are those people... are they crazy enough to die?¡± There were still about a dozen zombies on the road. Or so they thought. The zombies rushed towards the two men and women. Mia thought it was the end. But... it wasn¡¯t. Only armed with a machete and a baseball bat. Yet, even while watching, the two, man and woman, unbelievably fought off the zombies with a heroic battle and soon annihilated all the corpses crazed by madness. ¡°What, those people...?¡± Mia muttered in astonishment. James, who was happy that the rescue team had come, and Oliver, who had been filled with dissatisfaction, didn¡¯t differ much in their expressions from her. In the midst of their weak joy, James asked: ¡°Why are they shooting so little?¡± The gunshot that they had eagerly awaited came, and Mia couldn¡¯t even think of being cautious. However, the man walked steadily toward them. Holding a metal bat, wearing a black helmet, the man who smashed the heads of the zombies. How natural his appearance was. Finally, the low voice of the man who had come right up to the window was heard. ¡°Are you members of the Springfield militia?¡± Mia nodded her head. Then the man finally revealed his name. ¡°I¡¯m Aiden Lee, the junk dealer.¡± Chapter 71 Through a brief conversation, Aiden checked the condition of the targets for the mission, namely, the siblings Mia, Oliver, and James. ¡°So, there are no injuries, fortunately.¡± Luckily, none of them had sustained serious injuries. Aiden was relieved, as he had worried about what would happen if someone couldn¡¯t walk. ¡°But... Is it only the two of you here?¡± Oliver asked, seemingly bothered by the fact that there were so few people who came to rescue them. In response to his question, Aiden pointed behind him and said: ¡°There¡¯s one more.¡± There, Sadie, who had just followed Arian, was visible. Seeing the child, Oliver opened his mouth in surprise, as if at a loss for words. ¡°A child?¡± Leaving him speechless, Aiden turned his head towards Mia. ¡°Do you have weapons?¡± ¡°We each have a gun. But...¡± ¡°No bullets, I presume. What type of ammunition?¡± Without hesitation, Aiden shared his own ammunition with them. This, too, had already been agreed upon with the militia. If they supplied goods like bullets or food to them, the militia promised to compensate them in return. ¡°Now, what¡¯s the plan?¡± ¡°We have to leave this city.¡± ¡°Really... Are we going like this?¡± Taking the offered magazine, James asked Aiden. ¡°What else do we need?¡± ¡°We lack manpower. It won¡¯t be easy with just five people.¡± ¡°But you guys only entered this city with three people.¡± Aiden¡¯s remark made James show a slightly uncomfortable expression. However, he had nothing to say because Aiden¡¯s statement was true. ¡°That was our mistake. We admit it. We were foolish.¡± ¡°Do you regret it?¡± ¡°Yes. But we don¡¯t regret coming here. We just should have been more thorough in our preparations. It¡¯s the same now. It¡¯s difficult with just five people.¡± James explained calmly, but Aiden raised his head. ¡°But we also came this far with just three.¡± Aiden looked at Arian and Sadie. Then he spoke. ¡°So, with six, it¡¯s quite feasible.¡± ¡°...¡± James, as well as Mia and Oliver, stared at Aiden with puzzled looks. Why was he so confident? They seemed to wonder. But it wasn¡¯t Aiden¡¯s confidence. He still had the worst-case scenario in mind. However, Aiden was trying to convince them because, naturally, this seemed like the best option. ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, I won¡¯t force you, but... is there a better way?¡± James, who was about to refute, twitched his lips but only let out a sigh instead. As Aiden had said, there was no other choice. They had already run out of the food they had. Staying holed up here because it was dangerous outside would only lead to waiting for death. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, let¡¯s go. We¡¯ll head the same way we came.¡± Aiden said calmly, meaning they would pass through the dangerous residential area again. ¡°Are the zombies... somewhat cleared?¡± James asked, but that wasn¡¯t the case. Aiden had merely gathered the zombies in one place. Also, the same methods they used when coming here couldn¡¯t be used against these zombies. It indirectly revealed Aiden¡¯s identity as a zombie. ¡°No, I lured the zombies with noise.¡± ¡°Noise?¡± ¡°I used noise grenades.¡± ¡°Ah...!¡± Upon hearing that, James let out an exclamation of surprise. Noise grenades were a type of firework and, as Aiden explained, were often used to lure zombies. While not as common as bullets, it wouldn¡¯t be strange to have them, so James nodded in understanding, believing Aiden¡¯s explanation. Aiden continued speaking: ¡°So, now they¡¯re all crowded on one road.¡± ¡°Then... we just have to avoid that road.¡± ¡°No.¡± Aiden shook his head. He didn¡¯t lure the zombies just to avoid them. ¡°I plan to break through them.¡± At these words, James, Mia and Oliver froze with shock. * * * A while later. ¡°Whoa...¡± With a long sigh, Mia finally took her eyes off the gun¡¯s sight. What she now saw was an ordinary road crossing the residential area. However, on that road were the pitiful remains of possibly dozens, if not hundreds, of zombies wriggling helplessly. It was all because of the two people and a child... Who had come to rescue Mia and her two siblings. ¡°Is everyone uninjured?¡± Aiden, leading the group of six, asked. Mia and her two siblings, along with the others, just looked at him with a sense of awe. ¡°...¡± To be honest, when they entered this residential area, even Mia, who had a relatively positive mindset, contemplated death. The number of zombies on this road was overwhelming, and they only had one rifle in their hands. While a rifle was undoubtedly an efficient weapon against zombies, it wasn¡¯t the kind of weapon that could easily subdue such a large number at once. Especially considering the speed of the zombies, it was a problem. Unless they had large-caliber ammunition that could blow off arms and legs in one shot, using a standard rifle round required precise aiming at the head. But with the number of zombies rushing towards them, it was impossible to deal with each one like that. Could they handle a hundred zombies rushing at them with just a single rifle on this small road in the residential area? Mia thought it was impossible. But it wasn¡¯t. Although it was close, the man named Aiden demonstrated the impossibility she thought of. Precise aiming shots fired at a speed approaching automatic fire. Occasionally, he would lift the rifle with one hand and, with the other hand, draw a pistol to shoot simultaneously, a sight that resembled a performance. He also maintained the front line by giving appropriate instructions to the other group members. Was this man... perhaps a former soldier? His face was hidden by a black helmet, so it wasn¡¯t visible. However, judging by the white coat and the doctor¡¯s name tag, it seemed he used to be a doctor. ¡°What about the surroundings?¡± Despite the gazes of the three siblings, Aiden calmly turned to Arian. She nodded. It meant there were no remnants left around. ¡°I never thought we would fight so openly like this.¡± Arian spoke to Aiden with an amazed expression. It was quite a daring move for Aiden. But it wasn¡¯t because he wanted to fight like this. If there was a way to avoid a fight, he would have avoided it no matter what. But Aiden expected that it would be impossible to avoid combat in this city swarming with zombies using conventional methods. To realize this, he would have to once again become bait or actively use Arian¡¯s abilities. That would be too hasty of a solution. Especially using Arian¡¯s power too much was a burden now that they had no blood. ¡°It was the best option.¡± In response to that question, Aiden simply said. Combat was unavoidable. In that case, rather than stealthily passing through the residential area and risking detection, surrounded by zombies rushing from all directions... It was safer to choose the battlefield on this side and use gunfire to sweep away the zombies concentrated in one direction. In the process, Arian was also helped for flank defense. Most of the zombies were gathered on the road Aiden had lured them to, but that wasn¡¯t all. So, zombies also emerged from the sides and rear, and Arian was well-suited for dealing with them as she could read the zombie¡¯s presence. Thanks to it, Arian moved busily, slashing zombies here and there more than anyone else in this place. However, she didn¡¯t show any signs of difficulty, and indeed, she wasn¡¯t struggling. Observing this, Aiden finally looked at Sadie, who was beside him. ¡°Sadie, do you have enough bullets?¡± ¡°Yes. I have two magazines, and there are four rounds left.¡± Sadie replied with a slightly agitated voice. Just a while ago, facing many crazed zombies, this child remained calm. Of course, she forcibly suppressed the fear that approached so closely. Still, Sadie could pull the trigger towards the corpses. Although the hit rate wasn¡¯t that high, Aiden didn¡¯t mind. The situation was much different from when he taught her before. It was not a situation of dealing with just one zombie but facing a horde. Even for an adult, it¡¯s natural to feel confused about where to shoot first when faced with the madness of a swarm. So, Aiden wanted Sadie to experience that confusion directly. Someday, even if she were alone in a situation like this, she would be able to handle it wisely. Sadie understood Aiden¡¯s intention, and she focused on staying calm in front of them rather than aligning her shots. Gradually, Sadie was diminishing her fear of zombies. Recognizing this, Aiden lightly stroked Sadie¡¯s head with his gloved hand. Although it may sound cliche... She was an incredibly smart child. It was worthwhile to teach her. ¡°Let¡¯s move forward then.¡± Aiden continued to lead the group, advancing through the residential area. During that time, there were frequent battles, but there was no intense confrontation like the first one. Since they had swept away zombies that approached upon hearing gunfire, the density of zombies had significantly decreased. Therefore, Aiden excluded the use of firearms when the number of zombies in the vicinity seemed low, opting to deal with them using only a baseball bat. This was because the number of bullets was not abundant compared to the number of zombies. And so, about three hours later. ¡°Ha...! Finally...!¡± James, who had been tense all along, finally showed a smile on his face. In his eyes, there was a wide road leading to the bridge that Aiden¡¯s group had crossed in the morning. They had finally reached the end of this zombie-infested city. ¡°While we¡¯ve cleaned this area once, there might still be zombies. Be careful until the end.¡± Aiden warned the group when he decided to give them some words of caution. While he was doing so, Arian, who was walking beside him, tugged at his clothes twice. It was a sign that a mutant had appeared. Aiden responded immediately. ¡°Wait. Everyone, step back.¡± ¡°Why all of a sudden?¡± In response to Aiden¡¯s warning, Oliver asked. As if he was saying, why hesitate when we finally reached high ground? However, his dissatisfaction didn¡¯t last long. ¡°Uh, there!¡± Mia pointed across the road with a scream. There stood a two-story building made of red bricks. However, next to it, a giant mass that looked like a huge lump of flesh was visible. ¡°W-What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a mutant!¡± Both Oliver and James exclaimed. Gradually, that lump came out onto the road. Squish! It pushed aside the cars blocking its way with force and revealed its appearance. A height reaching three meters. However, the appearance was something Aiden had never seen before. A body swollen like it had been soaked in water. And arms that had grown tremendously, with what seemed like metal attached to them as if melted. It was more gruesome and hideous than an ordinary mutant. ¡°...A Wielder?¡± Aiden muttered while looking at it. A Wilder. A mutant wielding a weapon with a powerfully developed arm. However, the monster in front of them was similar to a Wilder yet different. Not only was it too large, but its physique was also overly massive. A Wilder¡¯s body was more muscular rather than swollen like that. Moreover, a Wilder was classified as a nocturnal mutant. This meant it wasn¡¯t a mutant wandering around in broad daylight like this. ¡°Arian.¡± However, Aiden didn¡¯t dwell on such questions for long. The immediate priority was to take down the creature. So, Aiden called Arian in a low voice, and she nodded slightly. Saving Arian¡¯s power was for situations like this. Since a mutant had appeared, there was no room for complacency. ¡°Everyone, step back.¡± Arian pushed people aside and moved forward. The three siblings retreated like a tide, and Sadie also safely hid behind the wall of a nearby building. Only Aiden followed Arian closely. At that moment, just when they anticipated a fierce battle, it happened. ¡°Uhuuh...¡± The mutant, which had been slowly walking towards the road by pushing aside vehicles, suddenly collapsed on the spot. As if its gigantic body had tripped over something, it fell over the cars it was pushing. The rusty metal chassis it fell onto emitted a metallic scream. ¡°Why is it doing that?¡± Arian ridiculed the creature¡¯s foolish movement. However, soon she noticed something odd about the mutant¡¯s behavior and changed her expression. The sensation emanating from the mutant was gradually fading away, like ink dropping into a lake. ¡°What happened?¡± Even Aiden was puzzled by the mutant¡¯s behavior. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Is it dead?¡± Dead. If that was the case, there was a simple way to confirm it. Without hesitation, Aiden raised the barrel towards the fallen creature¡¯s head. And then... Bang! A single gunshot echoed over the desolate city once again. Aiden had fired a 5.56mm standard round. While deadly against humans or regular zombies, this ammunition was somewhat insufficient against mutants. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, that bullet pierced through the skull of the gigantic mutant like a breeze. In a single shot, the mutant¡¯s head exploded like a balloon. ¡°Strange.¡± Aiden grinned at the obvious and anticlimactic death. However, his suspicion didn¡¯t last long. ¡°If it¡¯s over, let¡¯s go! What if another one of those comes again?¡± Oliver urged him from behind, expressing a concern that was quite reasonable. As Oliver¡¯s worry was pragmatic, Aiden momentarily put aside his doubts and turned back. Although it seemed strange, finishing the contract was the priority. ¡°Move out.¡± That way, Aiden and his group left Peoria. The three siblings, who had escaped the city, exhaled sighs and cheers. Aiden provided them with some food and water and let them stay at Morton¡¯s temporary refuge, where they had stayed the night before. Aiden¡¯s van was filled with luggage, so not everyone could ride. Originally, the Springfield militia¡¯s request only required bringing them outside Peoria. The rest would be handled by the militia. Having completed the mission, Aiden headed back towards Springfield. Now it was time to replenish the depleted resources and receive the promised rewards. Chapter 72 ¡°...Good job.¡± Under the bridge of the militia that took control of Springfield, Aiden was receiving final confirmation from the woman who had given the request. ¡°Our members have been safely recovered. Also, we¡¯ve confirmed the supplies you provided them.¡± The woman from the militia placed bullets and food on the table. Following the conditions of the contract, Aiden was replenishing the supplies he had consumed during the mission. Additionally, the woman added a hefty metal container. It was the gasoline that Aiden had requested as part of the reward. ¡°Check the goods.¡± At the woman¡¯s words, Aiden first picked up the bullets. There were approximately 300 rounds of ammunition on the table. The condition... wasn¡¯t bad. It seemed they were stored in a warehouse or similar, as some packaging was damaged, but it wasn¡¯t a significant issue. Aiden nodded, sweeping the bullets into the bag he had brought with him, adding to the weight of over 400 rounds, including the ones he originally had. It was by no means a small amount. With this amount of ammunition, they could sustain themselves for several days in terms of food and water. However, at the same time, it was woefully inadequate for piercing through cities like Peoria. Since entering the Midwest, the number of people, especially zombies, had increased. So, from now on, Aiden needed to pay attention to the supply of bullets that would pierce through the heads of those creatures. ¡°...¡± Along with such thoughts, Aiden inspected the gasoline. Gasoline was not well preserved compared to other fuels. If stored haphazardly, it would deteriorate to the point of being unusable within 1 or 2 months. Therefore, special additives were required for long-term storage. Thus, checking the condition of received gasoline was a necessary process. Aiden examined the color, smell, and viscosity of the gasoline. All indicators that would change first if the fuel were to deteriorate. Fortunately, there didn¡¯t seem to be any major issues. Although there were signs that deterioration might begin soon, in today¡¯s world, it was an acceptable item. ¡°Confirmed. But... did you hear any news about mutants?¡± Referring to the mutant that suddenly collapsed and died just before leaving Peoria. The woman nodded her head. ¡°Do you know why it happened?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know. However, we¡¯ve heard of such incidents occasionally.¡± ¡°Occasionally?¡± At Aiden¡¯s question, the woman lightly nodded. ¡°Yeah, occasionally. We¡¯ve also found a few mutants dead for no apparent reason a couple of times from about two months ago.¡± It was a puzzling phenomenon. Zombies, especially mutants, dying suddenly, almost like patients. At least, Aiden had never witnessed such an occurrence. However, even after asking a few more questions, the woman didn¡¯t know anything beyond that. Since no one cared about why a dead zombie died, it wasn¡¯t anyone¡¯s concern. So, Aiden turned away from the outpost. The mission was over, and the reward had been received. Since there was no reason to stay here any longer, Aiden collected his belongings and returned to the vehicle. ¡°Is it over? This time you¡¯re fast.¡± Between the alleys a bit away from the outpost. Perhaps being confined to the car for so long was frustrating. Arian was outside. She was helping Aiden load luggage into the car. And then, at that moment. ¡°Who followed us?¡± At Arian¡¯s words, Aiden frowned. Perhaps the presence itself was never welcome. An intruder right after receiving the mission reward. It wasn¡¯t a pleasant sight. ¡°How many?¡± ¡°One. And, someone we know.¡± ¡°Someone we know?¡± ¡°Yeah. Mia, was it?¡± Aiden, who was about to take out a gun while moving the luggage, stopped his hand. It didn¡¯t seem like a marauder trying to rob them of supplies. So, Aiden stepped out of the alley and revealed himself on the road. Then. ¡°Oh, here you are. Almost missed you.¡± Mia, who spotted him, approached as if saying it was fortunate. There was a small bag on her back, and a handgun was strapped to her waist, but she wasn¡¯t holding any weapons. Perhaps she had come simply to talk. Relaxing his guard a bit, Aiden asked her: ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Ah, well...¡± Mia hesitated for a moment. However, soon she pulled something out of her bag and began to speak. ¡°I have a request for you.¡± ¡°A request?¡± ¡°Yes. And this is the reward.¡± What Mia revealed from her bag were portable bombs, including grenades and flashbangs. Since most of the bombs Aiden had were depleted, these weapons caught his interest. However, Aiden looked at Mia quietly, rather than focusing on those weapons. Her eyes, looking at Aiden¡¯s black helmet, seemed somehow desperate. ¡°Couldn¡¯t you make this request through the militia?¡± ¡°...It¡¯s a personal matter.¡± ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Please find my father in Peoria.¡± Aiden made a short hum. In fact, he had some suspicions from the moment Mia mentioned the request. Knowing why Mia and her two brothers went to Peoria was something Aiden already knew. However, in the end, they couldn¡¯t meet their family there and became isolated by zombies. So, was she entrusting this task to Aiden, the one who saved them? It was not something difficult to understand. However, there was a problem. ¡°The reward is too small for that.¡± Peoria was a dangerous city. Even if a junk dealer were asked to go back there, they would probably refuse, even if offered a large sum. Of course, Aiden wasn¡¯t asking for such a job. However, considering this, the few bombs that Mia brought didn¡¯t match the situation at all. ¡°I know. I have more to offer.¡± Mia took out a map from her belongings. There was a bright red mark near the city center. ¡°Our supplies are likely in places we explored in the city. We couldn¡¯t pick them up while running away from zombies, but if you go there, you can recover them easily.¡± ¡°So... You want us to go inside the city and recover the reward ourselves?¡± Mia remained silent. However, that silence meant affirmation. Arian, who was silently swallowing a sigh, stood next to her. Sadie, sitting in the car, looked at them with a puzzled expression. Then, Aiden slightly raised his head. Without much thought, it was an unreasonable demand. To ask them to bring back the rewards left inside Peoria. Even if the items said to be in Peoria were false, the few grenades Mia offered were worth at least half the value of the gasoline Aiden received as a reward. So, Aiden asked for the reason rather than outright refusing. ¡°Why are you so determined?¡± ¡°Why? Well...¡± ¡°Being there in the city. Isn¡¯t there a higher chance that he¡¯s already dead?¡± Even for Aiden¡¯s group, entering and leaving that place easily was difficult. And yet, an ordinary person going there alone. It was a situation where survival could not be guaranteed. Even in terms of probability, it wouldn¡¯t be more than 5%. However, Mia had offered a reward to that low probability. Even if the goods supposedly in Peoria were false, the advance payment of the grenades alone was worth it. So, Aiden asked for the reason. ¡°...I thought he died too. If there hadn¡¯t been a letter from my father a week ago.¡± According to Mia, her father had directly handed over a letter to a militia group member. ¡°When I asked the guard on duty at that time, it was clear that my father had come in person. He couldn¡¯t confirm his face because he was wearing a helmet like yours, but his actions and voice were the same.¡± ¡°Then, did he go into Peoria?¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t go in. He had already been there, and he came back. Do you know what this means?¡± Mia took out a small frame. Inside it was a faded photograph. It seemed to include Mia and her two brothers, possibly her parents. ¡°This is an item from our house.¡± ¡°House?¡± ¡°We¡¯re from Peoria. The house where my family lived three years ago is in that city.¡± ¡°Then, did your father go into Peoria, took this photo, and came back alone?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! I don¡¯t know how, but if it¡¯s not that, I can¡¯t explain it.¡± Going in wouldn¡¯t be easy, but he came back with an item from his house. It was a story that was hard to believe. However, since Aiden had no reason to argue with Mia about the truth, he changed the direction of his questions. ¡°Was your father also a member of the militia?¡± ¡°No, my father was a junk dealer like you. He used to work as a truck driver originally, but he disliked being part of such organizations.¡± ¡°Does he have a junk shop around here?¡± ¡°He mainly traveled between Kansas City and Springfield. But... he went missing about two weeks ago. He didn¡¯t return even after the expected date.¡± Mia spoke while looking at the photo she was holding. Her father in the photo had the usual stern expression. ¡°Then, he returned after just a week, leaving only a photo and a letter before disappearing again.¡± ¡°Do you know why your father made such a decision?¡± ¡°Yes. It was written in the letter. He contracted some kind of fatal infectious disease.¡± ¡°Disease?¡± ¡°He called it a deadly epidemic. That¡¯s why he couldn¡¯t come back.¡± A deadly infectious disease. The first thing that naturally came to mind was the zombie virus. If it was truly the zombie virus, there was no need for him to leave such a letter. However, if it was a contagious disease to the extent that he couldn¡¯t even meet his family... Aiden, who used to be a doctor, focused on that aspect for a moment. Taking his silence as a refusal, Mia quickly continued talking. ¡°I won¡¯t ask you to bring him back. Just receive and deliver the letters I send and... reply, please.¡± Mia handed over a discolored envelope. A letter delivery. To be honest, it wasn¡¯t a very useful request. The reward was vague, and the risk seemed quite significant. However, Aiden noticed that Mia¡¯s father had been active around Kansas City. That was the place Aiden and his group were heading to. Moreover, Mia¡¯s father had been there directly just two weeks ago. It was a chance to obtain quite accurate information about the situation in Kansas City. However, Aiden wondered if this opportunity was worth accepting the uncertain reward. After a short consideration, Aiden spoke. ¡°If you promise one more reward, I¡¯ll accept the request.¡± ¡°What do you want? I don¡¯t have much to offer.¡± ¡°Blood. I mean, blood donation.¡± It was a fortunate event, because they were short on blood in the car. If Mia and the other two siblings can also give blood, they wouldn¡¯t run short until they reached the next city. However, Mia¡¯s expression subtly changed at Aiden¡¯s words. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t mind as long as you solve the request... But just in case...¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a fanatic. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Mia nodded with a wry smile. After that, Aiden and Mia discussed some details about the request. Once the matter was settled, Mia left, leaving behind the letter, the bombs, and even her blood. ¡°Did you accept the request just because of the blood?¡± Arian, who had been listening to the conversation, asked. Aiden took off his black helmet and spoke. ¡°Not just that. There¡¯s something bothering me.¡± ¡°Bothering you?¡± ¡°According to the militia¡¯s information, news from Kansas City has been cut off recently. Whether it¡¯s a coincidence or not, I don¡¯t know. But... Mia¡¯s father went missing right from that point.¡± ¡°Are you saying there might be something wrong in Kansas City?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a possibility. That¡¯s why I wanted to check it out.¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Understanding Aiden¡¯s intention, Arian nodded. ¡°Are you going back to that city again?¡± ¡°I have to. However, this time, I¡¯ll go alone. It seems there were not as many mutants as I expected.¡± Springfield was a place where regular zombies were more common than mutants. So, moving alone was much more manageable than bringing along comrades. Moreover, there was no one to rescue like before. ¡°...Alright.¡± ¡°Good. Then today, I¡¯ll return to Morton where we stayed yesterday.¡± That way, Aiden decided to stay one more day near Springfield. The night passed quickly. Chapter 73 The next morning. Aiden crossed the bridge alone once again, heading towards Peoria. As he did, he saw the decaying streets still overrun by zombies. In the midst of the decayed scenery, Aiden¡¯s eyes fell on the remnants of the mutant he had defeated yesterday. ¡°...¡± He briefly set aside the purpose of coming here and approached the scattered remains. Something he would never normally do. However, Aiden wanted to examine this mutant. Its appearance was unusual, and above all, the fact that it died a natural death was puzzling. Thunk! He struck the fingers of the mutant with the metal bat he was holding. The fingers were twisted and distorted, like something burnt and stuck together. Despite the feeble force behind the blow, the bones broke disappointingly. ¡°...¡± Aiden stared at the broken fingers. Just yesterday, its head was shattered by a single gunshot, and this mutant had an unusually weak bone density. However, Aiden couldn¡¯t find out more than that. So, he decided to give up at an appropriate point and focus on the request again. Today, his destination was a residential area about 4 km north of the cemetery he had visited last time. In the middle of it, there were supplies left behind by Mia and her siblings that needed to be collected. Aiden took out the map. Last night, based on the location of the supplies they left and Mia¡¯s house, he had planned the route. ¡°...A lot of weapons are in bad shape.¡± He muttered as he looked at the metal bat in his hand. Due to numerous battles fought so far, it had a considerably battered appearance. It seemed like it was time to find a new weapon. Thinking that, Aiden compared the map with reality and moved his steps. Unlike yesterday when he was stealthily moving around, this time he walked on the wide-open road. While there were certainly many zombies on it, there wasn¡¯t a single one trying to block his way. After about an hour, Aiden reached his first destination. ¡°Is this it?¡± Aiden, who had ventured deep into Peoria, was examining the supplies left by Mia. The place he stood at was near the area where a large mart used to be. Right next to it, there was a road with the logo of a famous mart brand clearly visible. Did Mia and her group explore that mart? However, Aiden, examining the abandoned supplies, shook his head. ¡°Not much useful here.¡± The supplies they collected included cigarettes, salt, spices like sugar, and even seeds of vegetables. While they took up some volume, they weren¡¯t heavy, and most of them were valuable items. Unfortunately, the things Aiden urgently needed weren¡¯t among them. Of course, they could be used as exchange items, so they weren¡¯t entirely meaningless. ¡°...Can¡¯t be helped.¡± With a short sigh, he picked them up and continued north. Soon, he entered a large residential area. Somewhere in this residential area was the house Aiden needed to find. ¡°500 meters north from the school building, a house with a red brick and a red roof.¡± Aiden muttered while looking at the map. Naturally, even with a map, not every single house in a residential area was marked. So, his map only showed approximate locations with dots. The rest was to check every house by walking through the residential area. Therefore, he first found the school building as a reference point. A small private school nestled among houses. Whether it belonged to the Mission School system or not, a cross symbol was clearly engraved in the middle of the building. ¡°From here...¡± Aiden compared the school and the map in turn to decide which direction to go. Then, a crumpled sign left on the road caught his eye. Fortunately, there were still signs indicating the street names. So he easily made his way to the street where Mia¡¯s house was located. ¡°There it is.¡± Soon, he discovered a house that seemed likely. A one-story building with a red brick exterior and a roof of the same color. Aiden then circled around the house to check the back. There, he noticed a dirty puddle of water, completely neglected. It matched Mia¡¯s mention of a pool behind the house. Putting on the helmet he had brought, Aiden approached the building. If he had found the house correctly, Mia¡¯s father should be inside. ¡°...¡± Aiden cautiously approached the front gate. Perhaps because it was a city crawling with zombies, most houses surprisingly had intact windows, and the condition was unexpectedly good. This deserted neighborhood seemed untouched by wanderers who usually targeted empty houses, evident from the fact that almost all the glass windows were intact. Thanks to that, looking through the hazy glass, nothing was visible inside. The stagnant curtain inside, which seemed to haven¡¯t moved for a long time, obstructed the view. Knock, knock. Aiden knocked on the front door. After a moment of silence, he continued speaking. ¡°I¡¯m a junk dealer. West Ryan, are you there? I¡¯ve been sent by your daughter Mia.¡± Aiden uttered Mia¡¯s father¡¯s name that he heard from Mia, keeping his voice low, perhaps due to the city full of zombies. However, even after waiting for a while, there was no response from inside. Is there someone inside? With that thought in mind, Aiden reached for the doorknob. Turning it, he found that the door was not locked. ¡°I¡¯m going in.¡± Saying that, Aiden opened the door slowly, keeping it slightly ajar. Contrary to his concerns, there was no immediate gunfire from inside as soon as the door opened. Aiden cautiously extended his head into the interior. What he saw was an empty corridor leading to the kitchen. Also, the scene was as desolate as any other abandoned house. Only the dust reflecting the sunlight from the open door cried out that there was no one here. However, Aiden didn¡¯t fall for that lie. His eyes were already fixed on faint footprints in the corridor, imprinted on the dust piled up like snow. Someone is here. Convinced of this, Aiden closed the door and entered the house, speaking aloud. ¡°West Ryan. If you¡¯re here, answer me. I have a letter sent by Mia.¡± Still, there was no response. Aiden sighed briefly and opened the nearest door. Then, a small room came into view. Perhaps one of the rooms for the three siblings. Except for furniture and miscellaneous items, there was nothing else in the room. Having confirmed this, Aiden immediately opened the next door. Another sibling¡¯s room, and even the bathroom were checked. Finally, he opened the door to the master bedroom. A two-person bed against the left wall was the first thing that caught his eye, and above it, there was a large family photo in a frame. Next to the bed was a large rocking chair. In that chair, a middle-aged man sat with his eyes closed. ¡°...West Ryan?¡± Aiden cautiously approached him. At first glance, he looked like a corpse, but fortunately, he was breathing. With that in mind, Aiden reached for his shoulder, still groaning, and called out more clearly. ¡°West Ryan!¡± ¡°Mmm...¡± Ryan groaned weakly, opening his eyes with great effort. At the same time, his face contorted with pain. Ryan struggled to speak. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a junk dealer. I came sent by your daughter Mia.¡± ¡°Mia...?¡± Ryan let out a deep sigh as if gasping for breath. So he was sick. He didn¡¯t look quite well. It took him a while to catch his breath before he spoke again. ¡°Yeah, Mia. Mia... my daughter, right? Why?¡± Aiden then told him the story of Mia, how she came to this city to meet Ryan, faced danger, and eventually safely escaped, sending Aiden to him. ¡°...I see.¡± Ryan, upon hearing this, responded simply. Aiden handed him the letter Mia had sent. Ryan¡¯s tired eyes shifted toward it. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a letter from Mia.¡± Ryan took the letter with trembling hands. Struggling, he managed to open the envelope and retrieve the letter. However, his pupils only wandered restlessly across the white paper. Eventually, Ryan requested something from Aiden. ¡°Sorry, but... Can you read this for me? My eyes are blurry, and I can¡¯t see the words well.¡± ¡°...¡± Unable to refuse, Aiden read Mia¡¯s letter aloud. It contained nothing special, just the daughter¡¯s heartfelt concern for her father. After reading it all, Ryan let out a long sigh. Seeing his unresponsive state, Aiden asked. ¡°Do you have any intention of going back?¡± ¡°No, I can¡¯t.¡± Ryan weakly shook his head. Then, as if signaling Aiden to leave, he gestured toward the door. ¡°I... I¡¯m sick. You should leave. If you stay here... it¡¯s not good.¡± Aiden quietly observed Ryan, who spoke like that. He was trying to deduce the disease Ryan had, observing him. Of course, even if Aiden were a doctor, he couldn¡¯t determine the illness just by looking. But if, as Ryan said, the scope of the disease is narrowed down to an infectious one... S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At least a few candidates could be inferred. With that judgment, Aiden continued his inquiry. ¡°What kind of illness are you suffering from?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. But it¡¯s a terrible one.¡± ¡°Can you describe the symptoms?¡± ¡°My whole body hurts. I¡¯m weak, and my memory... is blurry.¡± Ryan¡¯s hazy eyes wandered through the air. In a way, his appearance resembled a zombie, even though he didn¡¯t seem aware of it. ¡°Since when has it been like this?¡± ¡°...Since the day it rained.¡± ¡°Rained?¡± ¡°Yeah, it rained. It poured heavily. And... everyone died.¡± Ryan opened his eyes wide. Though his gaze was still directed into space, he spoke with a trembling voice as if he was genuinely seeing something. ¡°It¡¯s true. Everyone really died. Hit by the rain pouring like a waterfall. At first, people who were fine collapsed one by one like puppets with cut strings. Isn¡¯t it horrifying?¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°I survived there. But I got sick. There was a terrifying disease in that rain. So please, leave. If you stay here... you¡¯re in danger too.¡± Even with Ryan¡¯s words, Aiden¡¯s feet remained motionless. On the contrary, Aiden took a step closer to him. ¡°Can you tell me more about it? When did this so-called rain happen?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Whether it was a day or two, these days, I have no sense of time.¡± ¡°Then, where did the rain fall?¡± ¡°Well, that... it was in Kansas City.¡± Aiden recalled Mia¡¯s words. Ryan was supposed to return to Springfield two weeks ago but couldn¡¯t, and he was declared missing. He returned to the militia a week ago and sent a letter. So, if Ryan¡¯s words were true, the rain would have fallen about two weeks ago. Ryan¡¯s words seemed outrageous, perhaps due to confusion or hallucinations caused by an existing illness. However, Ryan continued. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m crazy now?¡± Aiden, struck by his words, was momentarily lost for words. Ryan chuckled for a moment. ¡°That might be the case. Even I couldn¡¯t believe it when I saw it with my own eyes. But... I swear. Everything I said is true.¡± ¡°Do you have any evidence?¡± ¡°Evidence?¡± Ryan tapped his chest with his own hands. ¡°My body is the evidence. After being hit by that rain... my body changed.¡± ¡°Changed?¡± ¡°I came this far... How could a normal human get here? Zombies, those damn things. They don¡¯t bite me anymore. That¡¯s why I was able to come to my house.¡± At those words, Aiden¡¯s expression became quite serious. However, that reaction was hidden behind the black helmet. ¡°...Is that true?¡± ¡°If I had a bit more strength left, I¡¯d show you myself. But now... it¡¯s not that easy.¡± As Ryan tried to get up from the chair, his body slumped back, relying on the chair. ¡°Can I examine your body?¡± ¡°Examine...?¡± ¡°I was a doctor. So...¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell me lies about being able to cure me. If not, do as you please.¡± Once permission was granted, gloved hands examined Ryan¡¯s body. During that time, Aiden particularly asked about the painful areas and other medical history. Surprisingly, Ryan sincerely answered those questions. After a while, having finished the examination, Aiden grinned. Still, the exact diagnosis of Ryan¡¯s illness remained unknown. Ryan¡¯s symptoms didn¡¯t match any known infectious disease he was familiar with. There was no fever, no abdominal pain ¨C his lungs weren¡¯t severely damaged, though he struggled to breathe. He was just weakening, slowly dying. Moreover, considering what Ryan said, his condition had deteriorated rapidly since a week ago. Could it be an unknown infectious disease? Or could it be due to some reason other than an infectious disease? ¡°It seems like you¡¯re troubled.¡± While Aiden remained silent, Ryan¡¯s voice continued. ¡°Do you still think I¡¯m crazy?¡± Aiden shook his head. There was undoubtedly communication between them. While he might have experienced a moment of hallucination, there were no signs of it now. ¡°Then you have to believe me.¡± ¡°There is no disease that causes people to die after being hit by rain.¡± ¡°Is that so? Then... I must be wrong.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Maybe... it¡¯s not a disease.¡± With a sigh, Ryan¡¯s words made Aiden narrow his eyes. If it¡¯s not a disease... ¡°...¡± As Aiden carefully examined that possibility, one assumption crossed his mind. It was... radiation. Aiden frowned at this ominous expectation. Chapter 74 ¡°...¡± Aiden organized his thoughts next to Ryan. Rain containing powerful radiation could indeed be created. This was due to neglected nuclear power plants. However, Aiden didn¡¯t know the exact mechanism. He had heard on the news once that high levels of radiation in the reactor core could melt, penetrate the ground, meet groundwater, evaporate into steam, and become rain. Therefore, it couldn¡¯t be called an accurate prediction. It was just fitting Ryan¡¯s claim of people dying or getting sick after being hit by rain into reality. But as he thought about it, something came to mind. The strange mutants found only here. If he considered a Wielder, who died of natural causes, as someone exposed to radiation, it wouldn¡¯t be an impossible occurrence. Also, Ryan¡¯s current condition supported that idea. His symptoms weren¡¯t typical of a disease; they could be a result of radiation exposure. As the strange puzzle pieces oddly came together, Aiden stood up immediately. He needed more information. And if this was true, he had to leave this place as soon as possible. Aiden was about to leave the room but turned back to look at Ryan after a moment. There was something he still needed to say to Ryan. ¡°Ryan West. Do you have any words to leave for your children?¡± Mia wanted a response, but Ryan was unable to write a letter due to his condition. So, Aiden decided to convey his words on behalf of Ryan. With closed eyes, Ryan struggled to lift his head. ¡°I¡¯ve done my part. I came back home, and I even buried my wife, whom I couldn¡¯t bury before. So... it¡¯s over.¡± ¡°...?¡± ¡°Now, I... want to rest. Also, I hope my children live healthily without suffering like me.¡± Aiden nodded, then left immediately. He left the city more urgently than when he first arrived. Aiden gathered his colleagues who were waiting in their temporary shelter and headed straight to the Springfield militia. * * * Arriving at the Springfield militia outpost, Aiden immediately contacted Mia. Whether Mia had already talked to the medical staff or not, they quickly called her, and she came out of the outpost. ¡°Have you already finished the request?¡± Aiden nodded. In response, a momentary look of distrust crossed Mia¡¯s eyes. To dispel her doubts, Aiden showed her the items he had retrieved. They were the supplies that Mia and her siblings had given up on in front of the mart. ¡°This is...¡± Aside from that, Aiden explained to Mia the situation inside the house that she hadn¡¯t been able to see for herself. Unable to verify these facts without seeing them personally, Mia had no choice but to believe Aiden¡¯s words. ¡°What about father? How is he doing?¡± Aiden calmly conveyed the state of Ryan that he had grasped. He was dying. Unable to control his own body properly, his vision was also significantly impaired. Even if he came to this place, he probably wouldn¡¯t live for long. Having heard that, tears welled up in Mia¡¯s eyes. But Aiden raised his head to the tearful Mia. ¡°It¡¯s not the time to be sad.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°According to your father... No, let the militia hear this. But first, did you bring the reward?¡± Mia nodded and handed him a small vial. It contained the blood Aiden had requested. Aiden took it and, along with Mia, went to meet Anna, who was in charge of the militia¡¯s dealings. ¡°Why do you want to meet Anna again?¡± Mia asked. ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough,¡± Aiden replied, making Mia look a bit uneasy. Thus, they soon met Anna, the deal handler for the militia. For Aiden, it was the third meeting with Anna. ¡°What¡¯s going on this time?¡± That¡¯s why, naturally, Anna addressed Aiden. He conveyed the message he had to deliver to Anna. Firstly, Mia entrusted the request to him without going through the militia, and as a result, he revisited Peoria. Anna briefly glared at Mia upon hearing this part. However, Anna¡¯s expression turned perplexed as soon as he heard the conclusions drawn at the end of that request. ¡°What? Radiation?¡± ¡°...That¡¯s ridiculous.¡± Anna asked in disbelief, and Mia showed suspicion. However, Aiden calmly continued without batting an eye. ¡°The issue is not that it sounded absurd; the problem is if it happened to be true. I want to confirm it.¡± ¡°...¡± Anna stared at Aiden¡¯s black helmet, her fist clenched in confusion. It wasn¡¯t an easy thing to believe, but a wanderer like him had no reason to play such pranks. Moreover, if it was just to confirm danger, it wouldn¡¯t be something the militia would doubt so much. With that in mind, Anna asked Aiden. ¡°Then... can we send someone from our side to check?¡± ¡°Who would you send? If it¡¯s true, they might die.¡± Anna frowned at the unexpected answer. And Mia, who was standing next to her, opened her mouth in surprise. ¡°Is the situation that dangerous?¡± ¡°...Well.¡± Unfortunately, even Aiden didn¡¯t have accurate information. That¡¯s precisely why he came to this militia. ¡°I don¡¯t have proper knowledge either. That¡¯s why I¡¯m here. Do you have any experts on your side?¡± ¡°Experts?¡± ¡°Someone who knows a lot about radiation or maybe even equipment.¡± ¡°Someone who knows about radiation...¡± Anna tapped the table with her fingers, lost in thought. Soon, Mia, seemingly having thought of something, spoke up. ¡°Oh, Andrew might know.¡± ¡°Who...?¡± ¡°Andrew. The guy who piles up junk next to the warehouse.¡± ¡°That man? Well, yeah. If it¡¯s him, he might know something.¡± Anna mumbled and then looked at Aiden. ¡°I¡¯ll bring him. You wait here. And Mia...¡± ¡°I¡¯ll stay here too.¡± Perhaps because it was related to her father, Mia seemed quietly interested in this matter. Anna nodded, and beyond the table, she disappeared toward the militia headquarters. In the meantime, Aiden asked Mia about the man named Andrew. ¡°What kind of person is Andrew?¡± ¡°He¡¯s a peculiar person. He knows how to make various things, and he¡¯s in charge of vehicle repairs for the militia.¡± ¡°So, is he a mechanic?¡± It wasn¡¯t the most trustworthy profession. Cars and radiation were entirely unrelated fields. However, Mia¡¯s next words continued. ¡°But he can do a lot of things. He fixes broken things well. The walkie-talkies used by the militia were made from parts he gathered.¡± Maybe someone with a broad understanding of general science. Hoping for that, Aiden calmly waited for Anna¡¯s return. When she came back with Andrew, about 30 minutes had passed. ¡°It took quite a while.¡± Mia, who had been waiting, spoke as she looked at them. Then Andrew, a Latino man in his mid-40s with a stout voice, replied. ¡°It took a while to find these.¡± He unloaded what he had been carrying onto the table. One of them was a map. The rest were small rectangular devices, about the size of a person¡¯s palm. ¡°I heard the story from Anna. Suspecting radiation leakage?¡± Andrew¡¯s brown eyes turned to Aiden. Aiden nodded calmly. ¡°Is it a possible story?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not an expert in that field, so I don¡¯t know much. But, well, it doesn¡¯t seem like complete nonsense.¡± Saying so, he looked at Aiden with those brown eyes. Aiden opened up to explain what they had been suspecting. ¡°This is a military map. It includes the areas around Kansas City. Our reconnaissance team found it in an abandoned barracks nearby.¡± On the military map, crucial locations that the army would consider were detailed. And among them was one thing: a nuclear power plant. A power plant located at the southeastern tip of Nebraska, adjacent to Missouri. The location was... just 160 km away from Kansas City. ¡°...It really exists.¡± Aiden stared at it intently. In reality, this alone wasn¡¯t conclusive evidence. Even if there was indeed a nuclear power plant nearby, it could still be a mere coincidence. But, in addition to that, Andrew showed a machine next to him. ¡°And this too. A radiation detector. It¡¯s been abandoned for over three years, so I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s working properly.¡± ¡°You had something like this?¡± Perhaps because it was an unexpected item, Mia asked. To this, Andrew shrugged and said: ¡°I thought it might come in handy. Well, it didn¡¯t actually find much use.¡± Saying so, he turned on the power of the measuring device. Several numbers on the screen went up and down in a blurry manner as Aiden briefly observed. ¡°How is it?¡± ¡°Wait and see. To measure accurately, we need to wait about a minute.¡± At Andrew¡¯s words, Aiden nodded and stepped back. After a while, Andrew said. ¡°It¡¯s done. But...¡± He furrowed his brows as he looked at the radiation meter. ¡°The radiation level is quite high.¡± ¡°High?¡± Mia said with a contemplative expression. To this, Andrew quickly added: ¡°It¡¯s not to the point of immediate death. But... it¡¯s harmful enough. Damn it, why didn¡¯t anyone know about this?¡± ¡°So what? Is this speculation from a junk dealer true?¡± ¡°Unless this measuring device is malfunctioning.¡± The revelation shocked Anna and Mia. And Aiden just nodded briefly. ¡°Thank you. Thanks to this, I¡¯ve gained confidence.¡± Saying so, Aiden placed the supplies he brought from Peoria on the table. It was the appropriate compensation for the information he had in mind. ¡°I¡¯ll be leaving this place now.¡± Afterward, Aiden said so. It wasn¡¯t anything special. Being a junk dealer and a wanderer, declaring that he was leaving this place was merely a natural thing. However, because of that, those words sounded like a command for the remaining three people to leave as well. Confusion filled Anna¡¯s eyes at this, and Andrew let out a heavy sigh. Mia, turning around, grabbed Aiden. ¡°Just a moment.¡± Aiden turned to look at Mia. Despite some scratches, Mia¡¯s anxious expression shone through her clean black helmet. ¡°I almost forgot. It¡¯s Ryan¡¯s testimony.¡± Aiden conveyed the words Ryan left for Mia. Effectively a final testament. Hearing this, Mia felt even sadder. ¡°With this, the request is over. Do you agree?¡± Aiden said. Mia nodded. Having completed the final request in Springfield, Aiden immediately returned to the vehicle where his companions were waiting. ¡°...How did it go?¡± Arian asked as soon as he returned. They already knew the story about radiation. And they also knew that Aiden had gone to the Springfield militia to confirm it. ¡°It seems like the concern was real.¡± Arian¡¯s expression stiffened at those words. She didn¡¯t know precisely how dangerous radiation was, but because it was undoubtedly harmful to Sadie, Arian immediately spoke up. ¡°Then we have to leave here.¡± ¡°Yeah, as soon as possible.¡± Aiden started the vehicle. In the eyes of Sadie reflected in the mirror, a faint tension was evident. Sadie might not have fully understood the conversation about radiation, but within the coming and going atmosphere, she sensed that the situation was serious. ¡°But where should we go?¡± ¡°...¡± Aiden couldn¡¯t easily answer Arian¡¯s question. Of course, besides Kansas City, there were also candidates like Des Moines, Omaha, and more. Aiden had several other cities in mind to head toward. All the potential destinations were based on information obtained from the Springfield Militia. However, now all of them were excluded as candidates. This was because all the cities were to the west. Even for Aiden, who always made various plans, it was unimaginable that the entire western region would become unsafe due to the threat of radiation. ¡°For now... we can¡¯t go west. And nearby places won¡¯t do either. We need to stay as far away as possible from the location of the power plant.¡± Both Aiden and Arian were ignorant of the threat of radiation. They didn¡¯t know exactly how far they needed to stay away to be safe. Nor did they know how much time needed to pass for the influence of radiation to expand or diminish. They knew nothing. So, Aiden decided vaguely to move away from this place. It seemed to be the safest option he could choose. ¡°Then... are we going back to the east?¡± Arian asked, and Aiden nodded. Returning the way they came was one option, but it was akin to giving up on finding a place for Sadie to stay. ¡°No, it¡¯s better to go north or south.¡± ¡°Hmm...¡± Arian sighed briefly. For them, it was the first time they had to move with no information, only determining the direction. So, Aiden explained as much as he knew about the advantages and disadvantages of each. ¡°If we go north right away, it might be comfortable. Summer is coming soon. If we go south, we might experience extreme heat.¡± But there were drawbacks. If they went north, the regions they would pass through, such as North Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming, had originally the lowest population density in the United States. There would be little supplies left, and thus, the number of survivors would also be low. ¡°Also, the north has a considerable gap between cities. If, by any chance, the vehicle breaks down, it could be problematic.¡± ¡°So... like Pittsburgh?¡± That statement was correct. The shortage of supplies, zombies, and even people in the city were just like that. ¡°Compared to that, the south is the opposite. Many small towns and not a few big cities. Of course, there might be as many dangerous individuals.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better to go north then? It seems safer over there.¡± Arian said, as if she were worried about Sadie. It was a reasonable statement. So, Aiden turned to look at Sadie next. ¡°What do you think?¡± Upon Aiden¡¯s question, Sadie quietly brightened her eyes. After contemplating for a moment, Sadie soon answered the question. ¡°I think... it might be better to go south.¡± Aiden nodded. He didn¡¯t ask for reasons. Perhaps this clever girl already anticipated that going north would not be advantageous for Aiden and Arian. There might not be many opportunities to encounter people or obtain blood there. Therefore, Aiden, without further words, expressed his opinion. ¡°I also think going south is better.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°It seems to increase the chances of completing the request.¡± If there were many people, there would undoubtedly be many groups of survivors. Aiden emphasized the possibility that there might be a place suitable for Sadie among them. Without asking for reasons, Arian looked at Sadie. ¡°Well then... decided.¡± Arian shrugged and said. Although she insisted on going north, she was outvoted, and Sadie chose the south. So, it wasn¡¯t a decision she strongly opposed. ¡°Got it. Well then... let¡¯s make this place our first destination.¡± Aiden chose a city that was a considerable distance south of Springfield from the map. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was Memphis. It was a major southern city in Tennessee, reachable by passing through Kentucky from their current location in Illinois. Chapter 75 Five days after leaving Springfield. Aiden and his group were heading south from Springfield towards the small city of Paducah, which was 400km away. ¡°Do we have to cross here?¡± Arian said, looking at the wide river in front of her. She, Aiden, and Sadie got off the vehicle they had driven to this point, stood by the forested road, and looked down at the river. The width of the river they had to cross reached hundreds of meters. Even without considering the vehicle, it was difficult to imagine swimming across such a wide river. ¡°Yeah, the Ohio River. It¡¯s the border between Illinois and Kentucky.¡± Aiden answered her question in front of such a river. Sadie¡¯s gaze silently followed the flowing river. ¡°Ohio River? That... for some reason, it sounds familiar.¡± ¡°It would. This is the same river that divided downtown Pittsburgh.¡± ¡°It extended all the way here?¡± From here to Pittsburgh, it was almost 1000km straight. The river that blocked their way started from the starting point of their journey and extended this far. Arian let out a bitter laugh at the whimsical coincidence. ¡°Anyway, fortunately, the bridge itself seems intact.¡± Aiden pointed to the bridge directly connected to the road. There was a unique bridge made of metal plates that allowed cars to pass through. As Aiden said, the bridge was still standing. However, there was another problem. ¡°I guess, we can¡¯t we just cross, can we?¡± Arian said, looking at the obstacles piled on the bridge. Artificial barricades blocked the center, and beyond them, several zombies were loitering. But considering the condition of the road so far, that much was a considerable relief. At least many abandoned vehicles didn¡¯t completely block the bridge. Although some preliminary work was needed, it would be better to wish for the ability to pass through by vehicle. So, Aiden stepped forward with his new weapon, an iron crowbar. The metal bat he had been using until three days ago was completely crushed, making it unusable. This iron crowbar was the substitute he had prepared. ¡°...Got it.¡± At that, Arian quietly retreated into the vehicle with Sadie. Only a few days ago, she might have volunteered to help. But now, the situation was different. After leaving Springfield, Aiden¡¯s group had not encountered any other survivor groups. The only things blocking their path were abandoned obstacles and zombies. Because blood supply hadn¡¯t been established at all during this time, Arian had to quietly save her own life. ¡°...¡± Aiden first tackled the barricade. It was an improvised barricade made of wooden boards and steel plates, about a meter high. But it seemed to have been made quite a long time ago; it was rusted and decayed here and there. It would take some time, but Aiden alone could easily dismantle it. So, with a light movement, he jumped over the barricade. Before dismantling the barricade, it was to clear away the hindrances. Thunk! One zombie, the closest one, received a blow to the head from Aiden¡¯s crowbar and fell. Though the zombies around screamed in response, Aiden didn¡¯t blink an eye. They came running. There were five of them. At this level, there was no need to pull out a gun. ¡°Kiiii!¡± The one who came first reached out its hand. But before that rotten hand could touch, Aiden¡¯s foot kicked its abdomen, crushing its ribcage. While the guy was staggering like that. Squelch! Immediately, the bent end of the crowbar pierced through the zombie¡¯s skull. Rotten, dark greenish blood splattered from its end. ¡°Kkugh!¡± Immediately afterward, two zombies rushed towards Aiden. Holding the crowbar like a spear, Aiden thrust it into the wide-open mouth of the first one. The other one was met with a head-on collision with a helmet. ¡°Ugh!¡± The zombie impaled from the mouth instantly perished. The one collided with the helmet let out a human-like scream and fell backward. Thunk! The crowbar dropped onto the already fallen one. And the last ,one who came late, had his head blown off by a full swing, as if he was swinged by a baseball bat. ¡°...¡± Aiden, who had taken down the five zombies in just a few seconds, looked around. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Far away, on the mainland, there were still a few zombies visible. However, there were no more obstacles on this narrow and long bridge. So, Aiden began dismantling the barricade now. He smashed the rotten wooden boards and knocked down the rusty steel plates. Having secured the minimum space for the vehicle to pass, he returned to the vehicle. ¡°Thank you for your hard work!¡± Upon seeing this, Sadie expressed her gratitude for his efforts. However, Aiden, feeling no fatigue, waved his hand as if it was nothing. The vehicle slowly crossed the bridge, passing through the dismantled barricade. Watching that, Arian spoke up. ¡°If we¡¯ve come this far, it should be safe, right?¡± ¡°...We should hope so.¡± It was a conversation about radiation. In the past five days, Aiden¡¯s group had moved desperately to avoid the danger zone. Although the straight distance was 400km, they had to detour due to destroyed roads and sections blocked by zombie hordes. Thanks to these efforts, they had managed to stay quite far from the Nebraska nuclear power plant, suspected as the source of radiation. But behind that, there were many losses. Not only did they give up searching for resources to focus on movement, but they also didn¡¯t encounter any survivor groups by chance, resulting in a gradual depletion of resources like blood, gasoline, ammunition, and even food and water. ¡°If there¡¯s a barricade, does that mean there are people here?¡± Arian asked with anticipation. For Aiden¡¯s group, finding other survivors was the most urgent task. Above all, blood was the most urgently needed resource. However, Aiden couldn¡¯t make optimistic observations like that. ¡°Well, the barricade seems quite old. The likelihood is high that it¡¯s an abandoned place.¡± Arian sighed briefly. Meanwhile, the vehicle crossed the bridge. And so, the moment they set foot in Kentucky for the first time. ¡°Kik!¡± Zombies lingering on the road across the bridge noticed the presence of the vehicle. Aiden immediately took the crowbar and stepped outside the vehicle. * * * And a short while later. ¡°Let¡¯s stay here for today.¡± Aiden¡¯s group settled in a brick building on the outskirts of Paducah. There was a small parking lot in front of the building, but there was no sign of other vehicles. Also, the surroundings had low buildings scattered sparsely, making it challenging to hide Aiden¡¯s group¡¯s minivan. However, Aiden had no choice this time. To hide the vehicle, they needed to go further into the city. There were more zombies in the city than he anticipated. So, just coming here wasn¡¯t an easy task. The road from the bridge to this building was only about 2km long. However, to pass through that distance, Aiden had to kill dozens of zombies. It wasn¡¯t as many as Peoria, but it was by no means a small number. ¡°Are you okay? You seemed bitten by zombies earlier.¡± Arian asked. Aiden nodded cleanly. It was true that he was bitten, but Aiden didn¡¯t care about such minor injuries. ¡°I¡¯m fine. What about the surroundings?¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing nearby. Inside the building too.¡± ¡°Okay. Then, I leave the preparation here to you two.¡± Saying so, Aiden grabbed his weapons. It was only around 2 p.m. It was too early to finish moving, so Arian asked. ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°Starting today, I think we need to combine movement and exploration.¡± ¡°...Yeah, that¡¯s probably necessary.¡± Arian nodded with a bitter smile. Although Aiden¡¯s group couldn¡¯t be sure of the exact extent of the radiation danger zone. They couldn¡¯t blindly run away either. So, from now on, they wouldn¡¯t be solely focused on moving, as before. Arian also felt the scarcity of resources, so she had no choice but to agree with Aiden¡¯s words. ¡°Come back safely. Leave Sadie to me.¡± After bidding farewell to Arian, Aiden walked alone on the wide road leading to the center of Paducah. Before long, several hotels and large supermarkets came into view. Fortunately, there seemed to be a large shopping district nearby. ¡°...¡± Aiden first walked towards the nearby hotel. A street where six hotels were gathered within one block. While walking along such a hotel street, Aiden stopped in front of one hotel. A four-story brown brick building. It wasn¡¯t very spacious, but what caught Aiden¡¯s eye was the barricade blocking part of the entrance. Although more than half of it was collapsed and it wasn¡¯t clear where it went. It was evidence that someone had stayed here after the zombie outbreak. Perhaps the barricade at the iron bridge was also made by the group that stayed here. Aiden stepped into the hotel with such thoughts. The hotel lobby was filled with worn-out clothes, empty canned goods, plastic containers, and such. Traces of survivors who stayed here long ago were abundant. Dust had accumulated on top of them, so it seemed that survivors had left here quite a while ago. At least half a year ago, or maybe even longer. ¡°Ugh...¡± While he was surveying the lobby, a zombie crawled out from inside the hotel. It didn¡¯t seem like a survivor who used to live here. It was just an abandoned hideout from a long time ago. There were no signs of recent battles nearby. Passing by such a zombie, Aiden searched several rooms. He wasn¡¯t looking for supplies. What he needed was a map indicating the area around here. Of course, Aiden already had a paper map prepared from Pittsburgh, showing the entire United States. But it only barely marked the road information. So, to thoroughly explore a city like Paducah, he needed a map. ¡°...Here it is.¡± And fortunately, Aiden found such a map right away. The innermost room on the 1st floor of the abandoned hotel. It seemed to be a command center of the survivor group that stayed in this hotel. A map, including the entire Kentucky area, including Paducah, was haphazardly attached to the neglected whiteboard. ¡°North...¡± ¡®To the north!¡¯ was written in the upper corner of the map. It seemed that the people who stayed here had left for the north. Aiden moved in the opposite direction, away from the north. Aiden first memorized the map with his eyes. Paducah was a large shopping district with Aiden located in the western area. The central area was a large residential area. Finally, the eastern area adjacent to the river was configured as a downtown area. In that case... It would be appropriate to explore the surroundings first, and if there were no gains, pass through the residential area and head to downtown. Aiden carefully peeled the whiteboard from the wall, folding it neatly and tucking it into his arms so that the map wouldn¡¯t tear. Aiden then left the hotel and headed towards a nearby large mart. The shopping district in Paducah was quite large for a small city. There were two well-known brand supermarkets alone, and a region where department stores and restaurants were clustered. However, Aiden couldn¡¯t expect much from here. If there were still enough supplies here, there would be no reason for the survivors who stayed in that hotel to go north. ¡°As expected.¡± Arriving at the mart, Aiden murmured like a sigh. The large mart had been completely cleared out. No matter how much it was cleaned out, the shelves were tidy, and only zombies groaned inside, flowing in from the wide-open door. Still, Aiden, just in case, went inside the mart, but the result was the same. The supplies in the mart had run out a long time ago. ¡°Tsk...¡± Leaving the mart, he clicked his tongue. Now he had only checked one place, but such emptiness was by no means a good sign. It meant that many people had passed through this shopping district repeatedly. In this case... going to other buildings in the shopping district would be a waste of time. Then, should he go straight to downtown? Aiden thought so and walked towards the residential area. A faint uneasiness settled on him. Just a deserted city where only zombies roamed. The worst assumption had crossed his mind, that he might not get anything today in this cityscape. ¡°...¡± But even so, there was no immediate solution. He had to save supplies and hope Arian would hold out. At that moment, Aiden deeply prepared himself. ¡°That¡¯s...¡± He found something. Aiden¡¯s gaze was on a gray house in the middle of the residential area. It looked like any other house from the outside, with broken windows and a dilapidated appearance. But inside, something had clearly collapsed. Aiden approached the place. It was a zombie. With broken legs, a fractured neck, and a skull that was completely shattered, the wretched remains of a zombie lay like a carpet. Although the sight was a gruesome corpse itself. Aiden confirmed the traces of green bodily fluid oozing out from the creature and finally could have a glimmer of hope. Even though it was completely dried up, the traces of bodily fluids were vivid. It meant that the zombie had become like this less than a week ago. At the same time, it suggested that there might be people somewhere in this city. ¡°...¡± Quietly, Aiden covered his face with the black helmet he had brought separately. And with more determined steps than before, he started to meticulously search through the residential area that he was about to pass by. Chapter 76 Some time later. Where Aiden stopped was an unexpected place. He had reached the southern part of the residential area. It was right next to Highway 24, a major road that penetrated Paducah. In terms of location, it followed the road from the hotel area. There was an area surrounded by makeshift barricades piled up like a maze. The barricade itself was a wall of an amateur level, made of iron fences shaped like nets with various things attached to it. It didn¡¯t seem very durable. At best, it might be able to block ordinary zombies. But even such a crude barricade showed clear signs of maintenance. People had been here recently. So... Could this be the stronghold of the survivor group he was looking for? Aiden cautiously approached the barricade. The letters on a small sign outside the barricade caught his eye. ¡°It¡¯s a funeral home...¡± Not the best setting. Aiden, muttering so, raised his head. The size of the area surrounded by the barricade was not large. At most, it was big enough to accommodate two or three ordinary store buildings. It meant that there wasn¡¯t a large group hiding here. At most, there might be around 10 people, or even 2 or 3. ¡°...¡± A short hesitation passed through Aiden¡¯s mind. Compared to groups of tens or hundreds of people, it was particularly challenging to guess the nature of a survivor group with such a small number. If he was lucky, there might be ordinary people, like Rebecca¡¯s group in Pittsburgh. In the worst case, it might be a group of people so mentally disturbed that they couldn¡¯t form a large group. However, Aiden didn¡¯t have the option to avoid them. If the opponent was human, he had to negotiate somehow to get blood. So, he walked around the fence carefully to find the entrance to the barricade. When he turned about a quarter of the barricade like that. ¡°B-Back off!¡± A young man¡¯s voice came from inside. Now that he looked, someone was watching this way through a hole punched in the wall. It was a guy... a young man who was about to become an adult. ¡°We have guns on this side! Back off!¡± He shouted. At the same time, voices of other people besides the man were heard from inside. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± At least three people. Aiden quietly counted the number of voices heard from inside the barricade, raising both hands towards him. ¡°I don¡¯t intend to fight with you.¡± There was no response. Naturally, it was a natural, distrustful reaction. Aiden spoke again. ¡°I¡¯m Aiden Lee, a junk dealer passing by. I want to trade with you.¡± ¡°Trade?¡± The eyes of the man who had been watching Aiden disappeared for a moment through the hole in the barricade. Instead, only his voice continued. ¡°What should we do?¡± ¡°What about what? Do you believe that?¡± ¡°That¡¯s...¡± ¡°Go away before you get shot! We don¡¯t need marauders like you here!¡± After a conversation that lasted only a few words, a sharp female voice rejected him. There was nothing to be sad about. It was a common reaction. But before Aiden could say anything, another voice came from inside. ¡°Wait a moment. We need to hear what he¡¯s saying.¡± The young man¡¯s voice stopped the rejecting woman, and this time, a middle-aged man looked at Aiden through the hole in the barricade. ¡°What do you want to trade?¡± ¡°Anything.¡± Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°We don¡¯t have much.¡± ¡°But there must be something you need, right?¡± ¡°Well...¡± The middle-aged man sighed. Meanwhile, the voice of the woman who rejected Aiden earlier was heard again. ¡°Enough! Trading with someone we don¡¯t know and trust?¡± ¡°It might help us.¡± ¡°Help? We don¡¯t need help from people like him.¡± The sharp voice of the woman and the voice of the middle-aged man bickered. As the meaningless argument continued- ¡°We don¡¯t need it! Everything is scarce!¡± Frustrated, another young woman shouted. So, there were six people here. Aiden silently counted their numbers while listening to the voices of the people arguing among themselves. One middle-aged man and woman each. Two adult women, one adult man, and... a young man of a very young age who was staring at Aiden. Considering that no other voices were heard, the number of people staying here seemed to be a total of six. Of course, someone could have left the place for exploration, leaving it temporarily empty. But for now, it seemed that these six were all that was left in this stronghold. ¡°Hey, junk dealer. Can you really get anything for us?¡± Beyond the hole in the barricade, a Latina woman in her late twenties, wearing crumpled glasses, showed her face. She was looking at Aiden¡¯s helmet as if it was strange. ¡°It¡¯s not omnipotent, but what do you need?¡± ¡°We need a vehicle.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not asking me to bring a whole car, are you?¡± Even for Aiden, getting a functioning vehicle within a few days was an impossible task. Even if there were abandoned cars all over the city, among them, there wouldn¡¯t be many real working vehicles. But at the words of the woman, Aiden raised an eyebrow. ¡°That¡¯s not it. We just need the parts.¡± ¡°Parts?¡± ¡°Yeah. Cars scattered around the city. Just bring me there, and I can handle the rest.¡± If that¡¯s all, it shouldn¡¯t be impossible. So, just when he was about to ask exactly what parts they wanted, the woman¡¯s face suddenly disappeared. Instead, the sharp voice of the rejecting woman was heard again. ¡°Stop talking nonsense.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Trying to break through a zombie-infested road with such junk cars, are you out of your mind?¡± ¡°But we can¡¯t stay here forever!¡± ¡°It¡¯s better than going outside!¡± Soon, the face of a white woman in her thirties appeared inside the barricade. She stared at Aiden with a suspicious expression. ¡°You. If you really want to trade, bring us food and water. That¡¯s it. But what will we give in return?¡± ¡°Well... I¡¯ll tell you after I can get the items.¡± Aiden said with an attitude of using goodwill. In fact, doing something like not even confirming the reward for the request was one of the actions that should never be done. Among the clients, it was common for junk dealers not to receive rewards even after completing the request. But this time was different. Above all, the reward Aiden was looking for was their blood. So, there was no need to worry that there would be no reward at all. What remained was their cooperation. However, the small survivor group in front of him was very distrustful of Aiden. So, if they heard something they didn¡¯t understand, such as asking for blood from them, it could raise even more suspicion from their point of view. In that case, Aiden judged that it was better to present food and water in front of them first and then negotiate. If there was bait in front of their eyes, it would be much easier to convince them. Thinking so, Aiden quickly changed the topic. ¡°But is there a place in this city where you can find supplies?¡± ¡°If there was, we would have gone there. We¡¯ll send you.¡± ¡°Even if it¡¯s a dangerous place, it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± At Aiden¡¯s words, the woman gave a short hollow laugh. As if she was so sure of herself. However, when Aiden showed no reaction, she wrinkled her eyebrows and continued. ¡°We¡¯ve almost searched this small city entirely. It¡¯s especially not a good idea to go to the northern shopping district. It¡¯s empty.¡± ¡°I know. It seemed like that.¡± ¡°So, if you want to go, try the downtown. It¡¯s dangerous there, though. Zombies are pretty abundant. If there¡¯s anything, wouldn¡¯t it be there, right?¡± The downtown. It happened to be the area he was planning to go. The possibility of finding supplies there was high. In its own way, it was optimistic information. ¡°If you know, go there. There¡¯s no need to spy on us anymore, right?¡± The woman chased Aiden away with a cold tone. Without saying anything, Aiden moved away from the barricade. The level of vigilance they showed wasn¡¯t uncomfortable. ¡°...¡± He returned to the residential area, heading back towards the city. The silent residential area was bathed in the dazzling sunlight at the end of spring. Although the only things standing under such bright sunlight were decaying corpses. Aiden walked through the strange scenery, reminiscing about the group of survivors he had just met. A group consisting of only six confirmed members. Even though the conversation with them was not very long, Aiden was able to gather various pieces of information. Firstly, it didn¡¯t seem like they had formed the group a long time ago. The vague politeness they showed during their conversations hinted at that. Perhaps individual wanderers who were moving separately had met by chance or formed a group in a crisis. Moreover, judging by their conversations, it didn¡¯t seem like they had very compatible opinions. Seeing them being cautious of Aiden but not refusing the trade indicated a shortage of supplies. And mentioning the vehicle parts suggested a division between those who wanted to leave and those who wanted to stay. In such hastily formed small groups, conflicts were common. Soon, those who wanted to leave would probably split off. It might be burdensome for them, but such conflicts could be helpful for junk dealers like Aiden. To do that, there will be a lot of things needed, and Aiden will be able to bring them and get paid for them. ¡°But it¡¯s fortunate.¡± Aiden muttered like that. Although it wasn¡¯t a large group, they had barely found humans with whom they could do deals. Of course, this was just the beginning. To see the results, he needed to find supplies in the city, and with that in mind, his steps quickened towards the city. * * * Some time later, the city center of Paducah that Aiden arrived at was quite deserted for a city center. Like typical small towns, government buildings such as city hall, public library, and post office were mainly distributed. There were large and small buildings scattered around them. However, the distribution of buildings being sparse didn¡¯t mean that even the zombies walking below were like that. Maybe it was because it was along the river. There were numerous zombies gathered in the city, to an extent that it couldn¡¯t be compared to residential areas. Dozens of them were just on the straight road in front. And when combined with the zombies scattered in the open spaces like parking lots on both sides, it reached hundreds. It was a number comparable to the defense battle in Fort Wayne during the midnight. Even though Aiden, who didn¡¯t attract the attention of ordinary zombies, felt nervous, it couldn¡¯t be helped. ¡°...I have to be careful.¡± Aiden walked through the city. The first building he saw was a laundromat. Beside it was an auto repair shop, and on the other side, a tire shop was visible. Neither side seemed like a place where there could be food. So, Aiden passed by the buildings and moved on to the next block. Then, this time, a decent sign finally caught his eye. It was a restaurant sign. Two restaurants lined up side by side on one block. One was a place selling barbecue grill dishes, and the other was a pizza place. Aiden headed to the pizza place first. It was a small one-story building with a green wall. Next to it, only a lonely sign stood tall, guarding this place. Aiden placed his hand on the glass door leading inside. However, the door was locked. If what the woman said about the city not being looted was true. Even though it was an entrance that anyone could enter just by breaking the glass, it seemed like no one had entered until now. ¡°...Can¡¯t be helped.¡± So, Aiden cautiously took out a crowbar. No matter how much he looked around the building, there was no entrance. So, he decided to break the glass himself. Crash! The loud noise gathered the attention of dozens of zombies. Eyes filled with a fleeting madness simultaneously turned towards Aiden. ¡°...¡± Aiden stood still, not wanting to provoke them unnecessarily. A needle-like silence flowed between the zombies and Aiden. The zombies first looked at Aiden and searched the surroundings, but eventually, they couldn¡¯t spot any prey. ¡°Grrrr...¡± Soon, the disinterested heads of the corpses turned back the other way. Among them, there was even a zombie that approached Aiden as if suspicious, but after confirming Aiden was a zombie with a distorted face, it moved away in an odd direction. The zombies that had gathered for a moment scattered disappointingly. Only after the attention of the zombies was dispersed, Aiden cautiously entered the pizza place. The store was empty. He first headed to the kitchen. In such restaurants, most of the remaining supplies would be there. ¡°This is...¡± Aiden murmured as he examined the kitchen. As expected, the pizza place¡¯s kitchen was clean, with only dust accumulated, and in a good state. Probably, only three years had passed since the owner of this restaurant left without anyone touching it. Aiden immediately searched the kitchen. First, he found a bag of flour. There was quite a lot, but flour couldn¡¯t withstand three years at room temperature. So, he pushed the bag aside without even opening it. There were many other spoiled foods. Vegetables and meat were out of the question. Even cheese and ketchup had completely decayed, making them inedible. But Aiden didn¡¯t give up; he searched elsewhere. And at the end, he found something. ¡°It seems to be in good condition.¡± It was a can of corn. Moreover, it was a large-sized can weighing 3kg, typically used for businesses. It wasn¡¯t in direct sunlight inside the building, and the seal was still intact without a single scratch on the surface. Next to it, there was also a can of pickles. For pickles, it was a bit ambiguous to call it food, but... there was no reason to abandon it, so he took it too. Finally, he opened the refrigerator in the corner of the kitchen. Inside were various spoiled foods. In the midst of them, there was a can of soft drinks. A dozen cans of cola with a vivid red color still remained. ¡°...¡± However, Aiden, who had discovered it, sighed briefly. The expiration date of canned drinks like cola was at most around a year, so taking them was meaningless. Continuing to search the refrigerator, unfortunately, there were no other drinks. Soon, Aiden left the pizza place. In the end, the harvest was only two cans of canned food. And one of them was a can of pickles. However, Aiden wasn¡¯t disappointed. He had raided just one small shop, and this was already a great harvest. Aiden immediately headed to the next restaurant. A restaurant with a sign saying ¡®Grill & Bar¡¯ above it. Again, it was a structure where the inside could be seen through glass. But unlike the pizza place, this place had a large window facing inside that was already broken. Had someone entered? Of course, it couldn¡¯t be confirmed. Trying to force entry into a building in a gust of wind, considering zombies¡¯ reactions, was a difficult task. Aiden entered through the broken window. Inside the still brightly lit restaurant, zombies were wandering around as if they were staff. Chapter 77 The restaurant Aiden entered had a narrow and vertical structure, almost like a train. On one side were tables for customers, and on the opposite side, a long bar with scattered chairs. ¡°Kiik...!¡± Aiden pushed through the zombie standing in the narrow corridor and entered the restaurant. In the back, there seemed to be a kitchen and a second floor, but Aiden first explored the bar. Originally, it was a place where a bartender should stand. Behind it, there were numerous bottles, whether for decoration or for sale; it wasn¡¯t clear. ¡°...¡± Examining those bottles, Aiden quietly brightened his eyes. Surprisingly, most of the bottles were unopened. Moreover, they were distilled spirits such as rum, whiskey, vodka, and others. Distilled spirits, once sealed, were virtually non-perishable. Aiden carefully examined each dusty bottle and put them in his bag. The count was a whopping eleven bottles. Because of that, the bag became bulky and even heavier, but it was a weight Aiden could easily handle. This alone was already a significant harvest. If he could meet a gang and make a deal, it would be easy to replenish at least gasoline. He continued to search inside the restaurant. On the cloudy chalkboard, which had turned hazy on the tables where customers used to eat and drink, the menus sold at the store were written. ¡°Steak, chicken, burrito, taco...¡± Aiden muttered those menus and sighed shortly. None of them were menus that used long-term preservable food. And shortly after, the result of searching the kitchen was as expected. The kitchen was filled only with traces of spoiled ingredients. The only thing he barely found was a single can of pineapple. It had a reasonable taste, but practically, it wasn¡¯t a valuable item as it lacked in providing sufficient sustenance. However, even canned pineapple wasn¡¯t entirely bad. From what Aiden had observed so far, canned pineapple was Sadie¡¯s favorite among all the canned foods. ¡°I should give this to Sadie.¡± Aiden murmured so and soon left the store. Should he search more places? He had thought so, but looking at the sky, a considerable amount of time had passed without realizing. If there were no other matters, Aiden wanted to make a deal with the survivors and secure blood within the day. Arian, who needed to continuously consume blood, was practically starving right now. So, Aiden chose to return. The weight felt in the back bag wasn¡¯t bad at all. * * * ¡°I brought food.¡± The survivors were staying at a funeral home. Aiden was no longer at the small hole in the wall but stood at the entrance on the opposite side. The door protecting the wall was a thick iron plate covered with iron mesh, and it was the only one. In a city where zombies were swarming, the door looked precarious. It was now wide open, revealing Aiden on the other side. After bringing food, the survivors inside the barricade finally faced Aiden. ¡°Is it really true?¡± What Aiden offered was a large can of corn and two bottles of rum. Of course, there were nine more bottles besides these. However, Aiden judged that they wouldn¡¯t be able to buy all of them and brought only a small amount for now. If they perceived that there was plenty of supplies, the value would eventually diminish. ¡°Did you really go there and come back? How?¡± The first to speak was a woman among the six survivors, looking at Aiden as if in disbelief. She had consistently shown sharp wariness towards Aiden. ¡°You don¡¯t need to know about that.¡± ¡°What, what did you say?¡± ¡°More importantly, are we going to make a deal?¡± Aiden had no intention of engaging in unnecessary conversation, so he immediately got to the point. The fact that blood was the price of the deal had already been explained to them. Looking at the blood collection syringe Aiden took out, the woman frowned and stepped back. ¡°Are you insane? How can we trust you!¡± Naturally, the woman refused. But Aiden was unfazed. He then looked at the other five who were standing behind the woman. ¡°What about the rest of you?¡± Survivors exchanged glances in response to Aiden¡¯s question. It was a difficult atmosphere to step forward since one person had already shown distrust and stepped back. To overcome this, Aiden added a word. ¡°The price is one blood donation per item.¡± At Aiden¡¯s words, the eyes of the survivors widened a bit. In other words, it meant he would sell one can of canned food and two bottles of rum on a first-come, first-served basis. Above all, the price of all the items was the same. Considering the market, it was an unreasonable offer. Although rum had value, it wasn¡¯t as much as the food. But through this, Aiden aimed to create competition among them. It was to avoid any further hesitation. As expected- ¡°I¡¯ll do it. Give me canned food.¡± The woman who had tried to demand vehicle parts during the day raised her hand assertively. Aiden nodded. ¡°Alright. Anyone else?¡± ¡°Well, then, count me in too.¡± Next, a middle-aged man responded. Perhaps he was quite a connoisseur; his eyes couldn¡¯t leave the rum. ¡°Honey!¡± ¡°Oh, consider it as a drink. When will we get another chance like this?¡± Then, the middle-aged woman next to him restrained him, and the man begged with a strange excuse. Were they a couple? Finally, the woman sighed and stepped back, and the man burst into a smile. ¡°I¡¯ll take the last one.¡± Next, a young white man who looked about in his twenties raised his hand. Having sold all the items he brought, Aiden opened his mouth satisfactorily. ¡°Okay then. Should I go in, or are you guys coming out?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll come out. Is that okay?¡± The woman who raised her hand first looked at the group and said so. She came out first, followed by two other men. And- ¡°...Really insane, all of you.¡± The woman who had never stopped doubting Aiden muttered such words and went into the building. Watching her retreating figure, the woman who came out whispered to Aiden. ¡°She¡¯s got a dirty personality, doesn¡¯t she?¡± In response to her words, the man who followed Aiden laughed. The woman continued. ¡°I¡¯m Claire Collins. Aiden Lee, right? I heard it earlier, is that your name?¡± Aiden nodded. Then, this time, the middle-aged man and the young man each introduced themselves. ¡°I¡¯m Miles Bell. The one over there is Hailey, my wife.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Joseph Tucker. By the way, the woman who was irritated earlier is Emerie Kelly. I thought I¡¯d tell you since you might not have a chance to hear her name directly.¡± Aiden quickly remembered their names. And he continued to gaze fixedly at the last one who hadn¡¯t revealed his name yet. He was the youngest black man standing guard. He looked like he had just become an adult or was about to reach that age, a late teenager. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m... Maverick Price.¡± He noticed Aiden¡¯s gaze inside the black helmet and revealed his name. Having heard everyone¡¯s names, Aiden took out the blood collection syringe. Then, Claire, who became the first participant, spoke with a slightly tense voice. ¡°Is that okay?¡± ¡°Of course. Can¡¯t you see this?¡± Aiden pointed to his now yellowed lab coat and the name tag from his doctor days. ¡°Oh, you were a doctor?¡± Joseph reacted to that, and Miles seemed more relieved than before. It was not much of an item when you thought about it, but at times like this, it was useful to gain minimal trust. Aiden skillfully completed the blood collection with his gloved hands. 200ml per person. Bright red blood poured from the syringe into the plastic water bottle. ¡°Good job.¡± Having finished the blood collection, Aiden handed the canned corn to Claire. Claire, who examined the canned food, nodded as if there was no problem. ¡°Ha, it feels like donating blood and getting snacks.¡± Next, Miles and Joseph also finished the blood collection, and they each took a bottle of rum. Before the survivors who completed the transaction went inside the barrier, Claire turned to Aiden again. ¡°Can you come back tomorrow by any chance?¡± It was a sentence with a strange expectation. Aiden already knew what she wanted. ¡°Did you say you needed car parts?¡± ¡°...Yes.¡± Claire nodded. The eyes of the people around her focused on her. ¡°I appreciate your hard work today. So you seem like pretty skillful guy. If possible, I¡¯d like to go out on the streets with you. While I look for parts, you can protect me.¡± Claire said. But even if it wasn¡¯t in the city, there were quite a few zombies in this city. Moving with people and avoiding them was quite troublesome, to the point of being a daily headache. So he asked. ¡°Do you really have to go?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine if I don¡¯t. But, do you know how to disassemble an engine? Do you know the types of parts?¡± ¡°Well...¡± Aiden shook his head with a wry smile. Of course, Aiden had a certain level of car repair knowledge, a bit better than an average person. However, that was only to some extent, just slightly above the level of an average person. It wasn¡¯t as specialized as disassembling the engine and distinguishing parts. ¡°I used to be an auto mechanic.¡± Claire added. For that reason, Aiden had nothing to say. However, there was another problem. ¡°In the end, while you disassemble the car, I have to protect you, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°It¡¯s going to be dangerous. It¡¯s something I can¡¯t handle alone, at least.¡± If he disassembled a vehicle on the road, noise would inevitably be generated. Even if that wasn¡¯t the case, being in an open area for a long time would naturally attract the attention of zombies. To face the pouring zombies in such a place and protect Claire. Even for Aiden, it was an impossible task alone. ¡°Of course, I know it¡¯s dangerous. I can handle it. And it¡¯s not just me going. Our colleagues will go too. Isn¡¯t that right?¡± Claire said, looking around at the survivors. However, they avoided Claire¡¯s gaze and couldn¡¯t respond readily. Claire sighed frustratingly and tried to persuade them. ¡°Everyone... now you know. There¡¯s nothing here. Miles, what did you get from that damn mart after searching for three days?¡± Miles, who had been looking at the bottle of rum, let out a dry cough. Then, Claire turned to Joseph standing next to her, and the one guarding the barrier, Maverick. ¡°Joseph and Maverick too. Don¡¯t you remember? I told you that the mart area is impossible, and despite the danger, you went to the city just the day before yesterday to find food.¡± ¡°...Yeah, I did.¡± Joseph shrugged his shoulders in response, while Maverick remained silent, staring at the ground. Claire continued to argue with them. ¡°We have to leave. We barely have any stored supplies left. Staying here means starving to death.¡± ¡°Hmm...¡± Miles let out a sigh. Although he had a somewhat stubborn impression, he whispered something to his wife. It seemed like he was seriously considering Claire¡¯s proposal. Joseph nodded in agreement with Claire¡¯s words: ¡°I agree. It¡¯s reaching the limit to endure here.¡± A faint smile appeared on Claire¡¯s lips at his words. Meanwhile, the youngest Maverick, whether confused or just observant, kept watching between them. Claire, gaining momentum, asked Miles and Haley: ¡°What about you? What do you think?¡± ¡°Well, it seems we¡¯ve reached the limit here. But leaving here could be a different issue. Wouldn¡¯t it become even more dangerous?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like we can starve to death here.¡± ¡°That might be true. That guy alone came back with food intact from the city.¡± Miles pointed at Aiden as he spoke. Aiden didn¡¯t bother to react and waited for Miles¡¯s words. ¡°And what about Emerie? Convincing her won¡¯t be easy.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll try, but even if she opposes until the end, it doesn¡¯t matter. Only those who want to leave can leave.¡± ¡°...¡± With Claire¡¯s firm words, Miles closed his mouth with a short sigh. Claire, determined, looked back at Aiden again. ¡°So, those who want to leave with me will help me. Is that okay?¡± Aiden nodded. But before that, there was something to address. ¡°But do you have supplies for the trade? You won¡¯t be able to provide blood as compensation from tomorrow onwards.¡± ¡°Ah...¡± Claire remained silent for a moment. Even after deciding to leave this place, it seemed Claire was frowning at the lack of supplies. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of that. If I can provide blood, I¡¯ll receive supplies instead.¡± Aiden nodded. Even though it seemed like they had nothing to offer other than blood, it would do for now. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Then come back tomorrow. I want to leave here as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll bring my colleagues tomorrow.¡± ¡°You, colleagues?¡± With a slightly surprised look, Claire asked. Her gaze contained a hint of caution. ¡°I have two more. Is that okay?¡± ¡°Of course... It¡¯s good to have more people.¡± She said so, but Claire¡¯s face seemed somewhat uneasy. If Aiden, a sturdy man like him, had two more with him, even if there were more people, Claire might be worried about potential betrayal. However, since Aiden was confident that she would dismiss those worries when Claire saw his colleagues tomorrow, he turned without saying anything. ¡°Then come back tomorrow morning.¡± Having finished the conversation with the survivors, Aiden turned and walked away. It was already sunset. With quick steps, he headed towards the temporary shelter where his companions were likely waiting. Chapter 78 ¡°Found it?¡± The temporary office building that Aiden had chosen as a shelter. Before he could even approach it, Arian suddenly appeared from the building and spoke. Her senses detected the scent of human blood emanating from Aiden. Aiden nodded, taking out a plastic bottle filled with blood from his pouch. ¡°Wait a moment.¡± He had separately poured an amount just enough to neutralize with a neutralizer from the liquor bottles that Anders had left in Pittsburgh. About 200ml. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was about one-third of the blood collected from the three people today. And the rest was handed over to Arian in its entirety. Aiden always needed only this much blood. Unlike Arian, using strength didn¡¯t consume as much blood. Knowing this, Arian immediately started gulping down the blood in the bottle. Sadie, who came out a little late, watched her with a curious look. ¡°He... I feel like I can live now. Thank you.¡± Whether she had been enduring quite a bit until now or not, Arian said that while quickly finishing the bottle. Meanwhile, Aiden, who had filled the bottles he found today into the vehicle, nodded briefly. ¡°But how did you get them? Were there people here?¡± ¡°Not really. There¡¯s a story to tell about that. I¡¯ll explain it inside. Have you had dinner?¡± ¡°No, not yet.¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s better to hear while having a meal.¡± At Aiden¡¯s words, Arian quickly brought today¡¯s dinner from the car. In her hands were canned mackerel and ham. To be honest, it wasn¡¯t a very delicious menu. Even Arian wrinkled her nose when she took out the canned food. But even though it was the same type of canned food for days, Sadie, while receiving one without complaining, didn¡¯t say a word. Even if it was an understatement to say it was sickening and disgusting, she didn¡¯t utter any complaints. Rather, the girl bowed her head to Aiden. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll enjoy it.¡± With a smile and a thank you, she expressed her gratitude. It wasn¡¯t a special gesture. For every meal, Sadie always thanked Aiden like this. Whether she matured according to the situation or if it was in her nature. Sadie was not a child who would take kindness for granted. And that aspect of Sadie made Aiden particularly appreciative. ¡°I got this today. It should be good for dessert.¡± Aiden handed a pineapple he obtained today to Sadie. Then Sadie¡¯s face brightened a bit more. With a faint smile, Aiden opened his mouth. ¡°Let¡¯s go inside then.¡± So Aiden entered the temporary shelter with his colleagues. Under the gradually setting sun, Arian and Sadie listened to his story. * * * The next day. As promised, after the day brightened, Aiden, along with his colleagues, found the funeral home where the survivors were staying. ¡°You came!¡± Claire, waiting at the door, welcomed Aiden. Already prepared for departure, she was armed, and even her tools were ready. Aiden looked at the people behind Claire and spoke. ¡°There are quite a few people.¡± In addition to Claire, there were three more people armed. They were Miles, Joseph, and Maverick, whom he had talked to yesterday. Did Emeri, who maintained a sharp attitude, ultimately fail to persuade him? As Aiden was counting them, the survivors also followed Aiden, and their reactions were a mixture of surprise. ¡°Are those... your colleagues?¡± ¡°It¡¯s like that.¡± ¡°No, how...¡± Seemingly unexpected, Joseph said so. The reactions of other survivors were similar. Arian was another question. But they didn¡¯t expect there to be a child like Sadie here. ¡°Why bring a child like this? Are you out of your mind?¡± Miles spat out a disdainful remark. Rather than dissatisfaction with Sadie¡¯s presence, it was more about questioning why a child like her was brought to a place infested with zombies. ¡°I¡¯d rather leave the child here. There are people to take care of her until the job is done.¡± ¡°...¡± Instead of responding, Aiden glanced at Sadie. If she wanted, leaving her here was a reasonable option. The upcoming task was dangerous enough, and leaving Sadie with this small group of survivors, whom he still didn¡¯t fully trust, might be a better choice. So Aiden asked for Sadie¡¯s opinion. Sadie nodded slightly. Aiden respected Sadie¡¯s decision. ¡°Sadie, we¡¯ll take responsibility for her.¡± ¡°Well...¡± ¡°I appreciate the sentiment, but staying with us might be safer.¡± Aiden said, tapping the metal door lightly. It meant that the base itself was not trustworthy. Miles couldn¡¯t refute and just sighed. The fact was that the base¡¯s fortifications were weak. Especially with many people leaving in the meantime, it was a vulnerable situation. Amidst his silence. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t there be one more person?¡± Aiden asked since Haley, Miles¡¯ wife, wasn¡¯t visible. Miles answered. ¡°My wife isn¡¯t feeling well. But please don¡¯t blame her. We¡¯ll pay the compensation instead.¡± ¡°Compensation?¡± ¡°Yes. Today¡¯s compensation will be covered by Maverick and Haley¡¯s blood. Is that okay with you?¡± If it was the blood of the two who hadn¡¯t traded yesterday, it was certainly worth accepting as compensation. But no matter how, it was too little compensation. ¡°Two units of blood are not enough.¡± ¡°Well, is there anything you want? I¡¯ll tell you in advance; we can¡¯t offer water or food.¡± Claire said as if playing the lead. Of course, Aiden was aware that they were short on supplies, so he had no intention of demanding that from the beginning. ¡°Then, how much ammunition do you have?¡± ¡°Well... not much. The remaining ammo is almost all brought today.¡± ¡°How many rounds does each of you have?¡± ¡°About thirty rounds...¡± Aiden frowned inside his helmet at the news that each person barely had one rifle magazine. With such a shortage of ammunition, they couldn¡¯t make the most of the increased number of personnel. But there was no room to complain since they probably wouldn¡¯t save ammunition at the risk of their lives. So Aiden instead asked for other supplies they might have. ¡°Then I¡¯ll take gasoline.¡± Claire was preparing the vehicle, so she must have stored gasoline during exploration. But it couldn¡¯t be used the other way around, making it more likely to be preserved compared to other supplies. The returned answer was as expected. ¡°Gasoline? Well, we have some. By the way, do you also have a car?¡± Claire said, her eyes widening. Although there was no need to disclose it, Aiden remained silent, which was an answer in itself. ¡°Anyway, do we have a deal?¡± ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s do that.¡± ¡°Is there anywhere the parts could be?¡± ¡°I have some places in mind.¡± Saying so, Claire took out a map. It was a detailed map of Paducah City. ¡°The place we want to go is here. Paduca General Hospital. It¡¯s a large hospital in the residential area.¡± ¡°Hospital?¡± ¡°Yes. Of course, where we want to go is not inside the hospital but outside. There¡¯s a large parking lot. However... the problem is that there are many zombies there.¡± ¡°I understand what you mean.¡± The group with a destination in mind left the base and began to move. They cautiously approached the nearby residential area. Not long after, zombies, like weeds growing between houses and abandoned gardens, came into view. About ten or so were visible. Considering zombies inside houses, it wasn¡¯t a small number. Although they could find a way to avoid them, the group was too large for that. ¡°So, why not split up and move independently until halfway?¡± Claire suddenly suggested. Dividing into groups of 3 or 4, moving as two teams was the proposal. Aiden readily accepted the idea. ¡°It doesn¡¯t sound bad.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s move with our respective teammates. It¡¯s more convenient, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Is that okay?¡± ¡°Now is not the time to worry, is it?¡± Claire said, looking at Sadie. Except for Sadie, Aiden practically considered the firepower on this side to be two. It was a statement that was quite accurate from a common sense perspective, so Aiden didn¡¯t say anything. ¡°Do you have a map?¡± Aiden nodded, and they decided on a rendezvous point. Claire pointed to a church near the hospital with her finger. ¡°Let¡¯s meet here.¡± ¡°...Sure.¡± Aiden replied. Then the survivors moved right away. They skillfully lowered their bodies and quickly hid between the trees in the residential area. Then, they cautiously looked at each other and moved forward slowly. Perhaps it was because they had lived in such places for a long time. Even Claire and Joseph in their twenties. Even Maverick, who was relatively young, showed a skillful way of avoiding zombies. ¡°Are those people okay?¡± Arian asked, seeming concerned. But looking at them move so skillfully, Aiden nodded. ¡°Seeing them move, they¡¯ve probably been here for quite a while. They likely know how to hide well and might even know a safer path.¡± ¡°Then there¡¯s no need to walk separately, right?¡± ¡°Well, we¡¯re being tested now, aren¡¯t we?¡± ¡°Tested?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s common for gangs to throw a simple request to assess the skills of a newcomer.¡± Aiden said, looking at the backs of the survivors who were moving away. For them, the only evidence to trust Aiden¡¯s skills was the canned corn and rum brought yesterday. However, objectively speaking, it couldn¡¯t be considered solid evidence. Corn cans and two bottles of rum were items anyone could have even without searching in this city. So if, during the discussion about this job yesterday evening, someone among them suspected that Aiden had traded with them using the originally owned items to deceive them, there was a possibility. ¡°Testing? Interesting.¡± Arian scoffed lightly after hearing Aiden¡¯s explanation. But if that was the case, it wasn¡¯t bad for Arian. On the contrary, it was better this way. If they weren¡¯t here, Arian wouldn¡¯t have had to hide her abilities. ¡°Let¡¯s go the easy way.¡± ¡°Move. Since it¡¯s like this, it¡¯s better to go quickly and clean up the surroundings.¡± Arian nodded and took the lead. It was a light step that was hard to believe was walking through a zombie-infested residential area. * * * Two hours later. Claire, who had passed through the 2km residential area, sighed deeply. The destination was just a block away from the promised place, the church. Now at that place where the destination was visible, Claire spoke to her colleagues. ¡°Do you think those people have already arrived?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no way.¡± Joseph was the one to deny that claim. ¡°We at least know a path without zombies. They probably don¡¯t know anything. It¡¯s an impossible story.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. It will take at least another hour.¡± Miles intervened in Joseph¡¯s words. Claire frowned at that. ¡°Wasn¡¯t it better to just come together after all?¡± ¡°Well, you can¡¯t just blindly trust a junk dealer you¡¯ve never seen before. This is a necessary step.¡± It was Joseph who first suggested testing Aiden last night. At that time, Claire fully agreed with Joseph¡¯s opinion that there was a need to doubt Aiden, as the evidence to trust Aiden was somewhat lacking. So, Claire had also agreed to the proposal to test Aiden. Now, her determination had been significantly weakened. The reason was the child Aiden was carrying. ¡°What if those people turn out to be trouble?¡± ¡°If they don¡¯t have enough skills, wouldn¡¯t it be better for us? How can we trust and rely on people like that?¡± ¡°But... what about the child?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry about that too. But we can¡¯t help it. You accepted it too, didn¡¯t you?¡± In response to Joseph¡¯s words, Claire fell silent. His words were harsh, but they couldn¡¯t be said to be wrong. Although the request was simple, obtaining car parts, the lives of the survivors, including Claire, were at stake. So, Aiden¡¯s abilities needed to be thoroughly validated, and in that process, there were inherent risks. Regardless, in a city full of zombies, no matter what they did, danger would naturally follow. ¡°Then, as we discussed yesterday, if they arrive within two hours, we¡¯ll proceed together. Is everyone okay with that?¡± The survivors nodded in response. If they could traverse the zombie-infested residential area and reach the church within four hours, it meant that the junk dealer¡¯s skills were quite impressive. With that settled, Claire crossed the last road leading to the church. Now, all that remained in front was to pass by the bank and post office buildings located on the same block. However, even this was not an easy task. Naturally, there would be zombies around, and there was no way to bypass them, so they had to take them down. Of course, firearms couldn¡¯t be used in this process. Unless they wanted to attract all the zombies in the residential area, they had to rely solely on melee weapons here. ¡°Let¡¯s keep moving.¡± Swallowing saliva, Claire took out a pole with a sharp piece of iron tied to it, a crude weapon. However, it was the most suitable weapon for Claire, who was relatively weak, so she raised it and walked towards the gray post office building. ¡°I¡¯ll check inside.¡± Maverick, holding an axe, stepped forward. He was the youngest among the survivors but also the tallest. Maverick briefly looked inside the post office through the half-covered window. However... ¡°...There¡¯s no one inside?¡± Was it luck? The post office building, which had been a battlefield before, was completely empty. The situation was the same for the bank right next to it. Even the small parking lot next to the building was completely empty. Originally, there should be zombies here, so the survivors showed puzzled expressions. ¡°What happened here?¡± ¡°Hey, look over there.¡± Maverick pointed behind the bank building. In the narrow alley adjacent to the building, as if someone had baited them. Several zombies were lying on the ground with their heads exposed. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Has anyone been here recently?¡± Claire¡¯s words made the others shake their heads. ¡°There¡¯s no way. Even we can¡¯t easily come to such dangerous places.¡± They didn¡¯t ask Aiden to accompany them for no reason. The area near the hospital was unusually crowded with zombies, making it a difficult place for even them to approach. But why were there so many dead zombies here? Just as their minds were becoming complicated, a clear voice echoed from somewhere. ¡°Here!¡± The survivors all looked at the direction where the voice came from. It was the church, the agreed-upon meeting place. In the open window, the same girl, Sadie, whom they had seen before, was waving at them. Chapter 79 The church where the survivors and Aiden agreed to meet was a brown brick building surrounded by a dense overgrown weed field. Centered around a high-ceilinged sanctuary, it was a two-story structure extending in a straight line. A large cross was engraved on one side of the outer wall. ¡°Already here?¡± Stepping into the entrance of the church, Claire mumbled. In the now neatly arranged church, only Sadie was quietly welcoming them. Where did the other two go? Claire was about to ask Sadie that question when, ¡°Finally here.¡± Aiden, carrying a crowbar, returned to the church. Joseph, with a voice filled with surprise, asked Aiden: ¡°When exactly did you guys arrive?¡± ¡°...Just a while ago.¡± A vague and hesitant response. Upon this, Joseph inquired further. ¡°Just a while ago?¡± ¡°Yeah. I arrived first and cleared the surroundings. We need a safe base.¡± ¡°Cleared...?¡± Only then did the survivors glance around the church and belatedly realize. The zombies that should naturally fill the nearby streets were nowhere to be seen. Instead. Thud! Outside the building, on the road leading to the hospital. Arian¡¯s figure was visible, swinging a machete as if dancing. As if marking the path she walked with the machete, headless zombies lay in a row. ¡°...¡± The sight left the survivors in awe. Without a gun, armed only with a single jungle sword, she had struck down over ten zombie necks. Even though they were decomposed, they were once human throats. But to cut them off as if a guillotine fell was an unimaginable feat. ¡°Come inside for now. There¡¯s still a decent table left.¡± Aiden said to them. Although the survivors threw questioning looks at Aiden, he pretended not to notice and changed the topic. In fact, this was a somewhat staged spectacle. It had two purposes. Firstly, naturally, to prevent the survivors from doubting Aiden¡¯s skills. Without the survivors trusting Aiden, there was nothing they could do. The other reason was to take the lead in this request. In this mission, the survivors had to move according to Aiden¡¯s instructions. In other words, the command had to be in Aiden¡¯s hands. Not because the survivors were inferior to Aiden in command, but simply due to a lack of understanding of Aiden¡¯s and especially Arian¡¯s abilities. So, to efficiently use Aiden and Arian, Aiden had to take the lead in this mission. It was a kind of performance for this purpose. ¡°...¡± And it seemed to work well. The survivors, with frustrated expressions, naturally followed Aiden¡¯s words. They surrounded the table that had been left neglected in the church for a while. After waiting for a while, Arian, holding a machete, returned to the church. All the survivors¡¯ gazes were directed at her. Or more precisely, towards her machete stained with rotten blood. But Arian paid no attention to it and spoke to Aiden. ¡°It¡¯s done.¡± ¡°Good. Let¡¯s start the work in earnest then. Will you show the map?¡± Upon Aiden¡¯s words, Claire spread the map on the table. Aiden pointed to the center of the map with his finger. ¡°This is the destination, the hospital. Am I correct?¡± ¡°...Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± Claire awkwardly replied. Meanwhile, the hospital they had come to was quite extensive. Even just looking at the map, it occupied an area approximately 400 meters wide and 300 meters long. Because of this, there wasn¡¯t just one parking lot; it was situated all around the hospital. ¡°The parking lot behind the hospital is the widest. Also, there¡¯s a place where an entire block is a parking lot, separated by the hospital and a road.¡± ¡°Then... we should head to a separate parking lot.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. At least, we won¡¯t have to deal with the zombies inside the hospital.¡± Aiden carefully examined the map. The distance from the church to the parking lot wasn¡¯t far. Also, Arian had cleared the zombies until the middle, making it not particularly dangerous or challenging to get there. However, the parking lot itself posed a danger. Except for abandoned vehicles, there were no other obstacles, making it no different from an open field if a battle were to occur. Drawing attention there recklessly could result in swarms of zombies pouring in from all sides, requiring preparation for such an eventuality. Perhaps that¡¯s why. Joseph, who was also looking at the map, spoke up. ¡°How about fortifying within this church? If we make some noise, they might come here on their own.¡± ¡°Here?¡± Miles, at Joseph¡¯s suggestion, looked around the church. With sturdy outer brick walls, a relatively narrow entrance, and long vertical windows, the structure wasn¡¯t bad for fortification. But Aiden shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s too risky.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better than facing them outside?¡± ¡°If we had enough bullets, maybe.¡± At Aiden¡¯s words, Joseph¡¯s expression changed, realizing his mistake. They only had 30 rounds of ammunition. They couldn¡¯t estimate the number of zombies in the parking lot and inside the hospital. Without a rough idea, they couldn¡¯t recklessly attract them. Maybe the number of zombies was even greater than the amount of ammunition they possessed. ¡°Let¡¯s try to refrain from gunfire as much as possible. It seems like there¡¯s a considerable gathering of zombies in that hospital. If, by any chance, those inside also gather, we won¡¯t be able to handle it.¡± ¡°...That makes sense.¡± Miles sighed, agreeing with Aiden¡¯s words. Joseph also nodded, acknowledging his oversight. Maverick quietly listened to the discussion, and Claire, standing nearby, spoke up. ¡°So, what should we do?¡± ¡°For now, we¡¯ve secured the area around this church as a safe zone. We can use this to lure them bit by bit.¡± Aiden had cleared the surroundings of the church for this purpose from the beginning. With a safe zone at least, there was no need to worry about being surrounded by zombies from all directions. ¡°That seems to be the best option. Does everyone agree?¡± Claire asked, and there was no opposition among the group. Aiden continued speaking. ¡°Let¡¯s head to the parking lot like this. But can we easily find the parts in the parking lot?¡± ¡°The engine itself is of a common model, so finding it should be easy. However, whether the parts there are intact is another issue.¡± ¡°How long do you think it¡¯ll take to find the parts?¡± ¡°About 30 minutes per vehicle.¡± Probably because they needed to disassemble the engine. It wasn¡¯t a short time for searching for parts in abandoned vehicles. Moreover, there was a substantial chance that the parts wouldn¡¯t come out immediately. Considering that all the vehicles here had been abandoned for a long time, expecting them to be in perfect condition was wishful thinking. So, even if they disassembled just four, it would take more than two hours. Waiting for such a long time in the same place without any barriers or buildings was by no means an easy task. ¡°It¡¯s risky.¡± Aiden said so. Especially, that parking lot was a place easily seen from the top of the hospital building. Dedicating such a long time in the parking lot and attracting attention could not be avoided. Claire naturally nodded at that. ¡°Well, did I call you here for nothing?¡± That was a valid point. If it were just for safety, there was no reason to call a junk dealer who knew nothing about it all the way here. ¡°Can I check it?¡± Aiden asked, looking at the toolbox Claire had brought. Claire made a skeptical expression but readily handed it to Aiden. Inside were basic tools such as wrenches and screwdrivers. Even saws, power drills, and even a lock-opening tool were visible. Like an item fit for a thief, the skill of picking locks was common yet valuable for a wanderer. ¡°...You¡¯ve gathered quite a collection.¡± ¡°Tools aren¡¯t as commonly sought after as food.¡± Claire shrugged her shoulders and spoke. ¡°Got it. Let¡¯s move then.¡± Upon Aiden¡¯s words, the group left the church. Leading the way was Arian. It might have seemed awkward for her, not yet an adult, to confidently lead the group, but none of the survivors who had witnessed her combat prowess questioned it. However... ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Aiden asked Maverick, who had been walking beside him, and for some reason, hadn¡¯t taken his eyes off Arian. Caught by Aiden¡¯s voice, the young man, who had been staring at Arian¡¯s back, quickly averted his gaze. ¡°No, nothing at all.¡± Maverick pretended to inspect his axe as if nothing happened. Seemingly nothing serious, Aiden also shifted his gaze away. Soon, a wide parking lot came into view. Rows of vehicles extended over the broken asphalt, numbering in the dozens. However, just as many zombies were present as vehicles. ¡°Too many, isn¡¯t it?¡± Joseph furrowed his brow. For some reason, there seemed to be a considerable number of zombies inside that hospital. As they got closer to the hospital, the number of zombies seemed to increase. However, avoiding them wasn¡¯t an option. The parking lot was their destination. ¡°It can¡¯t be helped if there are many. Are you all prepared?¡± The survivors nodded with determined expressions. Next, Aiden looked at Sadie. In Sadie¡¯s hands was a short dagger. Of course, Aiden had no intention of engaging Sadie in combat. No matter how intelligent a child was, close combat with zombies was clearly beyond the abilities of a ten-year-old. He simply handed her a weapon to have something to defend herself with on the battlefield. Aiden looked at Sadie. ¡°Stay by my side. Don¡¯t go forward. Got it?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sadie¡¯s expression was tense, but her voice didn¡¯t waver. With a nod from Aiden, Arian, who had been waiting for the signal, confidently walked onto the road. ¡°Kiaaa!¡± Zombies on the road reacted to Arian. Responding to the noise, zombies numbering around twenty rushed towards the group. ¡°They¡¯re coming!¡± Thunderous footsteps echoed on the ground. The first horde that recognized Arian as a target was approaching. Until another horde behind the abandoned vehicles heard the noise and rushed in, Aiden¡¯s group had to take down these creatures. ¡°Argh!¡± ¡°Kieeee!¡± Zombie cries drew closer. As they emerged from the parking lot, the zombies encountered Arian first. Her machete danced again. With a subtle movement, she avoided the hands of the zombies, inserting her blade between them. Swish! Accompanied by a chilling sound, a zombie collapsed as its neck bone snapped. Flawless movements, as if dancing. However, behind her, there was a relentless number of zombies coming closer, ones that couldn¡¯t be dealt with through movements alone. Aiden and the group rushed forward. ¡°Kiiii!¡± Thud! The sound of zombie cries and weapon impacts overlapped. The end of Aiden¡¯s crowbar pierced through a zombie¡¯s skull, breaking its brain. Simultaneously, Claire¡¯s spear was thrust into a zombie¡¯s jaw. ¡°Kieeek!¡± A zombie with a metal chain around its neck writhed. Grasping the chain, it stared at Claire with a mad glint in its eyes. At that moment... Thunk! Maverick¡¯s axe swung down on the zombie¡¯s head, breaking free from Claire¡¯s grip. The zombie, unable to withstand the force, fell backward, and Maverick delivered the final blow. ¡°Die!¡± On the other side, centered around Arian, Joseph and Miles were wrestling with zombies. Thunk! Joseph¡¯s weapon was a shovel. As the sturdy metal hit the zombie¡¯s head, it staggered. In the meantime, Miles struck the zombie¡¯s leg with his lead pipe. Quack! The powerful swing shattered the rotten leg bone. The zombie¡¯s body tilted to one side when its knee bone broke, and as it fell to the ground, Joseph¡¯s sharp shovel blade came down, smashing its head. ¡°...¡± While Aiden continuously pierced the zombies¡¯ skulls with his crowbar, occasionally observing their battle, it seemed that their combat skills, although somewhat amateurish, weren¡¯t bad. Among ordinary people, they were quite exceptional. Even with this level of skill, there seemed to be no problem with Aiden¡¯s planned operation. As Aiden was evaluating the survivors like this- ¡°Huff... huff...¡± The survivors were also sneakily watching Arian and Aiden¡¯s fight with the zombies. Although there was no room to spare when facing zombies, thanks to Arian and Aiden taking on the zombies first, they had a chance to assess the situation and take a breather. The two¡¯s combat skills were impressive, beyond admiration, almost reaching awe. While they had to stick together to deal with one zombie, the zombies facing them barely even grazed their clothing. Thunk! Quack! Aiden¡¯s crowbar shattered one zombie¡¯s skull and promptly changed direction to pierce another zombie¡¯s head. The force applied was tremendous, powerful enough to crush a human skull in one blow. However, he skillfully changed direction without getting entangled, precisely hitting the weak points of the zombies. In contrast, Arian¡¯s movements seemed to lack any effort at first glance. A quick and seemingly effortless strike with her machete. However, for some reason, the zombies she brushed against were having their hands, feet, and even jaws cut off quite easily. Was the machete originally supposed to be used like that? There was a strange discomfort, and even the survivors had thoughts like that. After a few tens of seconds. ¡°Kiik...¡± More than twenty zombies turned into motionless debris. Like the first horde that had rushed like a wave but scattered like a breakwater, they were annihilated. The survivors found themselves unconsciously counting the fallen zombies on the ground. The number of zombies Arian and Aiden had taken down was twice the number the survivors had dealt with. Although the survivors were twice in number, the result was the opposite. At that moment, Aiden¡¯s gaze turned towards the survivors. The obscured eyes behind the black helmet seemed to ask, ¡®What have you accomplished?¡¯ The survivors couldn¡¯t meet his gaze. However- ¡°Not bad.¡± Aiden actually evaluated the survivors¡¯ skills. Was he making fun of them? However, there was no time for anyone to retort. ¡°They¡¯re coming again.¡± Hearing the noise of battle, the second group rushed out onto the road, heading towards the group. The number was around thirty, more than before. The survivors, suppressing their questions and discomfort, focused on gripping their weapons as the new wave approached. Chapter 80 After several battles, Aiden and the group of survivors managed to reach the parking lot safely. During their journey, there were four groups of zombies in total, numbering around 100. ¡°Ha... huff...¡± Survivors who wielded their weapons relentlessly during such battles were catching their breaths. Although it wasn¡¯t a long battle, engaging in hand-to-hand combat with the crazily leaping corpses consumed as much energy as the previous all-out sprint. Therefore, Aiden had them sit between the parked cars and take a break. ¡°...¡± Meanwhile, Aiden walked to the east side of the parking lot. Hiding behind the car bodies, he cautiously observed the direction of the hospital building and another parking lot behind it. There, numerous zombies were still wandering around. ¡°That¡¯s too many, isn¡¯t it?¡± Arian, who followed Aiden, remarked as such. As she had said, the zombies scattered across the hospital grounds seemed to number in the hundreds at a glance. It was several times more than the zombies they had already taken down. Fortunately, the noise from the previous battle didn¡¯t seem to reach there, not provoking them. However, if those zombies started coming towards them, a retreat should be considered. Dealing with a number like that with melee weapons alone was impossible. ¡°Yeah, we need to avoid unnecessary fights.¡± So, the best option was not to attract their attention at all. But that wasn¡¯t as easy as saying it. Luckily, there were many abandoned cars in the parking lot, serving as makeshift shields to some extent. Even so, it seemed that they could only explore about half of the parking lot relying on this. ¡°Is it not too difficult for you?¡± Claire asked Aiden as he returned to the original position. The survivors, who fought more fiercely than themselves, were looking at Aiden and Arian strangely, as if they were peculiar. But Aiden ignored the survivors¡¯ doubts, urged Claire: ¡°Let¡¯s start.¡± ¡°Uh... okay.¡± Having caught her breath to some extent, she nodded and stood up. Then, Claire opened the hood of the nearest car and checked the engine inside. Creak- While doing so, a squeaky sound was a bit annoying, but it wasn¡¯t dangerously loud. Checking four or five cars like this. Then Claire opened the hood of a gray sedan ¡°This is it. This is the engine I was looking for.¡± ¡°How¡¯s the condition?¡± ¡°It looks fine from the outside. I can¡¯t say for sure about the inside.¡± Claire put down her weapon, took a wrench from the toolbox she brought, and said: ¡°I need to disassemble it. Let me know when you¡¯re ready.¡± With the prospect of starting the operation, Aiden immediately called over the other survivors. Then, arranging the members like a large semicircle with Claire at the center. Just in case, to prevent any accidental approach by zombies. The direction of the hospital was left to Aiden and Arian. If the zombies happened to notice, Arian should be the first to act, so Sadie was with Aiden. Thus, the team was placed in designated positions. Aiden nodded to Claire. ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡± After Aiden¡¯s permission, Claire started the operation. Clicks or clunks of metal sounds were heard intermittently. Although Claire tried to make as little noise as possible, it was inevitable that some sound would be produced. ¡°...¡± Listening to such irregular noises, the survivors anxiously looked beyond the cars. Claire¡¯s operation sounds weren¡¯t that loud. However, in the unnaturally quiet parking lot filled only with the moans of the lifeless corpses, those sounds echoed particularly loudly. Since there were only groans of the undead crawling on the broken asphalt, there was nothing else to mask the noise. Therefore, it wasn¡¯t loud enough for the zombies to hear from a distance, yet in the current eerily silent parking lot, the sound stood out vividly. Amidst the graveyard-like setting with only the groans of corpses, the noise spread clearly. The worries and concerns about zombies approaching again darkened the expressions of the survivors. ¡°Sigh...¡± How much time had passed? Claire let out a long sigh. Unfortunately, luck didn¡¯t favor them by providing all the necessary parts in one go. Claire closed the car¡¯s hood and lightly tapped it twice. The work was finished, but the signal that they couldn¡¯t find the parts ¨C the pre-arranged sign. Survivors and Aiden¡¯s group immediately gathered around Claire. ¡°Weren¡¯t they here?¡± Joseph asked with a slightly annoyed tone. Claire lowered her head, seemingly embarrassed. ¡°Yes. It looked fine on the outside, but the inside was completely rusted. I think we need to look at another car.¡± ¡°Is this really okay? Those things are slowly coming this way.¡± At Joseph¡¯s words, uttered like a sigh, Aiden turned to look in the direction he was guarding. The southern residential area adjacent to the parking lot, which was on the opposite side of the safe zone. There, a zombie had truly crossed the road halfway and was limping. Moreover, two other zombies were following a few meters behind it. As Joseph had said, it wasn¡¯t that far. If they started the operation now, there was a high chance that they would be noticed first. ¡°I¡¯ll handle that.¡± So, Aiden moved immediately. First, he bent down and approached the car closest to the zombie. There, he tapped the ground lightly with a crowbar, luring the zombie. ¡°Uuuh...¡± The zombie closest to the rhythmic sound emanating from behind the abandoned car turned its gaze. The other two didn¡¯t react, but Aiden didn¡¯t hurry. He just continued making the same sound with the same rhythm. Then, the zombie standing in the middle of the road slowly staggered towards the back of the car. Quack! At that moment, the crowbar swung from below to above, pierced through the zombie¡¯s head from the jaw, and passed through. Then, Aiden snapped the crowbar to the ground. The entire body of the zombie with its head pierced through fell backward behind the car and disappeared from view in an instant. It was as if a single zombie had fallen into a trap, unable to even make a single groan before meeting its demise. The other zombies¡¯ reactions... were non-existent. Even though a zombie stood just a few meters away on the other side of the road, they seemed to sense nothing. In this way, Aiden dealt with the remaining two zombies in the same manner. ¡°Ha...¡± ¡°Wow...!¡± Witnessing his skilled technique, Miles and Maverick couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. Although it hadn¡¯t been three years since the zombies appeared, Aiden moved like an expert who had been hunting zombies for decades. Joseph, who had been saying something about the three zombies behind, closed his mouth. ¡°Done. Where¡¯s the next vehicle?¡± Aiden, who returned as if nothing had happened, asked Claire. Claire immediately opened the hood of a nearby car, checking the engine¡¯s condition. After an hour of disassembling the second vehicle and experiencing defeat once again, Claire was now dismantling the third vehicle. During that time, a few zombies approached, but each time Aiden stepped forward to silently assassinate them, concealing the noise in the parking lot. As a result. ¡°...¡± Claire, who was touching the engine in silence, smiled with satisfaction. Holding only a fist-sized part with wiped-off oil stains, she finally became sure. And after closing the hood slowly, she tapped it three times. ¡°...Looks like it¡¯s over.¡± The signal that the parts had been found. Upon this, the survivors collectively sighed in relief. Those who had been hiding and holding their breath in the parking lot gathered in one place. ¡°Is it really over?¡± ¡°Yes. This should be enough.¡± Claire confidently presented the parts. However, Aiden, who didn¡¯t know exactly what the cylinder-shaped item was, just nodded his head. ¡°Now let¡¯s go back.¡± Joseph said. Perhaps it was because they had been in tension for several hours. Not only him but also the other survivors had fatigued expressions. So Aiden immediately chose to return. There was no need to drag out the time. They could simply retrace their steps. As the group was about to wrap up the mission, that¡¯s when it happened. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Grrrr-¡° A distant sound of something howling reached their ears. It was much thicker and lower in resonance than the usual zombie groans. Simultaneously, the faces of the survivors wrinkled in unison at the noise that seemed to scratch at their nerves. ¡°This... is the sound a mutant makes, isn¡¯t it?¡± Claire spoke. The direction was towards the hospital, but judging by the volume of the sound, it seemed to come from beyond there. The distance from the mutant was quite far. Far enough not to worry about direct contact. ¡°Still, it¡¯s fortunate that the distance is far.¡± Miles said. But Aiden drew his gun and shook his head. ¡°Not fortunate at all.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°This is the howl of a Bigfoot.¡± At his words, a defeatist expression appeared on the faces of the survivors. They were well aware of the information about the mutant called Bigfoot. A deformed zombie that swelled in size by continuously consuming something. But more importantly, what was crucial was that its appetite didn¡¯t distinguish between humans and zombies. Therefore, a Bigfoot stimulated ordinary zombies, and ordinary zombies reacted to such Bigfoot. Just like herbivores meeting a predator, sensing danger just by hearing its howl. Because of that- ¡°Kiik...!¡± Among the zombies, confusion was already setting in. Those who had been staring blankly at the ground raised their heads and looked around. Dangerous. At the moment when that judgment flashed through Aiden¡¯s mind, the second howl of the Bigfoot exploded. ¡°They¡¯re coming. Run!¡± Aiden shouted. Simultaneously. ¡°Kiaaaa!¡± ¡°Woaaagh!¡± Hundreds of zombies crowded in the hospital parking lot dispersed left and right. It was like lifting a flat rock, and the swarm of cockroaches hidden beneath it scattered in all directions. The tidal wave of black corpses overwhelmed the group. ¡°Crazy...!¡± Joseph exclaimed in horror, swearing under his breath. Survivors who had been hiding behind the cars quickly stood up. At the same time, in a hurry, they grabbed the guns they had strapped to their backs. In this way, fearing the gunshots might attract the zombies, wasn¡¯t a concern. The surroundings were already filled with the screams of the corpses stimulated by the Bigfoot. Meanwhile, Aiden¡¯s gaze found Sadie. Unbeknownst to him, Arian had already picked up Sadie and was looking at Aiden. As if entrusting her to him. Upon this, Aiden shouted the only destination they should head towards. ¡°To the church!¡± The survivors and Aiden¡¯s group ran down the road. The distance to the church was barely 100 meters. However, the corpses that had already covered half of the parking lot where Aiden¡¯s group had been were finally in their sight. ¡°Kieeee!¡± In the eyes of those who were chased by predators, clear madness shone. In an instant, zombies that had turned from prey to predators rushed towards the group. ¡°They¡¯re coming!¡± Joseph screamed as he witnessed the scene. However, the distance between the group and the zombie horde quickly narrowed. An ordinary person couldn¡¯t escape the pursuit of zombies. Because their rotten flesh didn¡¯t care about muscles tearing. It was because zombies could achieve a speed much faster than humans. Because of that, before reaching half of the road leading to the church, the distance with the approaching zombies, which was tens of meters away, was reduced to 10 meters. And soon, it narrowed down to just 5 meters. ¡°Kiiii!¡± ¡°Grrrrrr!¡± Then, the roars emitted by the creatures seemed to grow louder, as if they were echoing in the ears of the survivors. A chill ran down the survivors¡¯ spines. They couldn¡¯t afford to be caught like this. Someone thought so. Bang! The dry sound of a gunshot ripped through the monstrous roars. It was Aiden. With a gun in one hand and a crowbar in the other, he was blowing off the heads of the zombies that were chasing him just up to the back. ¡°Keep going!¡± At his command, the survivors gritted their teeth and ran. Now, there was only about 20 meters left to reach the church. ¡°Kraaa-¡° Aiden swung the crowbar toward the zombie that had approached. With a crunching sound, the zombie, whose skull had been crushed, collapsed. But before the creature fell, another zombie pushed its body aside. ¡°Tsk...!¡± Even if they reached the church, there was no room to block the entrance. So Aiden put away his gun and took out a grenade from his pocket. Without hesitation, he pulled the pin with his teeth and threw it over the head of the approaching zombie. Thunk! The grenade hit the head of a zombie and fell to the ground. And then- Boooom! A massive explosion engulfed the center of the zombie horde. Fragmented pieces of corpses rained down from the sky, and a large hole appeared in the swarm that filled the road. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived!¡± Arian, who was at the forefront, entered the church. Upon this, Aiden swung the crowbar at one more zombie and shouted. ¡°Get into the chapel! Block the entrance!¡± Understanding Aiden¡¯s intention, Arian quickly passed through the short corridor and headed to the chapel. Arian, who had set Sadie down, immediately brought long pews to block the door. Meanwhile, the survivors rushed into the building. Aiden, knocking down another zombie, followed their footsteps on the floor of the church. ¡°Grrrrrr!¡± The corridor from the entrance to the chapel was only 3 meters wide and about 8 meters long. Zombies, numbering dozens, began to crowd into the narrow corridor. ¡°Hurry!¡± At that moment, a voice from behind Aiden reached him. The thick wooden door, engraved with a cross, was half-closed. Aiden immediately jumped inside. Clang! Almost simultaneously, the door closed. The long pews immediately blocked the door, and the survivors supported it with their bodies. Thud! Thump! The wails of numerous bodies shook the door. Zombies pounded on it as if trying to break it, and the glowing of the zombies scratching its surface vividly conveyed their aggression. But thanks to the narrow corridor, there was a limit to the number of zombies that could stick to the door. Thanks to this, the thick wooden door narrowly withstood the momentum of the zombies. ¡°Now what do we do?¡± While the zombies were frenzied in front of the door, Claire asked. They could only hold on like this. The door wouldn¡¯t last long, and in the meantime, they had to find a way to get past these creatures. Upon this, Aiden looked towards the front of the chapel. Chapter 81 A few hours ago, shortly after Aiden arrived at this church. The first thing he did was thoroughly understand the structure of this church. Aiden had already decided to establish a safe zone here, anticipating that a situation like the current one might arise. So, Aiden¡¯s understanding of the church¡¯s structure was as follows. Firstly, the main hall itself was an open space, a typical structure of a worship hall. There were three narrow vertical windows on each side of the left and right walls. Additionally, there were stairs leading up to the second floor, but that was a trap. Although there was a broadcasting room on the second floor connected to the chapel, there was nothing else there. Since there was no way to escape from there, going up to the second floor would be isolating oneself. Therefore, Aiden focused on the opposite side of the entrance, behind the wide podium. There was a door leading to the back of the chapel. The corridor connected to that door was opposite to the entrance and could serve as a potential escape route for the group while zombies were being lured into the church. Aiden judged it that way, but there was an issue to utilize that escape route immediately. The fact that the escape route was currently securely locked. ¡°Claire Collins.¡± So, Aiden called Claire. She was still standing with her back against the door, blocking the zombies that were banging on it. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Do you see a door leading behind the podium over there?¡± ¡°Yes, but why?¡± Aiden informed Claire and the other survivors of the existence of the escape route. Then he conveyed to Claire what she needed to do. ¡°You want me to open that?¡± Aiden nodded. He remembered that there was a door opener in Claire¡¯s toolkit. Claire looked slightly puzzled. ¡°Is it impossible?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not, but...¡± ¡°How long will it take?¡± ¡°It will take a few minutes. I¡¯m not that skilled at it either.¡± As if lacking confidence, Claire trailed off at the end of her sentence. Though it wasn¡¯t a long time, considering the zombies that had already swarmed, there was no room for complacency. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Please do it.¡± However, Aiden sent Claire to the back door. Arian might be able to open the door faster than her. But opening the escape route needed to be done quietly, and only the lock had to be released, leaving the door itself intact. Claire nodded and ran towards the back door. At that moment- ¡°Um, there!¡± Maverick, who had been blocking the door, shouted. He pointed to the window. The windows were adorned with stained glass of various colors, and the shadows of zombies reflected from outside were vividly drawn. Zombies that the church corridor couldn¡¯t accommodate anymore had surrounded the building along the walls. Eventually, they discovered the glass. Crash! A zombie slammed into the glass. The large window was instantly cracked. ¡°Maverick, Miles. Keep blocking the entrance. The rest, stick to the windows! Prevent them from getting in!¡± Aiden gave instructions to the survivors. Joseph and Arian jumped to the windows. However, even with them, there were only three. Compared to that, there were six windows to guard. Even if Arian and Aiden took two each, it was still uneasy to leave the other two to Joseph. He was an experienced survivor, but in the end, he was just an ordinary person. In that momentary thought in Aiden¡¯s mind. Sadie was seen running towards the window assigned to Joseph. As if this was the solution. She went to the window where zombies were pressed against, holding the small gun Aiden had given her. ¡°...¡± Aiden couldn¡¯t stop Sadie. Although he had concerns, there was no time for that now. Even if she was a young child, she had to contribute her share, and Sadie seemed to understand this, acting naturally. For a moment, Aiden gazed at Sadie with admiration. Crash! One by one, the zombies banging on the windows shattered them. The screams they uttered became even more distinct. The corpses, heedless of their skin tearing on the broken glass shards, glowed with the intention of squeezing into the church. Bang! Bang! Immediately, the group¡¯s gunfire started. The loud gunshots shook the worship hall where the noise echoed. A zombie that had extended its upper body inside the window fell limp with a bullet through its head. Aiden, in the center of the chapel, relentlessly inserted bullets into the windows on both sides without a break. In an instant, an entire magazine was expended. He quickly changed the magazine and furrowed his brow slightly. The momentum of the zombies was more intense than he had anticipated. At most, the narrow window, suitable for one person to pass through, was being overwhelmed by three or more zombies trampling over each other to push their bodies inside. Although the window restrained to some extent their frenzied charge, it couldn¡¯t completely stop them. The window, despite its narrow width, reached up to the second floor in height. Zombies climbed on the stretched-out corpses, and more zombies kept crawling up continuously. So, Aiden glanced worriedly at Sadie, the most concerning one. Bang! Contrary to his worries, Sadie was calmly continuing her gunfire. Just like Aiden taught her, keeping a distance of exactly 5 meters from the window, the girl was inserting bullets into the heads of the zombies appearing there. When did she become so proficient? Her accuracy and, most surprisingly, Sadie showed no sign of losing her composure even when faced with the roars emanating from the zombies on the windows. Of course, Sadie was not entirely unaffected. ¡°Kiaaaa!¡± At the moment when the zombie¡¯s roar passed, her reaction alone indicated that she was affected. Biting her lip, she hardened her expression, focusing solely on the window. However, in her face, which stared only at the window while enduring the zombies¡¯ screams, a clear sense of fear could be felt. Like any other child at her age, Sadie was scared, but she endured it and was holding up against it. ¡°...¡± Aiden looked next at Arian. Arian didn¡¯t use a gun, but with an unbelievable speed, she continued beheading the zombies trying to cross the window like a single machete. In no time, a capability exceeding human limits was being demonstrated, but none of the survivors were paying attention to Arian. Everyone was too absorbed in blocking the zombies. ...It¡¯s precarious. Aiden, surveying his surroundings, felt a slight unease. Neither Aiden nor anyone blocking the windows had any leeway. ¡°It feels like the door is about to break!¡± Amidst this, Maverick, who was blocking the door, shouted. The glow from the zombies banging on the church¡¯s main entrance was still persistent. The door panel, unable to withstand their weight, was slowly tilting. Aiden¡¯s gaze involuntarily turned towards the podium. It hadn¡¯t been more than two minutes since Claire entered the door, but already there were signs of precariousness. ¡°Magazine! Give me a magazine!¡± Then, Joseph shouted. He, who was defending against zombies crawling through the window, had already used up all the bullets in one magazine. Miles responded. Desperately holding the fluctuating door, he pulled out the magazine from the rifle he was holding and threw it to Joseph. However. ¡°Woooaah!¡± Catching the airborne magazine and inserting it back into the gun in a short gap. In the meantime, another zombie leaped over the window. The guy directly charged at Joseph. ¡°Kiiii!¡± Despite his scream, Joseph tried to push the zombie away with the gun¡¯s butt. However, even with a blow to the head, the zombie grabbed Joseph¡¯s gun with both hands. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Overpowered by a strength much greater than a human¡¯s, Joseph staggered. ¡°Darn it!¡± Joseph could only let go of the gun from his hands, and the zombie threw it away. With its mouth wide open towards him, the zombie rushed forward. ¡°Wuuuaah!¡± The screams of zombies explode in his ears. A clumsy hand grabbed his arm. His entire body was tilted by that strong force. That was the moment when Joseph sensed his own end. Bang! A bullet passed through the zombie¡¯s head. Joseph looked to the side and saw Sadie¡¯s pistol pointed in his direction. The sight of a gun lined up with the frightened eyes of a child, and the muzzle of a gun that coolly explodes a zombie¡¯s head, gave off a strong sense of discomfort. ¡°Keeee!¡± Joseph, who barely saved his life, heard the sound of another zombie. Through the window, another zombie was entering. Joseph¡¯s gun, which needed to block this, happened to be right under that window. ¡°-!¡± Joseph, realizing this, took action... to run away. He gave up defending the window and turned his back, stepping on the stairs leading to the second floor right next to him. Naturally, the remaining one in front of the zombie that entered through the window was Sadie. ¡°Huh...?¡± Sadie¡¯s actions froze in an unexpected situation. Zombies were pouring in from the window Joseph was supposed to guard. And they moved directly towards Sadie, the closest human. ¡°Sadie, step back!¡± Aiden¡¯s judgment, who had not missed the situation, was quick. Firing bullets at the zombies pouring in through the broken window, Aiden rushed. With Aiden¡¯s shout, Sadie, who had regained her composure, moved. The little girl¡¯s steps were too slow compared to the zombies, but... Thunk! Aiden¡¯s movement towards Sadie was faster than an ordinary zombie. Fortunately, Aiden, who was at the center of the chapel rather than the end, could reach Sadie just before being engulfed by the zombie horde. Aiden embraced the rushing Sadie and turned around. ¡°Kiaaa!¡± Then, the maniacal screams of the corpses who lost their prey erupted from all directions. Not only the sound but also the sickle-like hands attempted to grab Aiden, but he brushed them off in an instant while running. In no time, the chapel, where more than ten zombies had invaded, was no longer a safe zone. Aiden ran desperately towards the back door, holding the child. ¡°Everyone, go to the back door!¡± Aiden shouted. However, the zombies were sticking closely behind Aiden. At this rate, they would once again be caught by the zombies. Shuaak! Just before that, Arian arrived. While cutting down three zombies at once, she couldn¡¯t hide her bewilderment. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Explanation later.¡± Aiden entrusted Sadie to Arian and continued to move back. Continuing to shoot bullets to slow down the approaching zombies from all directions. Now the chapel was inevitable to give up. Aiden had to pray that Claire opened the door in time. ¡°It¡¯s here!¡± Aiden shouted to Miles and Maverick, who were guarding the entrance. As soon as they heard Aiden¡¯s shout, they gave up the entrance and were running across the chapel towards him. The zombies blocking their way were swept away by Aiden¡¯s gunfire. ¡°Uh, thanks!¡± Miles and Maverick barely passed by Aiden and ran towards the back door. Squelch! Then, a cracking sound occurred from the worship chair blocking the entrance. With a sharp sound, the chair, crushed by tremendous force, split in half, and the door opened. A large number of zombies rushed into the chapel. ¡°Tsk...!¡± The numbers were overwhelming, and bullets alone couldn¡¯t do anything. Therefore, Aiden, running towards the back door himself, pulled out another grenade from his pocket. Except for Joseph, everyone had already entered through the small corridor that would be tightly packed with a few people. Aiden threw the grenade into the center of the chapel. Boooom! Another massive explosion shook the building. However, the zombies paused onlyfor a moment. Immediately, the vacant spaces of the shattered corpses were filled up again like water surging in. But in that brief moment, Aiden and the others had finally entered the narrow corridor leading to the back door. In the cramped space where it would be crowded with just a few people, the survivors gasped for breath. ¡°The door?¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s open!¡± Right on cue, Claire¡¯s voice, who had been waiting, could be heard. Everyone knew what to do next, even without Aiden giving orders. Survivors who were trapped in the corridor opened the door and went outside. And Aiden also, holding the zombie¡¯s head that had come dangerously close to him, barely passed through the door. Bang! As soon as he came out, Aiden closed the door. The locking mechanism was on the inside of the door, but there was no need to lock it. Those things were corpses that didn¡¯t even know how to turn a doorknob. Soon, a banging sound echoed loudly from the inside. The latch and the door panel already showed signs of being crushed. With that, even a metal door wouldn¡¯t last long, though. This time, it was okay not to endure for long. The team would leave this place directly now. Aiden surveyed the surroundings. As he expected, the nearby zombies seemed to have been pushed into the church. ¡°Let¡¯s move. Do you know the way?¡± ¡°It¡¯s this way!¡± Claire took the lead at Aiden¡¯s words. They left the church, where zombies were swarming, and quickly moved to the opposite residential area. Thus, they ran towards the funeral home, their hiding place for survivors. * * * ¡°Phew...¡± After completely escaping the area chaotic with zombies, Claire let out a long sigh. It was only now that the realization hit her that the crisis had passed. Not only her, but everyone except Aiden looked tired. Claire looked at the road they had run. The church at the end was naturally not visible, obscured by various obstacles. ¡°What about Joseph? Is he okay?¡± Claire cautiously opened her mouth. Then, Miles spoke with an irritated tone. ¡°I don¡¯t know what happened. We almost died because of that guy. Coward.¡± Recalling the recent events, he grimaced and shivered. Maverick, who was standing next to him, had a dark expression, and in contrast, Arian had a very indifferent atmosphere. It was because they knew that Sadie had been in great danger because of that man. Despite that, Claire still asked the question. ¡°He went upstairs? Is he alive?¡± ¡°If he¡¯s lucky, maybe. But it won¡¯t be easy to get out.¡± Aiden replied calmly. The only way to get out of there was to go back down the stairs and pass through the chapel. However, now there would be a swarm of zombies gathered there. For an ordinary person without a gun, breaking through them would be nearly impossible. ¡°Do you feel sorry for him?¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t abandon him. He abandoned us first.¡± Claire closed her mouth at Aiden¡¯s words. Meanwhile, Miles, who seemed to want to lighten the mood, shrugged and spoke. ¡°By the way, we almost all died. Old man, you¡¯re quite something.¡± Miles said that to Aiden and approached him casually. However, suddenly, Maverick, who had been quietly standing there, intervened. He blocked the way with one hand, as if protecting Miles. ¡°Wait a minute.¡± ¡°Huh? What¡¯s going on?¡± Miles replied casually, but suddenly Maverick raised his gun. ¡°Old man, step back.¡± Maverick¡¯s gun was aimed at Aiden. Claire was surprised and opened her mouth. ¡°Maverick! What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°I saw it all earlier.¡± Despite Claire¡¯s objection, Maverick, with a firm face, stared at Aiden. ¡°You, were you bitten by a zombie in the church? Miles, you saw it too.¡± Miles swallowed hard at Maverick¡¯s words. Arian made a short tongue click, and Claire widened her eyes, looking at Aiden. ¡°Is that... true?¡± ¡°On the inside of your right arm. When you saved that child, I saw you get bitten.¡± Maverick pointed at the wounded area with the gun, indicating where Aiden was bitten. A clear tear in his white coat revealed a distinct mark. Claire stepped back in astonishment. Miles seemed to have something to say and urged Aiden to speak quickly. Even with the reactions of the survivors, Aiden remained silent for a moment. Maverick¡¯s observation was correct. When he rescued Sadie just before she was about to be caught by the zombies, Aiden was bitten by them. He had hoped they hadn¡¯t noticed in the midst of the chaos. Unfortunately, Maverick¡¯s eyes couldn¡¯t be avoided. So, Aiden spoke calmly. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to say. It¡¯s true that I was bitten.¡± ¡°...¡± Claire made a shocked expression. However, at that moment, Sadie stood in front of Aiden. As if blocking the gun aimed at Aiden. Chapter 82 ¡°Kid, move aside.¡± Even at Maverick¡¯s words, Sadie stood lowering her head. Miles, who was next to her, then spoke up. ¡°That guy is done for. He¡¯s going to turn into a zombie soon!¡± ¡°No, he won¡¯t.¡± Sadie denied his words. Miles looked at her as if she was pitiful. There were too many people who couldn¡¯t admit that their comrades turned into zombies until the very end. So, Miles and Maverick thought Sadie was one of those people. However, Sadie¡¯s following words were slightly different from those of others. ¡°He was originally a zombie.¡± ¡°What?¡± Miles asked in confusion. Then Arian, who was standing next to them, interrupted Sadie¡¯s words. ¡°What she said is true. Well, you might not believe it.¡± ¡°What are you talking about now?¡± Maverick asked with a frown. Then Arian sighed deeply and gestured to Aiden. ¡°It can¡¯t be helped that it turned out like this.¡± At Arian¡¯s words, Aiden nodded. He took off the helmet he was wearing. ¡°What...!¡± The survivors who saw Aiden¡¯s face hidden inside the helmet were all shocked. It was an unmistakable zombie face. The gun Maverick was holding trembled slightly, as if a scream would burst out of Aiden¡¯s mouth at any moment. ¡°Put the gun down and let¡¯s talk.¡± But there was no scream coming out of Aiden¡¯s mouth. With the same expressionless voice as when they first saw him, Aiden demanded a conversation. Maverick hesitated at Aiden¡¯s emotionless face, clearly different from the madness-filled zombie. He cautiously took a step back. Claire carefully took the gun Maverick was holding. ¡°First, let¡¯s hear what he has to say.¡± Maverick slowly lowered the gun at Claire¡¯s words. The three survivors looked at Aiden. As if asking for an explanation. So, Aiden let out a short sigh and briefly explained his situation to them. It was a simple explanation that he had turned into a zombie for over two years but still maintained his sanity. ¡°I needed blood. That¡¯s why. Do you understand?¡± He also added details about the antidote. Just to gain some minimal trust with this unbelievable story. But the survivors¡¯ expressions were not bright at all. Merely speaking wasn¡¯t enough to deny deeply ingrained common sense. ¡°I... can¡¯t believe it. How can a seemingly normal zombie exist?¡± Miles said. Aiden pointed at his face in response. ¡°Look at me. Does this look like the appearance of an infected person bitten just a while ago?¡± The time it takes for a person bitten by a zombie to turn into one ranges from a few minutes to a few hours. But even so, their appearance doesn¡¯t change drastically in just a few minutes or hours. On the contrary, right after turning into a zombie, their appearance is not significantly different from that of a human. Aiden¡¯s appearance was by no means at that level. The survivors¡¯ pupils were filled with confusion. ¡°How...?¡± No one spoke easily. Thus, a brief silence passed. Arian broke the silence. ¡°Well, actually, it doesn¡¯t matter if you don¡¯t believe us.¡± Arian looked around at the survivors. A faint threat was contained in her sharp, bright red eyes. ¡°But Aiden has been our companion from Pittsburgh until here. So... don¡¯t be too rude.¡± Maverick, who had aimed his gun at Aiden, coughed helplessly. Meanwhile, Claire looked at Sadie, who stood in front of Aiden. ¡°Is it really... okay?¡± At her question, Sadie nodded firmly. Then Claire sighed deeply and stepped back. ¡°Well, then, I have nothing more to say. Maverick and Miles, let¡¯s stop here.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Actually, it¡¯s none of our business, right? We¡¯re not going to keep hanging out with those people.¡± ¡°Um...¡± Miles closed his mouth at Claire¡¯s suggestion to keep a reasonable distance. It wasn¡¯t a wrong statement. They were just junk dealers who worked together on today¡¯s request. Even that request was already completed. Whether that junk dealer turns into a zombie or not, there was nothing more to see. Maverick was only concerned if Aiden turned into a zombie, but even if his comrades turned out like that, Maverick¡¯s kindness would be nothing but a nuisance. At that moment, Claire, who suddenly remembered something, spoke up. ¡°Wait a minute. But didn¡¯t you extract our blood yesterday?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Then we all should be infected...¡± ¡°If that were the case, would you be fine now?¡± It had been close to 24 hours since Aiden extracted blood from them. If they were infected, a considerable amount of time had passed for them to turn into zombies. So, the fact that they were unharmed was evidence that they weren¡¯t infected. Still, Claire couldn¡¯t shake off her suspicions, so Aiden quickly added. ¡°Enough. Let¡¯s go back and get the reward for the request. It¡¯s better to tidy up and leave, and it might make you guys feel more comfortable too.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, but are you still going to draw blood today?¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°No, today I¡¯ll do it. Is that okay?¡± Arian intervened at the right time. However, Miles, who had to draw his wife¡¯s blood, still had an uneasy expression. So Arian added. ¡°Well, or you guys can do it yourselves.¡± ¡°...I¡¯ll draw my wife¡¯s blood.¡± As expected, Miles said that. Next, Arian looked at Maverick. Since Maverick¡¯s blood was included in today¡¯s reward, Arian thought Maverick would draw his own blood himself, since Miles had rejected it. ¡°I will... leave it to Mr. Clifford.¡± Unexpectedly, Maverick volunteered to draw his blood for Arian. Arian nodded. Afterwards, the group resumed their movement and soon reached the entrance of the barricade. ¡°Back already?¡± At the entrance, Miles¡¯ wife, Hailey, was standing guard with a gun. Behind her, Emerie was also visible. Aiden was already wearing his helmet again, so there was no surprise at their appearance. ¡°Hmm? What about Joseph?¡± Hailey asked. Miles briefly explained Joseph¡¯s situation. Then Hailey sighed deeply, and Emerie bit her lip, holding back words. In that gloomy atmosphere, Claire spoke up first. ¡°Then I¡¯ll bring the gasoline.¡± Saying so, Claire went inside the barricade. Miles also took Hailey inside, and the guard duty of the gate was left to Emerie for a while. While Arian took out a syringe when Maverick approached. ¡°...¡± Staring at Aiden fiercely, who was on guard duty, Emerie did not say the sharp words she usually did. Perhaps because Sadie was present. The awkward time passed. ¡°Huh, here you go. Is this enough?¡± Claire soon came out holding gasoline. The amount of oil in the large plastic container was sufficient to be the reward for the request. However. ¡°It seems a bit discolored.¡± The quality wasn¡¯t that great. It wasn¡¯t unusable, but to be honest, it was borderline. Upon this, Claire raised both hands and said. ¡°That can¡¯t be helped. This is the best we have.¡± Humming, Aiden nodded his head. ¡°Probably, this is the only gasoline we could find while just exploring the empty city. It¡¯s too much to demand high standards for that.¡± Aiden accepted this as compensation and spoke. ¡°Now what?¡± ¡°Well, we should leave, of course.¡± Aiden¡¯s head turned briefly towards Emerie. She, who had been against moving from the beginning, still seemed unswayed. Perhaps because of this, Emerie, who had kept her mouth shut, finally spoke. ¡°You still haven¡¯t given up?¡± Emerie said, annoyed, as if scolding Claire. In response, Claire¡¯s voice raised. ¡°There¡¯s no way we¡¯ll give up.¡± ¡°Even though Joseph died because of that?¡± At the absurd remark, Claire glanced at Emerie. ¡°You¡¯re babbling on your own. We¡¯re leaving.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to stay here alone. What stubbornness, when you¡¯re about to die.¡± Claire muttered. Emerie then placed the rifle in front of her and turned back. ¡°...Wait for a moment.¡± Aiden caught Emerie with words as she tried to walk away. Emerie looked back at Aiden with a stern expression. ¡°How about exchanging information with us?¡± ¡°Information?¡± ¡°Yeas. I have some useful information for you.¡± ¡°Well, that sounds good.¡± S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. While Claire accepted Aiden¡¯s offer. ¡°Ha...!¡± Then Emerie, as if feeling ridiculous, let out a bitter laugh. ¡°I think I don¡¯t need to listen.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s worth listening to.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Emerie, anyway, let¡¯s share information. That¡¯s what I¡¯m saying. I¡¯ll call people.¡± Soon Claire explained the situation to others and gathered them around Aiden¡¯s group. ¡°Is it okay to talk like this?¡± Claire asked, sounding slightly apologetic. After all, blood sampling was done, and rewards were received. Therefore, although there was no wall between Aiden¡¯s group and the survivors, there was an iron bar-like door. But Aiden seemed to be indifferent, raising his head as if to say it was convenient. ¡°Isn¡¯t this more comfortable? Don¡¯t you think so?¡± The survivors couldn¡¯t say anything. Aiden spoke first. ¡°Let me ask first.¡± He asked for information he needed about the overall situation in this area, the existence of survivor groups, and information about mutants. Miles was the one who answered. ¡°It seems like you came looking for a gang. Unfortunately, it¡¯s hard to find an organization worthy of that name around here.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t there enough people?¡± ¡°Look around this Paducah. The city is completely empty. Just a year ago, there were quite a few people, but that was the problem. Supplies were scarce compared to the number of people.¡± Having roamed around this area since the beginning of the zombie outbreak, he added a bit of the past to his story. At first, battles between gangs took place over the remaining supplies. However, when supplies ran out, the gangs themselves disintegrated. People left for other places, and now only a handful of people, like them, remained. ¡°What about the big cities? The ones in the south?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re talking about cities in the south from here, it¡¯s either Nashville or Memphis. I don¡¯t know about others, but Nashville is similar to here. I¡¯m from there. And as for Memphis... anyone familiar with it?¡± Miles looked around. Claire raised her hand. ¡°I know. It was where there was a temporary military base.¡± ¡°A military base?¡± ¡°It was created just after the zombie outbreak. When the government was still around, they tried to gather troops there, right?¡± ¡°...Good chance it didn¡¯t end well.¡± Aiden muttered, seemingly familiar with it. Since it was right after the zombie outbreak, at that time, they didn¡¯t know about the incubation period of the airborne Beta virus. So, when they urgently gathered military forces, what happened to those forces afterward was predictable without seeing it. ¡°Yeah, after that... it turned into a city swarmed with zombies wearing military uniforms. Some people went there, thinking there might be supplies left, but I don¡¯t know what happened.¡± Aiden, who had the next destination set for Memphis, paused in thought. If it was an abandoned military base, there would undoubtedly be resources worth scavenging ¨C military rations, water, and an ample supply of weapons to replenish the bullets and grenades used today. However, the risk was significantly high compared to the potential gains. It had been a long time since the zombies had been roaming, so there could be many mutants. On the flip side, finding people might be impossible, making Arian¡¯s abilities less effective. ¡°So, um-¡° Continuing, Aiden asked a few more details. Deeming that enough surrounding information had been gathered, Aiden changed the topic. ¡°Alright. Now, let¡¯s talk about mutants.¡± ¡°...I¡¯ll answer that.¡± Maverick, timidly, stepped forward. Aiden first laid out all the mutants he knew, and Maverick, seemingly struggling to remember Aiden¡¯s words, slowly provided additional details. ¡°...That¡¯s all. Did I miss anything?¡± ¡°Yes. Fortunately, there¡¯s one more. It¡¯s called a Tracker.¡± Maverick proceeded to explain about it. A mutant with highly developed hearing, able to locate people through sound and create loud noises to attract zombies. ¡°Sound? Is it like a Siren?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t attack people with the sound like a siren. It¡¯s just loud. However, the problem is that the sound attracts zombies.¡± ¡°And its appearance?¡± ¡°It¡¯s easy to distinguish. It has large ears shaped like fans. However, it moves around mixed with zombie crowds, so if it is in between, you might not notice it.¡± Aiden etched Maverick¡¯s words into his mind. It was valuable information. ¡°Now, it¡¯s my turn to answer. Do you have any questions?¡± ¡°Yes. You said you came from the north, right? How is it there?¡± Claire asked, as if she had been waiting. Aiden conveyed everything he had seen and heard in Springfield ¨C gangs that had settled there, their numbers, and even the fact that radiation had leaked. ¡°R-Radiation?¡± Claire and the expressions of the survivors, who had planned to leave this place for the north, stiffened. The only one who had been silent and now opened her mouth was Emerie. ¡°I knew it. What did I say? Leaving here is dangerous.¡± She, who had been the only one opposing leaving Peducah, said so assertively. Miles countered her. ¡°But isn¡¯t it dangerous here too if there¡¯s radiation?¡± ¡°No way, it wouldn¡¯t have reached this far. How far is Nebraska?¡± Emerie promptly replied. However, Aiden shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s not that simple.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Danger isn¡¯t just radiation. By now, the gangs there have probably noticed the presence of radiation. Do you think those guys would stay quiet knowing that?¡± ¡°Then...¡± Aiden¡¯s words were understood by Emerie, whose face turned pale. ¡°Yeah, soon, marauders will flock here. Staying here isn¡¯t a wise choice.¡± To this small group of survivors, Aiden¡¯s words were like a declaration of a bomb. Amidst the silence, Aiden turned back. ¡°Well then... We¡¯re leaving. Good luck.¡± Aiden¡¯s group left the small group of survivors behind. The survivors just stared blankly at Aiden¡¯s group as they left. Chapter 83 Returning to the outskirts hideout of Paducah where their vehicle was parked, Aiden¡¯s group decided to stay here for one more day. It was because night was falling again as they were dealing with the request. Having returned to the base, Aiden first gathered weapons and then approached Sadie, who was sitting quietly in a corner of the hideout. ¡°Sadie, are you okay?¡± Aiden lowered his body towards Sadie and asked. Sadie¡¯s eyes, which had been wandering on the floor, turned towards Aiden. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m fine.¡± Although Sadie replied like that, Aiden silently looked at her. Sadie remained expressionless. However, what happened today must have been quite shocking for Sadie. Aiden asked her. ¡°So, do you have anything you want to say?¡± ¡°I...¡± Sadie¡¯s lips hesitated. After carefully choosing her words for a moment, Sadie lowered her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. You can take your time to think.¡± Aiden waited for Sadie¡¯s words like that. After a while, Sadie spoke. ¡°Do you think that person... will be okay?¡± There was no need to think about who that person was. It was undoubtedly referring to Joseph, who was isolated in the church. Aiden firmly shook his head. ¡°No, he won¡¯t be okay.¡± At those words, a hint of tears welled up in Sadie¡¯s eyes. ¡°...It¡¯s pitiful.¡± ¡°Why do you think so? He¡¯s the one who ran away.¡± ¡°Maybe he ran away because it was scary? At that time... I wanted to run away because I was scared too.¡± Sadie said while embracing her knees. Aiden seemed to understand Sadie¡¯s thoughts. It was because she sympathized with Joseph¡¯s feelings of fleeing in fear, as she herself had been so scared. Aiden gently placed his hand on Sadie¡¯s head. ¡°Of course, everyone was scared at that time.¡± ¡°...Even you, uncle?¡± ¡°Not me. I¡¯m a zombie.¡± Aiden¡¯s brazen response left Sadie speechless. A sound of Arian chuckling could be heard from the side. But Aiden paid no attention to such reactions and got back to the main topic. ¡°However, letting fear make you abandon your comrades is not a wise thing.¡± ¡°But that person didn¡¯t have a gun. In that situation, what if I had run away?¡± ¡°That¡¯s okay. You¡¯re still young.¡± ¡°If I¡¯m young... Can I run away?¡± Aiden shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s not about being an adult or a child. It¡¯s a matter of whether you can or cannot do it.¡± That man didn¡¯t have a gun, but he had melee weapons. He knew how to fight with them and might have even defeated the zombie that jumped over the window. Unlike Sadie, who couldn¡¯t do anything without a gun, he was fundamentally different. ¡°But even then, he didn¡¯t fight. Maybe he judged it was too dangerous. But he had to bear that danger. If he had, we would have faced the danger to save him. It¡¯s like when you shot the zombie that attacked him instead of the zombie that jumped over the window.¡± As Aiden added this, Sadie looked slightly surprised. She hadn¡¯t thought that Aiden might have been watching her even at that moment. ¡°So, Sadie, always keep that in mind. If you ever become comrades with people who are not zombies or vampires... then, at that time, you have to fulfill your responsibilities.¡± Sadie just stared down at the floor blankly. And in a voice full of uncertainty, she murmured. ¡°Can I... do that?¡± ¡°Of course. You did well today, too. Just keep it up like today.¡± Aiden patted Sadie¡¯s head. As Aiden said, Sadie¡¯s handling today exceeded Aiden¡¯s expectations. Once the conversation with Aiden came to an end, this time Arian approached Sadie. ¡°Here, I¡¯ll give you a reward.¡± She handed something to Sadie. It was a small candy. It was an item that Aiden didn¡¯t remember obtaining. So, he asked: ¡°Where did you get that?¡± ¡°This? I think it was from Maverick, that guy from earlier.¡± ¡°He gave it to you?¡± ¡°Yeah. When I was drawing blood earlier.¡± Arian casually replied. Maverick¡¯s attitude seemed somewhat odd. Was there perhaps some affection for Arian? However, Arian looked as if she had no thoughts at all. Whether she pretended not to know or genuinely didn¡¯t know. ¡°Hmm...¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Since it was an area that Aiden didn¡¯t care about either way, he shrugged. Meanwhile, having received the candy, Sadie unwrapped the packaging with a picture of strawberries using her small hands. A vivid pink candy. Looking at the color, it seemed not to have changed. For the first dessert in a long time, Sadie put the candy in her mouth and smiled slightly. Arian, watching Sadie like that with satisfaction, asked: ¡°What about tomorrow? We were originally planning to go to Memphis.¡± ¡°Hmm...¡± Aiden pondered for a moment. Although he had been considering it since a while ago, he had made up his mind to some extent after checking the stock of supplies. ¡°For now, let¡¯s stick to the plan. We need to replenish quite a few supplies urgently.¡± Among them, the most urgent was food. There was only about three days¡¯ worth left now. Fortunately, the purified water obtained before was still available. Also, there was no need to mention the ammunition and grenades used today. It was quite a painful loss for Aiden. So, even if it meant taking the risk of searching the abandoned military base, he judged that they needed to secure supplies. ¡°...Alright.¡± Having heard the explanation, Arian nodded heavily. It meant that they had to take risks again to avoid dying of thirst. ¡°Let¡¯s rest for the day. Everyone worked hard.¡± At Aiden¡¯s words, his companions nodded. That night passed quietly. * * * The next morning. Aiden¡¯s group finished preparing early and left the temporary base in Paducah. The vehicle that first headed north to leave the city turned onto Highway 45, heading south after circling the outskirts. A road stretching south from Paducah, surrounded by green forests on both sides, bathed in the morning sunlight, looked serene. Inside the car traveling on that road, Arian suddenly asked. ¡°Did those people leave?¡± Sadie also turned her head to look at Aiden at that question. Maybe she was concerned about the people they met yesterday. Aiden silently considered his expectations. ¡°They probably did. There was no reason to stay, but there were many reasons to leave.¡± ¡°What about that stubborn woman?¡± ¡°If you can judge it rationally, probably.¡± Arian nodded naturally. As if she hoped so. For a moment, she stared blankly at the passing scenery outside the window and spoke again. ¡°How long does it take to get to Memphis?¡± ¡°About 2 to 3 days. Of course, if luck is not on our side, it could take longer.¡± The distance between Paducah and Memphis is about 270 km. It was not a short distance. ¡°...I hope we can meet people during that time.¡± Arian murmured to herself. Aiden also empathized with her words. He mentioned that their destination, Memphis, has an abandoned military base. The chances of finding people there were not very high. Therefore, for Aiden¡¯s group, making contact with other survivor groups before that, and additionally obtaining blood, was the best course of action. Although they currently had 400ml of blood, if they anticipated combat in Memphis, this amount would be insufficient. ¡°...¡± So, Aiden¡¯s group continued south on the road. Similar landscapes passed by for a while. Contrary to worries, the road conditions were not bad, and there were no zombies blocking the way. Thanks to this, Aiden¡¯s vehicle quickly covered quite a distance. However, after a few hours since departure, around noon... ¡°Hmm...?¡± An obstacle blocking the road entered Aiden¡¯s sight. He quickly reduced the speed of the vehicle. ¡°What is that?¡± Arian also asked, gazing at the obstacle. It was a barricade made up of several abandoned cars and all sorts of trash, deliberately blocking the road. ¡°Sadie, hide your body. Arian, are there any people around?¡± Aiden immediately gave instructions to his companions. Blocking the road and attacking vehicles that stopped in front was a common pattern for looters. Sadie quickly hid among the luggage at his command. Arian scanned the surrounding forest once and shook her head. ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t seem like there¡¯s anyone.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Aiden furrowed his brow. There was still a forest on both sides of the road. If it was far enough beyond Arian¡¯s perception range, it meant they wouldn¡¯t be able to use guns due to those trees. In that case... there might be no ambush here right now. Of course, that wouldn¡¯t be strange. Even if it was true that looters had blocked the road, there was also the possibility that those guys left here a long time ago. ¡°What about the road? Should I clear it?¡± Arian asked, but Aiden shook his head. He didn¡¯t want to waste her ability in a place like this. ¡°I¡¯ll find an alternative route.¡± Aiden unfolded the map of the surroundings of Paducah. Since they hadn¡¯t moved far from Paducah, the edge of the map depicted the nearby terrain. Fortunately, it seemed there was a detour not far from here. It passed through the forest and led to a single-lane road connecting to a small field. By taking that road and passing through a small village, they could bypass the obstacle. Aiden stared at the map, deep in thought. For some reason, this place seemed suspicious. Whether it was because the other detour was too far or because this small village looked like an ideal place for an ambush. If there were really looters hiding here... Aiden debated whether he should avoid this place. And soon, he decided that there was no need to do so. ¡°Both of you. Be careful.¡± After warning his companions, Aiden approached the detour. A narrow road through the woods. As they passed through it, a flat field unfolded just as shown on the map, and beyond it, a few houses came into view. The vehicle moved more slowly than usual on the road. And then, as expected. ¡°...Someone is there.¡± Arian warned from the entrance of the village. In each of the widely spread houses, four people came into her perception range. Fortunately, it was before their vehicle entered their line of sight. ¡°As expected... looters. We can¡¯t just pass through.¡± ¡°What now?¡± ¡°We have to deal with all of them.¡± Aiden calmly spoke while taking out his silver revolver. Arian¡¯s brow slightly furrowed at his words. ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Could it be a coincidence?¡± That was exactly what Aiden said. Blocking the road on purpose and lying in ambush at the only detour. It couldn¡¯t be explained by mere coincidence. So Arian sighed. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to meet people like this.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get moving. If they show up first, the vehicle could be damaged.¡± Aiden immediately drove the vehicle. The building with the closest gray roof. The vehicle left the road, trampling over its garden, and soon hid behind the building. ¡°Sadie, wait here.¡± Aiden and Arian got out of the vehicle, leaving Sadie inside. Right after that, Arian spoke. ¡°They¡¯re moving.¡± Were they also keeping an eye on this side? Deciding that their presence had been exposed, the looters gave up on the ambush and seemed to be launching a direct attack. Upon hearing this, Aiden checked the revolver¡¯s magazine and raised his finger. ¡°You take the left, I¡¯ll take the right. Is that okay?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t I handle all of them?¡± ¡°No need for you to suffer alone.¡± Arian chuckled lightly. But her laughter quickly disappeared. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go then. If by any chance, you hear gunshots, move. Got it?¡± After that, Arian swiftly ran in the direction Aiden indicated. Like a cat leaving no trace behind, she disappeared across the road in an instant. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Gunshots, huh...¡± Although she asked to wait for the sound of gunfire, Arian didn¡¯t have a gun. Even so, did she intend to test them like this? Perhaps she would be the first to attempt a conversation with the looters. If, in that situation, the looters surrendered without a fight or if they were just wanderers by chance, she wouldn¡¯t have to kill them. It was the mercy she could show as a vampire who wasn¡¯t afraid of bullets. However... Bang! A dry gunshot shook the once quiet village. Upon this, Aiden didn¡¯t hesitate any longer, pressing his body against the wall of a house and sticking only his head and the barrel of the gun out to the right. Chapter 84 The house window that was ten meters ahead. ¡°There he is!¡± A man hiding there spotted Aiden and shouted. The brown shotgun he was holding was immediately aimed at Aiden. The opponent, who had already estimated Aiden¡¯s position to some extent, had a faster aim. Judging so, Aiden gave up the attack, quickly hid behind the building again. Bang! The shotgun fired, and Aiden once again concealed himself behind the building almost simultaneously. Some of the buckshot mercilessly tore through the wooden wall of the building, and the rest whizzed past Aiden¡¯s head, accompanied by the sharp sound of the wind. A sight that would send shivers down the spine of an ordinary person. ¡°...¡± However, at that moment, Aiden recalled not the emotions of such a moment but the model of the shotgun the man was holding. The looter¡¯s shotgun was a weapon Aiden knew well. A hunting double-barreled shotgun. A break-action shotgun that didn¡¯t use a magazine, requiring manual loading of one round into each of the two barrels. To be honest, in the current world overrun by zombies, it wasn¡¯t the best weapon. However, as it was widely available for civilians, it was one of the common firearms among wanderers or looters who couldn¡¯t obtain military-grade automatic rifles. So, the response was straightforward. Aiden extended only his hand beside the building, engaging in a counterattack. Without aiming, he shot a couple of rounds in the direction where the man was, shooting a few steps and hiding his body. Then, as if in response, another gunshot returned. The second storm of buckshot tore through the adjacent space once again. Having confirmed this, Aiden immediately turned his entire body and aimed the revolver at the window where the man was. However, the man at the window was not visible. It was as Aiden expected. After two shots, reloading was definitely necessary, so he had hidden inside to reload. A few seconds later, when the man finished reloading and raised his head above the window. Bang! Aiden¡¯s waiting pistol bullet pierced through his forehead. The man with the shotgun fell, splattering blood. Now, one person down. As he reloaded the revolver, intending to move forward. ¡°It¡¯s all done.¡± Suddenly, Arian¡¯s voice came from behind. Whether she had taken care of all her share in those tens of seconds of exchanged gunfire. However, upon hearing the continuing words, she hadn¡¯t finished only her part. ¡°There was some time left, so I took care of the one you were supposed to take care of. Is that okay?¡± During the exchange of threatening gunfire, had she taken down all three armed marauders? It was a surprising ability, albeit not unexpected. ¡°Good job. Any injuries?¡± Arian shook her head and spoke somewhat urgently. ¡°More importantly, I found another person.¡± ¡°Another looter?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like that. No smell of gunpowder, just a strong scent of blood. Probably badly injured.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Several conjectures crossed Aiden¡¯s mind. While there was a possibility of him being a comrade of the looters. The most plausible guess was that he was a victim who had suffered at the hands of the looters. ¡°I¡¯ll check it out first.¡± Arian took Aiden to a small warehouse on the outskirts of the village. A small warehouse standing alone next to a wide field. Inside, a middle-aged man was hanging upside down, tied to a rope, covered in blood. ¡°...¡± The man¡¯s injuries were serious even at a glance. Flesh torn here and there, and burns visible on his back. At the gruesome sight, Arian¡¯s eyes twitched. The man was unconscious. Aiden first took down the man hanging and checked his condition. ¡°How is he?¡± Arian asked, but Aiden shook his head slightly. There were no proper medical examination tools, but just by looking at the amount of spilled blood in the vicinity, it was evident. The man had lost a significant amount of blood. Furthermore, judging by his weak breathing and pulse, it seemed like his stamina had been considerably depleted. Even for a former doctor like Aiden, there was almost nothing he could do for such a man. Upon hearing such an explanation, Arian wrinkled her face in disapproval. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Why on earth would someone do this? Are they fanatics too?¡± Inside the warehouse, there were clubs and blood-stained pliers scattered around. Perhaps the looters had tortured this man as if it were an interrogation. Aiden added calmly to Arian¡¯s words, Arian, who seemed to lack understanding. ¡°No, probably no particular reason. It was likely just for entertainment.¡± ¡°Entertainment?¡± ¡°There¡¯s not much to do in this world.¡± Arian let out a hollow laugh. At that moment. ¡°Uhh...¡± The man, covered in blood, regained consciousness, perhaps due to the blood draining from his head. He slowly raised his eyelids, directing his hazy gaze toward Aiden and Arian. ¡°Who are you... again?¡± With an undisguised sense of wariness, he spoke with a hoarse voice filled with resentment. However, it was just talk; the man remained lying down, unable to lift even his upper body, indicating his poor physical condition. Upon hearing this, Aiden promptly introduced himself: ¡°I¡¯m Aiden Lee, just a passing junk dealer.¡± ¡°What...? Junk dealer?¡± ¡°It seemed like you were captured by looters. Is that right?¡± The man rolled his eyes and alternately looked at Aiden and Arian. Aiden, wearing a black helmet, might not have been recognized, but Arian was clearly a face he had never seen before. So, he quickly realized that Aiden¡¯s group had no connection to the looters. ¡°...Those bastards?¡± ¡°They¡¯re dead.¡± For a brief moment, the expression on the man¡¯s face disappeared. However, soon after, a twisted smile stretched across his lips. ¡°Haha... damn bastards. Well, that¡¯s good.¡± For a while, he muttered curses in a dying voice against the looters who had tormented him. Aiden, who had been silently listening to his rightful venting, asked him: ¡°Are you a wanderer?¡± ¡°Me? I¡¯m... like you guys. A junk dealer. I was handling a request and... cough... ran into bad luck two days ago.¡± ¡°A request?¡± ¡°Yeah. It was a kind of... strange request to deliver a letter... Damn... that turned out to be Owen¡¯s last request.¡± Referring to himself as Owen, he let out a low laughter. However, instead of his name, Aiden¡¯s attention was stolen by something else. ¡°A letter? Where were you sending it?¡± ¡°Why... are you offering to... deliver it instead?¡± Owen joked, but for Aiden, there was indeed a willingness to deliver that letter on his behalf. ¡°It¡¯s possible. We are looking for a survivor group. If it¡¯s in the direction we are heading, we can¡¯t refuse.¡± At that moment, the mischievousness disappeared from Owen¡¯s face. He gestured with his eyes toward a corner of the warehouse. ¡°My... my bag...¡± Aiden checked the place he was looking at and soon found a small, crushed brown bag discarded there. Most of its contents were just odds and ends, but among them was the letter Owen had mentioned. ¡°Little Rock. There... a gang was doing business. You can find a kid named Carter...¡± Little Rock was the capital of Arkansas, located about 200 km west of Memphis. Since Aiden and his group had been planning to continue south after passing through Memphis, they had no information about the city. However, if there was a gang there, the situation would be different. Aiden listened attentively to his words and tucked the letter into his pocket. While he still didn¡¯t know much about this gang, he had gained a reason to make contact. ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll handle this request.¡± ¡°...Do as you please.¡± Owen said that while struggling to catch his breath. However, his eyes stared intently at Aiden. Perhaps it was because he was also a junk dealer. Owen implied that he would reward Aiden for taking care of his request. Of course, Owen couldn¡¯t offer much in his current condition ¨C at most, just the information he knew. So, Aiden asked him: ¡°Do you know anything about Memphis?¡± ¡°Dangerous... but useless.¡± Owen spoke slowly. As Claire had mentioned, there was an abandoned military base in Memphis. However, over the past two years, people feeling the scarcity of resources hadn¡¯t left that place alone. Several gangs had waged war against the zombies at the military base, eventually reclaiming the surface and sweeping up the supplies there. However, there was still one area these gangs hadn¡¯t touched ¨C the underground warehouse of the military base. ¡°There are... special mutants underground. I don¡¯t know the details either. The gangs gave up on the underground because of those mutans. If you want to find something, you¡¯ll probably have to go underground.¡± ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough.¡± Aiden nodded after hearing information about Memphis. Although there were still questions about the gangs west of Memphis and other factions, he considered Owen¡¯s current state. Unfortunately, Owen seemed too exhausted to provide any more information. So it seemed. Having finished speaking, Owen silently stared at the ceiling. Feeling the stifling atmosphere in his gaze, Aiden asked: ¡°Is there anything you need?¡± ¡°It¡¯s... too dark here. Can you move me to a brighter place?¡± Aiden lifted him and sat him in a large wooden chair that had been waiting outside the warehouse. Although Owen seemed to feel pain even with the slight shock of the move, he managed to smile when he was finally seated. ¡°It¡¯s very nice. Warm, bright, and... well, that¡¯s enough. You can leave now.¡± Owen said that while gazing at the sky, blinking slowly. Although the sun was still in the sky, for some reason, the sky he saw gradually darkened. At that moment, Aiden¡¯s voice was heard. ¡°One last thing. Owen, what¡¯s your last name?¡± At that question, Owen let out a small laugh. And come to think of it, he hadn¡¯t revealed his name to this junk dealer. ¡°...Freeman. Owen Freeman. That¡¯s... my name.¡± ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll remember that.¡± Hearing his name, Aiden turned away from Owen. The footsteps of the two gradually faded away. And eventually, they were no longer heard. In the midday sun, where the dazzling sunlight poured directly down, Owen slowly closed his eyes. * * * ¡°Sadie, are you okay?¡± Arian, who had returned in the vehicle, first checked Sadie¡¯s safety. Responding to her question, Sadie, who had come out from among the baggage, nodded lightly. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I heard gunshots... are you uninjured?¡± ¡°Then, everything¡¯s fine.¡± At that moment, Aiden, who was sorting through the belongings, boarded the vehicle a bit late. ¡°We should hurry. I need to make use of that blood.¡± Aiden said, looking towards the trunk. What he had just placed there was an amount of blood exceeding 6 liters. It was the blood of the four raiders who had opposed Aiden¡¯s group, all extracted by Arian¡¯s ability and temporarily stored in a plastic container. However, blood that is not frozen can only last for a few days at best and will easily spoil afterward. Therefore, the deadline for using this blood was roughly around three days. ¡°That¡¯s right. With this, we should be able to handle any mutants in the underground.¡± Even though Aiden knew about the mutated creature lurking in Memphis¡¯ underground, the reason for heading there was precisely this. Arian had convinced Aiden that with a large amount of blood, they could bring down powerful mutations. Apart from that, Aiden secured a few rounds of ammunition from the raiders¡¯ belongings. It wasn¡¯t overly abundant, but it was sufficient for one round of combat. With this, even though he didn¡¯t know what kind of mutants twere there, Aiden thought it was worth fighting once. Vroom! Aiden started the engine of the vehicle again. The vehicle, returning to the road it had temporarily left, smoothly passed through a small town. The warehouse where Owen was stood nearby, approaching rapidly, and then gradually moved away. Soon, following a detour, they re-entered the highway they needed to take two days later to reach Memphis. The road was still clean, and the sunlight was dazzling. Aiden¡¯s group¡¯s vehicle glided smoothly along the road where not even ordinary wreckage was visible. There were no obstacles on the way. Thanks to that, just as planned, two days later in the morning, they reached Memphis. ¡°...Is that it?¡± A vast warehouse area located south of Memphis International Airport. Getting off the car near the entrance, Arian asked while surveying the surroundings. Having checked the surroundings, Aiden soon nodded. ¡°Yeah, without a doubt. This is it.¡± ¡°But... it¡¯s quite extensive, isn¡¯t it? It seems difficult to find whatever is here.¡± As she said, Memphis¡¯ warehouse area was quite vast. Several warehouse buildings, large enough to accommodate a few soccer stadiums, were lined up in front of them in a straight row. In addition, there were three warehouse areas, with a lake at the center. Because of this, with only large warehouse buildings exceeding ten, and combining them with medium-sized warehouses, the total number exceeded thirty. It was too vast a place to search blindly. However, Aiden had already secretly guessed the location of the military base. ¡°The military base is likely to be north of the warehouse area, close to the airport.¡± Now, even if planes like airplanes were not operating at all at the moment, back when the military base was established, aircraft were essential for their transportation. So, unless there was a specific reason, Aiden judged that the military base would be north, close to the airport. ¡°Got it. Let¡¯s start looking from the north then.¡± ¡°But before that...¡± Aiden took a plastic container from the car trunk. With red liquid inside, Aiden extended it to Arian. ¡°We need to take this. How¡¯s the condition of this blood?¡± Upon Aiden¡¯s words, Arian opened the lid of the plastic container. Then, using a finger, she dipped into the blood and put it in her mouth. With a subtle expression, blinking her eyebrows, she shrugged and said: ¡°It¡¯s not fresh, but edible.¡± When Arian made a casual gesture, the blood inside the container rose into the air on its own. It formed a round blood ball about the size of a soccer ball, which floated next to Arian, following her. Sadie looked at the scene as if finding it fascinating. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s move.¡± Aiden¡¯s group headed straight to the north of the warehouse area. Then, a large emblem hung on the biggest warehouse, closest to the airport, caught their eyes. An emblem representing the U.S. Army with an eagle. There was no mistake. This place was undoubtedly an abandoned military base. Chapter 85 Aiden¡¯s group explored the interior of the warehouse buildings for a while. However. ¡°...It¡¯s empty.¡± Having searched the warehouse to some extent, Aiden muttered in disappointment. As Owen had mentioned, the above-ground section of the warehouse had been thoroughly cleaned by someone. All that remained were worthless odds and ends. Even the number of zombies left was minimal. ¡°Let¡¯s head straight to the underground. No need to waste time, right?¡± Arian suggested, looking at the road leading below. Finding the entrance to the underground from this massive warehouse turned out to be surprisingly simple. A wide tunnel, suitable for military trucks, extended from the external road to beneath the warehouse. ¡°They¡¯ve practically made a bunker.¡± Entering the tunnel, Aiden looked around while commenting. The underground was more extensive than he had anticipated. Additionally, perhaps to transport military supplies, one side of the blocked tunnel resembled a loading area. Unremoved wooden boxes were scattered here and there. However, Aiden¡¯s group approached the door leading further inside without paying much attention to them. The end of the tunnel, securely sealed with gray concrete. There, a steel door with a handle tightly wrapped in chains was visible. ¡°This is...¡± Aiden tugged on the chains. Although there was a perfectly intact locking mechanism, it seemed oddly unlocked. It suggested that someone had opened the door after finding it, sealing it again afterward. ¡°I can open this. Should I?¡± Arian asked Aiden, facing him in front of the door. Aiden nodded and stepped back. Then Arian¡¯s machete gleamed. As if the blade was enveloped in blood, it shone a bright red. Clink! And one strand of the tightly wrapped chains was smoothly cut. Aiden immediately unlocked the chains entwining the door handle and opened the door. Deep darkness, akin to a cave, greeted Aiden¡¯s group. ¡°I¡¯ll take the lead.¡± Arian stepped forward. The blood sphere followed beside her. Aiden activated the light on his rifle. The bright LED light illuminated the underground warehouse. Only dark passages made of discolored concrete walls were immediately visible. Rusty pipes and ducts protruded from the walls here and there. ¡°Stay close to me.¡± Aiden told Sadie. Sadie nodded with a tense expression. Thus, Aiden¡¯s group entered the underground warehouse. The dim corridor, filled only with thick darkness and silence, continued for a while. There were large and small rooms on both sides. Most of the doors were broken, so the insides were clearly visible from the corridor. ¡°Hmm...¡± Aiden explored several neglected rooms. There were quite spacious meeting rooms, sleeping quarters with military beds, and even bathrooms. However, there was no significant harvest anywhere. Even at the entrance of the underground, someone had already swept away the supplies, just like on the surface. Soon, a fork in the road appeared. It seemed to be the starting point of the actual underground warehouse, as the size of the corridor noticeably widened. Aiden found a sign hanging from the ceiling with the lights. To the right was the fitness center, to the left was the command center. And it seemed like there was a cafeteria straight ahead. Aiden¡¯s group decided to check out the cafeteria first. But then. ¡°...They¡¯re here.¡± Arian, sensing the presence of corpses, warned the group. Aiden quietly adjusted his rifle. ¡°Quietly... Let¡¯s move forward.¡± Soon, the moans of zombies began to be heard. Not too far away. Aiden directed the light in that direction. About 15 meters ahead, there were zombies in the middle of the corridor. ¡°Kiiie!¡± The one who sensed the light turned its head. Not mutants, just ordinary zombies wearing military uniforms. Confirming their appearance, Aiden let out a wry smile. Simultaneously, he now understood why the gang that had come here in the past had abandoned this underground warehouse. ¡°Zombies with armored measures...¡± Perhaps the military unit stationed here wasn¡¯t an ordinary one. The zombie soldiers in this underground warehouse were not only wearing armored helmets but also armored vests. This significantly lowered the efficiency of firearms. Especially, the armored helmet was problematic. It could potentially deflect even the 5.56mm bullets used by Aiden. Moreover, that helmet, doubling as headgear, couldn¡¯t be penetrated by melee weapons. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. So, to effectively destroy their brains, the only option was to stab a weapon deep through the eyes or jaw. Given the conditions of fighting numerous zombies, this became an incredibly challenging task. Fortunately, however. Among Aiden¡¯s group, there was a presence unaffected by such conventional conditions. ¡°Kiiii!¡± Two zombies that noticed Aiden¡¯s group screamed and rushed towards them. Former soldiers with a robust physique resembling the military. However, before they could even take a few steps. Swoosh! With a creepy sound, the machete of Jungle Doe passed through the space between the two zombies. Neither the armored helmet nor the armored vest could protect against the onslaught of the melee weapon. The zombies¡¯ heads were severed bone-deep, and they collapsed onto the corridor floor. ¡°Those two are done for.¡± Arian, who had defeated the zombies, spoke. She didn¡¯t even spare a glance at the armored helmet the zombies were wearing. While she might recognize it as an armored helmet, it seemed she didn¡¯t consider its significance. ¡°Bullets don¡¯t work well with these creatures.¡± So Aiden explained that part to Arian. At the mention of Aiden¡¯s reduced firepower, Arian raised an eyebrow. Seemingly in a tight spot, she let out a short sigh. ¡°So, what should we do? It¡¯s dangerous if there are more of these. Shall we turn back now?¡± ¡°No, with you here, it should be fine.¡± In response to Arian¡¯s question, Aiden answered, shaking his head. It wasn¡¯t just mere optimism. This underground space was the perfect place for Arian to fully unleash her abilities. In this confined area where walls and doors constantly obstructed the line of sight, her tracking ability would be maximized. As much as there cannot be as much open space as on the surface, even if zombies swarm out in hordes, it will be difficult for them to surround Arian in narrow corridors. The variables in battles brought about by numerical superiority are significantly reduced. In contrast, Arian has 6 liters of blood. Her combat abilities, based on simple calculations, can easily deal with three Brutals. With such clear evidence, Aiden judged that there was no reason to retreat. ¡°Huh?¡± On the other hand, Arian uttered a puzzled voice in response to Aiden¡¯s words. As if she didn¡¯t expect him to say that. But soon, with a smile on her lips, she confidently spoke. ¡°Well... Yeah, that makes sense. If there¡¯s blood, I won¡¯t lose to those corpses. Just trust me.¡± ¡°Got it. I trust you. I¡¯ll stay by Sadie¡¯s side.¡± In response to Arian¡¯s assurance, Aiden calmly agreed. Arian¡¯s smile deepened even more. The group continued down the corridor. As they went further inside, the appearance of zombies became more frequent, and their numbers increased. Moreover, most of them were soldiers wearing armored helmets and vests. ¡°Kiaaaa!¡± In the end, all of them were swept away in front of Arian like fallen leaves in the wind. There was no process that could be called a battle. Her transcendental physical abilities far surpassed the zombies¡¯ strength, and they couldn¡¯t even move properly before their heads fell into her hands. However, each of those astonishing movements was clearly depleting the blood-red sphere floating next to Arian. In just one hour, Arian had defeated about fifty zombies. However, during that time, the size of the sphere had noticeably decreased to the point where it could be easily recognized at a glance. While monitoring the size of the sphere, Aiden, of course, carefully examined the armored helmets and vests worn by the zombies every time they fell. And among them, he even took off a few. ¡°Shall we move these over there?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± He moved them to the side of the corridor through Sadie. Finding this action unusual, Arian asked, and he casually replied: ¡°They¡¯re useful items. It would be better to collect them on the way back if they¡¯re in good condition.¡± At that response, Arian¡¯s eyebrow twitched slightly. No matter how useful they might be, those weren¡¯t items zombies would use. But after briefly considering her own judgment, Arian changed her mind. Even though she was a vampire, Arian couldn¡¯t properly protect her comrades, including Sadie, from the hail of bullets. While her vampire abilities could make her nearly indestructible, she couldn¡¯t heal even a small wound on a comrade right next to her. So, if those items could somehow block a bullet for them. Whatever zombies used, it was right to use whatever could be utilized. If only she could resize them, Aiden could use them, and Sadie as well. Of course... they needed a proper cleaning before that. ¡°By the way, I don¡¯t see any mutants?¡± Arian, exploring the underground warehouse, expressed her doubts. Despite having come quite deep, there was no sign of the mutants Owen had mentioned. In response, Aiden pointed to the empty shelves, saying: ¡°There are traces of someone coming in here. So, there isn¡¯t much left. If there are mutants, they might be deeper inside.¡± Next to the corridor, there were shelves and drawers lined up. It seemed to be a space used as a warehouse, and among the facilities discovered in this underground bunker, it was the place where supplies were most likely to be left. However, those shelves and drawers were completely empty. It meant that the gang that had raided the surface had also entered here. ¡°...Got it.¡± Upon this, Arian nodded and continued forward. Then, soon, a broken door and a spacious area beyond were revealed. It was a cafeteria. Whether it was for the soldiers who stayed here or for a scale that could accommodate over a few hundred people having a meal at the same time. However, the tables and chairs that should have been there were not visible. More precisely, only the debris of what should have been hit by something remained on the walls and corners. Moreover, there were no zombies in this wide underground space. Only remnants of arms and legs mixed in with the wreckage, like broken chairs. ¡°...This is it.¡± Aiden looked at the restaurant scene and said. ¡°Clear signs of a battle, and regular zombies consumed by something. All of them indicate that from here onwards is a territory dominated by some mutant.¡± ¡°Yeah, over there,¡± Arian pointed to the opposite side of the restaurant. Aiden¡¯s light focused in that direction, reaching dozens of meters ahead. Finally, it unearthed the monster hidden in the darkness. A height slightly over 2 meters, with thighs like logs and muscles developed enough to tear a military uniform covering them. Especially noticeable were the arms, unusually long. If stretched straight down, they would almost touch the ground. ¡°Hmm...¡± Undoubtedly the appearance of a mutant. But it wasn¡¯t the mutant Aiden was familiar with. If a Wielder had mutations, only one of his arms was significantly thickened, it wasn¡¯t as long as this. The creature emitted a low growl, scanning Aiden¡¯s group with its rotten pupils. ¡°Guuuh...¡± Like the other zombies in the underground warehouse, it wore a bulletproof helmet. The head snapped with a squelching sound. Aiden¡¯s group, facing it, showed no loud reaction, appearing intrigued. After observing the creature for a moment, Aiden opened his mouth towards Arian. ¡°...Possible?¡± The true capabilities of this mutant were still unknown. The only thing that could be speculated was that the rifle reversed in its hand and the suppressive shield on the opposite side were both very threatening. But Arian chuckled. ¡°I believe in myself. Can¡¯t you trust me?¡± ¡°Seems possible.¡± Aiden gestured to Sadie. It was a signal to fall back, and Sadie immediately nodded. ¡°We¡¯ll wait from behind.¡± Arian nodded at Aiden¡¯s words. Right after that, the zombie screamed. ¡°Graaaa!¡± The creature, judging that Aiden¡¯s group was retreating, no longer hesitated and rushed straight towards them. Its speed... surpassed that of most mutants. If one thought speed and strength were proportional, it was almost at the level of a Brutal. A formidable opponent. Aiden, with just one movement, could judge the creature¡¯s strength. But such a formidable opponent... Swoosh! Existed on this side too. Arian¡¯s machete, emerging from the darkness, collided with the suppressed rifle of the mutated zombie, sparks flying as they clashed. In that fleeting moment. Arian¡¯s gaze passed through the mutant¡¯s chest. There was something there ¨C the name and rank of the enemy when this zombie was still alive. It seemed this man was called Sergeant Smith in his past life. Chapter 86 Arian and the mutant, after a brief clash, took a few steps back. Then, it stared intently at its rifle. It had barely collided with a small piece of metal, but the rifle body was nearly cut in half. ¡°Guuugh!¡± As if unable to comprehend the situation, the creature¡¯s horrifying face twisted in confusion. Then, it lifted its head, eyeing a small prey. Not just zombies, but a crimson-haired girl with an inexplicable aura was there. However, Arian paid no attention to its gaze, and with a tingling sensation, she flicked away the approaching arm. The creature¡¯s strength was stronger than expected. With this level of strength, it surpassed even the superior mutants, approaching the levels of a Wielder or Brutal. ¡°It¡¯s customary, Sergeant Smith.¡± ¡°Graaaa!¡± Arian called out the name of the mutant, lips curling. The one whose name was called could no longer hold back, and the mutant with elongated arms grotesquely swung a rifle and a shield towards Arian. Splat! The once simple rifle turned into a blunt weapon, flying towards Arian. Like a curved blade attached to a whip, a black weapon traced a curve and dug into space. Arian immediately twisted her body. With a sharp tearing sound, it narrowly avoided Arian¡¯s upper body. Thunk! Simultaneously, Arian pounded the ground. But seemingly aware of her movements, Sergeant Smith¡¯s shield blocked her path. A titanium suppression shield, typically used by special forces, weighing tens of kilograms and originally equipped with wheels for mobility. Sergeant Smith wielded it with one hand. ¡°Tch...!¡± Realizing the strength of the shield that even blocked a fired bullet, Arian bit her tongue. Nothing was impossible. But to do so, a considerable amount of blood would be expended. Was there a need for that? Arian didn¡¯t ponder this question for long. The crimson sphere floating next to Arian swayed fiercely. Like a thread unraveling from a bundle, a streak of crimson streamed from it, wrapping around Arian¡¯s machete. Even in the darkness, the sinister blade shone brightly as it aimed at Sergeant Smith¡¯s shield. ¡°Kiiii!¡± Watching Arian jumping towards him, Sergeant Smith screamed. Mutants had a certain level of intelligence. Because of that, it understood. With something like a human sword, breaking through this shield, harder than rock, was impossible. Common sense accepted at an instinctive level, not by intelligence. But right after that. Krrrrr! The common sense even zombies understood was denied right in front of their eyes. Accompanied by a sound of metal tearing through metal unheard before, the sinister blade of the machete split the titanium shield into two. And not just that, the blade of the jungle knife, digging even further, mercilessly severed Sergeant Smith¡¯s wrist holding it. ¡°Gra!¡± The zombie screamed like a shriek. Now sensing the imminent crisis, Sergeant Smith tried to swing the rifle to drive Arian away. However. Swish! A sinister crimson shadow that covered Arian¡¯s entire body, not just the blade, looked indifferently at Sergeant Smith. And then- Slash! Arian¡¯s figure in front disappeared for a moment. At least, it seemed so to the mutant that had been targeting her. He immediately turned its head to find Arian. However, its body didn¡¯t move. Attempting to cry out in confusion, even that didn¡¯t happen. Gradually, its vision tilted, and suddenly it flew into the air. ¡°...¡± Dirty and with his nose buried in the filthy floor, Sergeant Smith couldn¡¯t comprehend what had happened. Thud! At that moment, a sound of something collapsing was heard. It was the sound of a headless body hitting the floor a beat late. Next, footsteps were heard. They stopped right beside Sergeant Smith¡¯s head, and someone personally rolled its head to make eye contact. Crimson eyes were staring at mutant¡¯s. In her hand, a machete was gripped in reverse. As if ready to strike its head down at any moment. ¡°Rest now, Sergeant Smith.¡± The mutant, once again called by the name, contorted its face. It no longer recognized that it was its name. But that resonance was oddly familiar, and it touched a nerve. Anger surged. ¡°Ki-¡° Squelch! Once again, the machete pierced Sergeant Smith¡¯s face as it tried to scream. With that, the mutant in the underground warehouse fell silent. ¡°Hu...¡± With a short sigh, Arian turned her attention to her surroundings. Fortunately, there were no other signs besides her companions. Arian glanced at the crimson sphere floating next to her. Unlike before, the now completely shrunken sphere was now the size of a fist. At most, there might be around a liter left. Considering the blood expended in coming this far, she had consumed over 3 liters of blood just in the battle against Sergeant Smith, the mutant. However, Arian felt no regret. It was a worthy adversary. Above all, the shield it carried was tricky, and delaying could have been disadvantageous. But even so, she emerged victorious. It was a testament to her repaying the trust of her companions who believed in her. So, with a confident voice, she called out to them. * * * ¡°Well done.¡± Aiden spoke first to Arian. He, too, had been closely watching her in action. Thus, he fully understood how dangerous the new mutant, strangely named ¡®Sergeant Smith¡¯ by Arian, was. Following that, Sadie comforted her for her efforts. Under the encouragement of such comrades, Arian nodded with a proud expression. ¡°But the amount of blood is running out.¡± Looking at the floating crimson sphere, Aiden remarked. ¡°If we encounter another mutant, we should retreat immediately. Is that okay?¡± Both Sadie and Arian nodded in agreement. There wasn¡¯t much blood left now. Engaging in another battle with such a foe would be too reckless. ¡°Alright.¡± Saying so, Aiden picked up the fallen ballistic helmet of Sergeant Smith. Unexpectedly, Sergeant Smith¡¯s helmet was different from those of other zombies. It wasn¡¯t a military product but a civilian one. From its structure to the additional attachments around the helmet, it differed from the standard military equipment. ¡°Hmm...¡± Aiden held the helmet in his hands. It looked like a usable helmet. Flipping it over, it fit perfectly when he tried it on. ¡°If I attach the face shield covering the eyes and the chin guard, I could completely conceal my face like a helmet.¡± Moreover, these items were just among the miscellaneous items left behind in the room they had passed through. If they could retrieve them on their way back, it would be a fantastic ballistic helmet. Motorcycle helmets weren¡¯t bad, but they lacked ballistic performance. This Sergeant Smith¡¯s helmet could be considered a superior version. ¡°It¡¯s good to wear, but can we clean it a bit?¡± Pointing to the helmet¡¯s surface covered with zombie fluids, Arian spoke. She wasn¡¯t wrong. Aiden took off the helmet separately, nodded, and said: ¡°Let¡¯s explore a bit more.¡± Aiden¡¯s group crossed the door inside the restaurant and went further inside. Perhaps because it was Sergeant Smith¡¯s area, another intersection appeared where there wasn¡¯t even a single zombie left. A corridor split into left and right. At the end of each corridor, there was a room. It seemed like this was the end of the underground warehouse. Moreover, there were no zombies anywhere. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Let¡¯s check this side first.¡± Aiden opened the door to the right room. A creepy sound came from the latch as it opened. ¡°This is... the commander¡¯s office, perhaps.¡± Aiden said after briefly scanning the surroundings. A wooden table in the middle, an emblem and a large map hanging on the wall, it was undoubtedly the room where the commander had stayed. ¡°Can we take this?¡± Arian asked, pointing at the map. A large military map in the shape of a square with a side length of over a meter. It detailed the topography of Memphis and Tennessee, with Memphis at the center. To the west, adjacent to Arkansas. Also, the topographical features of Mississippi to the south were intricately recorded. ¡°Well, the condition isn¡¯t bad. It could be useful.¡± Although it wasn¡¯t the material they were looking for, it was a substantial gain. Aiden carefully took the map and rummaged through the commander¡¯s desk and drawers. Fortunately, many documents and books were left intact. Most of them were not valuable documents, such as general knowledge books or military textbooks. But just one. In a file with the red letters ¡®Confidential,¡¯ there were some decent pieces of information. ¡°This is...¡± It was a file that depicted the deployment of the U.S. military nationwide at the time when the zombie outbreak occurred. Among them were details about the 62nd Division stationed in Fort Wayne, not just Memphis. Aiden calmly read through the file. The next destination was a survivor group located to the west of Memphis. If the next destination wasn¡¯t suitable, he considered using this file as a basis. Of course, this was information from three years ago. Not all military bases would have been well-maintained like Fort Wayne. Now, they might find nothing but deserted bases, just like this underground warehouse in Memphis. But to Aiden¡¯s group, even that wasn¡¯t necessarily a loss. Military bases in this world were dangerous, but at the same time, they signified the presence of a lot of resources. So, if there were no clues, having this file as a minimum reference point wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea. That was his judgment. Aiden checked several nearby military bases, most of which were to the south, near the coast. ¡°Sea, huh...¡± From Memphis to the coast in the south was approximately 700 km. It wasn¡¯t a close distance, but viewed conversely, it wasn¡¯t that far either. They had unexpectedly come to a place they hadn¡¯t thought about. However, considering Mississippi, which was adjacent to Memphis in the west. Thinking about the southern tip touching the sea, it wasn¡¯t surprising. The worrying part, though, was that Aiden hadn¡¯t heard anything about the situation on the coast. Of course, when he was in Pittsburgh, there was a sea to the east, but. New York, located on the eastern coast, was the origin of the zombie outbreak. This place was somewhat different. Moreover, even New York, with some survivors daring to sail across the sea, didn¡¯t reach the coast unscathed. No one among them had heard stories of anyone returning alive. ¡°Why, heading towards the sea?¡± Arian, who was examining the file that Aiden was holding, asked. ¡°It could be. If it¡¯s the coast, there might be a lot of people gathered.¡± ¡°Not a bad idea. Besides, it¡¯s gotten quite hot lately, hasn¡¯t it?¡± It sounded like a suggestion to go to a resort. Aiden added, shaking his head. ¡°It¡¯s going to be dangerous. The idea of finding a boat on the coast and escaping to a safe island is something anyone might think of.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. But then again, it might be a complete mess.¡± Arian said as if she already knew. And she was right. Zombies couldn¡¯t cross the sea. So, in the zombie apocalypse, the coast might be a hopeful escape route. Perhaps people from all over the United States constantly flocked there, drawn by that hope. But that was precisely the problem. The basic principle of survivor groups, represented by gangs, was to control a certain area and monopolize the resources within it. However, if a continuous influx of wandering individuals occurred there. The monopoly of resources in a specific group was inevitably bound to be broken. In other words, the possibility of conflicts among survivors was very high. ¡°There might be an enormous number of zombies. Even if there¡¯s a survivor group, they¡¯ll probably be extremely violent, having survived many wars.¡± ¡°But we can¡¯t avoid it.¡± Aiden nodded at Arian¡¯s words. Perhaps cities near the coast would be empty by now. Just like they fled to the west to escape zombies in Pittsburgh. They would have left the inland to avoid zombies, most likely. So, if they wanted to meet people, they had to head to the coast. ¡°What about Sadie? Have you been to the sea before?¡± Arian asked Sadie, who was searching through a small drawer. Sadie nodded. ¡°Yes. I went with my parents when I was little.¡± Sadie grew up in New York. As a city bordering the sea, she probably saw the sea quite often, even at a young age. ¡°Do you like the sea?¡± ¡°...Yes, I do.¡± ¡°What did you do when you went there?¡± Arian and Sadie then shared stories about the sea. Perhaps the sea was a place where Sadie had memories with her parents. Sadie, conversing with Arian, seemed a bit brighter than usual. Leaving them like that, Aiden explored the room. A while later. No more information or supplies came out from the commander¡¯s office. So, Aiden went to the room on the opposite side of the intersection. There... a supply warehouse. Despite its name, it seemed almost empty, but fortunately, there were some remaining supplies. ¡°This is for eating, right?¡± Arian pointed at something spread out under a large wooden box. Aiden confirmed it and nodded. ¡°It¡¯s combat rations.¡± Commonly known as MRE (Meal, Ready-to-Eat). Despite its infamous taste in the past, it was military combat rations with very high calories compared to its volume and weight. Even though it was notorious for its taste, it was several times better than eating canned ham or sardines as they were. ¡°Has it gone bad?¡± ¡°It should be fine.¡± The expiration date of MRE varies significantly depending on the storage temperature. Shorter, around a month, usually about three years. In that regard, this underground warehouse was a cool place that could significantly extend the expiration date. Moreover, no sunlight entered, so there was little concern about spoilage. There were more than twenty MREs scattered around in the warehouse. For Aiden¡¯s group, who came here looking for provisions, it was the best harvest they could hope for. Furthermore, they secured several hundred rounds of 5.56mm ammunition from small ammo cans rolling around in the corner. Unfortunately, there were no bombs like grenades, but even this much made it worthwhile for them to come here. ¡°Let¡¯s head back now.¡± Having gathered the supplies, Aiden¡¯s group left the underground warehouse. The vehicle that carried them left Memphis and began moving westward. Chapter 87 ¡°...Not good.¡± Two days after leaving Memphis. Aiden, who had entered the outskirts of North Little Rock about 200 km to the west, stopped the vehicle driving down the road. It was due to the distant sounds of numerous gunshots. ¡°It¡¯s not just one or two. Moreover... it doesn¡¯t seem like just gunfire. There are also sounds of grenades and other bombs.¡± Arian commented with her superior hearing, analyzing the sounds. As she said, there wasn¡¯t just one type of explosive sound. Fortunately, it seemed like there was quite a distance to the origin, to the point where they didn¡¯t have to worry about bullets flying their way. However, it wasn¡¯t good news for Aiden¡¯s group. In a city with gangs, the meaning of such diverse explosive sounds was one and only. ¡°It seems like they¡¯re waging a war.¡± Aiden said like a sigh. North Little Rock, where they were, was as the name suggested, referring to the north of Little Rock, their destination. The boundary between the two cities was a large river called the Arkansas River. Judging by the distance and direction of the gunfire, the ongoing battle seemed to be happening right there, along the riverbank. ¡°What are we going to do?¡± Arian asked. Entering a city with gang warfare in progress was, needless to say, a dangerously precarious situation. In a world without zombies, venturing into a country in the midst of a civil war was akin to an ordinary citizen. However, for junk dealers like Aiden, gang wars were also opportunities. Since wars consumed a considerable amount of resources and manpower. Not only were there many requests for junk dealers, but they could also get a higher price for selling the same amount of goods. ¡°I¡¯ll go in. But only I will enter the city.¡± After a brief consideration, Aiden replied. Even if they avoided this place, they didn¡¯t know where there might be a survivor group. Especially since the next destination, the coast, was worrisome due to the long gap. It was necessary to risk danger and replenish supplies here. Arian and Sadie, understanding this, expressed their agreement with his decision. ¡°This place should be good.¡± Aiden hid the vehicle in a factory complex on the outskirts of the city. There were hardly any traces of someone passing by, and zombies were scarce in this area. Aiden picked up a rifle and a crowbar, put on a modified helmet like a bulletproof helmet with various attachments. He already had a bulletproof vest under his clothes. However, the white coat and doctor¡¯s badge that he always wore on top were not visible. He judged that expressing himself as a doctor in front of a gang during a war might lead to troublesome situations. Finally, Aiden got off the vehicle with some trade goods. ¡°Are you okay going alone?¡± ¡°It¡¯s safer for me alone here. There¡¯s a possibility that those gang guys might try to snatch the vehicle or goods.¡± Aiden didn¡¯t know the nature of the gang currently at war. They could be more malicious than common sense, and taking goods to such guys could be even more dangerous. For now, it was urgent to assess the situation. So, he entrusted the vehicle and goods to Arian and thought it was more advantageous to go in alone. ¡°Alright. Don¡¯t overdo it.¡± ¡°Stay safe.¡± Responding calmly to his colleagues¡¯ farewells, Aiden left in the vehicle. Highway 40 leading into the city. He walked on foot along it, although the gunshots from inside were still echoing, Aiden focused more on the road beneath him. Perhaps because it was a road near the gang, not only was it in good condition, but also the traces of vehicles passing by were clear. It seemed like these traces were left by the gang guys, after all. Aiden silently followed those traces. Soon, those traces deviated from the highway and went off to the side. ¡°Here...¡± Aiden checked the map. The direction was towards a place where warehouses and vehicle repair shops gathered, opposite the river from where the sounds of gunfire were coming. However, it was somewhat strange to say that this was the gang¡¯s stronghold. Nevertheless, Aiden proceeded to follow the traces, as it was critical to gather supplies in a world where a long period of inactivity could be feared until they reached the next destination on the coast. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As he did, not long after, those traces left the highway and went off to the side. ¡°Here...¡± Aiden checked the map. The direction was towards a place where warehouses and vehicle repair shops gathered, opposite the river from where the sounds of gunfire were coming. However, it was somewhat strange to say that this was the gang¡¯s stronghold. Nevertheless, Aiden proceeded to follow the traces, as it was critical to gather supplies in a world where a long period of inactivity could be feared until they reached the next destination on the coast. If you go up the highway a little more, there is a downtown area where large marts and hospitals are gathered. Considering that there are a lot of supplies and many tall buildings, it is much more defensible than this vast wasteland. There was no reason for the gang to establish a stronghold in a place like this. ¡°...It might not be their stronghold.¡± Aiden, who had been pondering for a moment, muttered so. It was still a guess, but Aiden had a rough idea of what kind of place it was. Although it was a place with quite a bit of traffic, it was not related to the stronghold. Moreover, it was located safely in the opposite direction from the riverside where the battle was taking place. Yet, subtly close to the downtown area... Because it was the perfect location for Aiden¡¯s business associates to gather. It worked out well. To assess the situation, contacting the junk dealers who were trading with the gang, rather than directly seeking out the gang, was much safer. Thinking like that, Aiden continued to follow the traces. The first thing that came into view was a wide parking lot and an abandoned gas station. The place, where only scrapped cars and miscellaneous items rolled around, had a lonely atmosphere. But as he went a little further, a brown building next to the road came into view. It was a not particularly large two-story brick building. Although it was an ordinary office building with nothing special, Aiden had a gut feeling that this was the place he was looking for. Decisively, further ahead, several rather well-maintained vehicles, not scrapped cars, came into view. It couldn¡¯t be anywhere else. It was the moment Aiden was so sure. From the windows on both sides of the second floor of the building, two muzzles suddenly appeared. ¡°Who the hell are you?¡± The low and strong voice of a man asked Aiden. Since Aiden didn¡¯t come here to fight, he raised both hands quietly and opened his mouth. ¡°Aiden Lee. I¡¯m a junk dealer.¡± ¡°A junk dealer? I haven¡¯t heard that name.¡± In response to the man¡¯s words, Aiden revealed that he had recently come to this place. Then the man sneered. ¡°Heh, sounds like something those guys across the river would say.¡± Maybe because it was wartime. The other side seemed to suspect that Aiden was sent by a hostile gang. However, if these junk dealers were really trading with the gang, they had a familiar name. ¡°Do you know Owen?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Owen Freeman. I came here at his request.¡± ¡°...Owen?¡± Instead of the man, a woman in her thirties leaned out of the window. ¡°What about Owen?¡± Aiden then explained to them how he met Owen, what conversations went back and forth. In fact, the woman¡¯s face slightly distorted at the news that he had died. In the meantime, the man spoke. ¡°Is that word true?¡± ¡°Yeah. That guy said he was delivering a letter to Evansville. So, be careful...¡± The woman seemed to know Owen, and she sighed as she spoke. The man, sticking his nose out, also leaned his head out of the window. He looked like a middle-aged man in his fifties. ¡°But to replace a dead man¡¯s request? Not some volunteer service. Rather, it seems like you came to rip us off.¡± ¡°If that was the case, I wouldn¡¯t have come alone.¡± Aiden¡¯s reply left the man speechless. The response came from the rooftop. ¡°That¡¯s right. He came alone.¡± As this place was a flatland, the rooftop was wide enough to see quite a distance. They had gone up there, and they were checking if Aiden had no other comrades. It was quite a skillful response, as if they had not met guests here just once or twice before. ¡°Well... Then why did you come?¡± ¡°I want to trade with the gang here. So, instead of getting the information from Owen, I decided to handle his request.¡± ¡°Ah, so you¡¯re Owen¡¯s substitute?¡± Although he hadn¡¯t thought about it that way, Aiden didn¡¯t deny it. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since we had a newcomer. Well, then, come in.¡± The muzzles disappeared from the second floor. And the door on the first floor was opened by a man. One on the rooftop, two on the second floor, and finally, one on the first floor. Four guns. Aiden entered the building. Inside, there were only a few chairs and tables. No significant furniture was visible. They sat around a table, with four junk dealers. Two men in their fifties and one man and woman in their thirties. On the table they faced were playing cards. In addition, there were some small game tools, like worn-out board games, scattered around the room. Perhaps the junk dealers gathered like this to alleviate their boredom. The middle-aged man who had aimed a gun at Aiden opened his mouth. ¡°We are junk dealers staying here. There were originally a few more, but they went out to work.¡± ¡°...It looks like that.¡± Aiden looked around and said. Normally, junk dealers don¡¯t get along well, pretending not to know each other. However, occasionally, junk dealers who have been trading with a gang for a long time become friendly like this. ¡°Rather, take off the helmet. I want to see what you look like.¡± The woman said, looking at Aiden. Aiden stiffened his head. ¡°Decline.¡± ¡°Hey, there¡¯s nothing good about keeping it on.¡± The woman opened her mouth, seemingly uncomfortable with Aiden¡¯s attitude. Then, the man next to her chuckled and intervened. ¡°Why, did you get bitten by a zombie?¡± ¡°And now that I think about it, it¡¯s suspicious. Hey, you, you¡¯re covering your whole body.¡± The middle-aged man confirmed, mentioning not only the helmet but also the long pants, the top covering the neck, and even gloves. When it came to that, the atmosphere became slightly tense. In response, Aiden took a short breath and put his hand into the bag. ¡°...!¡± Then the junk dealers all tensed up. However, when they saw what came out of it, the atmosphere changed completely. What Aiden pulled out was... rum. A smile appeared on the faces of the junk dealers. ¡°I want to understand the situation here first. Will you explain?¡± Aiden said, placing the rum on the table. Before answering, the junk dealers picked up the rum. After confirming its scent and that it was in good condition, they nodded in satisfaction. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Well, it¡¯s simple.¡± ¡°Okay. There¡¯s no need for a disguise here. Are you going to take off your panties to check for bite marks on your buttocks?¡± ¡°Why, are you always walking around without panties?¡± The junk dealers chatted and laughed among themselves. One man quickly brought a cup, and the junk dealers poured and drank the liquor. Naturally, the woman shuffled the playing cards. Aiden looked at the middle-aged man who seemed to be their leader. Having given them something, it meant that he wanted an explanation. ¡°The gang here is in the midst of a war right now.¡± After taking a sip of rum, the man slowly opened his mouth. He turned over the card in front of him, and it didn¡¯t seem like a good hand. ¡°As for the gang here, are they the ones who were originally in Little Rock?¡± ¡°Yeah, they¡¯re the ¡®Rock Boys.¡¯ But recently, they lost their original base due to some guys who came in from the west. So now, they are risking their lives to reclaim it.¡± It wasn¡¯t a particularly surprising story. Gangs running out of supplies often resort to either disbanding or taking over the territory of others. ¡°So, are you guys allies of the Rock Boys?¡± ¡°Hey, did you see any junk dealer taking sides? We¡¯re just scavenging leftovers next to them.¡± ¡°Considering that, you seem quite cautious about rival gangs.¡± ¡°Well, those gang guys are trying to kill us. Since we¡¯re handling tasks for the Rock Boys, they might not be happy about it.¡± After a round of card games, the conversation resumed. When the man checked his hand and spoke again. ¡°So, if you¡¯re going to trade with the Rock Boys, be careful.¡± Aiden nodded. ¡°So, how do we go about the trade?¡± ¡°If you go a bit northwest from here, there¡¯s a big post office. It¡¯s a designated location where gangs contact junk dealers separately. Whether you¡¯re trading or taking a request, you should go there.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Oh, by the way, don¡¯t go into the city center. It¡¯s the gang¡¯s territory, and it¡¯s sharp in the war. If you make a mistake, they¡¯ll kill you, whether you¡¯re a junk dealer or whatever.¡± For a while, along with card games, Aiden¡¯s questions continued. When Aiden finally collected the necessary information. ¡°Hmm... it seems we¡¯re out of alcohol.¡± As the card game ended, the rum Aiden had offered slipped from his hands. Then the gaze of the junk dealers gathered on Aiden. The intention was clear: they wanted alcohol. It was a perfect opportunity for Aiden. The supplies he needed weren¡¯t only held by the gang. ¡°Do you happen to have any intention to trade with me?¡± ¡°What do we have to trade?¡± ¡°You know we¡¯re fellow junk dealers, right? We make a living day by day.¡± The junk dealers said so, clapping their hands. It wasn¡¯t that they had no intention to trade alcohol. Those who had dealt with many people many times were already trying to lower the price of alcohol. But from the beginning, Aiden had no intention of asking for ordinary items from them. ¡°The payment is blood. If you four give blood, I¡¯ll just give you a bottle of alcohol.¡± Aiden said, taking out a syringe. In response to the proposal for their first-ever blood donation, the heads of the junk dealers all simultaneously tilted to the side with surprise. Chapter 88 With one bottle of rum, obtaining blood from four individuals, totaling 800ml, Aiden headed straight for the post office. The post office mentioned by the junk dealers was just a few minutes¡¯ walk away, right next to the road leading to the city center. Moreover, for a post office, it was considerably large, resembling a building the size of a typical large mart. Aiden entered through the main entrance as instructed by the junk dealers. ¡°...¡± The first things he saw were the reception and lobby, where customers were greeted. Aiden moved beyond the reception to a corridor for employees. In that corridor, the third room on the right was where he needed to go. Standing in front of the firmly closed door, Aiden knocked. After a moment, with a creaking sound, the door opened. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you before. Are you a junk dealer?¡± The one who spoke to Aiden was a black man in his forties. With sharp features, he sat at a desk inside the room. Behind him, stood a man and a woman armed with rifles. Adding the guard who had opened the door, there were four of them in total. Aiden nodded to them. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve come to complete a request I received.¡± As Aiden explained the details of the request and handed them the letter he received from Owen, the man in the room, after confirming the name in the letter, suddenly gripped it tightly with both hands. For a moment, Aiden thought ¨C No way. Rip! The man tore Owen¡¯s request letter into pieces and scattered it on the floor. Watching the paper fragments flutter, Aiden asked. ¡°Why would you do that?¡± ¡°The guy who should receive this letter died a week ago. It seemed to contain personal information, so I disposed of it here.¡± The unexpected story was that the owner of the letter had died. The man continued speaking. ¡°So, if you were expecting compensation, forget it. The one who should receive it is gone, so we can¡¯t give it to you either.¡± ¡°That¡¯s regrettable.¡± Though he said that, Aiden didn¡¯t come with the intention of receiving something more from them. Of course, if they had offered compensation, he would have taken it, but there was no need to force demands on an unexpected situation like this. So, he smoothly transitioned to another topic. ¡°Rather than that, do you have any tasks to entrust?¡± ¡°We have plenty of work. But we don¡¯t usually leave tasks to unfamiliar junk dealers.¡± The man said sarcastically. Perhaps because they were a gang in the midst of a war, their wariness was high. Though it was an unexpected situation, Aiden responded. ¡°Is there anything you urgently need to acquire now?¡± ¡°Naturally, weapons. If you can sell ammunition, we¡¯ll buy it.¡± ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°We also need medical supplies.¡± ¡°What specific medical supplies are you looking for?¡± ¡°Anesthetic, antibiotics, and hemostatic agents.¡± Aiden nodded and then asked naturally. ¡°I¡¯ll look for pharmaceuticals. By any chance, do you know of any suitable places? I don¡¯t mind going to dangerous locations.¡± ¡°...¡± The man stared at Aiden intently in response to that question. The issue of where to get them was something junk dealers had to figure out; it wasn¡¯t a question thrown at a gang. However, Aiden already had an idea of the gang¡¯s situation. According to the information from the junk dealers, the gang called the Rock Boys had about 2,000 members. And the gang involved in the ongoing war was also of a similar size, with the war continuing for about two weeks in this city. So, the injured person would be a minimum of three digits. He didn¡¯t know exactly, but there was bound to be a significant shortage of medical supplies on the gang¡¯s side. So, Aiden was trying to extract information using this as bait. As if to say, ¡®It¡¯s urgent for you, not for me.¡¯ Despite the gang member¡¯s displeased expression, he soon opened his mouth. ¡°About 50km north from here, there¡¯s a city called Conway.¡± Aiden had a memory of Conway from the map. It was one of the small cities with an original population of around 60 000. ¡°There¡¯s a comprehensive hospital in the center of Conway, right next to a university. Look into that.¡± ¡°You mean the university, not the hospital?¡± ¡°After the zombie outbreak, the hospital people took refuge in the university and set up a camp. I heard they moved all the supplies there at that time. But about two years ago, they couldn¡¯t contain the zombies, and the camp was destroyed.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°If you search through their corpses, you might find something.¡± He seemed to provide information so easily. It appeared that there were considerable zombies in the area the man mentioned. However, dealing with cities swarming with zombies was something Aiden was accustomed to, so he casually continued the conversation. ¡°How about the price of the medical supplies?¡± ¡°Obviously, we won¡¯t trade weapons for it. But if it¡¯s food, we¡¯ll give you plenty.¡± When Aiden asked about the specific quantity, he immediately received an answer. It was regrettable that he couldn¡¯t replenish ammunition with medical supplies. However, when exchanging for food and water, the price was about 50% higher than other places. Adding a few more questions and receiving a definite answer that they would also trade with blood, Aiden concluded the conversation and left the post office. ¡°Conway...¡± With a new destination in mind, Aiden returned to the vehicle where his companions were staying. * * * The next day. After setting up a hideout in the town of Preston, south of Conway, Aiden spent the day and headed towards the mission in the morning. However, once again, he didn¡¯t bring any of his companions. The main reasons were the supplies and the vehicle. To enter Conway, infested with zombies, he had to hide the vehicle in an appropriate place. However well he might hide the car around here, moving around with only supplies and a vehicle was too risky. There was an ongoing gang war just below, and the junk dealers were moving around for the gang¡¯s mission. So, Aiden judged that it was better to move alone. He left Arian and Sadie to guard the vehicle and supplies, entering Conway alone. ¡°...Heading north from here.¡± As Aiden left the residential area infested with zombies, a spacious road and the grassy field on the other side came into his view. It was Highway 60, just a few hundred meters away from the Arkansas University, his destination. Along the road that crossed Conway from east to west, a few abandoned restaurants were visible. ¡°Hmm...?¡± Without much thought, Aiden was about to pass by one of those restaurants when he stopped for a moment. His gaze fell upon a small ice cream shop. The entire glass wall was shattered, indicating that it was open enough for zombies to crawl inside. However, by chance, he saw something rolling on the floor beneath the checkout counter. Up to this point, Aiden hadn¡¯t paid attention to other places, but there was no reason to leave behind a visible harvest. So, Aiden entered the store. As he did, two zombies inside sharply glanced at Aiden, then turned their heads away. Aiden deliberately didn¡¯t provoke them and approached the canned food he discovered. ¡°...¡± Without any concern, he picked up the canned food rolling on the floor. Interestingly, it was strawberry canned food. Moreover, its condition wasn¡¯t bad at all. The can looked intact, and its content hadn¡¯t leaked. Aiden, who didn¡¯t know if there was more like this, explored behind the checkout counter. There was a door leading to the inner warehouse, and several more similar canned foods were stored inside. Perhaps it was because this was a place that sold ice cream with various fruits. Strawberry, apple, peach, pineapple, and more. Various fruit canned foods were abundant. Aiden gathered all the remaining items in the warehouse. A total of seven. ¡°...Not bad.¡± As Aiden walked, it was an unexpected harvest, as much as finding money. Although not very high in calories, the food was sweeter than other bland-tasting foods, making it suitable for children. For Aiden, who was traveling with Sadie, it was a useful food item. With the canned goods in hand, Aiden ignored the zombies lingering nearby and continued to head north. Soon, the vast university campus came into view. ¡°Kiiiii...¡± Standing on what used to be a grassy field on the campus was a seemingly dozens of zombies. Though the density seemed slightly lower than in residential areas, it was still a considerable number. If we consider the entire city, the number of zombies might be close to ten or even twenty thousand. To think that nearly one-third of the population of a city that originally housed 60 000 people turned into zombies. No wonder the gang passed on information so easily; it was indeed a dangerous place. Aiden pondered this as he unfolded his map. The map he obtained from the military base in Memphis was large and somewhat inconvenient to look at, but it detailed the layout of the university buildings. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The number of buildings drawn on the map was more than twenty. Among them, Aiden already knew which building he had to go to, having heard it from the gang. A five-story building in the shape of a ¡®C.¡¯ It was supposed to be the last stronghold of the survivor group that had settled here. According to the map, it was located near the northwest side of the university campus. Checking the direction, Aiden resumed walking. As he progressed through the campus, Aiden soon felt a strange uneasiness. The zombies that had been swarming outside the campus gradually decreased as he moved inside. ¡°Hmm...¡± Aiden, aware of this, looked around. Indeed, the density of zombies seemed suspicious. Dozens of zombies gathered in a tennis court without any obstacles. In contrast, the open ground in front of the building on the opposite side was completely empty. It wasn¡¯t that zombies were naturally scattered; they seemed to be swept in one direction. In Aiden¡¯s experience, there were two possibilities in such cases. Either there were predatory mutant variants like a Bigfoot, or people had been moving back and forth. Aiden leaned towards the latter. Considering the ongoing gang war, where medical supplies were being bought at a high price. So, it was quite likely that not just other junk dealers, but even gang members had come here risking danger to collect these supplies. ¡°Kii...¡± Aiden, considering the possibility of encountering people, passed through the zombies standing here and there and entered the interior of the university campus. Soon after, the building he was looking for appeared. The entrance was blocked by all sorts of barricades, and the building¡¯s name was carved above. ¡°Bear Hall...¡± An odd name. Now that he noticed, there was also a sports football stadium with the same name right next to the building. It seemed that the building name was derived from the university¡¯s sports team name. Meanwhile, the barricade that had to block the entrance was severely damaged. Bullet holes pierced through metal plates, torn clothes hung on the edges, and even bones were scattered underneath. If what the gang member said was true, it had already been over two years since this place collapsed. However, the traces of the fierce battle at that time were still vivid on the barricade. ¡°...¡± Aiden crossed over the barricade and entered inside. Sunlight entered through the windows inside the barricade, making it bright enough. Moreover, there were a few lecture halls next to the corridor, but their insides were completely empty. The only noticeable things were a few zombies lying on the floor. They didn¡¯t seem to have fallen long ago. That meant there had been a sniper here, after all. Aiden thought so as he tried to climb the stairs to the second floor. However, Aiden, who was already on the stairs, had to stop his steps. The space leading to the stairs was completely blocked from top to bottom by a security shutter. ¡°This is... troublesome.¡± Aiden murmured under his breath with a click of his tongue. What blocked the passage was a steel pipe shutter, several thin and long pipes connected with a linking ring to create a mesh-like structure. Because of this, although Aiden could peer into the staircase, the shutter itself was not in a state that could be simply opened with human strength. After the shutter was lowered, perhaps the zombies went on a rampage here. The rail part next to it was severely bent. To open this, Aiden needed a tool to cut the iron bars, or Arian. But Aiden didn¡¯t have such tools either. So... eventually, it meant he had to bring Arian here. Aiden was silently contemplating this countermeasure. Bang! From somewhere, there was a loud noise. ¡°...!¡± Aiden quickly assessed the direction and distance of the noise. It was not from the south, where Aiden came from, but from the east. And the distance seemed to be only a few hundred meters away. So, Aiden moved away from the stairs and ran down the corridor. And in this C-shaped building, he entered a lecture hall that could monitor the east where the gunshot came from. ¡°...¡± There, Aiden hid his body under the window facing east. And he slightly lifted the already lowered blinds to look outside. Although nothing was visible yet, Aiden already had a pistol in his hand. Meanwhile, outside, zombies had already started to go wild. Hundreds of zombies scattered throughout the school campus rushed towards the noise. As a result, the area around the building where Aiden was hiding experienced a significant decrease in zombie density. ¡°...¡± However, that explosion ended with just one. It wasn¡¯t someone engaging in combat, but rather a way to attract the attention of zombies. In that case... the opponent¡¯s purpose was undoubtedly this building where Aiden was. It wasn¡¯t a good situation. Whether the opponent was a junk dealer or a gang member, they wouldn¡¯t peacefully share the harvest available in this building. At that moment, Aiden heard footsteps. Looking out the window, someone who had dodged the zombies was running towards the building. Aiden confirmed the person¡¯s presence and moved immediately. He put on the bulletproof helmet he had been carrying. Approaching the entrance of the lecture hall, not the window, Aiden got close and stood still. Then, a little later. ¡°Haa... Huff...¡± Someone who had escaped the zombies came into the building and caught their breath. The person, who stayed at the entrance for a moment, soon regained their breath, and slowly walked down the corridor. There were no colleagues following. Probably just one opponent. Aiden¡¯s plan was decided right there. Hidden behind the classroom door, he waited until the intruder passed by, then sprang out and grabbed the person from behind. ¡°What-¡° Before the intruder could say a word. Aiden grabbed their neck with one hand to stop their movement and brought a gun to their head with the other. Whether the cold sensation was transmitted or not, the intruder, who was about to start a riot, stopped their actions and raised both hands. ¡°Who are you?¡± Aiden asked quietly. Then, the intruder, a woman, responded with an annoyed tone. ¡°Damn it... I¡¯ll tell you everything, so don¡¯t shoot.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t waste time talking. Just answer.¡± A clicking sound was heard. But Aiden calmly waited for the woman to open her mouth. ¡°I¡¯m Ella, Ella Watson. I¡¯m a junk dealer.¡± Soon her answer came. Chapter 89 The one who introduced herself as Ella Watson was a black woman in her twenties. She had a sharp impression, and her expression blurred as she was conscious of Aiden¡¯s gun barrel touching her head. Whether she valued her life or not, there was no sign of rebellion. Aiden then asked a question. ¡°You¡¯re a junk dealer. So, whose request did you come here for?¡± ¡°...Rock Boys.¡± Ella replied. She claimed to have received a request from the same gang as Aiden. However, Aiden didn¡¯t take her words at face value. ¡°Really? Then, where did you receive the request?¡± ¡°At the camp outside the stronghold.¡± Ella answered shamelessly, but naturally, it was a lie. Aiden slightly shook the gun pointing at Ella¡¯s head. ¡°...You¡¯re lying.¡± ¡°For heaven¡¯s sake, fine. I¡¯ll tell you the truth, so put the gun away!¡± Although Ella complained, Aiden silently waited for her response. Soon, Ella confessed that she had come here after receiving a request from an opposing gang. The reason she lied was that it was the first time she saw Aiden. Naturally, she must have speculated that he was a member of the opposing gang. ¡°Why did you come here?¡± ¡°Obviously, to get supplies. I need medicine. And... are you a junk dealer too?¡± Ella asked, looking at Aiden. Aiden nodded calmly. There was no need to hide it. Then Ella¡¯s voice brightened a bit. ¡°So, there¡¯s no need to fight. We¡¯re not at war. Let¡¯s just find what we¡¯re looking for and go our separate ways.¡± Although Ella said it simply, it was not an easy task. If one kills the opponent, they can monopolize all the medicines that might be in this place. Who would willingly share with the opponent in such a situation? Even if they were both junk dealers, there was no way to trust each other in this situation. So, when Aiden let out a short sigh, Ella seemed to interpret it differently and desperately tried to persuade Aiden. ¡°Just a moment! The staircase in this building is blocked! You must have seen inside. I can pick that lock. Look, I brought tools for that. I¡¯m serious!¡± Ella pointed to her bag as she spoke. If there were tools to break through the iron door of the stairs, it would indeed be helpful. Even if Ella wasn¡¯t helpful, Aiden wouldn¡¯t kill her unnecessarily, but he opened his mouth as if he had extended his goodwill. ¡°...There¡¯s no need to kill you.¡± As Aiden muttered, Ella let out a sigh of relief. However, Aiden didn¡¯t just let her go. He confiscated almost everything, including the two firearms and the bag and weapon Ella had. He disarmed her. Only then did Aiden lift the gun barrel aimed at her. Ella opened her mouth with a disgruntled look. ¡°What am I supposed to do without any weapons? Get eaten by zombies?¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I left one for you.¡± All Ella had was a shovel. Having only a shovel, even if Ella betrayed Aiden, she could still respond sufficiently. Aiden judged it that way and left her with at least the minimum weapon. ¡°What am I supposed to do with this...¡± ¡°I¡¯ll return the rest on the way.¡± Aiden said, cutting off Ella¡¯s complaints. Ella, with no means of rebellion, only frowned deeply. In the meantime, Aiden checked her bag. Inside, there were indeed tools such as a large bolt cutter, capable of cutting through iron bars. ¡°Have you been here before?¡± ¡°...Two days ago.¡± As expected, there are traces of someone arriving here first. Aiden quickly understood Ella¡¯s situation. Ella arrived at this place a step ahead of Aiden but couldn¡¯t open the door on the stairs and had to retreat. After obtaining the means to open the door, she revisited this place, coincidentally meeting Aiden there. For Aiden, this was a stroke of luck, sparing him from inconvenience, but for Ella, it was nothing but misfortune. From Ella¡¯s perspective, even though she had prepared the key to open the treasure warehouse, it ended up being plundered entirely. ¡°Then go ahead and open it.¡± Afterward, Aiden, who had reached the stairs with Ella, urged her. With Aiden watching, Ella, holding back her hair, cut through the shutter with a cutter. The sound of the cutter echoed regularly in the quiet building. Fortunately, the thickness of the shutter grille wasn¡¯t too much, and the inside was empty, making it easy to cut through. However- ¡°Kiiii!¡± Some zombies, upon hearing the sound, tumbled down the stairs and collided with the shutter. At that moment, Ella, who was holding the cutter in front of them, recoiled in panic. ¡°What the hell...!¡± ¡°Kraaaaa!¡± Zombies behind the iron grille screamed. Ella looked at Aiden as if to ask, what are we going to do now? But there was no other choice. Naturally, they had to deal with it. Aiden picked up a crowbar and walked towards the shutter. And then- Thud! He thrust the crowbar through the iron grille of the shutter. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The pointed end of the crowbar shot out like an arrow, piercing precisely through the zombie¡¯s skull. The zombie that had been screaming fell backward. ¡°Ghaaa!¡± A zombie next to him, witnessing his comrade¡¯s death, went berserk as if trying to break the shutter. But soon, it met the same fate. After dealing with two more zombies in the same way, Aiden turned around. ¡°Let¡¯s start again.¡± ¡°Ha...¡± Ella looked at Aiden with a forced smile. In her eyes, there was a bit more caution than before. Although it was an unremarkable fight. Just by seeing that, Ella sensed that Aiden was not an ordinary skilled person. ¡°Why are you like this?¡± ¡°...It¡¯s nothing.¡± Ella looked fixedly at the helmet Aiden was wearing and shook her head. Although she had planned to hit him on the back of the head and run away as soon as the opportunity arose. Now, it seemed that she needed to seize that opportunity much more carefully. So, expressing her dissatisfaction only through facial expressions, she resumed her work. Not long after. ¡°...It¡¯s done.¡± Tearing off the large iron grille, Ella spoke. By cutting the pipe and connecting rings into a circle, there was now a hole in the iron grille large enough for a person to pass through. ¡°...¡± However, even after creating the entrance, Ella didn¡¯t go in first and stepped back. It was clear that there were still zombies left on the second floor of this staircase. So, Aiden, who had taken away all the weapons, had to do the job. Aiden didn¡¯t refuse his role. As if it were natural, he climbed the stairs, crossing the iron grille. Finally, they arrived on the second floor. However, as expected, a similar shutter was also lowered on the stairs leading to the third floor. ¡°Damn it...!¡± Seeing that, Ella expressed her annoyance, and Aiden smirked. To think that in an already collapsed survivors¡¯ stronghold, shutters were lowered on each floor like this was unusual. If zombies had invaded from the outside, such obstacles wouldn¡¯t have remained in place. It meant... that zombies might have originated from within the building. It was a plausible assumption. Aiden had seen the fate of those who couldn¡¯t bring themselves to end their friends and family turning into zombies several times. ¡°Why are you just standing there?¡± Ella asked Aiden, who seemed lost in thought. Aiden shook his head as if it was nothing. ¡°What¡¯s the problem?¡± ¡°Look over there. To break through this, we need to deal with those bastards first,¡± Ella said, pointing beyond the corridor, hiding behind the wall. The second-floor corridor, as well as the nearby classroom, still seemed to have zombies lurking. Visible numbers amounted to twenty. Continuing the operation in this situation was too dangerous. They couldn¡¯t afford to ignore the second floor, so ensuring the immediate safety of the surroundings was a priority. ¡°All right, let¡¯s clean up the surroundings first.¡± Aiden said, walking a bit down the corridor and checking the nearest classroom. As expected, zombies were inside. All five of them. For Aiden, this number wasn¡¯t burdensome. ¡°But...!¡± Ella, who was behind him, frowned at the sight of the zombies. She had a completely opposite opinion from Aiden. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we retreat from here? Let¡¯s lure them towards the stairs.¡± Ella suggested a valid opinion for an ordinary junk dealer. Firearms couldn¡¯t be used here, and they had no idea how many zombies were on the second floor. In the worst case, they could attract hundreds of zombies from outside into the building. Hence, dealing with those corpses using only melee weapons was necessary. In a situation where a single small injury could lead to infection from zombies, it was crucial to avoid direct confrontations with them. Additionally, openly entering classrooms with zombies in the corridor was impractical. The best option was to lure the zombies to the stairs using sound and utilize the cut shutter to hunt down the approaching ones. However, Aiden shook his head. ¡°Wait under the stairs. I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± He judged it as excessive time wasting considering the uncertain circumstances of having more similar doors in the future. Unlike others, he wasn¡¯t afraid of direct combat with zombies. ¡°What?¡± Ella reacted with a frown to Aiden¡¯s words. Ignoring Ella, Aiden entered the classroom with only one crowbar. And he closed the door. Seeing the closed door, Ella burst into a dumbfounded laughter. ¡°Are you out of your mind?¡± It was a reckless act. With the guys in the corridor, they had to deal with around ten zombies. ¡°Kiaaa!¡± However, in response to her voice, it wasn¡¯t Aiden but the screams of zombies that echoed from the classroom. The noise immediately disturbed the classroom. Several zombies from the corridor came towards the classroom. ¡°Crazy bastard, if you were going to do this, at least give me a gun!¡± Ella said. She judged it too late and hid her body under the stairs. Fortunately, none of the zombies followed her. Ella went back downstairs, and from above, the sound of Aiden and the zombies fighting continued. The noise of fallen chairs and desks could be heard. The footsteps of the zombies and the cries of the mad corpses mixed with the dull, tearing sounds. ¡°...¡± Ella concentrated on the sounds from the first floor. But nowhere could she hear Aiden¡¯s scream or anything similar. And just after about a minute, the sounds of corpses began to subside slowly. With the last sound of something breaking, a concluding silence came. ¡°What happened here?¡± Ella murmured in the now quiet staircase. The last thing she saw was even the zombies from the corridor running into the classroom. Fifteen zombies, the only ones she personally confirmed with her own eyes. Without firearms, it was an insufficient number to stake their lives on. So, Ella practically thought Aiden was dead. Thunk, thunk. A dry sound of footsteps that couldn¡¯t be considered as zombie-like reached her ears. Ella¡¯s gaze instinctively turned in that direction. On the stairs, Aiden, who had suddenly appeared there, was looking down at Ella. ¡°I took care of them. Come up and open the door.¡± Aiden said casually. Ella looked at Aiden strangely, as if finding him odd. * * * After a while. ¡°...It¡¯s done.¡± Finally reaching the 4th floor of Bear Hall, Ella, while making a hole in the shutter blocking the stairs leading to the 5th floor, said. ¡°Enough space for a person to pass through.¡± Aiden, confirming this, nodded his head. ¡°Good job.¡± To Aiden, who spoke as if he were a superior, Ella did not react any further. She just accepted it as a matter of course. It wasn¡¯t something she was used to. It was just that, coming up to this point and seeing Aiden, who could effortlessly take down dozens of zombies with just a crowbar, naturally made her rebellious spirit disappear. ¡°But, is there really medicine here?¡± Looking towards Aiden, who was about to go up the stairs, Ella asked with a suspicious tone. From the 2nd to the 4th floor. After Aiden swept through the zombies, Ella had been involved in both opening doors and searching inside the building. However, they only found a few bullets. Some remaining food and water were long gone, rotten and twisted. The medicines she had heard about were nowhere to be found. So, Ella was growing impatient. After going through so much trouble to get here, they might end up with nothing. Aiden asked her: ¡°Where did you hear that there is medicine here?¡± ¡°From the junk dealers. Among the guys I knew, there was one who stayed here. What about you?¡± ¡°I got the information from the gang. It seems like neither side was accurate. If we¡¯re unlucky, there might not be any.¡± ¡°Ha...! You¡¯re casually talking about failure.¡± Aiden, mentioning failure calmly, seemed incomprehensible to Ella, who scolded him as if it didn¡¯t make sense. Soon, they entered the top floor, the 5th floor. The 5th floor was quiet unlike the other floors. There were no visible zombies wandering in the corridor, and there was no sign of their presence either. ¡°Is it empty...?¡± Ella muttered. As she said, the 5th floor seemed as if the entire floor was completely vacant. Aiden slowly advanced through the seemingly peaceful scene. In the afternoon, the sunlight poured through the windows, reflecting the dust that had been neglected inside the building for a long time. It was an incredibly peaceful sight, but Aiden couldn¡¯t easily let his guard down. Rather, this ominous silence instilled a sense of serious crisis in him. The fact that no ordinary zombies were visible did not simply mean that this place was genuinely empty. In the worst case. It could also mean that there were mutated zombies here, feeding on their own kind. With caution, Aiden continued down the corridor. In the meantime, Ella suddenly threw a strange question. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t you smell anything strange?¡± Chapter 90 ¡°Smell?¡± Only after hearing those words, did something faint register in Aiden¡¯s sense of smell. It was... an unusually sweet scent. More like a fragrance, it was flowing through the corridor from somewhere. ¡°This, smells like food...?¡± Ella remarked. As she said, the scent evoked the image of refreshing fruit and seemed to stimulate one¡¯s appetite. However... for such a smell to waft from a haven abandoned for over two years was unrealistic. ¡°...Seems like there¡¯s something.¡± Aiden continued to trace that sweet scent. The origin of it was a classroom at the end of the corridor. Aiden cautiously reached for the door, then looked back at Ella right behind him. ¡°It¡¯s better if you step back.¡± Aiden didn¡¯t know what was inside. So, he signaled Ella to step back, and although she wore an displeased expression, she didn¡¯t rebel against his words. After Ella had moved a sufficient distance back- Thud! Aiden opened the door. Instantly, a thick scent engulfed him, almost paralyzing his nose. Even for Aiden, whose olfactory perception was inferior compared to an average person, the intensity was enough to furrow his brow. And inside the classroom filled with that scent. Even Aiden, who had never seen anything like it in his life, was met with a mutant. ¡°This is...¡± It was... like a single tree. The body of the zombie, which served as its foundation, was leaning against one side of the classroom wall. From there, finger-thick stems spread like roots to the wall and floor. On top of that, protrusions resembling leaves sprouted, and there was no other way to describe it than eerie. An appearance like a vine created from a zombie. The spread roots and leaves covered half of the classroom. ¡°...¡± Disgusting yet mysterious, Aiden drew out his weapon against the mutant. However, even after a few seconds, the mutant zombie showed no signs of movement. ¡°Is there something inside?¡± Ella asked. Despite the clear sound of a human voice, there was no reaction from the mutant. During that time, Aiden thoroughly examined the appearance of the zombie. The vine-like body adhered tightly to the wall and floor, and inside, there seemed to be no bones at all. Does that mean... its ability to move has been completely lost? ¡°Maybe you should... No, wait.¡± Aiden, who was about to call Ella to show her this sight, realized a moment later that he had become aware that the source of this overwhelming scent was a zombie. Aiden closed the classroom door again and stepped back. Then, he began to open one window after another in the corridor. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°The smell seems to be created by a mutant.¡± Aiden explained to Ella. A zombie turned into a tree, with a body so transformed that it lacked even bones. ¡°Have you ever seen such a mutant?¡± ¡°Never. Crazy... well, something like that... no, wait.¡± Ella¡¯s voice, mixed with surprise, paused for a moment. Then, her brow slightly furrowed. ¡°I think I heard about it.¡± ¡°Heard about it? Who did you talk to?¡± ¡°From a junk dealer I met before. That person definitely mentioned a plant-like mutant. The name was...¡± As if having trouble remembering, Ella scratched her head. ¡°Plant! Yes, that was the name. But... that was nothing more than a rumor. It was like a story pulled out like a ghost tale...¡± Ella conveyed what she remembered to Aiden. In some city in the southern United States, there is a city covered with mutants that have turned into plants. And anyone who passes by that area becomes a zombie just by inhaling the spores that come out from there. As she said, it was more like an urban legend than information. ¡°For heaven¡¯s sake... what¡¯s going on? Surely just smelling this scent won¡¯t turn you into a zombie, right?¡± Ella asked, feeling uneasy. Whether the mutant here was the protagonist of the rumor or not, Aiden couldn¡¯t be sure. Aiden slightly nodded. No matter how peculiar the mutant was, just smelling the scent, as in the rumor, had a low probability of getting infected with the virus. In that case, the virus itself would need to undergo a transformation, and, at least so far, there was no precedent for such an event. However, it could still be harmful enough, so there was no need to test it unnecessarily. ¡°Step back.¡± ¡°What are you going to do?¡± ¡°I need to deal with that.¡± Aiden pointed in the direction of the classroom. Upon hearing that, Ella questioned: ¡°Is it really necessary?¡± A question that seemed to imply why bother with unnecessary actions. In a world like this, not knowing and avoiding could be a wise decision. However, Aiden replied calmly. ¡°We need to find out. Then, that knowledge might be helpful next time.¡± Aiden returned to the classroom and approached the trunk of the plant inside. The floor covered with roots and stems of the plant. Aiden cautiously stepped on the floor. Squelch- It wasn¡¯t as hard as tree branches. On the contrary, there was a strange liquid feeling inside, as if stepping on someone¡¯s flesh, making him feel disgusted. Aiden proceeded, enduring this feeling. In the meantime- ¡°Hmm...?¡± Something caught his eye. It was a structure covered by the stems of the plant. Aiden thought it was just furniture like a chair or a desk lying on the floor. But upon closer inspection, it turned out to be not furniture but someone¡¯s corpse. ¡°A person... No, a zombie.¡± Aiden mumbled as he looked at the corpse. There was hardly anything left of the original shape, and only the clothes were buried in vines. Certainly, the traces weren¡¯t just one or two. Clearly distinguishable ones were at least seven. Counting the ambiguous ones, it exceeded twenty. In other words, at least seven zombies had died on the stems of this plant. It was too many for zombies to coincidentally collapse here. So naturally, Aiden came up with one conjecture. ¡°Could it be attracting zombies...?¡± The unique scent emitted by this plant was strong enough for Aiden to perceive it intensely. Therefore, even ordinary zombies could probably recognize it without a problem. Perhaps this scent could act as bait, luring zombies to this mutant. Fortunately, it didn¡¯t seem to have that much power over humans. ¡°...A bizarre one.¡± Aiden evaluated the Plant in that way. It was more alien than any other mutant he had seen. Aiden cautiously approached the trunk of the Plant. However, even when Aiden approached the point where he could see the torso of the Plant, it didn¡¯t react at all. Thud! Aiden pierced the head of the Plant with a crowbar. The sensation felt at the end was not significantly different from an ordinary zombie. But maybe because it was originally motionless, it was impossible to determine if it was dead or not. To handle it properly, he would have to set it on fire, but it wasn¡¯t the right situation for that now. So, just as Aiden was about to step back. ¡°Hmm?¡± Suddenly, the torso of the Plant swelled up. And that bulge soon connected to the stem from the torso, reaching even the remains of the zombies covered by the stem. ¡°Tsk...!¡± Sensing something strange, Aiden immediately ran toward the exit. In the mere seconds it took for Aiden to reach the exit, the volume of the entire stem of the Plant had already expanded several times. Boom! Finally, with the sound of an exploding balloon, the remains of the Plant exploded. Disgusting fluid sprayed near Aiden as he barely made it out of the entrance. It was... the bodily fluid of a zombie. The dark green blood that filled each stem of the plant exploded in all directions with the blast. ¡°What¡¯s happening... Ugh...!¡± Hearing the sound, Ella, who had approached, took a step back, looking at the splattered fluid in disgust. It was a natural reaction. The rotten blood of a zombie was so dangerous that it could be considered a mass of viruses. If an ordinary person had been directly hit by this explosion without knowing, they might have turned into a zombie without resistance. In that regard, it was unfortunate but fortunate that Aiden didn¡¯t use the rotten blood. ¡°Are you okay...?¡± Ella cautiously checked Aiden¡¯s condition. Except for a few drops of blood that had splattered during the battle and the contamination of his pants from the recent explosion, Aiden was unharmed. Having confirmed this, Ella let out a short sigh. ¡°Leave it as it is!¡± Ella said frustratedly, but Aiden reached the opposite conclusion. Stimulating the Plant was the right answer. Since he was alone and the creature was inside the classroom, he was able to avoid the unexpected explosion. If he had encountered such a creature in the open without knowing anything about it, he might have faced a much more difficult situation. ¡°We¡¯re safe now.¡± Aiden looked around the classroom again. The interior, painted in rotten blood in all directions, was literally a mess. However, the mutant Plant were no longer visible. Literally, due to the explosion that burned its own body, there was no shape left. ¡°Anyway, it seems we¡¯ve dealt with this. Now, let¡¯s explore the surroundings.¡± Ella looked at Aiden as if he were speaking casually, somewhat bewildered. ¡°Aren¡¯t you surprised?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not that kind of person.¡± After that, Aiden and Ella searched the fifth floor. Whether the Plant had consumed all the zombies on the same floor or not, there was no sign of other zombies. So, the fifth floor was completely empty, and thanks to that, they could easily find the warehouse where supplies were stored. ¡°Here, this way!¡± Ella¡¯s excited voice echoed in the central corridor of the fifth floor. When Aiden went to see, he saw that one room had been completely converted into a medicine storage room. White shelves, reaching the ceiling, extended along the walls. Although more than half of them were empty, there was still a considerable amount of medicine left. ¡°Wow... This is really something!¡± Seeing this, Ella exclaimed. While examining the medicines on the shelves, Aiden spoke up. ¡°Calm down.¡± ¡°Huh? Oh... sorry.¡± At Aiden¡¯s voice, Ella, who belatedly realized his presence, blushed. ¡°Before that, let me ask. What exactly do you want in terms of medicine?¡± ¡°Something valuable.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know about medicine?¡± The poked woman couldn¡¯t deny it and frowned. The medicines here were not consumer-grade drugs found in regular pharmacies, but rather specialized pharmaceuticals that had been in a large hospital. So, most people could only recognize them by their packaging or bottles, and often had no idea what the medicine was. Due to this, in requests like this, most junk dealers brought back loads of worthless medicines like ointments for eczema or constipation pills. ¡°Do you know?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°I was a doctor.¡± Ella¡¯s eyes widened at the calmly uttered words. ¡°Who? You were a doctor?¡± ¡°Until three years ago.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Seeing Ella¡¯s reaction more intense than expected, Aiden asked. In response, Ella made a bewildered expression. ¡°No, what I meant was...¡± Ella hesitated for a moment. Then, the words she uttered turned out to be a somewhat unexpected request for Aiden. ¡°By any chance... do you know how to treat patients?¡± Upon hearing this, Aiden put down the medicine bottle he was examining and stared at Ella. In response, Ella took a few steps back. ¡°Well... what is it?¡± ¡°Where does it hurt?¡± ¡°No, crazy. It¡¯s not about me. It¡¯s... my younger brother.¡± Now that Aiden found out, the health of the family she was traveling with didn¡¯t seem to be in good shape. ¡°So, I came here to find a job and medicine while looking for it.¡± ¡°What¡¯s your brother¡¯s illness?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°You came looking for medicine without knowing the diagnosis?¡± It was an absurd story. Ella seemed to be aware of that aspect and, instead, became more annoyed. ¡°So, what should I do about it? I don¡¯t know what I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Anyway! I was planning to find medicine here and show it to those gangsters as bait. Maybe there¡¯s medicine for my brother among them if I bring a bunch of anything.¡± Hmm, Aiden swallowed a sigh. It seemed like a quite dangerous and reckless attempt, but it was the best she could do without medical knowledge. So, Aiden understood Ella¡¯s situation and put down the medicine bottle. He brought a nearby chair and placed it in front of Ella. ¡°Sit down for now. Even if I can¡¯t see the patient directly, I can at least provide some advice.¡± ¡°Advice?¡± ¡°Think of it as a consultation. Just answer the questions I ask.¡± S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With that, Ella sat down hesitantly. ¡°What should I tell you?¡± ¡°First, the patient¡¯s symptoms.¡± Ella nodded her head. She carefully recalled the symptoms her younger brother had shown. ¡°At first... he was just tired. He said it was hard to walk even a little, and I thought he was just exaggerating. But it wasn¡¯t. Nowadays, he can¡¯t even get up.¡± ¡°And?¡± ¡°Also... oh, blood comes from his mouth. But it doesn¡¯t stop. He even vomited blood. Anyway, he¡¯s not in good condition. He feels like he¡¯s definitely going to die.¡± Aiden asked when these symptoms started, whether there were any other symptoms, and what measures Ella had taken. Ella answered in her own way. ¡°Um...¡± Soon, a few possible diagnoses flashed through Aiden¡¯s mind. Although he had only heard the symptoms from the patient¡¯s family and nothing was certain, he continued to ask questions to get as close to the truth as possible. ¡°So, how did he eat?¡± ¡°He had enough rice. He¡¯s not starving.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it. Do you remember what he ate? At least in the past month.¡± ¡°What he ate...?¡± Asking her to tell what she had eaten in the last month was, in a way, an unreasonable question. However, without thinking too deeply, Ella answered. ¡°He ate ham. Two months ago, we were lucky to find a bunch of canned hams.¡± ¡°So... did he eat only ham for the past two months?¡± ¡°Yeah. Well, it¡¯s not like we can choose menus in today¡¯s world.¡± With Ella¡¯s continued explanation, Aiden could extract one likely diagnosis from his deductions. Fortunately, the disease that Ella¡¯s brother seemed to have was quite easy to diagnose and treat. ¡°Is it possible that blood is coming from his gums? Are his teeth also loose?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Does blood mixed with feces also come out?¡± ¡°Yeah, just like you said! Do you know what it is?¡± Aiden nodded. ¡°Have you heard of sepsis?¡± Chapter 91 ¡°The name... sounds familiar.¡± Upon hearing the term sepsis, Ella tilted her head. Sepsis, also known as vitamin C deficiency in other words, was a disease that had been prevalent centuries ago. It occurred among sailors who couldn¡¯t consume enough vitamin C during long voyages. In the modern era, with the development of refrigeration technology, the disease had almost disappeared. However, this savage disease was attempting to make a comeback in this ruined world. ¡°A disease caused by a lack of vitamins?¡± Ella asked in amazement after hearing the explanation. She thought her brother had some incurable disease, but it turned out to be a vitamin deficiency. ¡°So... no medication?¡± ¡°Not necessary. Just feed him fresh fruits or vegetables.¡± ¡°Where do you get that in this world?¡± Ella said, looking bewildered. In a world where fresh fruits, vegetables, and meat were harder to find than ammunition, Aiden spoke. ¡°It doesn¡¯t have to be fresh. Canned goods will do.¡± Aiden took something out of his bag. It was a can of peaches he had found before coming here. Canned goods preserved vitamins as well as fresh fruits during processing. In comparison to the efforts and worries she had put in so far, this seemed like a simple treatment. ¡°If he eats this, he should get better in a few days.¡± ¡°This is the treatment?¡± ¡°Yes, if my diagnosis is correct, he should recover in a few days.¡± ¡°This is insane...¡± Ella received the peach can Aiden handed out with a complicated expression. Such fruit cans could be obtained by just giving a few gunshots. Compared to the efforts she had made, it was a simple treatment that felt almost empty. ¡°More importantly, are you okay? According to what you said, you¡¯re not in a normal situation either.¡± Aiden asked while examining Ella¡¯s complexion. After a moment of contemplation, Ella opened her mouth with a short sigh. ¡°That thing called vitamin, it¡¯s in tomatoes too, right?¡± Aiden nodded at the obvious question. Upon hearing that, Ella stuck out her tongue. ¡°Then, I should be fine. I got tired of just eating ham, so I occasionally ate canned tomatoes instead.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t share some with your brother?¡± ¡°He¡¯s allergic to tomatoes.¡± In that case, Aiden had nothing more to say. So, he conveyed the last piece of common advice. ¡°Don¡¯t just eat one thing from now on; eat a variety. If a specific nutrient is lacking, you might get another illness.¡± That statement was not much different from the advice doctors used to give in the past. Ella laughed hollowly at a piece of advice that did not deviate from the past. With the canned peaches in hand, she glanced at Aiden. ¡°Just in case... you¡¯re not joking, right?¡± ¡°What benefit would I get by joking about this?¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Anyway, the consultation is over with this. But...¡± Aiden stared at Ella intently. Even without him saying anything, Ella could understand what he wanted to say. ¡°Why, asking me to pay for medical expenses?¡± ¡°Of course. If you give something, you should receive something.¡± ¡°What do you want? You¡¯re not trying to take all the medicines here, are you?¡± Aiden shook his head. What he wanted from Ella was not materials but information. ¡°Let¡¯s exchange information instead. Is that okay?¡± ¡°If that¡¯s it... sure.¡± Ella quickly accepted Aiden¡¯s proposal. If it was just exchanging information and not giving materials, she wouldn¡¯t incur any losses. Aiden immediately threw a question. ¡°Have you stayed around here for a long time?¡± ¡°Not long. About a month. Just temporarily tied down because of my brother. If he gets better, we¡¯ll leave right away.¡± ¡°You¡¯re on the move.¡± ¡°Yeah. Looking for a place to settle. But there doesn¡¯t seem to be a suitable place.¡± Aiden nodded at Ella¡¯s words. For some reason, it was a very empathetic statement. ¡°Is there a destination?¡± ¡°For now... LA. You know, Los Angeles? It¡¯s on the radio. Haven¡¯t you heard it?¡± Of course, Aiden was well aware of the fact that people were gathering there too. What surprised him, however, was that the broadcast had reached this far. Ella¡¯s choice of such a distant destination caught him off guard. ¡°Isn¡¯t it too far?¡± ¡°Well... there¡¯s hope there.¡± ¡°Hope?¡± Aiden asked. ¡°Yeah. Haven¡¯t you heard? There are remnants of the old government in LA, so there¡¯s electricity and water, and it¡¯s just an ordinary city with citizens, not just gang members with guns. So... like it used to be.¡± The information about LA that Ella mentioned was something Aiden also knew. However, he never fully trusted the radio broadcast. While it was likely that there was a large survivor group there, considering the deployment of personnel and radio broadcasts throughout the U.S., questioning whether LA was still intact to that extent was a problem. ¡°...Sounds like a dream.¡± So Aiden gave a vague response and changed the subject. ¡°Enough about LA. More importantly, where were you before coming here?¡± ¡°Me? Around Mississippi.¡± Mississippi was adjacent to Arkansas, where Aiden currently was, but it was in a different direction from the south he was heading to. Still, Aiden continued. ¡°I plan to leave here and head south. Anything I should know?¡± Ella furrowed her brow at his words. ¡°Are you going towards the coast? Do you know the situation there?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, that¡¯s why I¡¯m asking now.¡± ¡°It¡¯s hell. Damn, why are guys like you reluctantly heading towards the sea? Ships sank a long time ago, and with so many zombies, it¡¯s even hard to dip your feet in the water now. Going there now is like committing suicide.¡± It seemed that the situation along the coast of Mississippi was not favorable. So Aiden inquired about other areas. ¡°What about other cities? Like New Orleans?¡± New Orleans, the largest city and port city in Louisiana, was Aiden¡¯s next destination according to the information he obtained from the military base in Memphis three years ago. However, Ella shook her head with one eye narrowed. ¡°It¡¯s not good there either. A year ago, I heard from some gang guy passing by that there were tens of thousands of zombies wandering inside the city.¡± ¡°Then there¡¯s no survivor group along the coast?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of any. You should go at least as far as Texas to find something, right?¡± It wasn¡¯t great news. Aiden would need to gather information from other gangs to cross-verify, but if Ella¡¯s words were true, it seemed he might need to adjust his travel route a bit to the west. Aiden changed the direction of his questions. ¡°Are there any gangs or survivor groups around here that I should know about?¡± ¡°Well... if you¡¯re looking for a somewhat sizable group in that direction, it would be Shreveport.¡± Shreveport was a city about 320km southwest of Little Rock. Although it was a bit far, it seemed like a reasonable distance to consider. ¡°What¡¯s the scale exactly?¡± ¡°Much larger than the gang here. Probably over 30 000?¡± 30 000. Among the survivor groups Aiden and his group had encountered so far, this was the largest in terms of size. It was worth visiting, not just for obtaining blood but also for Sadie to find a shelter. So Aiden gathered some more information about it and soon had enough. ¡°...That should be enough. Now let¡¯s check the supplies.¡± Afterward, Aiden resumed his exploration. Although there was quite a bit of medical supplies left, there weren¡¯t as many useful ones as expected. At best, there were a few bottles of antibiotics and anesthetic. This was because medications also had expiration dates. Fortunately, Aiden also secured a large number of syringes and additional antibiotics for tuberculosis. Syringes were running low, and it was a timely supply. The tuberculosis antibiotics were specifically for Sadie. ¡°...¡± Aiden carefully checked the medicine bottles, just in case there were any issues. Sadie remembered to take her medicine every day during the long journey. Thanks to that, there was no risk of tuberculosis recurrence. The medicine brought from Pittsburgh was enough for six months, so the stock was still sufficient. However, Aiden kept these tuberculosis drugs as a kind of insurance. Even though the medicines were stored in both Sadie¡¯s possession and the trunk of the vehicle, he wanted to be prepared in case one or both were lost. ¡°Is this everything?¡± In contrast, Ella frowned as she looked at the medicine bottles Aiden found. ¡°There¡¯s so much left. What¡¯s piled up in this cabinet?¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing I can do. This is all we can use.¡± ¡°...Unbelievable.¡± Ella grabbed any medicine bottle from the shelf, looking frustrated. ¡°What¡¯s this, and why are you leaving it behind?¡± ¡°...It¡¯s a typhoid vaccine. By the way, it¡¯s expired, so don¡¯t think about using it.¡± ¡°And this one?¡± ¡°Immunosuppressant for intravenous injection. Do you have cancer or something?¡± Tutting, she soon picked up what seemed the most straightforward: a common-looking tube of ointment. Ella opened her mouth, remembering the familiar design from the pharmacy. ¡°This ointment? Isn¡¯t it used when you¡¯re injured?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a bit different. That¡¯s ointment for boils. Of course, you can take it if you need it. It¡¯s still usable.¡± ¡°This is crazy.¡± Ella, who tossed the ointment carelessly, wiped her face. If Aiden¡¯s words were true, the items here were worth only a can of canned food. Aiden spoke with a sigh. ¡°It¡¯s the result of grabbing all sorts of medicines randomly from the hospital. Most of the truly useful items were probably used up long ago. There aren¡¯t that many genuinely valuable items.¡± After checking a few more medicines brought by Aiden, Ella finally seemed to understand. After Aiden divided up the antibiotics and anesthetics he found, Ella looked at him with some suspicion. ¡°Are you giving me all of this...?¡± ¡°You did your job well.¡± Aiden¡¯s expectation for Ella¡¯s role was the lock-picking from the beginning. And so, having completed all the tasks, Aiden had no complaints about paying the price for the labor, especially since they were able to reach the 5th floor. Moreover, with this level of harvest, there was no problem in supplying the materials needed to go to the next destination, Shreveport. For Aiden, it was the best possible outcome, having achieved all the objectives. ¡°Let¡¯s go now.¡± Having distributed the medicine in this way, Aiden immediately left the medical storage. Meanwhile, Ella, still with lingering reluctance, gazed at the storage and belatedly followed Aiden. Soon, the two descended to the 1st floor. In a corner of the 1st-floor corridor, Aiden neatly stacked Ella¡¯s weapons. As the tasks in this place were finished, it was time to return her belongings, just like the initial agreement. However, since Aiden hadn¡¯t built up enough trust with Ella yet, he decided to leave her weapons in a corner of the 1st floor and planned to accompany her to the entrance. Only after Aiden completely left the building would she be able to pick up her weapons. ¡°...This lured the zombies.¡± During this, Aiden discovered Ella¡¯s firecrackers. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A type of firework rather than military supplies, these items were nothing more than toys that made loud noises. There were quite a few of them. ¡°If you need them, I¡¯ll give you one.¡± While Aiden was staring at it, Ella, with a smirk, spoke. It wasn¡¯t like she was asking for it, but there was no reason to refuse when it was offered. Aiden took one firecracker and stood up. Then he walked to the exit of the building with Ella, soon reaching the door. ¡°Well then,take care.¡± Aiden said while looking at Ella. Meeting her wasn¡¯t that pleasant, but the brief companionship wasn¡¯t that bad. ¡°If my younger brother gets better like you said.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Someday, when we meet again, I¡¯ll make sure to pay the debt.¡± ¡°Do as you please.¡± After exchanging a short farewell with Ella, Aiden immediately left the building. From behind, Ella was seen going back into the corridor to retrieve her weapons. There was no sign of her hurrying. After picking up her weapons, the possibility of her attacking from behind after catching up to Aiden wasn¡¯t very high. ¡°Then...¡± Aiden hastened his steps. Unbeknownst to him, the sun had tilted to the west. Somewhere in the distance, the wailing sounds of zombies echoed. * * * The next day. Aiden, who had completed the gang¡¯s request, returned to the vehicle. In his hands were gasoline, a bit of provisions, and about 2 liters of blood. All of these were obtained through the trade with the gang using the medical supplies acquired the day before. Aiden confirmed that everyone in the group was in the vehicle, started the engine, and the familiar and powerful engine sound reverberated as they set off on the dirty road. They headed southwest, in the direction of Shreveport. Chapter 92 ¡°...Boring.¡± Arian muttered as they drove on a road that seemed to be surrounded by nothing but trees. They were heading towards a small city called Camden to the south of Little Rock. In the majority of the scenery visible during such journeys, it was the forest that dominated. Perhaps it was because of the fully ripened summer sunlight, the lush foliage along the road seemed to stretch endlessly, repeating the same scenery no matter how far they traveled. ¡°Still better than encountering zombies, though,¡± Aiden quietly remarked. Ever since entering the southern region, the frequency of encountering looters or zombies on these roads had consistently increased. Just earlier today, they had encountered around twenty zombies. Arian seemed to express her dissatisfaction, opening her mouth as if she didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Why are there zombies in this forest? It¡¯s not even a place where people would be.¡± Of course, zombies were still more concentrated in areas where there used to be a lot of people. However, that didn¡¯t mean there were none in sparsely populated areas. Over the three-plus years since the appearance of zombies, the corpses had continued to wander in less inhabited places. ¡°The zombie clusters formed in the city might have spread into the forest. Now, those guys could be anywhere without seeming out of place.¡± ¡°...¡± Arian made a displeased expression at Aiden¡¯s words. She had known that this world was overrun by zombies for a while. But the thought of them wandering in places like deep forests, which were not originally human territories, felt somewhat frustrating. So, with a short sigh, Arian looked up at the sky. The scorching sun had already tilted to one side. ¡°Rather than that... shouldn¡¯t we find a hideout soon?¡± ¡°Yeah, we should. We¡¯ll arrive soon.¡± In about 30 minutes, they would reach the outskirts of the city. That should be enough time to find a hiding place. Arian turned to Sadie. ¡°Sadie, are you hungry?¡± ¡°I¡¯m okay.¡± At that moment, a truck appeared in front of them. It was an ordinary four-wheel drive vehicle standing alone in the middle of the road. The cargo space at the back was shaped like a rectangular box, and from a distance, it looked no different from any other abandoned junk car. However, as they approached the truck, Aiden quickly sensed danger. The clean driver¡¯s seat window, the bumper without a speck of rust, and even the fully inflated tires ¨C it was all too well-maintained to be a vehicle left outdoors. ¡°Arian.¡± Aiden called Arian. If there were people nearby, he thought she would have sensed it. However, Arian, who was chatting with Sadie, nonchalantly replied: ¡°What?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you feel any human presence?¡± ¡°People? No, nothing.¡± Aiden slightly tilted his head at Arian¡¯s denial. It was a two-lane road surrounded by a forest. If it was beyond Arian¡¯s perception range, it was a place with no hiding spots to snipe from. In that case, did the owner of the truck leave the car here and go far away? ¡°That truck is suspicious. There are traces of human use.¡± ¡°Oh...?¡± Arian, who had thought of the truck as mere background, now started to scrutinize it. Only then did she notice the human hand marks on the truck. ¡°Really. Where could the owner have gone?¡± ¡°They probably didn¡¯t go too far.¡± ¡°Anyway, there¡¯s nothing around here. We can get down and check. What do you think?¡± At Arian¡¯s question, Aiden quickly made a decision. The owner of the truck most likely came from Camden, the city where Aiden intended to stay for the night. So, ignoring and passing by here would increase the chances of encountering them again. In that case, it might be better for Aiden to make contact here. Therefore, Aiden decided to investigate the truck to gather information about the owner. ¡°That sounds good.¡± Aiden said, getting out of the car. Arian followed him. Meanwhile, Sadie quietly stayed in the vehicle. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Aiden approached the truck. The driver¡¯s seat was spacious enough for only two people. Even if they squeezed, it could accommodate three to four people at most. Aiden then examined the back of the truck, the cargo space for loading goods. The door of the cargo space, which could also serve as a refrigerator or freezer, was slightly open. Aiden opened the cargo space. ¡°This is...¡± Inside were several weapons such as guns and knives. There were also hunting tools like nets and traps. Additionally, there were some miscellaneous items like towels and clothes. ¡°Fortunately, it doesn¡¯t seem like someone was riding in it.¡± Aiden agreed with Arian¡¯s guess. If this cargo space was densely packed with people, the number of people the truck carried could have been over ten. However, if it was empty, the owner of this truck was at most four people. Perhaps even just one person. Now, for Aiden, who was about to make contact with these owners, the burden had significantly decreased. ¡°We should look for the owner.¡± ¡°What will you do if you find them?¡± ¡°If they are a person we can communicate with, we¡¯ll make a deal. If not, we may have to subdue them.¡± Arian simply nodded at his words, and Aiden began searching the nearby bushes. It was about finding traces of someone passing by. And finding that in a sparsely populated forest wasn¡¯t a difficult task. The damp ground hidden under dense leaves where sunlight didn¡¯t reach. There were clear footprints of someone. ¡°Someone headed west. That¡¯s all.¡± Although Aiden searched the forest around the truck, he found only one set of footprints. Whether Aiden overlooked something or the opponent was indeed alone, he decided to follow the trail. ¡°Sadie, get out of the car. It¡¯s better for everyone to move here.¡± Aiden called Sadie. Arian¡¯s abilities were crucial for finding people in this dense forest. Of course, leaving the vehicle alone here was uneasy, but there was no other choice. ¡°...¡± Aiden forged ahead, trudging through the bushes. As they stepped on the low-lying weeds, bugs flew up. After entering the forest like that, not much time had passed when Arian¡¯s voice rang out. ¡°...Found them.¡± ¡°How many?¡± ¡°One.¡± ¡°Got it. Which way?¡± Aiden moved in the direction she pointed. Soon, from behind the dense bushes, the sound of footsteps was heard. Whether they were setting traps or not, there was a clicking sound. ¡°You guys wait here.¡± Aiden took out his pistol and put on his helmet. Then, he slowly approached the source of the sound. As if the person there had heard Aiden¡¯s footsteps, the sound stopped. The distance between the two was only about 5 meters. While each hid behind a tree, Aiden was the first to speak. ¡°The truck on the road. Are you the owner?¡± ¡°...¡± There was no immediate response. Nevertheless, undeterred, Aiden continued: ¡°I don¡¯t intend to fight. I¡¯m not planning to take the truck either. I just want to have a conversation for now.¡± Finally, a voice came from the other side. It was the voice of an elderly man, aged, with a sense of maturity. ¡°Conversation? What... what are you after!¡± ¡°Information. It¡¯s my first time in this city.¡± ¡°Hmph, trying to act all reasonable.¡± The old man seemed to ponder how to respond for a moment. Then, unexpectedly, he said something that caught Aiden off guard. ¡°If you want information so badly, I¡¯ll tell you one thing. Get out of here; it¡¯s dangerous!¡± ¡°Dangerous?¡± ¡°Yeah. Don¡¯t you understand, you fool? There¡¯s nothing good about staying here for long.¡± Aiden couldn¡¯t determine if it was just a common warning or if there was another reason behind it. However, feeling no more hostility than necessary from the old man, Aiden decided to reveal himself first. Visible behind a tree was a black gun. Certainly not a weapon that could penetrate Aiden¡¯s bulletproof helmet, it was a 9mm firearm. Deciding to take the risk, Aiden spoke up. ¡°Let¡¯s start with showing our faces and talking.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll come out first.¡± Aiden emerged from the bushes where he had been hiding. At that moment, an old man cautiously peeked out from behind a tree. He had white hair, similar to Santa Claus, and appeared to be around his seventies. Aiden expected someone not that old, but this man surpassed his expectations. The old man, holding a gun towards Aiden, inquired: ¡°What are you doing? You¡¯re exposing yourself even though I said it¡¯s dangerous.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Aiden Lee, a junk dealer.¡± Aiden casually revealed his name and stared directly at the old man¡¯s face. ¡°...Roman Harris.¡± Roman, who reluctantly revealed his name, slowly came forward. Holding a gun and a large rifle behind his back, the stout man faced Aiden confidently. It was Roman who spoke first. ¡°Are you alone?¡± Aiden shook his head. Then the question came back. ¡°What about the others?¡± ¡°I left them waiting in the back.¡± Roman glanced at Aiden¡¯s back. However, there was only dense foliage visible, with nothing else in sight. Upon this, Roman sighed briefly and spoke. ¡°Well... fine. What do you want to talk about?¡± ¡°If it¡¯s true that this place is dangerous, what¡¯s the reason?¡± ¡°Heh, just leave. What does it matter if I¡¯m lying?¡± Roman asked, seemingly contemplating how to respond. However, Aiden responded mechanically. ¡°Is it a lie?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± With a dry cough, Roman seemed to express his reluctance. ¡°It seems like you can¡¯t understand words. I¡¯ll show you directly.¡± Roman led Aiden into the forest. After walking about 100 meters, a small clearing appeared. There was a small camp, seemingly set up temporarily by a few people in the woods. However, the current state of the camp was horrifying. ¡°This is...¡± Where there should have been a couple of small tents, torn pieces of fabric were scattered around instead. The green grass and leaves were stained red, not only with vivid blood but also with what appeared to be human flesh and bone fragments. Aiden was momentarily cautious of Roman due to this sight, but soon realized that the traces were not created by humans. The carnage, resembling human predation, was too destructively chaotic to be the work of humans. ¡°...Zombies?¡± Roman raised an eyebrow. Upon closer inspection, it was too noisy compared to traces left by regular zombies and humans. Moreover, if it were ordinary zombies, it would be rare for them to completely devour a person even if they bit them. The reason was their virus. The virus injected into the bloodstream turned human blood into a zombie¡¯s bodily fluid within a few minutes. From that point on, zombies sensed a repulsion towards the bodily fluids of infected individuals, refraining from touching their bodies. Of course, throwing a non-moving human into a group of dozens or hundreds of zombies might be a different story. But unless someone artificially manipulated the situation, they would turn into a zombie before their entire body was consumed. And this forest was too secluded for such artificial manipulation. So Aiden naturally thought of a presence that could make it possible. ¡°Then, mutants.¡± ¡°You catch on quickly. See this?¡± Roman touched the ground. There, there was a footprint much larger than a human¡¯s, with a round sole and distinct imprints of four toes. However, Aiden had no knowledge to guess the animal¡¯s identity just by looking at the footprint. ¡°Is this a wolf?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s from a cougar. Mountain lion. There¡¯s a cougar turned zombie around here. This is the territory of that cougar Beast.¡± Cougar. No more words were needed to describe such a formidable beast. If such a creature turned into a zombie, it would be an absurd threat, just as Roman said. But Roman¡¯s words continued. ¡°Moreover, it¡¯s not an ordinary one. After becoming a zombie, its size has increased like a buffalo, and its teeth can chew through steel plates. Look at that sight.¡± Roman kicked a piece of wood lying on the ground. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be the handle of a wooden baseball bat. However, the top part had been torn away by something, making it invisible. The strength needed to break a wooden baseball bat like that indicated the beast that attacked here had extraordinary power. Aiden naturally recalled the mutated Beast he witnessed in Fort Wayne. The one that almost broke through the defense line guarded by dozens of armed junk dealers, enhanced in size and muscle strength like this cougar. Such a creature wandering this forest was a significant threat. ¡°Moreover, it¡¯s highly intelligent. It seems to play more tricks than an ordinary cougar, huh?¡± Roman¡¯s words continued. He seemed to know a lot about this cougar. ¡°So, accidents like this are common. Ignorant wanderers passing through the forest and roads become prey to the attacks.¡± However, there was something strange. Why did this old man know so much about this cougar? Moreover, why was he here if he knew so much? ¡°What are you doing here then?¡± ¡°What am I doing here?¡± Roman answered Aiden¡¯s question sullenly. ¡°A hunter hunts in the forest. What else do you think I was doing?¡± Chapter 93 ¡°Hunter?¡± ¡°Yeah. I came to finish him off with this.¡± Roman raised the gun he had strapped behind him. What he had thought was just a large rifle turned out to be no ordinary gun. It was an Elephant Gun, designed for hunting elephants, with a caliber exceeding 50. It was a large hunting rifle with more than 50 calibers, incomparable to the regular 5.56mm rifle rounds, carrying a massive impact. Given that, the old man¡¯s claim of hunting down the mutant cougar didn¡¯t sound like mere boasting. However, Aiden still couldn¡¯t understand one thing. ¡°Why do you want to catch him?¡± The old man had an attitude as if he was chasing the cougar himself. Perhaps there was a bounty on the mutant Beast or something. ¡°Young people are curious about many things.¡± S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But Roman avoided answering that question. Instead, he casually changed the topic while scanning the surroundings. ¡°It seems like the cougar has been gone for a long time. Looks like another empty-handed day.¡± Roman said, clicking his tongue. Then he looked at Aiden. ¡°Now that I¡¯ve told you everything, let¡¯s go. You don¡¯t want to be cougar food, do you?¡± Roman said, seemingly annoyed by Aiden. Aiden nodded. Even if he didn¡¯t say anything, Aiden had no intention of staying here for long. ¡°It¡¯s late today, so I¡¯m thinking of staying in Camden.¡± ¡°Tsk...¡± The old man twitched his lips as if he were dissatisfied, but didn¡¯t say anything else. As Aiden said, it was too late to leave for another city now. ¡°Do whatever you want.¡± Aiden and the old man started walking back the way they came. There was no reason for them to travel together, but since their vehicles were in the same direction, they had no choice. And during their journey. ¡°Did the conversation go well?¡± Arian appeared. She had already roughly noticed the situation at the campsite and had been waiting a bit away with Sadie. Aiden nodded in response to her question, and Roman widened his eyes, looking at Arian. ¡°Who¡¯s this kid?¡± ¡°My companion.¡± ¡°Hmm...¡± Roman sighed heavily, looking at Arian as if he didn¡¯t expect a teenager to be Aiden¡¯s companion. And then, glancing at Sadie standing beside her, he was even more surprised. ¡°Even a little kid? This is insane. Do you not know where you are!¡± Knowing well the danger of this forest, Roman directed his blame that way. If he hadn¡¯t met him, those kids might have become cougar food. ¡°...¡± So Roman stared at Aiden, but Aiden had no reaction. The fact that one of these kids could fight and defeat a Beast didn¡¯t need to be mentioned. An awkward silence lingered, and Aiden just walked towards the road. During that time, Roman pondered something, looking worriedly at Arian and Sadie walking ahead. Soon, the group exited the forest. Roman¡¯s truck and Aiden¡¯s vehicle were both safely parked on the road. Fortunately, there seemed to be no one passing by the road for a while. As Roman, heading towards his truck, was about to leave, he licked his lips briefly. ¡°Hey.¡± Roman called Aiden. When Aiden turned around, Roman let out a deep sigh. And after mumbling about having a hard time with them, he finally spoke at the end. ¡°If it¡¯s okay with you... want to stay at my place?¡± Roman said those words not to Aiden, but while looking at the other two people. ¡°I settled in a tough place just to avoid seeing a miserable sight for nothing. Do as you please if you don¡¯t like it.¡± Aiden didn¡¯t say anything, but the old man added as if making an excuse. However, for Aiden, it was a proposition he had no reason to refuse. There was something he wanted to ask the eccentric old man. ¡°No, thank you.¡± In response to Aiden¡¯s answer, Roman sighed deeply once again. Aiden, judging that Roman had considerably relaxed his guard, asked a fitting question. ¡°Are there any other survivors in Camden by any chance?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s just a city where only zombie bastards roam. Just so you know, don¡¯t even think about going into the city. You¡¯ll end up trampled and die under the corpses.¡± Whether it was advice or a warning, Aiden nodded in response to those words. He had half expected it. Camden, even among small towns, wasn¡¯t large enough to host a significant group of survivors. So, even if the city was just a place where an old man lived alone, it wasn¡¯t strange. The old man got into his truck, and Aiden¡¯s group also boarded their vehicles. Following Roman¡¯s truck, Aiden¡¯s group soon headed towards the eastern outskirts of Camden. After a short while, they arrived near the entrance of the city, where a red brick building stood alone. It was Roman¡¯s hideout. ¡°Here we are. Move along the road to the door. Don¡¯t ever stray off the path.¡± He pointed to the short asphalt road leading to the building as he parked his vehicle on the road. Besides the road, a grassy field with overgrown weeds surrounded the building. Arian asked, puzzled by Roman¡¯s emphasis on such a trivial thing. ¡°Why?¡± Hearing Arian¡¯s voice, Roman coughed once and then spoke. ¡°I¡¯ve set traps to keep the Beast bastards out. Don¡¯t step off the path; you might lose an ankle if you do.¡± ¡°I see...¡± ¡°Then come in.¡± Roman opened the entrance to the hideout with a rusty key. The iron door, equipped with three locks, made a creaking sound as it opened. Aiden stared silently at the door. It was a sturdy, thick door that seemed more than capable. There were several marks on its surface, as if it had been hit by something. Perhaps there had been a battle with zombies here at some point. Next, Aiden entered the building. It seemed like a renovated warehouse. The atmosphere was desolate, with no windows facing outside. So, even though it was early evening, the interior was as dark as a cave. However, the lack of windows wasn¡¯t a disadvantage when choosing a hideout; it was an advantage. There was no worry about light leaking out even if they lit a fire inside. And there was no space for zombies or wanderers to sneak in. ¡°...It¡¯s a safe place.¡± So, Aiden commented on it. If they closed the door and resisted even a considerable number of zombies, it would be enough. Roman responded with a snort. ¡°Safe, yeah. Sleeping here might be uncomfortable, though.¡± Roman kicked the floor with his foot. It wasn¡¯t a typical wooden floor found in houses; it was a solid and cold concrete floor. Although they had laid out a mattress or a blanket they had brought from outside, they couldn¡¯t prevent the cold rising from the ground. Luckily, it was summer, so that was a relief. ¡°Use this room. You can organize things however you want.¡± Roman handed over one of the rooms in the hideout to Aiden¡¯s group. It seemed to have been a space used as a warehouse, so it was a bit messy, but there was no room to complain. ¡°Understood. Thank you.¡± Following Aiden, Arian and Sadie entered the room. Although it was dim inside without any daylight, Aiden took out a flashlight and illuminated the surroundings. In the meantime, Arian and Sadie worked diligently to tidy up the area. Soon, the two of them created a well-organized space. ¡°...¡± Aiden turned his eyes in the room and looked back at the path he had walked. The warehouse structure consisted of four rooms lined along the corridor. Among them, the room in front of the entrance seemed to be Roman¡¯s personal room. And the room used by Aiden¡¯s group was diagonally across from Roman¡¯s room. On the opposite side, there was another space that seemed like a warehouse. But what was there was not just random items; it was weapons. And not ordinary ones. There were various high-powered weapons and explosives set aside for capturing Beasts, along with the Elephant Gun that he was carrying. Aiden, who only had ordinary bullets left, found the weapons he needed. Additionally, there was a door at the innermost part, but it was firmly closed. Arian, who suddenly popped up from the side, pointed towards that direction. ¡°There¡¯s a smell of blood coming from there.¡± ¡°Blood?¡± Aiden¡¯s brow slightly furrowed. He couldn¡¯t just ignore this story. Arian, noticing Aiden¡¯s reaction, quickly added while clapping her hands. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s not human blood. Probably from an animal.¡± Hmm, Aiden nodded. It seemed like that place was the hideout¡¯s kitchen. ¡°Hunters indeed... capturing not only ordinary animals but Beasts too. We should have a meal too.¡± Sadie took out canned goods and combat rations they had brought from the car. The corn can was for Aiden. Combat rations and strawberry canned goods were for Arian and Sadie. Just as they were about to start their meal, Roman brought a candle. ¡°You¡¯ve got something good. Don¡¯t you need this?¡± He said, looking at the flashlight Aiden was holding. Considering the limited lifespan of the batteries, Aiden promptly accepted his kindness. ¡°Yes, thank you.¡± The glaring artificial light turned off, and a soft glow from the candle filled the room. In it, Roman glanced at Aiden¡¯s group¡¯s provisions. ¡°You eat that canned stuff?¡± Looking at the canned goods and combat rations, he seemed displeased or something, scrunching his eyebrows. ¡°Sigh... fine, give me those.¡± He then unexpectedly made a request. Was he going to ask for accommodation fees now? But Roman¡¯s following words were different from what Aiden expected. ¡°Instead, I¡¯ll give you something else.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s something else...?¡± ¡°It¡¯ll be much more worthwhile than those. Just wait a bit.¡± He picked up the combat rations and corn can that Aiden was holding. Perhaps out of consideration for Sadie, he left the canned strawberries behind. Then, Roman went into the kitchen, the innermost part of the hideout. Aiden followed Roman. As expected, there was a room with splatters of red blood here and there. On one side of the wall, the meat of an animal was neatly prepared. The type... was it a rabbit? Roman seemed to be planning to make food from that meat. If that was the case, there might be something useful for Aiden. For a moment, Aiden went outside and brought some food from the car. Spices like salt, sugar, pepper, and canned vegetables that would go well with the meat. And he handed them to Arian. ¡°Arian, it might be good to take this.¡± ¡°You¡¯re probably not comfortable going there yourself... understood.¡± Arian went to the kitchen where Roman was. When Roman noticed her presence, he turned to look at her. After staring at her for a moment, he hesitated before opening his mouth. ¡°Why did you come here?¡± ¡°This, use it if you need it.¡± Arian laid out what she had in front of Roman. Upon seeing this, Roman gave her a faint smile and gestured for Arian to leave as if shooing her away. ¡°Oh, thanks. Now that here might be blood, go away.¡± Arian quietly retreated from the kitchen at Roman¡¯s words. And after a while, Roman indeed came with dishes filled with food. The dish was rabbit stew, much better than Aiden had expected. ¡°Wow...!¡± Truly a dish-like dish they hadn¡¯t had in a long time, Sadie¡¯s eyes sparkled. Arian also pretended not to care but had a pretty pleased expression. Reading that mood, Roman gave them food with a contented smile. ¡°I¡¯m good.¡± However, only Aiden declined it. Still wearing his helmet, he couldn¡¯t eat in front of Roman. Roman just nodded his head. ¡°But is it okay to receive this so easily?¡± Aiden asked, even feeling a subtle suspicion about the excessive kindness. But Roman reacted nonchalantly. ¡°Anyway, these things will rot if I eat them alone. And about half of it is the food you guys gave me.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Then eat.¡± At his words, Arian picked up her chopsticks first. After taking a bite, she nodded her head, and Sadie also moved. The fragrant smell of the stew raised the expectations of the two girls. So, they each took a bite and smiled happily. Judging by their faces, the taste seemed to be great. ¡°Is it delicious?¡± ¡°Yes! It¡¯s really delicious!¡± Arian and Sadie happily exclaimed. Whether Roman liked their reaction or not, he asked. ¡°Is it really that good?¡± ¡°Yes, we haven¡¯t had this kind of food in almost two months.¡± ¡°Then... do you usually only eat that canned stuff?¡± Roman stared at Aiden. ¡°It¡¯s not a difficult dish to make... I would¡¯ve made something if I had the ingredients.¡± Roman said as if blaming Aiden. Of course, Aiden had something to say too. He couldn¡¯t cook, and it was forbidden for him to do so. Even as a joke, it was too risky for him to make food that Sadie would eat. But what Roman said wasn¡¯t entirely wrong. Aiden couldn¡¯t appreciate the taste, so he didn¡¯t pay much attention to the food Arian and Sadie were eating. At best, finding decent-tasting canned goods was all he did. At least attempting to hunt or asking Arian to cook was an effort he could have made. ¡°Well, that¡¯s true. I guess I should learn how to cook.¡± On the other hand, maybe Arian had the same thought as she said that. Arian looked at Roman. ¡°Could you teach me how to make this?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not too difficult.¡± Roman replied in a somewhat cheerful voice. Aiden quietly observed Roman¡¯s attitude as if assessing it. Chapter 94 After finishing dinner like that. Arian and Sadie, having chatted for a while, soon fell asleep. On the other hand, Aiden, who never slept, stood leaning against the door, as always, guarding the place like a sentinel. The oppressive day ended, and the cool night air quietly descended. At that deepening hour of the night, Roman approached Aiden. ¡°Are you on alert?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Aiden replied calmly. Being on guard here meant expressing distrust in Roman. However, Roman simply nodded, as if it was an unavoidable situation. It was an inevitable conversation. After all, Roman and Aiden¡¯s group had just met today for the first time. So, complete trust wasn¡¯t something they could afford after just one shared meal. Roman, for the same reason, was also not sleeping. There was nothing to say. ¡°But what about that helmet? You¡¯ve been wearing it since earlier.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°Hmm... well, if you don¡¯t want to talk about it, that¡¯s fine.¡± Seeing Aiden reluctant to mention it, Roman quickly backed off, as if he didn¡¯t have any intention to pry. Roman changed the subject, throwing a different proposal. ¡°Since you¡¯re not sleeping anyway, how about having a chat with me?¡± ¡°Not a bad idea.¡± Aiden promptly accepted Roman¡¯s proposal. He saw it as essentially a request for an exchange of information. Guided by Roman, Aiden entered his room. It was a small, humble room with a mattress, a small table, and just one chair. Roman brought another chair from another room and placed it in front of Aiden. ¡°So, how did you end up here?¡± Roman was the first to ask Aiden. Various conversations and small talk continued for a while. ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s not young anymore.¡± Upon hearing the circumstances of Sadie and Arian escaping from Pittsburgh, Roman¡¯s expression turned bitter. He sighed deeply and spoke again. ¡°I lost my family here too.¡± Roman also lost his son and daughter-in-law and granddaughter in Camden. Talking about the past, he showed Aiden a small frame lying around. Inside was a common family photo. Roman, a middle-aged couple, and a girl who looked about in her teens were in the picture. She had black hair, just like Arian. Seeing this, Aiden quickly grasped something and voiced his speculation. ¡°Is the reason you¡¯re chasing the Beast... because of your family?¡± At Aiden¡¯s words, the old man let out a bitter laugh. ¡°Yeah. You catch on fast, huh?¡± Before Aiden could ask further, Roman fell silent. For a while, he remained silent, then slowly opened his mouth. ¡°My son and his wife died right after the zombie outbreak. What they left me was Olivia.¡± Roman was looking at the girl in the photo. With that fixed gaze, he continued speaking. ¡°I did whatever it took to protect Olivia. Shot countless zombie bastards and scavenged for food on piles of corpses. Somehow... I managed to survive like a damn cockroach.¡± Roman¡¯s finger swept across the frame, but the touch of his hand only felt the coldness of the glass. In an instant, laughter dried up on lips that resembled the sands of the desert, and a voice filled with resentment flowed out. ¡°But a year ago, that damn Beast took Olivia from me right in front of my eyes. Since then. Since then... I¡¯ve been chasing that bastard.¡± ¡°For revenge?¡± ¡°What else is there?¡± Losing family to zombies wasn¡¯t an uncommon tragedy. The only difference in Roman¡¯s tragedy was the existence of a specific, identifiable antagonist. So, Roman had been pursuing that cougar himself. Understanding Roman¡¯s situation, Aiden nodded. Meanwhile, Roman turned his gaze away from the photo and looked at Aiden. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Were you suspecting me? Wondering why this old geezer is being so kind, offering hospitality.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°I know everything. But there¡¯s nothing to be suspicious of. I just... don¡¯t want to see the same situation again,¡± Roman said, perhaps sensing Aiden¡¯s caution. Indeed, Roman¡¯s actions today were enough to arouse Aiden¡¯s suspicion. Inviting unknown wanderers into his hiding place and even cooking for them ¨C it was excessive kindness that would make anyone wary. So, even during the meal, Arian warned Sadie not to touch the food until she did. Arian, harboring the same suspicions as Aiden, intended to test the food herself. If there was anything other than food, she could easily detect it. Even if it were poison, it wouldn¡¯t affect her. However, Roman¡¯s kindness was genuine. There was no hidden threat anywhere, and he didn¡¯t demand anything in return. Aiden, with his naturally suspicious nature, found himself silently watching Roman, unable to say anything. So, Aiden found Roman¡¯s confession now believable enough. Without denying Roman¡¯s words, he smoothly transitioned to the next topic. ¡°Then, have you been chasing the Beast for a year, and still haven¡¯t caught it?¡± ¡°Hitting where it hurts, huh? Yeah, that¡¯s right. I met that bastard face to face once. Lost one eye to my gunshot, escaped, and never appeared in front of me again.¡± The old man squinted his eyes. ¡°He¡¯s cautious about zombies, very cunning. Remembers my scent, even the sound of the truck engine. If I get close, he disappears like a ghost. So now, I¡¯m charging through the woods without any weapons.¡± ¡°Risky business you¡¯re involved in.¡± To Aiden¡¯s response, Roman snorted. ¡°I know that much. But... what else am I going to do? How much longer am I going to live? If I can just blow that Veast¡¯s head off, I won¡¯t mind dying right away.¡± Roman¡¯s voice, saying so, wasn¡¯t particularly intense. It was just decidedly firm. As if there were no other option. Aiden gazed into the quiet space in silence. His original purpose in coming here was for a reasonable trade and an exchange of information. However, unintentionally, he had received quite a lot already. Even though Roman seemed to expect nothing in return. Aiden believed the old man¡¯s confession sufficiently. The proposal felt like a request to him. What he received was a meal and a night¡¯s stay in return for hunting down a mutant Beast. ¡°...¡± However, it seemed like too heavy a price. Aiden, thinking if there was no way to balance this, soon spoke. ¡°I noticed you store weapons here.¡± Thinking about the weapons he saw in Roman¡¯s hideout, Aiden mentioned it. ¡°Why is that?¡± ¡°I want to make a deal. It¡¯s not just regular weapons you have, right?¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s true. I collected a lot of things while obsessing over hunting that Beast. But... I can¡¯t sell those. The hunt isn¡¯t over.¡± ¡°How about this then?¡± Aiden made a proposal to Roman. They would assist him in hunting the cougar Beast, and in return, after they succeeded in hunting it, he would hand over the weapons Roman had gathered as the payment. ¡°Help me, you say?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Roman looked at Aiden with a dissatisfied look. ¡°Think hunting the Beast is an easy task? Don¡¯t take the hunt too lightly.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that. Didn¡¯t the cougar avoid you? In that case, we¡¯re certain to have a way to help.¡± ¡°Hmm...¡± Roman seemed to ponder for a moment. It was, as Aiden said. Although Roman had been persistently hunting the mutant Beast, he was starting to feel the limits on his own. This way, time would pass endlessly. The aging body, growing weaker with each passing day, couldn¡¯t predict how much longer it would endure. Therefore, the assistance of someone else seemed even more urgent from his perspective. ¡°A bait... Naturally, it would be you, right?¡± In Roman¡¯s voice, a result of careful consideration, Aiden nodded. Among Aiden¡¯s group, Arian was the most suitable person for the role of bait. She was adept at luring the cougar as well as resisting its attacks. However, Roman was reluctant to accept this task. Despite Aiden¡¯s explanation, Roman¡¯s concerns persisted. ¡°It won¡¯t be over in a day or two. Finding it might not be as easy as you think.¡± His words were reasonable. Even if they used bait, there was no guarantee that the Beast would take it. In the worst-case scenario, they might have to search through the vast forest and still not find a trace of the creature. ¡°I found its tracks after almost two weeks. It might take another fortnight to find the next one. Is there a surefire way to locate him?¡± ¡°That¡¯s...¡± Aiden hesitated for a moment. Although not a hunter, Aiden had an almost perfect understanding of zombie behavior. Therefore, he could personally search for the tracks in the forest and follow the cougar. But if he were to think of the easiest way, it would undoubtedly involve utilizing Arian¡¯s abilities. Her sensory capabilities surpassed even those of wild animals. Just wandering through the forest might be enough for her to locate the cougar, or she might have additional methods. Aiden tried to find a suitable example and eventually came up with one. ¡°Like a hunting dog... something similar.¡± ¡°A hunting dog?¡± At Aiden¡¯s words, Roman smirked. At that moment, a coughing sound came from the next room. Roman briefly glanced at the direction of the sound and then spoke again. ¡°Fine. Well, if you¡¯re confident, it¡¯s not my concern. But there¡¯s a condition.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s a condition...¡± Roman raised his index finger, pointing at himself. ¡°I¡¯ll be the one to finish the Beast. Remember that.¡± Aiden nodded in response. It was a natural and not overly challenging condition. ¡°In return, we have one request.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± From his bag, Aiden took something out. It was a clean blood collection kit. ¡°How about donating blood once?¡± Facing the syringe, Roman looked at Aiden with a puzzled expression. * * * The next morning. ¡°Did you call me a hunting dog?¡± Arian, who had just gotten out of bed, suddenly asked Aiden. Realizing that she had overheard yesterday¡¯s conversation, Aiden calmly admitted. ¡°It was just an example. I would have asked you something similar. Anyway, if you heard it, there¡¯s no need for further explanation.¡± Aiden looked at Sadie. Just awakened from sleep, Sadie had just lifted the upper half of her body, rubbing her still half-closed eyes. Compared to the somewhat drowsy Sadie, Arian was already fully awake, her eyes wide open. Is that also a characteristic of vampires? With that thought in mind, Aiden threw a question. ¡°So, looking like a hunting dog to me.¡± Arian laughed leisurely. ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Well then, let me ask you directly. Is there a way to chase the Beast? We have secured a bit of blood.¡± Aiden¡¯s question made Arian smile confidently. ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°How specifically should we proceed?¡± Hmm¨C Arian pondered for a moment. Although not from this world, she had enough experience hunting monsters disguised as beasts. Thus, she easily continued. ¡°First, we should check the place we visited yesterday. It seems like we need to listen there.¡± ¡°...And after that?¡± ¡°We find it. It won¡¯t be difficult to locate.¡± Aiden barely swallowed his question, knowing that he would not understand the method even if he heard it. So Aiden just waited for Arian to continue. ¡°Oh, and let¡¯s go just the two of us today. We won¡¯t need a car.¡± Aiden nodded. With that, today¡¯s plan was decided, and Aiden immediately took action. Chapter 95 After a while, Aiden and Arian were at the campsite where the wanderers were attacked by the mutant Beast. Sadie stayed in Roman¡¯s hiding place. Even though Roman had gone out separately to search for the cougar, for now, Sadie was alone there. Nevertheless, it was still better than entering this forest twice. The hiding place was safe enough for Aiden¡¯s estimation, and Roman was a trustworthy figure. In contrast, the summer forest was not a place easily trusted due to bugs, poisonous snakes, and more. Even though they had to travel together yesterday, if there was no reason to bring Sadie, it was wise not to bring her. ¡°Now, let¡¯s find the remnants of the Beast here.¡± As soon as they arrived at the campsite, Arian said so. To Aiden, it sounded quite absurd, so he asked. ¡°Remnants?¡± ¡°Yeah. Bones, flesh, teeth, or skin ¨C anything that fell off its body, find it.¡± ¡°...Alright.¡± Aiden still didn¡¯t fully understand, but without saying much, he followed Arian¡¯s words. The first place Aiden checked was around the footprints they saw yesterday. It was clear that the cougar had been there, so there might be something left behind. However, there was nothing left on the hard mud around the footprints, except torn pieces of clothing. While searching the campsite, Aiden soon found something that seemed like plausible remnants among the broken camp supports. Perhaps one of the people fighting the cougar had made a final struggle with this. There was something like the fur of a Beast at the end. Aiden approached Arian with it. ¡°How about this?¡± ¡°This is... fur? Well, that¡¯s good enough.¡± Arian grabbed a strand of fur and stared at it intently. Then, the bleached white fur slowly turned red and eventually turned into powder as if becoming ashes. Aiden looked at the scene with confusion. However, Arian casually pointed in the direction where the powder flew, as if she knew what Aiden was thinking. ¡°This way.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°The direction where the cougar is.¡± ¡°...¡± Aiden didn¡¯t react to Arian¡¯s words. He never dreamed of finding the cougar in such a way, something like divination. Then, as if Arian sensed Aiden¡¯s confusion, she opened her mouth again with a smile that seemed to say she knew what he was thinking. ¡°Why, can¡¯t you believe it?¡± ¡°Well... I really can¡¯t believe it, but at the same time, I can¡¯t not believe it either. I don¡¯t know what to say.¡± Arian chuckled as if she found Aiden¡¯s confusion amusing. After stopping her laughter, she spoke again. ¡°Believe me. Even if you don¡¯t know the distance, the direction is certain. The cougar will be there.¡± ¡°Alright. Just wait a moment.¡± Aiden took out a map and compass he had brought separately. The direction Arian pointed was northeast, deeper into the forest. Aiden carefully marked the current location and direction on the map. ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s move.¡± With that, the two confirmed their plans and started walking. * * * Moving through the dense forest, Arian was designating directions at regular intervals, similar to what she did in the beginning. However, it seemed that the mutant Beast was also constantly moving. The direction was always somewhat consistent, but not entirely. ¡°This time... it¡¯s here.¡± The direction, which initially moved slightly northeast, now sharply turned, pointing directly east. ¡°It seems to have gotten quite close.¡± Aiden remarked as the direction sharply turned. At the same time, Arian¡¯s eyes focused on a dense thicket as if she could see something invisible. ¡°Just as you said. I found it. I can feel its presence now.¡± Her detectable range is approximately 200 meters when not consuming blood. In other words, it meant that the mutant Beast had approached within 200 meters of Aiden¡¯s group. ¡°It seems like it hasn¡¯t noticed us over there yet. Let¡¯s confirm first. What about the bullets? Did you do as I instructed?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Aiden nodded. Arian had requested Aiden to use special bullets. So, at the top of Aiden¡¯s rifle magazine, five bullets were loaded with Arian¡¯s blood smeared on the bullets. ¡°Alright. As I mentioned before, today, you just need to hit it with those bullets. Aim for the front or back legs? Don¡¯t kill it. After all, that old man asked not to kill it.¡± Arian reminded Aiden of the conditions set by Roman. ¡°That¡¯s right. That was the request.¡± ¡°So, let¡¯s just irritate that creature. Make it more afraid of us than that old man.¡± Arian said, remembering Roman¡¯s conditions. Today¡¯s plan and execution were all in Arian¡¯s hands. Both finding and dealing with the mutant Beast had to be done using her abilities. So, inevitably, Arian took the lead in the operation. However, even in this situation, where Aiden was always following her orders, Arian leading the operation seemed quite familiar. So, Aiden asked: ¡°Have you done this kind of thing often?¡± ¡°Hunting zombie cougars is the first time, but I¡¯ve hunted many monsters.¡± ¡°Monsters?¡± ¡°Yeah. To put it simply... creatures like snakes that eat flames or wolves that carry lightning with them.¡± It seemed that this was a story from when Arian was in a different world. Among the monsters, many resembled beasts, so hunting them made her understand the characteristics of animals at some point. ¡°So, I¡¯m trying to do it like back then. The difference is that this time, the guy doesn¡¯t act like a zombie but behaves more like an animal.¡± Roman definitely said that about the mutant Beast. It wasn¡¯t like mindlessly attacking like zombies but rather, it had the intelligence to chase after Roman while avoiding him. Moreover, creating a territory in the forest and wandering through it was a typical behavior of cougars. It might be somewhat similar to Aiden in that sense. Although that part was puzzling, following a certain pattern during its lifetime was not something extraordinary for an intelligent mutant. So, Aiden didn¡¯t think too deeply about it and continued talking. ¡°But what¡¯s the point of hitting it with these bullets?¡± ¡°Well... think of those bullets with my blood as trackers. If you hit the cougar with them, it will have trackers implanted inside its body.¡± ¡°Is there any difference from burning its fur?¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s different. This just tells us the direction. But a vampire using their blood to track, especially their own blood, is on a different level. If you invest a little more blood, you can even share its existence up to its field of vision.¡± To Aiden, it sounded like magic, or rather, it was undoubtedly magic itself. However, still not believing in it, Aiden chuckled. No, it¡¯s undoubtedly magic, not something like magic. Aiden, who still couldn¡¯t believe it, turned the question back. ¡°Even the field of vision?¡± ¡°Well, honestly, it might not be possible since the target is a zombie. Anyway, it¡¯s unnecessary. The important thing is to precisely know its location. That way, Roman can finish it off.¡± ¡°Alright. I have a rough idea of what you¡¯re thinking.¡± Aiden said. Arian looked at the direction where the cougar was again. ¡°It¡¯s moving. Let¡¯s stick with it.¡± Arian and Aiden moved toward the cougar. While the cougar moved leisurely, Aiden¡¯s group approached it in a straight line. So, the distance was quickly shortened. Before long, the cougar suddenly stopped moving. ¡°Okay. It seems like it noticed us.¡± ¡°In that case...¡± Aiden quietly gripped his rifle. But even after waiting for a while, the cougar still didn¡¯t attack. ¡°It¡¯s quiet.¡± ¡°That old man said so. It¡¯s a cautious one. It seems true.¡± Arian pointed with her finger in the direction where she felt the presence. The direction wasn¡¯t straight ahead. ¡°Instead of coming straight towards us, it¡¯s making a circle and bypassing. It¡¯s trying to confirm whether we are alone or several.¡± Arian spoke, estimating the presence of the cougar. Even if it discovers humans, it seems to keep a distance and assess the situation first. It was more challenging than Aiden had thought. So, Aiden asked Arian: ¡°So... what should we do?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s retreat. Where is the nearest road from here?¡± Aiden unfolded the map. Fortunately, the road was not far away. ¡°If we walk a little to the south, it¡¯s not far. But will it follow us here? It¡¯s a cautious Beast.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what we¡¯re aiming for. It should be aware that we¡¯re heading towards the road. Also, an open road is probably dangerous for it. So, before we arrive, it will definitely attack.¡± It seemed like they would rather quietly retreat from here and make the creature anxious. It was quite a plausible plan. ¡°Got it. Let¡¯s do as you say.¡± Soon, Aiden and Arian changed direction and headed towards the road. Then, after a short while, the cougar¡¯s behavior changed. The creature, which had been following at a moderate distance, gradually began closing the gap. ¡°It¡¯s coming. Behind to the right.¡± Aiden hastened his steps upon hearing Arian¡¯s words. Like herbivores sensing the pursuit of predators. It was when the road entered a radius of just a few hundred meters. ¡°¡ª¨C!¡± Along with the roar of a tearing Beast, a giant figure emerged from behind the trees. So massive that you could believe it¡¯s not a cougar, but a tiger.. Seeing that colossal body, Aiden was convinced. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This was indeed the mutant Beast Roman had mentioned. Thud! With a sound like tearing apart, Arian blocked the way in front of the creature. Arian¡¯s eerie crimson machete not only tore through the cougar¡¯s front legs but also threw its massive body backward with tremendous force. ¡°Graaa!¡± The thrown tiger landed on the ground a bit away, threateningly roaring. Exposed muscles, torn fur, and bones protruding from the ripped belly were vividly visible. The face of the creature, from the right jaw to the eye, was completely stripped of skin, probably the result of Roman taking its right eye. The cougar, hesitating about what to do next, stared at Arian with its remaining eye. But Aiden didn¡¯t give it time to think. Aiden¡¯s rifle, waiting right behind, spat fire. Bang! Like a bullet embedded in rotten flesh, the bullet pierced through the cougar¡¯s front leg and torso. After that, the cougar sensed the threat and attempted to escape. It changed direction like a snake, flexibly avoiding. Immediately after that, Arian followed. Slash! With a speed surpassing even the reaction time of a Beast, her jungle sword cut through the cougar¡¯s hind leg as it turned. Then the cougar screamed like a wail, but like any other animal, it didn¡¯t sit still. As if nothing had happened, it disappeared into the thick bushes in an instant. ¡°Now, is it done?¡± Looking at the trampled ground where the cougar had disappeared, Aiden asked. Arian nodded as if satisfied. ¡°Yeah. The preparations are done.¡± * * * The next day. ¡°You want me to wait here and snipe?¡± Roman, who had come outside to catch the cougar, asked Aiden. He was standing by a small river in the forest. Aiden had confirmed the cougar¡¯s location. Today, he asked Roman to take care of the sniper role as he planned to lure the creature to this riverside. For Roman, it was an unbelievable request. The guy who just went to search for the cougar yesterday, what on earth was this about? However, Aiden¡¯s attitude was firm. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡°How on earth do you plan to lure that thing?¡± ¡°There is a way. Please trust me.¡± ¡°Heh... This is... ¡° Frustrated by Aiden¡¯s lack of proper explanation, Roman clicked his tongue. But Aiden pretended not to notice and conveyed only what needed to be said. ¡°Are you prepared with the gun?¡± ¡°Yeah. Will this do?¡± Roman revealed the gun he had brought. A .50 caliber military sniper rifle. It had firepower more than enough for hunting the cougar. ¡°More importantly, can you handle it if it comes attacking?¡± There was no issue with the weaponry. So, if there was any cause for concern, it would be the person using it. That¡¯s why, with a bit of suspicion, Aiden asked Roman. ¡°Of course. If that thing really shows up, I¡¯ll stake my honor and make sure to kill it.¡± Roman declared with a determined face. He seemed quite confident in his sniping skills. ¡°Understood. Then I¡¯ll make my move too.¡± Leaving Roman behind, Aiden entered the forest. After going in for a while, Arian, who was waiting in advance, revealed herself. ¡°Are you ready?¡± ¡°Yeah. Let¡¯s get started.¡± ¡°Good. Since the creature is still nearby, it won¡¯t take long.¡± Arian nodded and concealed herself. Roman assumed that Arian was hiding with Sadie. In reality, it was Arian who led the cougar here. However, her role wasn¡¯t to be the bait. Instead, she became an intense threat, compelling the cougar to flee this far. After yesterday¡¯s incident, the cougar, recognizing Arian¡¯s fear, would remember her scent and try to avoid it as much as possible. But Arian, in real-time, tracked the cougar¡¯s location and chased it at a speed that the creature couldn¡¯t escape. In the end, her goal was to drive the creature to this riverside. Truly a Beast hunt made possible by a vampire, not a human. In this Beast hunt, Aiden¡¯s only task was to guard this path. So, Aiden silently stroked his rifle, waiting only for Arian to return. Chapter 96 ¡°Hmm...¡± Behind the trees leading from the riverside to the forest, Roman lay on a mat, concealing his body with fallen leaves. In front of him, a .50 caliber military sniper rifle, aimed at the upper reaches of the river, was laid out. To anyone observing, it was the appearance of an excellent sniper. However, his gaze wasn¡¯t sharp, slightly dimmed, revealing a sense of lethargy rather than tension. Embedded in it was more languor than tension. Roman, who took on the role of a sniper, didn¡¯t believe Aiden¡¯s words about bringing the cougar here. ¡°...¡± Roman scanned the riverside. This place was not far from the city, and Roman knew this location well. The riverside formed a long gravel field along the straight river. Above it, the bushes hardly grew, ensuring visibility for hundreds of meters, making it perfect for sniping. However, the cougar was a clever one. In terms of prey and even zombies, it understood firearms at a primitive level. That was the problem. In a place like this, where there was no obstacle to block bullets, the cougar would never reveal itself. Even the narrow road through the forest required an excessively cautious approach, confirming safety and crossing only after a long search. Therefore, Roman was highly skeptical of Aiden¡¯s plan. Even if there was bait, Roman had almost no expectation that the cougar would easily reveal itself on this riverside. However, still, Roman didn¡¯t stop Aiden. The reason was simple. He just didn¡¯t want to splash cold water on those who were working for him. ¡°...¡± Roman thought about Aiden and his companions. To put it bluntly, they were strange people. Aiden, a man who didn¡¯t show his face, was one of them. A girl named Arian, who he thought resembled his granddaughter, but after a brief conversation, seemed to be living in a completely different world. Sadie, a little girl, was the only one who seemed normal and cute. And Roman didn¡¯t dislike them. Although they had only been in hiding for three days, the feeling was surprisingly good, as if it had been strange for so long. Roman was puzzled by the reason for this emotion. Was he... so lonely? He had been alone for only a little over a year. During that time, was he really so unable to move because of the kindness of others? ¡°Huu...¡± When his thoughts reached that point, Roman let out a sigh of resignation. Loneliness was an exaggerated tantrum for him. He had things to do. The screams of Olivia, who had still been dragged by the cougar, echoed in his ears, a moment that had been repeated dozens of times already due to nightmares, never forgotten or blurred. Before he knew it, the memory of that time vividly resurfaced, and Roman came to his senses. Intense anger and regret enveloped him. At that moment, the contemplation and loneliness from a while ago disappeared as if they had been swept away by a whirlwind. ¡°What is this nonsense...¡± Roman grumbled quietly. He didn¡¯t believe Aiden¡¯s words, but lying quietly here now made him feel pathetic. So, he decided to stop the nonsense. Instead of wasting time like this, it was better to find traces of the damn cougar. As he was about to get up, a beast¡¯s cry came from afar. Hearing it, Roman¡¯s eyes widened to the point that it seemed as if they might pop out. Surely ¨C it crossed his mind for a moment. It was unmistakable. This was the roar of the cougar, an unforgettable sound from his dreams. Roman swallowed his saliva. Instinctively, he aimed at the direction where the cry came from through the scope. And in the silence, he opened up his senses. Suddenly, the doubt that had been full just a while ago was hiding its traces. Without allowing himself to contemplate his capricious self, he felt a faint tremor in the ground. The cougar was running towards him with powerful strides. And then ¡°...!¡± Hundred meters away, on the other side of the river, the cougar truly revealed itself by snapping a small tree in half. After several months, Roman saw the face of the creature again. Roman¡¯s heart raced at the sight. However, Aiden was nowhere to be seen. The cougar, as if being chased by something, rushed along the riverside towards Roman. Roman didn¡¯t know why the creature was behaving like that, but he didn¡¯t care. He focused on the scope he was looking through, the gun supported by his hands, and the trigger he was gripping. ¡°Kughh-¡° The cougar, with a rough pace, approached Roman along the river. A crazy sprint, as if being pursued by something. Impatience filled Roman¡¯s heart. It seemed like the creature would immediately leave the riverside and return to the forest. However, it wasn¡¯t the right time yet. Roman calmly evaluated his sniping skills. It was still too far to pierce the head of the creature that moved so noisily. He needed to get closer. So, Roman waited for the creature to approach even more. ¡°...No!¡± Before that distance was filled, the cougar¡¯s head finally turned aside. Looking at the cougar about to run into the forest, Roman¡¯s finger on the trigger didn¡¯t know what to do. Bang! Then, a dry gunshot echoed. Roman didn¡¯t fire it. The bullet flew from the forest where the cougar was heading. Gunshots continued to echo from the bushes. Was it Aiden? He had that thought for a moment, but Roman¡¯s consciousness quickly refocused on the cougar. ¡°¡ª¨C!¡± The cougar¡¯s direction turned toward the river again. The creature, which had run along the river, rushed toward Roman again. The distance, which was hundreds of meters, rapidly narrowed. ¡°Huff...¡± A hot breath escaped from the old man¡¯s mouth. With excitement shaking the muzzle, Roman gripped the gun with all his strength. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The scope followed the creature¡¯s head, moving incessantly. And slowly, the fingers holding the trigger exerted pressure. ¡°Grrrraa!¡± Finally, the cougar recognized Roman¡¯s presence. At the moment its head looked at Roman. Bang! A .50 caliber bullet, capable of shattering an elephant¡¯s skull, shot out at an unimaginable speed. Pulling the trigger, Roman thought he had hit it for sure. However. Pow! The cougar twisted its neck in an impossible direction, barely avoiding the trajectory of the bullet. The lower part of its head grazed the bullet, and its jaw and snout were blown away. The critical hit that made it impossible for the creature to eat prey again. If it were a normal cougar, Roman would have ended it right there. ¡°Kuhhh!¡± However, it was not an ordinary cougar but a zombie. The mutant Beast finally spewed out a bestial rage toward Roman, who had taken away its jaw. The creature was no longer cautious or cunning. It was just a monster that surrendered itself to instincts and madness, running towards Roman. Roman¡¯s face was filled with despair. A future where he would be mercilessly torn apart by those claws rushing toward him was depicted. However, there was a flying figure in front of him. ¡°You-!¡± It was... Arian. Roman was shocked to see her. More intense despair distorted his face than when he glimpsed his death. But before he could say anything, An unexpected and horrifying scene unfolded before his eyes. Chwak! Once, a black-haired girl who resembled his granddaughter. The girl was slashing the front paw of the cougar with a bloody machete. ¡°Koeeo-¡° The cougar, having lost one leg, slammed its head onto the ground along with a wail. Arian looked down at the crippled cougar arrogantly. Her gaze was eerie yet extremely cold. ¡°...¡± Roman stared blankly at the scene. It was an unbelievable event. He couldn¡¯t comprehend what had happened or why. In his confusion, when Roman was lost in thought. Arian turned her head and looked at him. The red eyes that had returned to normal were gently gazing at the old man. Seeing this, Roman swallowed his breath and opened his eyes. He thought her eyes were reprimanding him. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you shooting right away? What was that about betting your honor and making sure to hit it?¡± It felt like his granddaughter complaining to her grandfather, so Roman clenched his teeth. Again, he brought his eyes to the scope. The cougar with one leg was on the ground. For a moment, he felt a pleasant sensation at the pitiful sight of the creature. The trigger was pulled. This time, he pierced the creature¡¯s head. After successfully hunting the mutant Beast. Roman wept for a long time in front of the cougar¡¯s corpse. Aiden and Arian couldn¡¯t say anything to Roman and just waited. They already knew that this old man was carrying a heavy burden, so they didn¡¯t attempt to offer any awkward comfort. The intense sobbing, which seemed never-ending, gradually subsided as time passed. After Roman¡¯s crying stopped, it took a little more time before Aiden spoke to him. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Aiden asked Roman. Roman¡¯s gaze, which had been fixed on the shattered head of the cougar, slowly turned towards Aiden. His eyes had returned to normal, seemingly without him realizing it. ¡°...Thank you.¡± Roman¡¯s first words were expressions of gratitude. He didn¡¯t ask Arian where she suddenly appeared from or why she had such strength. He simply bowed his head in front of Aiden. ¡°Really... thank you.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. This was a deal. If you pay the reward, that¡¯s it.¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right. But still, thank you.¡± Roman, staggering, rose from his seat. Then, he approached the corpse of the cougar, or more precisely, its head. Staring intently at it, Roman wrinkled his face. ¡°Originally, I should preserve the head of the prey... but it seems difficult.¡± The cougar¡¯s head, which had been hit three times by .50 caliber bullets, no longer retained its shape. So, instead, Roman grabbed the lower jaw that had fallen off. From there, he pulled out the fangs of the cougar. Enormous, almost like a weapon, the fangs were close to knives. Roman stared at such fangs with a complex expression, then raised his head. ¡°...Let¡¯s go back now.¡± The group that had finished the hunt returned to their hideout. However, Roman, with only one fang in his possession, immediately left the hideout again. Aiden tried to dissuade him from going by saying it would be good to rest. But Roman couldn¡¯t be stopped when he said about going to the family¡¯s graves. And some time later, as the time for the sunset approached. Roman returned to the hideout with eyes full of tear marks. Although he looked quite tired, his face seemed much more relieved than before. ¡°Is everything finished?¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s all done.¡± Roman smiled widely as he spoke. ¡°Thank you. It feels like I¡¯ve finally put down a heavy burden.¡± With repeated thanks, Aiden only nodded. Roman seemed to notice that he kept saying the same thing, so he chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s already time for dinner. Wait a moment. I¡¯ll prepare tonight¡¯s meal.¡± As Roman was about to go to the kitchen, he suddenly looked at the adjacent room. There was a warehouse where he had collected various weapons for hunting the cougar. Once, he had desperately gathered each of them. But the gaze of the old man looking at the warehouse seemed to be looking at an empty room. ¡°Ah, right. You needed weapons, didn¡¯t you?¡± Roman turned to Aiden and asked. Aiden nodded. ¡°Take as much as you want. I don¡¯t need them anymore.¡± Having said that, Roman swiftly entered the kitchen. At those words, Aiden, unusually, felt a slight confusion. Take as much as you want. It was the first time he heard such words since becoming a junk dealer. ¡°Hmm...¡± With a sigh, Aiden began sorting the items displayed in the warehouse. The warehouse contained not only throwable explosives like grenades but also installation-type bombs like claymores and mines. There were also perfectly equipped weapons, including .50 caliber bullets and guns capable of firing them. However, Aiden already had a .50 caliber gun. He had kept the large sniper rifle he used in Pittsburgh in good condition. But he didn¡¯t have the bullets for it, and coincidentally, he found bullets of the same caliber. So, Aiden carefully selected his share among the weapons in the warehouse. Only the appropriate amount for what he considered fair compensation. Although Roman said he could take everything, it was a matter of Aiden¡¯s principles. ¡°Now, let¡¯s eat. Everyone worked hard today.¡± Later, Roman returned with ample food. Arian, Sadie, and Roman sat together for a meal. It was the second meal they shared since the first day. But this time, Aiden did not join them, and Roman, who brought his share, asked him. ¡°Aren¡¯t you eating again today?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°...Disappointing.¡± At the unexpected comment, Aiden looked at Roman. Roman spoke again. ¡°You¡¯re leaving this place tomorrow, right? Before that, at least let me see the face of my benefactor.¡± ¡°...¡± It was a direct request. Aiden, Roman, and even Arian and Sadie, who were eating, looked at Roman. Then Roman unexpectedly grinned. ¡°Why, did I say something I shouldn¡¯t have?¡± It was just a request to show his face. If you thought about it normally, it was nothing strange. So Aiden thought about it for a moment. Even if he did what Roman wanted, he judged that there wouldn¡¯t be a big problem. ¡°That¡¯s not a problem... but you might be surprised.¡± ¡°Surprised? Just by looking at your face? How ugly are you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about that; I am a zombie.¡± At Aiden¡¯s plain confession, Roman furrowed his brows. ¡°W-what?¡± ¡°Still want to see?¡± At first, Roman thought it was a joke, but soon he realized the serious atmosphere around him. So he nodded seriously, and Aiden lifted the visor of his helmet. Roman¡¯s mouth dropped open when he saw the face inside. ¡°No, how... huh...¡± Surprised, Roman stared at Aiden, then slowly shifted his gaze to Arian standing next to him. The fact that Aiden was a zombie was shocking enough. But as much as that, this girl named Arian was also an incomprehensible existence. What on earth were their identities? Thinking about it for a moment, Roman soon shook his head. That was a story that didn¡¯t matter either way. Right now, he just wanted to treat his benefactor to a meal. ¡°...Well then. Does it really matter that much? More importantly, until now, didn¡¯t you eat separately to avoid showing that face?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± ¡°Alright then, come and join us. You have your share too.¡± With a smile, Roman spoke. Aiden didn¡¯t refuse Roman¡¯s invitation. Chapter 97 The next morning. Aiden and his group got into the vehicle to head to their destination, Shreveport. ¡°Are you going to stay here?¡± Aiden had already suggested to Roman that if needed, they could take him to another place where there might be other survivor groups. However, Roman shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ve lived here my whole life. Born here, got married here, raised children here. And now I¡¯ve buried them all here. Now, where would I go if I leave this place?¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°I¡¯ve managed well enough alone until now. Without that cougar, it might even be safer from now on. Don¡¯t worry about me, just go your way.¡± Aiden nodded at Roman¡¯s words. If that was his decision, Aiden had no choice but to respect it. Having bid farewell to Roman, Aiden and his group soon left the city. The old man stood on the long stretch of road, watching Aiden¡¯s group move away. * * * On a hot afternoon in the middle of summer. Aiden and his group were approaching a bridge, which marked the eastern border of Shreveport. ¡°Be careful. Once we cross this bridge, it¡¯s straight to Shreveport.¡± They had arrived at the Red River, which marked the eastern boundary of Shreveport. Shreveport, originally a city with a population of over 200 000, was rumored to have a large survivor group, numbering in the thousands. So, Aiden cautiously reduced the speed of the vehicle and proceeded along the road. Since there wasn¡¯t much information about this survivor group, they couldn¡¯t predict how they would react to outsiders. As the bridge came closer, Arian spoke. ¡°People. About five of them on the road ahead.¡± Were there guards on the bridge? It wasn¡¯t unusual, so Aiden nodded without much thought. Soon, the four-lane road leading to the bridge came into view. On either side of it, there were small outposts made by stacking sandbags, and people armed with rifles were visible. However, they didn¡¯t seem to be wary of the approaching vehicle of Aiden¡¯s group. No, it wasn¡¯t just them. Another vehicle that had come from behind Aiden¡¯s group passed by the outpost without any fuss. The guards didn¡¯t pay attention to that side either. ¡°They don¡¯t seem to control traffic separately...?¡± Muttering, Aiden parked the vehicle in front of the outpost. Only then did one of the guards turn to look at the driver¡¯s seat of the vehicle. Aiden rolled down the window and spoke to him. ¡°No inspection?¡± ¡°Inspection...? Oh, this must be your first time here.¡± Aiden nodded at the guard¡¯s words. Then, seemingly anticipating that, the guard continued. ¡°We don¡¯t have that here. If you¡¯re looking for the city, just cross the bridge and head straight north. Get the details there.¡± With that, the guard stepped back. If that was the case, Aiden had no reason to object. They passed by and parked the car in front of the outpost. As they approached, the bridge connecting the two sides came into view. On either side, there were small outposts made with sandbags. People armed with rifles were present there as well. However, they weren¡¯t wary of the approaching Aiden¡¯s group. The atmosphere was different here. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Not having an inspection was one thing, but the attitude of the guards was quite different from the usual gang members. It wasn¡¯t sharp, nor did it show unnecessary hostility. To put it nicely, there was no suspicion, and to say it negatively, they were a bit careless. ¡°Seems like the atmosphere is different here?¡± Not having an inspection and the attitude of the guards were all quite different from what was typical. I don¡¯t think there is any suspicion, but rather carelessness. ¡°I think... the size of the group here is indeed large.¡± This led Aiden to express his guess. ¡°Size?¡± ¡°Yeah. If there really are tens of thousands of people in this group here... there¡¯s probably no need to control the bridge like this.¡± The larger the group, the lower the guard against outsiders tends to be. If there are only a few dozen gang members, ten or so wanderers can be a clear threat that can break the organization. From the perspective of a city with a population numbering in the tens of thousands, individuals like them posed no threat whatsoever. ¡°Ah... so, it¡¯s similar to Fort Wayne?¡± Aiden nodded in response to Arian¡¯s following words. In Fort Wayne, too, they were only restricted from entering the central stronghold by the outer walls. There, a designated trading area for contact with outsiders was established, and anyone could freely come and go within that space. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s probably something similar here,¡± Aiden said. However, in the end, his words were only partially correct. After crossing the bridge, they arrived in downtown Shreveport. ¡°Hmm...¡± Aiden sighed as he observed the scene. Arian, on the other hand, flashed a quiet, bright smile, and Sadie widened her eyes. What they saw were countless people. In a bank with broken windows, unidentified wanderers gathered, sitting together, pouring drinks. On a neatly cleared parking lot, some junk dealers, each in their own vehicles, chatted happily. ¡°What happened here?¡± In this destructed city, hundreds of people seemed to appear at a glance. Arian, somewhat surprised, asked, but before Aiden could answer, he looked towards the north, where the road continued. What he saw at the end was part of a high wall. Most likely, that place was the stronghold of the survivor group rumored to be in Shreveport. If that was the case, the role of this place spread out in front of it was clear. ¡°This entire city seems to be the designated trading area for them.¡± Outside the wall, a buffer zone where junk dealers and external personnel could temporarily stay. However, considering the size of that area, it was significantly larger than Fort Wayne¡¯s. Nevertheless, what was even more surprising was that many of these people weren¡¯t even members of the survivor group present here. Outside the wall, in the buffer zone, these individuals were practically nothing more than outsiders gathered here to coexist with the survivor group. This was a testament to the enormous scale of the group that had taken root here. Observing those people, Aiden parked the vehicle next to a building for a moment. ¡°I¡¯ll gather some information first. Wait here for a moment.¡± Aiden said so and got out of the car, approaching a wanderer who had been wandering nearby. ¡°What do you want?¡± The wanderer, who was smoking a cigarette, asked as Aiden suddenly approached. Aiden extended three 9mm pistol cartridges toward him. ¡°I¡¯m here for the first time. I have some questions. Can you answer them?¡± ¡°Well... sure, go ahead. I¡¯ll tell you what I know.¡± Taking the ammunition, the wanderer nodded his head. Quickly, Aiden asked him questions. ¡°I¡¯m a junk dealer. How do I make contact with the survivor group here and get requests?¡± ¡°Oh, for that, you just need to go to the building right in front of the outer wall. You¡¯ll see it if you follow the road. It¡¯s a building called the Convention Center.¡± ¡°Do I just need to go there? Is there anything else needed?¡± ¡°I heard you need to register there. It¡¯s faster to check it out yourself for details.¡± Aside from that, Aiden asked a few more simple but essential questions. The wanderer answered them smoothly, and satisfied, Aiden returned to the vehicle. During that time, Arian had been chatting with Sadie about the city. ¡°So what exactly is this place doing here?¡± Arian asked abruptly. In response to Arian¡¯s hasty question, Aiden calmly opened his mouth. ¡°Firstly, the group that has settled in this city is called the ¡®Shreveport Citizen Union.¡¯ Here, they are simply referred to as the Union. And their size is said to be over 50 000.¡± ¡°50 000?¡± Ella, whom he had met in Conway, mentioned that the group here had over 30,000 members. Now it turned out that it was almost twice as large as what she had said. Sadie blinked her eyes silently, finding it challenging to fathom the number 50 000. Arian¡¯s gaze became a bit more serious. ¡°It survived in a place like this? Well, then we should find out exactly what the situation is.¡± Arian hadn¡¯t forgotten the reason why Aiden¡¯s group came here. It was to find a survivor group that Sadie could rely on. The first condition that must be met there was the size of the group. However, the group that actually met this minimum condition for the first time since Fort Wayne was here. Therefore, Arian, who had become more serious, as if trying to assess the atmosphere, looked outside. To her, Aiden spoke: ¡°Of course, that¡¯s how it should be. I plan to gather information by taking requests. But... to do that, we need to register first.¡± ¡°Register?¡± Just as in Fort Wayne, where entry permits were issued only to designated junk dealers, there was a separate procedure here for external junk dealers. ¡°I heard it doesn¡¯t take long. It¡¯s troublesome, but we can¡¯t help it. We have to follow it for now.¡± Afterward, Aiden¡¯s group headed straight to the Convention Center, which was designated for dealing with junk dealers?. Originally a large exhibition and event space, the building was now controlled by personnel dispatched from the Union, just as the wanderer had mentioned. ¡°What¡¯s your business?¡± As they tried to enter the entrance, a security guard in police uniform blocked their way. Aiden¡¯s group explained their purpose. ¡°No weapons...¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard that we shouldn¡¯t enter with weapons.¡± The security guard eyed Aiden¡¯s attire. Perhaps because there were armed guards inside the building. Whether they didn¡¯t bother with a body search or for some other reason, he only gestured to open the way into the building. ¡°Go in. It¡¯s over there.¡± Aiden¡¯s group entered the spacious lobby. There, they saw the reception area that used to be part of the original Convention Center. But now, it had transformed into a space for outsourcing requests and conducting transactions with external junk dealers, much like a bank counter. Aiden and Arian registered themselves as junk dealers there. The procedure was straightforward. A man from the Union asked for Aiden¡¯s name and affiliated organization. In addition, he recorded a few physical characteristics, creating a simple record. ¡°Face.¡± During this, the man pointed at Aiden¡¯s helmet. He gestured as if telling Aiden to take it off. ¡°I¡¯d rather refuse.¡± In response, the man sighed. ¡°If you don¡¯t fully disclose your personal information, there will be penalties.¡± ¡°Penalties? What exactly does that mean?¡± ¡°Your request reward will be slightly reduced. Is that okay?¡± ¡°If that¡¯s all... it¡¯s fine.¡± Then the man nodded and inserted the paper with Aiden¡¯s information into a file. Then, on a thin metal plate that looked like a dog tag, he handed over a badge with only a number written on it. ¡°Alright. Registration is done. Now you are a grade E junk dealer.¡± 1110. That was the number assigned to Aiden. But more than that number, something caught Aiden¡¯s ear. ¡°E grade?¡± ¡°Read the details written there for the specifics. Next!¡± The man at the reception pointed to a blackboard set up on one side of the building. Driven away from his spot, Aiden approached the blackboard. There, Arian and Sadie, who had finished the procedure earlier, were also present. ¡°Look at this. It¡¯s interesting, isn¡¯t it? It feels like I used to be a resolver.¡± Arian said, looking at the blackboard. Aiden also examined the blackboard and soon understood the meaning of the grades. It was literally a classification of junk dealers by grade. The lowest was E, and the highest was A. Moreover, the available requests were also divided into grades from E to A. It seemed like a junk dealer could only take requests of the same grade. In addition, there were small benefits such as gaining priority for requests as the grade increased. Among them, what caught Aiden¡¯s eye was: ¡°From grade B, entry into the inner wall is allowed...¡± Even though there were set entry times, having a higher grade meant internal access to the Union was possible. In practical terms, it wasn¡¯t an extraordinary benefit. However, for Aiden¡¯s group, whose immediate goal was to gather information about this Union, it held great significance. It seemed like they would need to reach at least grade B. ¡°To raise your grade, you need to complete a certain number of requests of the same grade,¡± Arian added from the side. Aiden nodded. Beside them were several other blackboards, listing information about various requests. Aiden immediately checked the requests available at the E-grade. Perhaps because it was a request thrown to the least reliable junk dealer. Most requests were simple delivery missions. Just trade specific materials or resources at the designated price, and the request would be completed. Considering the low trust of an E-grade junk dealer, it was an appropriate level of request. They neither wanted to provide too much information to such an unreliable dealer nor get involved in complicated matters. ¡°Nothing special. We can exchange some of what we have.¡± Upon hearing Arian¡¯s comment after examining the request details, Aiden nodded. By utilizing the recently gathered resources, they could quickly climb up to at least D-grade, which had more fitting requests. While immersed in their thoughts, Aiden suddenly looked at Sadie. During the registration process for Arian and Aiden, Sadie had been observing the interior of the building with apparent interest. Sensing Aiden¡¯s gaze, Sadie spoke up. ¡°It seems like a fascinating place here.¡± ¡°Fascinating? Wasn¡¯t there a similar place in Fort Wayne?¡± ¡°That... I¡¯m not sure, but it feels calm... like a post office I visited before.¡± Aiden seemed to understand why Sadie hesitated to explain. For some reason, this Convention Center felt different from Fort Wayne. What should he call it? This place reminded him of the scenes of places like banks or post offices before the world went awry. ¡°Yeah, it seems so.¡± Aiden mumbled as he looked around the Convention Center. It wasn¡¯t just a matter of the number of people. This place had a more systematic system than any city they had passed through before. Although there were no electronic devices, giving it a somewhat primitive feel, there was still a clear system operating under rules and common sense. This, as Sadie said, was an astonishing thing. Just before entering the city, they had to be cautious, ready to shoot if they encountered people. It was a primitive world where power took precedence over rules and violence over common sense. However, this place drew a clear line, differentiating itself from such a world. ¡°Hmm...¡± As Aiden observed his surroundings, he shook his head to snap out of his thoughts. It was still too early to get carried away. He had something to do. ¡°Let¡¯s start taking requests. Are you okay with that?¡± With the decision made, Aiden¡¯s group began their plans, and Aiden selected their first request. A simple request to deliver a certain amount of preserved food. It was the first request Aiden¡¯s group would undertake in this place. Chapter 98 About a week later. Aiden¡¯s group spent busy days performing various requests in Shreveport. They quickly climbed up to grade D, just as initially anticipated. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Meanwhile, the requests available from grade D were simple reconnaissance or delivery requests. For Aiden¡¯s group, who possessed a vehicle, these were relatively easy types of requests. ¡°You¡¯re here again today?¡± Perhaps due to their almost constant presence for a week, Aiden¡¯s group had become familiar with the staff in charge of requests. A Jewish woman in her thirties named Amara Olson. At first glance, she seemed a bit timid, but she didn¡¯t appear to be a bad person. ¡°Good morning.¡± Aiden greeted, and Amara responded with a bright smile, nodding her head. Then, she lightly greeted Arian and Sadie, who always accompanied Aiden, and resumed speaking. ¡°Are you handling requests again today?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the request number you¡¯re processing?¡± ¡°Number 22. It¡¯s a delivery request.¡± Perhaps because of the large group, there seemed to be a lot of work to be done, even for Aiden, who could only choose requests up to grade D. Among them, Aiden chose a request to deliver an item to a small town about 30 km to the south. The item to be delivered was a communication antenna, and it seemed they were attempting long-distance communication from there. However, even disregarding details about the item, Aiden had a question. ¡°I have something I want to ask about the request.¡± ¡°Yes, go ahead.¡± ¡°What¡¯s in that city?¡± There was no information about the small town designated as the destination of the request. In response to Aiden¡¯s question, Amara stopped her paperwork and looked at Aiden before providing an answer. ¡°Oh, you haven¡¯t been here for long, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± ¡°A search unit from our Union has set up a temporary base there.¡± ¡°...Search unit?¡± Aiden asked, and Amara looked at him, halting her paperwork. ¡°Oh, I mentioned that you haven¡¯t been here for long, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°A search unit is a unit in our Union responsible for reconnaissance and resource exploration.¡± Afterwards, Amara briefly explained about the Union. According to her, the Union was broadly divided into three groups. First was the search unit, which she had mentioned. They were a kind of armed group responsible for reconnaissance, resource search, and engaging with zombies, handling dangerous tasks for the Union. They were easily recognizable by the blue triangular pattern they used as their emblem, always worn around their chest area. The second group was the police. Originating from the gangs that had gathered around police stations in the past, they were mobilized for internal security, administration, and maintaining order within the Union. Amara was also part of the police, and she mentioned that was why she was in charge of the administration here. The emblem used was originally from the U.S. police. Lastly, there were the workers, representing the majority of Union members, excluding the search unit and police. They were classified as workers, and they didn¡¯t have a specific emblem. In reality, most Union members fell into the worker category, according to Amara. ¡°Shreveport Citizen Union was originally formed by various small survivor groups uniting around the two gangs that used to compete in this city. So, until now, these two gangs play crucial roles in the Union. It¡¯s been just about a year since they united under the name of the Union.¡± ¡°...I see.¡± Having unintentionally obtained internal information about the city, Aiden nodded. In the end, the destination of the request was where some of the Union¡¯s dispatched troops were stationed. ¡°Any other questions?¡± ¡°None. I¡¯ll process the request right away.¡± Saying so, Aiden stood up from his seat. Then, as if offering a piece of advice, Amara added a few words. ¡°Oh, be careful. The south of Shreveport is a danger zone. If you¡¯re taking a car, it¡¯s better to take a detour.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard that story. I¡¯ll be cautious.¡± The area secured for safety by the survivor group in Shreveport included only parts of the north, including the downtown area. Its size was only about 20% of the entire city. The rest was classified as a danger zone, and it seemed that zombies and mutants were still roaming there. The density of zombies in the southern region was much higher compared to the east. Even with a large survivor group, they couldn¡¯t conceive of sweeping through an entire city like Fort Wayne. However, it didn¡¯t mean that the Union in this place was entirely dangerous. The Union¡¯s headquarters were located on the terrain with the Red River on the right and its tributary flowing from below to the left. Except for the northern part accessible by land, it was almost like an island. In other words, if the bridges over the river and its tributary were properly maintained, the invasion of zombies could be effectively prevented. In Aiden¡¯s view, the fortification was at a considerable level. Therefore, Aiden evaluated the Union as quite safe. ¡°Well then, please go safely.¡± Amara bid farewell to Aiden¡¯s group with a faint smile. But it might be different for other junk dealers. For Aiden¡¯s group, a request of this level wasn¡¯t too difficult. * * * So, two more weeks passed. Arian and Aiden diligently processed requests, surprising the Union employees. Before they knew it, they had raised their grades to the end of grade C. When they were just about to reach grade B, Aiden¡¯s group visited the convention center as usual, and someone approached them. It was Amara, who usually accepted requests. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± It was the first time she came outside the request reception to meet Aiden¡¯s group directly, so Aiden asked. Then, Amara looked around and lowered her voice slightly. ¡°I have a personal request I¡¯d like to ask you.¡± Amara¡¯s expression as she said this didn¡¯t look good. It seemed that something had happened. ¡°It¡¯s not something troublesome, is it?¡± Aiden asked, not expecting a bigger reward for handling the request. During the time of gathering information, he didn¡¯t want to cause unnecessary trouble. On the other hand, Amara frowned slightly at his question. ¡°It¡¯s not like that. I did skip some procedures, but it¡¯s urgent. I¡¯ll register it formally today, so don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll listen to the story for now.¡± Amara led Aiden¡¯s group to a small room inside the building. Sitting at the table in that room, she quickly got to the point. ¡°I know a junk dealer. He¡¯s the same grade as you, a grade C, named Angelo Castro. But he went to handle a request and has gone missing. I hope you can find him.¡± ¡°...An unusual request.¡± Aiden thought they might be asked to do something else, so it was a bit unexpected. ¡°As I told you, it¡¯s a personal request.¡± ¡°Was there any friendship between you two?¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t have that deep a friendship, but... to some extent. He still has a younger brother. Coincidentally, his little brother is about the same age as your kid.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°But this morning, that kid came to me. He said his brother didn¡¯t come back last night. Something must have happened.¡± Understanding the rough details, Aiden nodded. It didn¡¯t seem to be a problematic request. So, Aiden asked another question. ¡°What was the content of the request that man received?¡± ¡°About 20 kilometers northwest of here, there¡¯s a farm. It was used as a temporary base by our search unit almost a year ago. The request was to scout the area and retrieve any remaining supplies.¡± ¡°But it seems someone was there.¡± Amara nodded her head. ¡°So, what does the junk dealer look like?¡± ¡°He¡¯s around twenty years old. Black hair, brown eyes. Hispanic ethnicity, and overall, he has a somewhat sharp impression. Also-¡° Amara conveyed Angelo¡¯s appearance in detail. Having memorized the information, Aiden asked the next question. ¡°So, what¡¯s the reward?¡± ¡°This is a C-rank request, but I¡¯ll give you a higher rank than that. Consider it my gratitude as well.¡± ¡°...¡± Having heard everything, Aiden pondered for a moment. There was no reason to refuse such a request. Moreover, considering his relationship with Amara, there was enough reason to accumulate favors. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem too bad. However... can Saide be taken care of during this time?¡± Aiden looked at Saide as he spoke. From what he heard about the request, it didn¡¯t seem like it would end with just hunting zombies. Since it could involve gunfire, there was no need to bring Saide along. ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll make sure she stays safe.¡± ¡°In that case, fine. I¡¯ll handle this case.¡± Aiden stood up immediately. Once the decision was made to handle the request, there was no time to hesitate. However, just before leaving the room, Aiden, with a sudden doubt, turned back. ¡°But... why did you ask us for help?¡± If it was Amara, as the person in charge of requests, she could have assigned the task to a junk dealer of a slightly higher grade than the recent C-rank Angelo. ¡°You guys... are reliable.¡± Amara answered his question like that. ¡°There¡¯s no one among the junk dealers who handles tasks like you. Each of you risks your life for every task, like doing daily school homework.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°So, I decided to trust you. I feel like you would handle even a serious request effortlessly.¡± Though the reason was somewhat unclear, at least their actions so far had left an impression on Amara. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best to meet your expectations.¡± Aiden nodded and left the room. Returning to the vehicle immediately, Aiden and Arian headed towards the farm where the junk dealer Angelo was supposed to be. * * * The farm Amara mentioned was located in a forest far from the city. There were only about ten houses gathered in a small village nearby. Apart from that, there was nothing around. Aiden parked the car a few hundred meters away from the farm. ¡°From here, we¡¯ll go on foot.¡± It was clear that someone or something was at that farm. However, whether it was a zombie or a person was uncertain, so they couldn¡¯t drive closer. Therefore, Aiden¡¯s group cautiously walked towards the farm, hiding in the woods. ¡°There it is.¡± Soon, the farm buildings came into view. There was a wide barn where cows used to be, and a barn attached right next to it. Behind that, there were the owner¡¯s house and a storage shed. ¡°...Looks like a person.¡± What Aiden could see from his position was one person. A man with a rifle, monitoring the entrance of the farm. However, his surveillance meant nothing to Aiden¡¯s group. Arian had already scanned the entire small farm. ¡°There are five in total. Except for the one you see, one in the barn, one in front of the barn, and two inside the house.¡± ¡°Not that many.¡± ¡°But... what should we do now? We still don¡¯t know if those people are really bad guys.¡± Arian said with a somewhat perplexed expression. She had a point. If those there were not zombies but humans, the situation would become a bit more complicated. Dealing with zombies was simple ¨C just eliminate them. However, dealing with fellow humans was a different story. Even if they were forcibly holding Angelo or, in the worst case, killed him, if they were affiliated with the Union, killing them could pose a problem. But initiating a conversation was equally risky. It might lead to a firefight without Aiden¡¯s intention. So, while contemplating, Aiden soon thought of one solution. ¡°I¡¯ll check inside for Angelo first. If he¡¯s alive, we should ask him.¡± Among them, Angelo was the only one with whom communication was possible. So, confirming his life and getting information on the situation from him, if he was alive, seemed like the right course of action. ¡°That¡¯s good, but how do we know which one is Angelo? We need to confirm their faces, and that¡¯s too risky.¡± ¡°I have a way. Just wait here for a moment.¡± Saying so, Aiden moved towards the village near the farm. A small village was a few hundred meters away. And, as expected, there were a few zombies inside the scarce houses. Aiden first assessed the number of zombies in the village. Around ten or so. That would be enough. Thud! He intentionally made noise by hitting the ground with a crowbar, deliberately drawing the zombies in the village to gather. As if awakened from a stupor, the zombies, who had been silently present, awkwardly shuffled out, and soon, they spotted Aiden in the middle of the village. Wearing a bulletproof helmet that concealed his face, the zombies identified Aiden as a human. ¡°Kik!¡± ¡°Kieee!¡± They started rushing towards Aiden. Aiden, leading around ten zombies, headed towards the farm. And, when they arrived near the entrance of the farm, Aiden concealed himself in the nearby forest. Of course, the zombies, following Aiden, also moved towards the forest, but... ¡°Kii...¡± What they saw as they entered the forest was Aiden, who had taken off his helmet. Confused by the reality of their fellow species they believed to be a human, even if it was just for a moment, the zombies started aimlessly wandering around, gazing at the surroundings. ¡°All right.¡± Confirming this, Aiden quietly slipped away between the zombies and rejoined Arian. Now, all that was left was to wait. And, as Aiden anticipated- ¡°Zombies! Zombies are here!¡± Soon, a commotion erupted from the farm, which had been silent. The zombies they had brought to the front of the farm had spotted people, and a battle had ensued. As people gathered to resist the zombies, Arian monitored the situation in real-time and provided information to Aiden. ¡°Four of them gathered at the entrance. The one in the barn... isn¡¯t moving.¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s likely that person. Just in case, I¡¯ll move alone. Keep an eye on their movements from here.¡± Arian nodded her head. So, circumventing the small fence surrounding the farm, Aiden began moving towards the barn. Chapter 99 Arriving at the back of the farm, Aiden crossed a low fence and entered the farm. A red-walled barn and a tall silo next to it came into view. On the opposite side was a barn, and beyond that was the entrance to the farm. Beside the barn, there was a two-story house, possibly where the farm owner lived. From the direction of the farm entrance, gunfire and shouting were still audible. The people here were all armed with rifles. With around ten zombies, they wouldn¡¯t be able to last for a long time. Thinking so, Aiden quickly checked the barn right next to him. It was a typical barn with a red-painted exterior. The door was only latched from the outside, so Aiden could open it without any issue. But before opening the door, Aiden first peeked inside through the adjacent window. While the likelihood of the person inside being Angelo was high, it wasn¡¯t certain. ¡°Hmm...¡± Frowning slightly, Aiden examined the inside of the barn. A man was haphazardly thrown in a corner from what Aiden could see. However, the man¡¯s face wasn¡¯t visible from the angle Aiden was looking. Nevertheless, the general physical conditions, like body build and skin color, matched what Aiden had heard from Amara. Aiden promptly opened the door and entered the barn to check the man¡¯s condition. Fortunately, he was still breathing. He had some injuries, bleeding from various parts of his body, but the amount of bleeding didn¡¯t seem life-threatening. The most severe injury was a puncture wound on his forearm. The wound still bleeding suggested that immediate treatment was needed, if only to prevent infection. Aiden checked the man¡¯s face. His appearance and race matched the information from Amara. Ultimately, this man seemed to be Angelo. ¡°Hey.¡± ¡°Ugh...¡± When Aiden shook his body, Angelo groaned and opened his eyes. ¡°Angelo Castro. Is that right?¡± ¡°What... what... who are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a junk dealer, and Amara asked me to bring you.¡± At the mention of Amara¡¯s name, Angelo¡¯s expression changed. ¡°Amara... sent you for me?¡± ¡°Your brother came looking for her.¡± ¡°Maxim...¡± ¡°So, get up now. We need to leave this place.¡± Angelo, who had roughly grasped the situation, got up. He looked around the barn entrance anxiously and spoke. ¡°So, are you here to... rescue me?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the plan. But there are still guys outside who have you cornered. Who are they?¡± ¡°Those bastards!¡± Angelo glared at the barn door. ¡°Those guys, looters.¡± ¡°Looters?¡± Aiden raised an eyebrow. Looters typically didn¡¯t operate around gang territories, as it wasn¡¯t wise to cross paths with a gang¡¯s exploration unit. ¡°Are those idiots... picking a fight with the Union? What are they after? Those bastards are targeting junk dealers like us. They hide in a place like this, waiting for a lone junk dealer, and then ambush them.¡± Looters targeting only junk dealers. Since junk dealers usually didn¡¯t exist in large numbers, it was an unconventional survival strategy. But with plenty of them always moving around this area, perhaps even such individuals got entangled. ¡°Anyway, they¡¯re not affiliated with the Union.¡± S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Aiden¡¯s words made Angelo nod. ¡°But why did you end up like this?¡± ¡°Hah... thought I could take them on alone? Sent one of those guys to his grave. So... cough, I couldn¡¯t kill him cleanly, though.¡± Aiden briefly considered if there were any flaws in Angelo¡¯s words, but to some extent, they seemed accurate. Angelo¡¯s mission was reconnaissance of this farm. Even if another faction had occupied this place, Aiden had no reason to fight. He could simply report that an unidentified faction had taken over the farm. Moreover, isn¡¯t Angelo alone? Rather than claiming that he initiated a confrontation with the group in the farm, it was more accurate to say that the group attacked Angelo first. So, there was no corner to doubt Angelo¡¯s testimony. With that judgment, Aiden decided to evacuate Angelo. ¡°Get out. Can you walk?¡± While swaying, Angelo steadied himself on the ground and got up. It seemed his legs had some injuries, making his gait somewhat unsteady. Nevertheless, Angelo, relying on his own strength, walked out of the barn step by step. ¡°That way. Head into the forest for now.¡± Aiden escorted him, leading Angelo towards the forest where Arian was hiding. However, at that moment. ¡°What the hell... where did the zombies suddenly come from?¡± A voice came from beyond the barn. It was one of the looters who had finished dealing with all the zombies and was returning to their position. Impatience crossed Angelo¡¯s face as he staggered. ¡°He seems to be... coming this way?¡± ¡°Keep going. I¡¯ll handle him.¡± Aiden drew his greatsword and approached the barn. Ideally, he wanted to quietly extract only the people, but unfortunately, it seemed impossible. Aiden quietly hid behind the barn, recalling their initial positions. If they were returning to their original spots, there was only one person who would come behind the barn. The other one would be at the farm entrance, and the remaining two would return to the house next to the barn. As expected, one person¡¯s footsteps gradually approached Aiden. A man with a rifle slung over his back. He seemed annoyed by the sudden zombie attack, grumbling as he passed by the side of the barn. Soon, Angelo, who had been guarded by him until a little while ago, appeared in his sight, moving away. ¡°What? How did that guy-¡° The moment he noticed Angelo, reaching for his rifle, Aiden emerged from behind the corner. With one hand covering the man¡¯s mouth and the other holding the greatsword, Aiden thrust it into the man¡¯s neck. The unpleasant sensation of piercing tough muscles and taut skin, along with warm blood. It was distinctly different from cutting through the decayed flesh of zombies, and made Aiden to furrow his brow. ¡°Ugh!¡± The man, with his carotid artery precisely severed, couldn¡¯t even scream properly and collapsed on the spot. Aiden casually threw the man¡¯s body behind the barn and joined Angelo. ¡°What... who¡¯s this girl?¡± ¡°A companion. This is Angelo. We¡¯ve successfully rescued him.¡± Angelo looked slightly embarassed at the sight of Arian, who was no more than a teenager. However, Arian nodded nonchalantly and asked: ¡°So, what about the others?¡± Looking at Aiden, she inquired about the fate of the remaining looters. Aiden didn¡¯t see the barn where he had been, but she was already aware that he had eliminated one of the looters. However, Aiden didn¡¯t see the need to bring down all the looters present here. ¡°Well, can¡¯t we just leave it as it is?¡± The task assigned to Aiden and his group was simply to safely escort Angelo. There was no need to engage in unnecessary combat. However, Angelo, who had been listening to their conversation, voiced his opposition. ¡°Wait... we can¡¯t just leave like this. I need to recover my car.¡± ¡°Your car? Did those guys take it from you?¡± Angelo nodded with a distorted face. Whether Angelo was careless or the looters were cunning, it wasn¡¯t good news. In this small farm, even if people were not around, taking away a vehicle wasn¡¯t something that could be done secretly. In other words, to secure the vehicle as Angelo wanted, they would have to deal with the other three before leaving. It was a somewhat burdensome request. However, to Aiden, who knew how valuable a vehicle was to a junk dealer in this city, it was a request that couldn¡¯t be ignored. ¡°That wasn¡¯t in the request.¡± So, Aiden subtly tried his luck, and Angelo immediately understood his intention. ¡°Of course... Let¡¯s handle it separately. I must recover the car.¡± ¡°Alright, so where is the car?¡± ¡°In the direction of the house. If they haven¡¯t moved it separately... it should be in the garage.¡± ¡°Got it. Wait quietly here then. Arian, come with me.¡± Aiden and Arian quietly left the forest. Moving toward the barn, Arian spoke to Aiden. ¡°I¡¯ll handle the two in the house. You take care of the entrance.¡± ¡°...Fine.¡± The two people inside the building would be somewhat challenging for Aiden. However, if Arian took care of them, dealing with the remaining one would be relatively easy. With a pistol in hand, Aiden carefully walked towards the entrance. There, he saw a man near the entrance kicking fallen zombies with his foot. Aiden silently aimed his gun at him. Lightly pulling the trigger- Bang! With a clear gunshot, the looter with a bullet through his head collapsed on the spot. Aiden casually picked up a few bullets from the looter¡¯s corpse and stood up again. Then he moved towards the house where Arian was headed. When he arrived at the front of the house, Arian, who had already finished her work, was waiting outside. ¡°Is it done?¡± ¡°Yeah. But I discovered this.¡± Arian showed something to Aiden. A blue triangular pattern. It was undoubtedly the mark of the search party that Amara had mentioned. ¡°One of them had it.¡± ¡°So... were the ones here members of the Union search party?¡± Aiden asked with a bit of confusion. ¡°That¡¯s not all. I checked their memories, and it seems like they were colluding with these looters. Using the information from inside the search party, they were sneaking out supplies from the back.¡± ¡°Checked your memories...?¡± Aiden asked with surprise at Arian¡¯s casual tone. Arian, as if it was nothing special, continued speaking. ¡°I just wanted to make sure whether these people were really bad guys or not. You can¡¯t completely trust the words of a man like Angelo, right?¡± Now, Aiden realized that Arian had her own validation process. Although the process wasn¡¯t entirely sensible, he couldn¡¯t say anything about it. The content alone was quite perplexing. ¡°Ugh.¡± Aiden put aside the complicated thoughts for now. There were things he needed to finish first. He confirmed the garage of the house standing tall in the middle of the farm. There, an old gray sedan was parked. Aiden soon brought Angelo to the spot. Upon seeing the sedan, Angelo let out a deep sigh of relief. ¡°Ha... yeah, this is it. It¡¯s safe.¡± Muttering like that, Angelo caressed the sedan¡¯s engine hood, and Arian handed him something. It was a small bundle of keys. ¡°Here, keys. These were with the guys in the house; do they match?¡± ¡°Yeah, they do. Thanks a lot.¡± Angelo, now smiling broadly, accepted the keys. Opening the car door and sitting in the driver¡¯s seat, he immediately started the engine. ¡°Are you going to drive yourself? Your arm seems pretty injured.¡± ¡°I can move enough to drive. Don¡¯t worry. Besides, let¡¯s get back quickly.¡± Perhaps feeling anxious, Angelo urged Aiden. Aiden wanted to stop him from driving, but he had no choice. Arian didn¡¯t know how to drive. So, if Angelo didn¡¯t drive, they would have to choose between Aiden¡¯s vehicle and Angelo¡¯s. Unable to do anything, Aiden followed Angelo¡¯s wishes. And so, the three of them headed straight back to the free zone of Shreveport. * * * ¡°You¡¯re back!¡± Amara reacted upon seeing Aiden and Arian return to the Convention Center. She finished her reception duties and immediately took the two inside a room. Sadie was waiting there, and upon seeing Aiden and Arian return, she smiled. Amara closed the door and asked Aiden. ¡°Is everything finished well?¡± ¡°That seems to be the case.¡± Aiden conveyed that Angelo had returned safely and gone to his place for treatment. Only then did Amara let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Thank goodness. But... for treatment? Did he get badly hurt?¡± ¡°He lost quite a bit of blood, but it¡¯s not life-threatening. As long as there¡¯s no infection, there shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡± ¡°I see. I should go visit him sometime.¡± Afterward, Aiden briefly explained what had happened at the farm. ¡°There were looters there?¡± Amara seemed slightly surprised. The small farm wasn¡¯t an ideal place for anyone to stay. If she hadn¡¯t known that the Union search party had cleared the surroundings to use it as a temporary base, it would have been just a passing place. ¡°Unlucky for us. It would have been a rather inconspicuous place.¡± Amara said so, but Aiden shook his head. ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t just bad luck.¡± Aiden pulled out the mark of the search party from his pocket. It was a fact that he didn¡¯t need to disclose if it were just an ordinary request. However, finishing this request quietly didn¡¯t align with his ultimate goal. His ultimate aim was to unravel the nature of the Union, the survivor group. Therefore, this request was a test thrown by Aiden at the Union. Such a request was the perfect opportunity for Aiden to scrutinize the true nature of this survivor group. ¡°One of those guys had this mark. Do you think you know the reason?¡± So Aiden handed the blue triangular mark to Amara. Her expression stiffened upon seeing it. Chapter 100 ¡°One of the looters? Why?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know why. But that place was supposed to be a temporary base for the search party a year ago. Is there anyone else who knows that information other than the same search party?¡± It wasn¡¯t just a story of looters randomly settling there by luck. Upon this, Amara lowered her voice slightly from before and asked Aiden. ¡°Who else knows about this?¡± ¡°No one in this room except me. I haven¡¯t informed Angelo either. It¡¯s not something worth spreading.¡± ¡°...Wise choice.¡± Amara displayed a bitter smile at Aiden¡¯s appropriate decision. Soon, however, she wiped the expression off her face. Her gaze turned somewhat icy, almost seeming to be coldly evaluating Aiden. ¡°Then, just leave this alone. You just rescued Angelo from the looters.¡± Saying so, Amara swiftly took the mark from Aiden. In response, Aiden asked her: ¡°Are you suggesting I keep quiet about this? Did I rescue Angelo by killing a Union member?¡± ¡°That¡¯s also one reason.¡± ¡°But what if he really is from the search party? If it were me, I¡¯d first confirm the body.¡± Whether he was from the search party or not was, in fact, more critical for Amara than for Aiden. If he were from the search party, was he not a traitor stealing from the Union? In other words, even from the Union¡¯s perspective, he was the type of person they couldn¡¯t just let be. If such a person had died, it might even be a good judgment to announce it extensively within the Union as a warning to those traitors planning similar actions. However, to Aiden¡¯s words, Amara shook her head. ¡°That could be true. But the situation is a bit complicated now. It¡¯s not a good time to provoke the search party.¡± ¡°Why isn¡¯t it a good time? What does that mean?¡± Aiden¡¯s question prompted Amara to sigh briefly and hesitate for a moment. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The reason was likely related to internal issues within the Union, Aiden guessed. Originally, it was a topic an outsider wouldn¡¯t need to be concerned about. However, to Aiden, it was the information he had been most eagerly awaiting, so he urged Amara with his silence to continue speaking. ¡°As I mentioned before, there are three groups... no, factions within the Union.¡± Aiden, unable to resist the urge, nodded quietly. ¡°That¡¯s right, I remember.¡± ¡°Because of that, each faction appointed three representatives to lead the groups. The search party, the police, and the workers¡¯ representatives. It wasn¡¯t bad at first... but conflicts have been arising recently.¡± Upon hearing the word ¡®conflicts,¡¯ Aiden¡¯s eyes lit up quietly within his helmet. Arian, pretending not to care, also focused on Amara, appearing to be attentive. Only Sadie innocently looked at Amara. In such a situation, Amara¡¯s words continued. ¡°The first dissatisfaction arose from the search party. They, who are dedicated to external activities, felt they were exposed to too much risk compared to other factions.¡± She explained the perspective of the search party. Those who searched for supplies outside the barricades and the city were always in combat with zombies or looters. Therefore, naturally, only the search party members were dying in the process. However, the Union had to share the supplies brought by the other factions, even though it didn¡¯t sit well with them. ¡°It¡¯s not an untrue statement. Thanks to them, ordinary workers hardly ever see zombies now. So, the Union gave them various privileges as a recognition of their sacrifices.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°But as usual, there were people who weren¡¯t satisfied. One of those dissatisfied people might be the betrayer in this incident.¡± To relieve the accumulated dissatisfaction in a way that wasn¡¯t normal, they tried to steal Union supplies and solve it that way. Aiden nodded in agreement with such a plausible conjecture. ¡°It¡¯s possible.¡± ¡°But the problem doesn¡¯t end there. As the Union began to recognize the privileges of the search party, their influence grew, and eventually, they started defying the orders of the police in charge of security.¡± Amara explained, using a recent incident as an example. During the search operation by the search party, the police conducted body searches as per protocol. It was a reasonable measure to check if there were any signs of being bitten by zombies. However, some members of the search party opposed this action, questioning whether they were being treated like carriers. The situation escalated into violence, and despite the incident resulting in multiple deaths during the search party¡¯s exploration, the Union did not punish anyone and concluded the case. At that time, they took into account the fact that many deaths occurred during the search party¡¯s exploration. ¡°But since then, the police, as well as the workers, have been rebelling against their privileges. They say, ¡®Are only those guys suffering? If so, let¡¯s take turns doing external activities for all the factions.¡¯¡± ¡°That sounds like a reasonable solution.¡± ¡°I also think so. However, interestingly, the search party opposed it. Giving up external activities means they have to give up the privileges they¡¯ve enjoyed so far. They didn¡¯t like that idea.¡± Aiden nodded. Eventually, although they were consolidated into one group, it was a structurally problematic situation that led to internal factionalism. It wouldn¡¯t be resolved so easily. Aiden diagnosed it as such and waited for Amara¡¯s next words. ¡°As a result, the Union¡¯s internal situation is quite chaotic. But how can I bring up the topic of a traitor here?¡± Having heard this much, Aiden now understood Amara¡¯s perspective. If a Union police officer like her accused a search party member of being a traitor under these circumstances... This could potentially add fuel to the power struggle between factions. Amara, rather than witnessing such a scenario, just wanted to bury the incident. ¡°Alright. Regarding this matter, I¡¯ll respect your opinion.¡± Considering the Union¡¯s situation, Aiden also judged it wise to go along with that. Since he had already gained significant information about the Union¡¯s internal affairs, it wasn¡¯t a loss for him. ¡°Thank you for understanding.¡± With that, as the conversation came to a close, Amara expressed her gratitude to Aiden. Then, in a slightly lighter tone, she changed the subject. ¡°But... you seem to be very interested in our internal affairs. Is there a specific reason, or is it just curiosity?¡± Amara, who had revealed the internal situation so smoothly, seemed to be trying to read Aiden¡¯s thoughts. As there was no need to hide the reason, Aiden honestly replied: ¡°We¡¯re looking for a group to join. So, we are quite interested in the Union¡¯s internal affairs.¡± ¡°Ah, I see. That makes sense.¡± For wanderers exhausted from a long journey or junk dealers wanting to join a survivor group, it wasn¡¯t such an unusual story. Amara then smiled with a somewhat self-satisfied expression. ¡°I¡¯ve talked about only the bad things. Well, isn¡¯t every group bound to have conflicts?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s not wrong. Which group doesn¡¯t have conflicts?¡± Aiden said it sincerely. Even in the past when law and order existed, weren¡¯t there many problems in society? Now, without proper rules, society was hastily formed, and these kinds of issues were somewhat inevitable. ¡°Then let me give you some good news. Just wait a moment.¡± Amara left the room and soon returned. She handed a small metal plate to Aiden and Arian, the symbol of the junk dealer. However, it was slightly different from what Aiden¡¯s group had. Now, not only the number but also their names were engraved on it. Aiden knew very well what the plate with their names meant. ¡°Congratulations. From now on, you are Grade B. Achieving Grade B in just a month is impressive. I¡¯ve never seen anyone climb the ranks so quickly.¡± Although Amara said this, a month was quite a long time for Aiden¡¯s group. After leaving on their journey, they spent almost two weeks in Fort Wayne, where they stayed the longest. However, in this place, they had spent twice that time. Of course, it was worth the time they invested. Now, they could finally see the inside of the barrier that they hadn¡¯t been able to step into. ¡°Thanks for accepting it.¡± Aiden and Arian returned the old plates and received the new ones. Then Amara spoke again. ¡°I¡¯ll give you the reward for the request right away. Oh, and I¡¯ll add the additional reward I mentioned.¡± ¡°What about the additional reward? Can we receive something else?¡± ¡°Something else? Do you have a specific material you want?¡± Amara noticed from Aiden¡¯s tone that he wasn¡¯t expecting an ordinary reward but something more. ¡°We want to enter the barrier. We want to take Sadie there. Is that possible?¡± Originally, only junk dealers with Grade B or higher could enter the barrier. Even if it was a child, accompanying someone wasn¡¯t allowed. That¡¯s why Aiden was making this request. Amara quickly responded to this. ¡°If it¡¯s a child, you need a guarantor. There were cases where junk dealers left their children inside the Union and went back outside. That¡¯s when this rule was established.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°But you should be fine. Alright, I¡¯ll be your guarantor.¡± ¡°Thank you. And... if it¡¯s okay, we¡¯d like your guidance as well.¡± Now that she seemed to understand Aiden¡¯s intention, Amara nodded. To her, who was a member of the police overseeing the Union¡¯s administration, guiding them wasn¡¯t a burden at all. ¡°That should be fine. I¡¯ll be happy to help. When would be a good date for you to enter?¡± She assured Aiden that they would take care of the necessary procedures, and so Aiden quickly responded. ¡°As soon as possible.¡± * * * The next day. Arian and Sadie arrived at the Convention Center early in the morning. Today, they were finally going to check the environment inside the Union¡¯s stronghold. Amara, who had agreed to guide them, arrived shortly afterward. Noticing that one of the three members who always accompanied her was missing, she asked them. ¡°The other person... isn¡¯t coming?¡± ¡°Yes. Today, only the two of us are going.¡± Sadie replied to Amara. Arian nodded, as if confirming what she said. ¡°I thought you would come together.¡± Surprised, Amara remarked. It was unexpected, considering that Aiden might directly join the Union and had been actively gathering information just yesterday. But there was a clear reason why Aiden couldn¡¯t go. To enter the Union¡¯s stronghold, one must remove the helmet and undergo a body search. It was a minimal measure to screen out potential zombie infections, but naturally, Aiden couldn¡¯t expose his face. However, sneaking in posed too much risk, so, for now, they decided to rely on Arian¡¯s judgment. ¡°Let¡¯s go then. The designated entry times for outsiders are 9 AM and 5 PM. Once you¡¯re in, you can¡¯t leave until then. I explained this yesterday; do you remember?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Sadie cheerfully replied, and Arian nodded as well. ¡°Then, come this way.¡± Amara, Sadie, and Arian left the convention center and headed further north. Soon, they reached a small bridge. It was a bridge leading directly from the city to the Union¡¯s stronghold, over the Red River¡¯s tributary. Arian checked the flow of the river there. The waterway, protecting the Union from the south and west, wasn¡¯t particularly deep. Even if mutants or hundreds of zombies swarmed, it wouldn¡¯t be impossible to cross. But even that much could make this waterway an excellent natural barrier. People on the other side wouldn¡¯t just be idle. Perhaps Aiden¡¯s judgment that this place was safe was accurate. While Arian was thinking about it, Sadie tugged on her sleeve. ¡°Look over there!¡± What Sadie pointed to was the looming barrier that had come into view. The height of the barrier was almost 10 meters. It was a height that even most mutants, let alone Brutals, couldn¡¯t easily jump over. And now, the barrier¡¯s gate was slowly opening. Creak... A slowly widening iron gate. As the gate opened fully after a while, the view inside the Union was revealed. ¡°Why are they opening that gate?¡± Arian asked while observing. It wasn¡¯t just to open the gate for a few outsiders. ¡°It seems like a search party is getting ready to depart.¡± Amara replied with a slightly lowered voice. As she said, after the gate fully opened and a while later, Arian could feel the slight vibrations in the ground. Simultaneously, numerous engine sounds and human footsteps reached their ears. And what soon appeared was an armored vehicle. ¡°...¡± Seeing the armored vehicle, Sadie felt a bit overwhelmed. That military vehicle wasn¡¯t associated with pleasant memories for her. Arian put his hand on Sadie¡¯s shoulder, comforting her. Meanwhile, behind the gate, starting with the armored vehicle, modified dump trucks with metal plates and spikes came out. Following them, dozens of ordinary vehicles rushed out. It was a search party departing, reminiscent of a lively parade. To some junk dealers nearby, the sight seemed quite majestic, and they were staring wide-eyed. However, to Arian, it didn¡¯t look particularly impressive or courageous. Arian was already reading the emotions emanating from the search party. What stood before them was fear, reluctance, and faint anger. Added to that were the strong smells of gunpowder and dried, rotten blood. Because of these scents, their departure resembled more a gloomy funeral procession than a glorious parade. ¡°Now, let¡¯s go.¡± As the search party passed, Amara continued to lead the group. They headed towards a smaller side gate, not the large one that had just opened. Already, a few junk dealers were lining up there, and Amara and her group joined behind them. After a short wait. ¡°Alright, go through.¡± Finally, Arian and Sadie, who had completed all the procedures, stepped inside the barrier. What they saw then was the landscape of a reasonably well-constructed small city. Chapter 101 ¡°Feels a bit desolate, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Amara said with a wry smile. Behind the barrier, rows of low gray buildings stretched out. The concrete outer walls were painted only in a dull white without any other patterns or decorations, making it hard to describe them as beautiful, just as Amara mentioned. The atmosphere was somewhat exotic. It didn¡¯t resemble cities or towns in the United States but rather seemed like a different country. It evoked images of slums in the Middle East or India. However, Arian closely examined the dry-designed buildings. The doors were not large but sturdy, and the windows were unusually small. It seemed that these buildings were not constructed for people to live in but perhaps for some other purpose. Given their proximity to the barrier, they were probably built with the assumption of potential combat. Arian positively speculated on this, and the buildings were connected to walkways leading up to the barrier. Inside, people with rifles continued to pass by. Although Arian had anticipated it by looking at the high barrier, they differed from other groups that either repaired or used the ruined buildings. Fort Wayne, which could utilize vast military resources, except for the barrier, had almost no directly built buildings inside. However, these people undoubtedly possessed their own construction capabilities and seemed to have already constructed a significant number of buildings. ¡°Were all these barrier and buildings built by the Union?¡± Arian asked to confirm. In response, Amara lightly nodded her head. ¡°Yes, we made them.¡± ¡°Does this kind of barrier surround the entire stronghold?¡± ¡°No, not exactly. This level of defense is only present at the entry points accessible by land.¡± Arian nodded, understanding that even with her limited knowledge of construction, three years seemed too short to enclose the entire stronghold with a 10-meter-high barrier. ¡°How did you build them, considering there might not be construction materials?¡± ¡°Well, we naturally started from there.¡± Amara briefly explained the construction process. It all began when they found an abandoned cement factory near the city while the Union was building the barrier for the stronghold¡¯s safety. The cement discovered there proved to be a significant help. After recognizing the importance of cement, the Union attempted to manufacture it. They searched for quarries dozens of kilometers away, extracted raw materials, and began making bricks using a somewhat primitive method that didn¡¯t require electricity. It might sound unbelievable just hearing it. The reason it was possible was the potential of the 50 000 inhabitants. ¡°Fortunately, there were people with knowledge in that area. Some of them used to work in that industry.¡± If electricity could be restored, there were plans to connect water from the nearby river once again, Amara said. Arian couldn¡¯t help but be surprised. She had initially thought of this group as just having more people than other cities, but it wasn¡¯t the case. Unlike other cities, which were more focused on immediate survival, there was a clear scent of civilization here. ¡°Let¡¯s move on. I have something I want to show you.¡± Saying so, Amara led Arian and Sadie around various places within the stronghold. One such place was a marketplace. ¡°Wow...¡± Sadie let out a small gasp. It was originally a small marketplace, and the Union had resurrected it without even touching the signs. Now, people were coming and going just like three years ago. The building that used to be a tire shop displayed alcoholic beverages and cigarettes. The structure that was once a restaurant was still selling food. Although it didn¡¯t seem to be exclusively a seafood restaurant, the smell Arian perceived hinted at cooking. It was surprising to find such a large-scale market outside the stronghold. Arian looked at Amara with a questioning gaze, as if asking for an explanation. ¡°In the Union, we pay for labor. With this kind of currency,¡± Amara said, pulling out a thin bill. It was none other than the American dollar. However, these bills had intricate patterns stamped in red. It was probably a symbol proving that this dollar was the Union¡¯s currency. Amara continued her explanation. ¡°And some of this currency can be spent in the market like this. Well, it¡¯s not much, but it helps boost the morale of the workers, or something like that,¡± Amara explained. She mentioned that all the shops in this place were owned by the Union, and the prices were also determined by the Union. In this way, the Union controlled the supply and consumption of currency, regulating the internal economy. ¡°Also... most of the items coming in here are brought by the search parties. Oh, except for the ingredients for the restaurant, those are brought by laborers dedicated to hunting.¡± ¡°Hunting? Are there workers going outside?¡± ¡°Yes, there are. While external activities are mainly handled by the scouting teams, laborers are not entirely excluded. The search parties mainly handle... combat. The work in the quarry I mentioned earlier, simple transportation, hunting, and such tasks are handled by the workers.¡± Arian nodded, realizing that it was probably more efficient that way. ¡°But... do you have to buy your meals?¡± ¡°Meals are basically provided at the work sites. However... it¡¯s essentially a mix of canned goods, so honestly, it¡¯s not that delicious. So, if you want to eat proper food occasionally, you come here.¡± After that, Amara showed Arian the actual work sites and the restaurant, where the working conditions varied greatly. Some were working on construction sites, while others were repairing vehicles by the roadside. There were even doctors sitting in spaces like hospitals, caring for patients. Most of the laborers were working in fields related to their past careers, according to Amara¡¯s explanation. However, amidst all this, something caught Arian¡¯s eye. ¡°Those... aren¡¯t they children?¡± In a small building in a corner of such a labor area, kids around Sadie¡¯s age were assembling something with small hands. ¡°Yes, they are. In the Union, everyone aged 8 and above has to work.¡± Amara answered matter-of-factly, seeming to have brought Arian and Sadie here deliberately to reveal this fact. However, Arian¡¯s forehead wrinkled slightly upon hearing this. Even in this changed world, making children work seemed decidedly inhumane in Arian¡¯s eyes. ¡°...¡± But Sadie didn¡¯t think so. The child looked at her peers working in the bustling market and the workshop with a clear gaze, much like she did when observing the doctors and mechanics. Mixed in her eyes were not disgust or pity, but admiration and envy. To Sadie, following her mother¡¯s last advice, emotion urging her to fulfill her role in any group, appeared impressive. Seeing Sadie like that, Arian sighed quietly. Children, who should be playing outside, were working like factory machines. And Sadie, who should be playing, looked at them and envied them. For Arian, it just felt regrettable. However, she had nothing to offer to these children. So, she remained silent, alternating between watching Sadie and the children at work. Then, a man approached. ¡°Hey, Amara!¡± A black man in his forties came towards them. Arian briefly eyed him warily, but seeing the man in a police uniform, she observed Amara¡¯s reaction. ¡°James?¡± ¡°You were here! I¡¯ve been looking for you.¡± The man approached Amara in one step. He seemed out of breath, probably from running around just moments ago. ¡°Phew... I urgently need you, higher up north.¡± ¡°Me? What¡¯s going on?¡± The man tried to say something but looked at Arian and Sadie by his side. ¡°But... are these companions?¡± ¡°Junk dealers we work with.¡± ¡°Ah, outsiders. I¡¯m sorry, but I need to talk to Amara privately. Is that okay?¡± The man sought Arian¡¯s understanding. Arian nodded, and the man took Amara to a slightly secluded place. ¡°...¡± Ignoring them, Arian looked at Sadie and gently stroked her head. But the conversation between them was clearly audible to Arian¡¯s ears. ¡°Why is that?¡± ¡°We¡¯re building our forward base in Texarkana, have you heard about it?¡± ¡°Texarkana? Oh, the one under construction for the past six months?¡± The mention of Texarkana made Arian¡¯s head turn slightly to the side. It was the first time she had heard that name. So, she made a mental note and continued to eavesdrop on their conversation. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Yes, that one. Something big seems to have happened there.¡± ¡°Something big?¡± ¡°The base has been completely destroyed. Everyone inside is dead,¡± the man said. Amara swallowed hard upon hearing this. ¡°What... There were only a few hundred people deployed there. Who could have done this?¡± ¡°The workers who went there to deliver construction materials testified. The entrance was destroyed, and inside, there were nothing but zombies.¡± Arian¡¯s eyes lit up quietly at this quite serious story. If the man¡¯s words were true, it meant that hundreds of people had died. ¡°...Is it a misunderstanding?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not. The long-distance deliveries are escorted by search teams. The parties who followed them confirmed the situation roughly. That¡¯s why the Union headquarters is in chaos right now.¡± A long sigh escaped from Amara¡¯s lips. Not only was the issue of the dead people concerning, but also the recent conflicts within the Union headquarters were vividly clear to her. ¡°But why are they looking for me at the headquarters?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t exactly know... looks like they are mobilizing the junk dealers. After all, that¡¯s your specialty.¡± ¡°Junk dealers? What are they going to use those people for?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Just go and ask for yourself.¡± The man urged Amara. At that moment, Amara looked somewhat troubled. She probably needed to go to the headquarters immediately, but she had companions with her. ¡°Just a moment. I¡¯ll talk to those people and be right back.¡± Leaving the man for a moment, Amara returned to Arian and Sadie. ¡°Sorry. Something urgent has come up.¡± ¡°Something urgent?¡± Arian asked in a somewhat surprised tone, pretending not to know. Amara¡¯s expression clouded. ¡°Yes. I¡¯m really sorry. If it¡¯s alright with you, could we reschedule for tomorrow, and I¡¯ll guide you again?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a problem, but... what about us?¡± The entry and exit times for outsiders in this Union base were strictly limited. Once you entered, you couldn¡¯t go out until the next entry time at 5 p.m. Amara, in a more difficult situation, pointed to the man behind her as a temporary solution. ¡°Well... I¡¯ll talk to him for now. He should be able to find a place for you to spend time.¡± However, Arian was bothered by the conversation between Amara and the man. Arian didn¡¯t come to this place for tourism; she came to investigate the Union. In that sense, the people calling Amara seemed to be quite authoritative figures in the Union. And with Arian around, she could overhear their conversation. Arian judged that she had the worth to go there herself. ¡°Wait, but. Where are you going?¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s... ¡° Amara hesitated for a moment. But it seemed she didn¡¯t need to hide the location because she soon gave a direct answer. ¡°I have to go to the Union headquarters. That¡¯s where I was called.¡± ¡°Then... can we wait around there?¡± ¡°There? It¡¯s not impossible, but...¡± The Union headquarters used a university building a bit away from this place. Of course, outsiders were strictly prohibited from entering. However, there were plenty of workshops and construction sites outside, so waiting for someone was quite feasible. ¡°I don¡¯t know when I¡¯ll be back.¡± ¡°That¡¯s okay. I just don¡¯t want to be wandering around with strangers.¡± Arian deliberately spoke coldly. The attitude, combined with her outwardly indifferent impression and her early adolescence, created an extremely convincing persuasiveness. Even Amara might have panicked if someone told her to spend a few hours with a stranger when she was that age. In the end, Amara nodded. ¡°If that¡¯s the case... there¡¯s nothing we can do. Okay. Let¡¯s do that. But please, stay quiet. Entry beyond this point is prohibited. And...¡± After giving some instructions, Amara went back to the man, leaving Arian and Sadie behind. The man frowned slightly upon seeing them. ¡°What, are you bringing them along too?¡± ¡°They will only go nearby. They¡¯re with me, and I have nowhere else to take them right now.¡± ¡°Really? Fine, let¡¯s go.¡± The man led the group towards the Union headquarters. As the situation unfolded as expected, Arian faintly smiled from behind. Chapter 102 The place Amara designated for Arian and Sadie to wait was a small square in the university. It was a location where you could directly overlook the Union headquarters building. The surroundings were kept like a suitable park, serving as a rest area for the workers working nearby. Arian and Sadie sat on a small bench in a corner of the square. Since it was still the time when workers were actively working, the surroundings were quiet. Moreover, the Union headquarters building was more than 10 meters away, and the guards at the entrance were not paying much attention to this area. For Arian, who wanted to eavesdrop on the Union leaders¡¯ conversation, it was a perfect spot. Amara, still unable to hide her apology, spoke as she departed. ¡°Well then, please wait here?¡± ¡°Yes. Take your time.¡± Arian nodded, and Amara quickly left, leaving a message that she would return as soon as possible. Once Amara left, Sadie, who was next to her, tugged at Arian¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Why did we come here?¡± Sadie asked in a low voice. Perhaps Sadie sensed discomfort in Arian¡¯s words. The girl already noticed that Arian deliberately came to this place. ¡°Well, you see...¡± Arian conveyed her thoughts to Sadie. She explained that she intended to quietly eavesdrop on the Union leaders¡¯ conversation here and try to understand their intentions. Upon understanding Arian¡¯s intentions, Sadie nodded in agreement. ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll quietly stay here.¡± ¡°Sure, thanks.¡± Arian patted Sadie¡¯s head and quietly focused on her sense of hearing. Then, all sorts of sounds began to ring in her ears. Sounds of hammers striking in the workshop, someone shouting, countless footsteps, and unnecessary conversation sounds. It was a conglomeration of noise mixed with various sounds. However, Arian calmly searched for the sound she was looking for amid the noise. Finally, she was able to catch the sound of someone talking. The direction was the conference room on the top floor of the command building. Arian, thinking that it must be that place because of its location, focused her attention on that place. Then, Arian¡¯s ears began to hear sounds from inside the conference room clearly. * * * Union¡¯s conference room. A man in his mid-50s was aggressively speaking. ¡°What did you just say? Is this our fault?¡± That man was Charlie Wise, the representative of the Union¡¯s search party. He was glaring at Jordan Holt, a middle-aged East Asian man and also the police representative, who spoke a little earlier. However, Jordan just looked at Charlie indifferently. A tense atmosphere hung between the two. The person who spoke next was Isabella Castro, a Hispanic woman in her 40s who sat at the table with them. ¡°It¡¯s not entirely wrong. What¡¯s the search party¡¯s job? It¡¯s to prevent those damn zombies. But what if everyone turned into zombies? What does that mean?¡± She, representing the workers, threw words that seemed to press the search team. Charlie¡¯s expression crumpled badly at her words. ¡°Ridiculous! This incident is an accident!¡± He forcefully tapped the few yellowed papers on the long conference table with his finger. ¡°Haven¡¯t you seen this report? There are no signs of combat outside the base. So the zombies didn¡¯t come from outside but from inside!¡± ¡°That¡¯s what your search party investigated, so of course they would say this.¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Are you saying you can¡¯t trust us now?¡± Charlie¡¯s momentum turned cold. However, the other two had no intention of responding positively to him. ¡°Isn¡¯t it natural to not trust you? Even if I wanted to, I couldn¡¯t, because the suspect was investigating himself.¡± Jordan, the police representative, said so. Upon hearing that, Charlie bit his lip and mumbled in a low voice. ¡°Then... What do you suggest?¡± ¡°We need a separate investigation. As you all know, this is not something we can just overlook. Hundreds of people have died. The responsibility must be clearly determined.¡± ¡°I agree with that.¡± Isabella raised her hand, interrupting Jordan¡¯s words. Charlie scoffed at their seemingly coordinated attitude. ¡°So, who are we sending for the investigation?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve thought about it, but ultimately, sending anyone from the Union would create unnecessary noise, right? If we set up separate investigation teams for each faction, we might worry about whether the investigation will go well. And we might accidentally erase unfavorable evidence without anyone knowing.¡± ¡°Enough, get to the point.¡± Charlie interrupted Jordan¡¯s words. Jordan cleared his throat uncomfortably but continued, not hiding his displeasure. ¡°We¡¯ll send an outsider.¡± ¡°An outsider?¡± ¡°Yeah, junk dealers.¡± At Jordan¡¯s suggestion, Charlie seemed bewildered, and Isabella chuckled amusingly. Charlie was the first to speak. ¡°Are you out of your mind? What do they know?¡± ¡°They don¡¯t know anything, and that¡¯s precisely why we¡¯re sending them.¡± Saying so, Jordan chuckled lightly. It was a somewhat ominous smile, like a snake. ¡°An outsider who knows nothing, so we can all believe the investigation results. Isn¡¯t that right?¡± A moment of silence filled the conference room at Jordan¡¯s words. His argument made sense. It wasn¡¯t just a matter of investigation methods. It involved internal affairs of the Union, power struggles between factions, and even the repercussions this incident would bring. Jordan suggested that an outsider who knew nothing about all of this could conduct an objective investigation. ¡°Not a bad idea. I agree.¡± Isabella spoke, and Charlie hardened his expression. Already with two out of three faction representatives in agreement, the conclusion was almost set. ¡°So, who are you going to entrust this to? You haven¡¯t already bought out junk dealers, have you?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t make presumptuous remarks without evidence.¡± Jordan warned Charlie. After glaring at Charlie for a moment, Jordan continued. ¡°I¡¯ve called in the official in charge of overseeing the junk dealers. You should know her. Mrs. Olson.¡± ¡°Ah... Andrew¡¯s wife.¡± Charlie¡¯s expression softened slightly at the mention of the name Olson. The Olson couple was considered somewhat neutral among the three factions. Andrew Olson, her husband, was a high-ranking member of the search party, and Amara Olson, his wife, was a police officer. Although they had little connection with the workers, there was a personal friendship between Isabella, the worker representative, and Amara. ¡°Let¡¯s entrust the job to the junk dealers recommended by her. What do you think?¡± So, at Jordan¡¯s proposal, both Charlie and Isabella nodded without much hesitation. Charlie gestured to the man standing guard at the door of the conference room. ¡°Where is Mrs. Olson?¡± ¡°She came a little while ago and is waiting outside.¡± ¡°Bring her in.¡± The man silently opened the door he had been guarding and went outside. And after a while, with a somewhat tense face, Amara entered the conference room. Jordan welcomed her with a professional smile. ¡°Sorry for calling you in despite your busy schedule. There¡¯s something I want to ask you. Please, have a seat.¡± Amara took a seat on one side of the table. With a businesslike smile, Jordan conveyed to her a part of the conversation they had just been sharing. Ignoring the dispute over the responsibility of the incident, he focused on the need for additional investigation to accurately understand what happened at the Forward Base. ¡°Given the situation, we¡¯re looking for a junk dealer who can handle this matter. Can you recommend someone?¡± ¡°Well, if that¡¯s the case...¡± However, before Amara could respond, Charlie added: ¡°If possible, I¡¯d prefer a junk dealer who recently arrived in the city. If possible, within three months.¡± ¡°That sounds like an unreasonable demand.¡± Isabella interjected in response to Charlie¡¯s statement. If a junk dealer had been in the city for less than three months, they would typically be at most Grade C. However, considering the risk of this particular task, it required a junk dealer of at least Grade B or higher. Charlie looked at Amara. ¡°Is that really the case? Are there really no suitable candidates?¡± In response to Charlie¡¯s question, Amara hesitated for a moment, contemplating whether to mention a name that had come to mind. However, she decided there was no reason to hide it. ¡°Aiden Lee and Arian Clifford. These two individuals reached Grade B within a month of arriving here.¡± ¡°A month? Is that possible?¡± ¡°Yes. If they handle requests diligently every day without exception for a month... theoretically, it is possible.¡± Isabella let out a dry laugh. The Union had strict criteria for assigning grades to requests. For example, Grade E requests were for simple item deliveries, Grade D excluded combat-related missions like delivering items or conducting local reconnaissance. Grade C and above involved combat in the tasks. Therefore, handling Grade C requests every day meant dealing with life-threatening combat every day. Charlie nodded, realizing the implications. ¡°Impressive skills. And in just a month...¡± Charlie glanced at the other two representatives without saying a word. It seemed his monologue conveyed the idea that there wouldn¡¯t have been time for them to make a move during that time. ¡°Any other candidates?¡± ¡°For Grade B or higher... there are none. All other junk dealers have been here for more than six months.¡± Isabella¡¯s question, asked just in case, came back with an answer as expected. Jordan then turned to the other two representatives, and they nodded silently. It was the moment when the decision was made on who to entrust with the task. ¡°Then, Mrs. Olson. Assign them the request as we discussed earlier-¡° Jordan then conveyed the detailed requirements of the request to Amara. Listening to his words, Amara focused on the information. ¡°...¡± Outside the meeting room, sitting on a bench in the square, Arian listened quietly, lost in thought, to the details. * * * That afternoon. Arian and Sadie, who went inside the Union, came out safely. Fortunately, it didn¡¯t take long for Amara to be called to the command center. Thanks to that, Arian and Sadie were on their way after looking into every nook and cranny of the Union. But right now, the only thing that remained in Arian¡¯s mind was one request. Arian and Sadie immediately returned to their base where Aiden was staying. Their base was located in a hotel in the city, within the Free Zone. The interior was once lavishly decorated with marble and gold-colored wallpaper, but now, after a long period of neglect, the scene seemed eerie. It was worth noting that within the Free Zone, while safety was guaranteed, all buildings were Union-owned, and outsiders like junk dealers couldn¡¯t occupy them freely. The Union used this as a basis and operated hotels where junk dealers, including outsiders, had to pay accommodation fees at regular intervals. Of course, the conditions and services in these hotels, to call them that, were not much. They merely provided rooms, and in reality, they did nothing else. Despite the obvious disadvantage, the safety guarantee and reasonable accommodation fees, along with the desire not to attract attention from the Union, kept Aiden and his group staying here. Arriving at room 301 of that hotel, Arian knocked on the door. Two quick knocks, followed by four slow ones ¨C it was a prearranged signal. ¡°...Did you come?¡± As the door opened, Aiden, wearing a helmet, appeared. As Arian and Sadie entered the hotel room, Aiden immediately took off his helmet. While the hotel room had a somewhat luxurious feel, it was a typical business hotel. A moderately sized room with vertically patterned white wallpaper, brown curtains, and a dirty red carpet on the floor. There was also a bathroom next to it, but it had no running water and was unusable. The room contained furniture such as a bed and chairs that had remained since the hotel ceased operations. Although not particularly clean, the luxurious design was still intact, barely reaching a level where people could use it. ¡°How was the harvest?¡± ¡°It was good. Found some interesting things.¡± Arian sat on the bed, sharing what she had seen and heard with Aiden. Aiden showed interest in the various technologies the Union possessed, but when he heard about the information related to the task they were going to undertake, he sighed briefly. ¡°...I see. Did Amara say anything separately?¡± ¡°No, she didn¡¯t say a word today. But she treated us as if nothing happened.¡± Arian recalled Amara guiding them through the Union¡¯s internals after receiving such demands without a change in expression. Although it felt awkward to call it a performance, Amara was a woman who seemed to know how to manage her expressions quite well. ¡°...¡± Having heard Arian¡¯s words, Aiden fell into thought for a moment. Arian urged Aiden for an answer as he remained silent. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°Well.¡± Watching Aiden save his words, Arian grinned. ¡°I thought you¡¯d naturally agree.¡± Certainly, to delve deeper into understanding the Union, accepting the task without much thought was the right thing to do. However, Aiden felt an uneasy atmosphere in the conversation between the Union representatives that Arian conveyed. Could it be that they were considering entrusting such a task to outsiders because they didn¡¯t trust each other? The lack of trust between the internal factions of the Union seemed to be deeply rooted, more than Aiden had anticipated. ¡°It¡¯s too risky to think lightly about it. We might get involved in the factional disputes if we make a mistake.¡± ¡°...So, we won¡¯t do it?¡± ¡°I guess it¡¯s impossible.¡± Although the task might intensify conflicts between factions, refusing wouldn¡¯t change anything. If it wasn¡¯t Aiden, another junk dealer would handle the task. Rather than just watching, it was better for Aiden to uncover the truth of the incident and observe the Union¡¯s response. However, before making a final decision, Aiden briefly shifted the topic. In some ways, it was a much more critical subject than the task. ¡°How about the Union? Did it seem like a good place to settle down?¡± ¡°There were some places that didn¡¯t sit well with me, but at least, in my eyes, it seemed better than any group I¡¯ve seen so far.¡± Aiden nodded at Arian¡¯s response. Considering what she had seen in the Union, such an evaluation was by no means unreasonable. Aiden then turned to Sadie. ¡°How about you, Sadie?¡± ¡°I... liked it there too.¡± Sadie calmly expressed what she had felt to Aiden. Each diligently performing their assigned tasks while feeling no anxiety was something Sadie appreciated. ¡°In that case... the decision is made. Let¡¯s accept that request.¡± Having heard the responses from both, Aiden made the decision. Their positive responses implied that there was value in stepping deeply into the Union. Chapter 103 The next day. Amara came to the hotel where Aiden and his group were staying from morning onwards. As Arian had announced, it was because of the Union headquarters¡¯ designated task. ¡°...Alright, we¡¯ll take it.¡± As soon as Amara finished her explanation, Aiden accepted her request. It was a decision that had already been made. There was no reason to hesitate. However, Amara blinked as if surprised. ¡°Are you sure? The task can be quite dangerous.¡± Her words were accurate. Aiden¡¯s investigation would focus on how a forward base, which housed hundreds of people, had been wiped out overnight. In other words, it meant investigating a scene surrounded by hundreds of zombies. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The danger was self-evident. But Aiden, who had already made up his mind, just nodded and spoke. ¡°I know. More importantly, I want to hear detailed information.¡± ¡°Detailed information?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t heard where the incident happened yet.¡± Amara intentionally concealed information about the incident. If Aiden had refused the task, there was a possibility that unnecessary information could leak. However, now that Aiden had decided to take on the task, she had no grounds to control the information. Amara forced a bitter smile at this. ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯m sorry, I was a bit distracted. First... the forward base is in Texarkana. Do you know what city that is?¡± Aiden nodded. Texarkana was a city about 100 km north of Shreveport, where the Union was located. It was an unusual city split between Texas and Arkansas, with half of the city in each state. As Amara explained, the Union had been building a forward base in Texarkana for the past six months. ¡°It¡¯s not just an ordinary base to be used and discarded. In simple terms... we were trying to establish a second stronghold there.¡± The Union had high expectations for Texarkana. They even mobilized a considerable number of people and resources. Therefore, the incident in Texarkana was a significant loss for the Union. A question arose in Aiden¡¯s mind. Why was Texarkana chosen specifically? ¡°There¡¯s a reason for choosing that location, right?¡± ¡°Of course. It was selected not by me, but by experts who thought about it in their own way.¡± Amara explained the reasons that came to her mind. Texarkana was close to essential resources such as quarries, and the Red River from Shreveport reached there, making water supply convenient. Moreover, there was an abandoned power plant, enabling a stable supply of electricity. Even though these challenges in Shreveport were successful, it meant that they could transfer the experience directly to Texarkana if successful. ¡°But the most important thing among them was... resources.¡± ¡°Resources?¡± ¡°According to the investigation of the search party, there is a considerable amount of resources left in that city. So, in the short term, to explore resources leisurely and, in the long term, to use it as a foothold for expanding north, we intended to establish a forward base in Texarkana.¡± Despite the secrecy of the reconnaissance results of the search party, especially about the resources, Amara openly shared this information. It indicated how important the Union considered this incident. Aiden acknowledged this with seriousness but continued with his questions. ¡°If there¡¯s a report from the search team that investigated the area. How is the content?¡± ¡°I already have a copy of that report.¡± Amara took out the report and handed it to Aiden. It wasn¡¯t thick. Unlike in the past, it couldn¡¯t contain photos, only a report written by someone about the situation. ¡°Hmm...¡± Examining it, Aiden let out a sigh. In fact, the content wasn¡¯t much. The person who wrote the report didn¡¯t even enter the collapsed walls of the forward base. They only inferred the grim situation by observing the broken walls, wide-open doors, and the zombies teeming inside the base. ¡°There¡¯s not much information.¡± The report had one clear implication. The forward base collapsed not from external factors but from the inside. It seemed that other factions within the Union might not trust the report of this search party, but Aiden¡¯s thoughts were different. It was too simplistic to manipulate the results due to factional conflicts. The investigation was not properly conducted, and they didn¡¯t even enter the base. There was no clear evidence, and all they had were vague speculations based on shaky grounds. ¡°How many zombies are there in Texarkana? Is the area cleared?¡± ¡°The immediate vicinity of the base should have been somewhat cleared. However... we didn¡¯t clear such a wide range.¡± ¡°...¡± Aiden narrowed his eyes inside his helmet. That meant there was a high possibility that the noise from the base was noticed, and nearby zombies had gathered. The search party that had been there probably had the same thought. So, they hurriedly conducted a formal investigation and retreated, sensing danger. Moreover, the fact that zombies from outside had entered indicated the possibility of mutants being there too. Aiden didn¡¯t know who the author of this report was, but he seemed like someone who knew how to take care of his life. Having somewhat anticipated the risks of this request, Aiden nodded. ¡°Understood. The explanation is sufficient.¡± ¡°Then... when will you start the mission?¡± ¡°Today. However...¡± Aiden looked at Sadie. This mission was not something Aiden could complete in just one day, considering the location was 100 km away in a straight line. Even without considering the round trip, just the journey would take an entire day. So, the minimum time for the mission would be around three days. During that time, it would be fine for Sadie to accompany him in the mission, but Aiden hoped to use this time more productively. For example, by experiencing life in the Union¡¯s residential areas directly. Aiden explained his intentions to Amara, who promptly accepted his request. ¡°Of course. The Union will take responsibility for the safety of the child during that time.¡± With Amara¡¯s assurance, Aiden nodded. The conversation ended there. Now it was time to move. * * * That afternoon. The vehicle carrying Aiden and Arian safely arrived in Texarkana. To the east of Texarkana. The Union¡¯s forward base was located at the airport, which was just a little further north from their current location. ¡°They built the base in such a desolate place. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to choose somewhere closer to the city?¡± Hearing about the temporary base¡¯s location, Arian tilted her head. Well, there were no resources or amenities at the airport. Also, it was far from a general living area, so it was difficult to obtain them as well. For an ordinary wanderer, using an airport as a base was clearly disadvantageous. But Aiden had a different perspective. ¡°They probably made a judgment that is reasonable for them. There¡¯s a wide open space at the airport. With fewer people and zombies around, it¡¯s a good place to openly build structures.¡± The Union had been considering building their base with their own hands from the beginning, so they needed a location that suited their purposes. While Arian seemed indifferent and just shrugged her shoulders. ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s not bad for us. It¡¯s easy to find. Shall we head there directly?¡± Aiden shook his head. A lot of time has already passed since they got here. There were now only a few hours left until the sun set. No matter how quickly they hurried, it was impossible to tour the entire base before then. So Aiden decided to secure a hiding place first. From the beginning, he didn¡¯t intend to finish everything in one day, so he focused on security rather than time. ¡°First, we have to find the hiding place, and then we will begin the investigation. Just looking around is enough for today.¡± Meanwhile, the place Aiden headed to was a small industrial zone south of the airport. A few blocks of space filled with warehouses, vehicle repair shops, and several small factories. It wasn¡¯t far from the road Aiden and his group took, and the airport was right above, so it was the perfect location. ¡°I think it¡¯s quite good.¡± Aiden¡¯s chosen hideout in that place was a tool store. Perhaps due to its proximity to the industrial zone, the store was quite spacious and had thorough security features like reinforced windows. Of course, someone might have looted it, as the entrance was wide open. On the other hand, blocking the entrance meant that it would be challenging for anyone to enter, making it suitable as a hideout. ¡°How¡¯s the area?¡± ¡°It¡¯s quiet. Seems like it¡¯s completely empty here.¡± Aiden, after confirming with Arian, entered the tool store. Inside, it was a mess with abandoned tools, fallen shelves, and other disarrayed items. Aiden asked Arian to organize the interior while he safely parked the vehicle. He then took out the necessary items ¨C guns, grenades, and other weapons received as rewards from the Union for completing the previous missions. Aiden, with a bulletproof helmet he had taken just in case and, lastly, the machete for Arian and an emergency blood in a bottle of water, soon came out of the vehicle. Arian was already there when he looked to the side. ¡°It¡¯s done.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s get going.¡± Aiden handed the machete and blood to Arian and started walking. Then, a long stretch of iron fence came into view. Originally surrounding the runway, there was no need to jump over it. There was a hole made as if something had crushed it nearby. Aiden briefly inspected the fence, stepped on it, and crossed over. Beyond that, a vast runway hidden by trees came into view. There was no sign of the temporary Union base that was supposed to be here... A building occupying more than half of the straight runway immediately caught Aiden¡¯s eye. Its appearance, with gray walls and iron doors, seemed like a miniaturized version of the Union¡¯s stronghold. The only difference was that one of the iron doors was twisted open. And nearby- ¡°Kuhh.¡± A considerable number of zombies were wandering. There were dozens of corpses lined up on the flat runway. The number wasn¡¯t small, so it was understandable why the search party that discovered this place returned after only a cursory investigation. ¡°What do we do about this?¡± ¡°For now, stay here. I¡¯ll assess the situation and come back.¡± At the moment, there were only ordinary zombies visible. There was no need to provoke them unnecessarily with Arian. Arian nodded and stepped back. ¡°...¡± Aiden walked past the wandering zombies and approached the forward base. Until reaching the gate leading to the inside of the barricade, there was no obstacle. The twisted iron gate was half-open, as if welcoming Aiden. However, before entering, Aiden observed the gate and the barricade. To verify whether the information in the report was true. And the result came quickly. ¡°...It was true.¡± As the report had said, there were almost no signs of combat on the outside wall and beyond the iron gate. Even the twisted iron gate seemed to be bent from the inside, not the outside. After confirming this, Aiden cautiously set foot inside the base. Inside the barricade, there were rows of low buildings. Some were already completed, while others were still under construction. According to Amara, there were about thirty buildings inside the base, which roughly matched the visible structures. However, numerous zombies could be seen between those buildings. The number and density were incomparable to an ordinary city. Such a number of zombies in such a small space. It seemed like a considerable investment would be needed to bring Arian here. ¡°Tsk...¡± Aiden went through the crowd of zombies. If it was just reconnaissance, it would be enough to end it at this line. However, since he was here, he wanted to investigate the details of the mission, that is, why this incident occurred. As he walked further inside, a sight caught Aiden¡¯s attention. ¡°What is that...¡± One side of the base looked as if it had been hit by a bomb, with several buildings around completely collapsed, creating small craters on the ground. Although it was now completely extinguished, the charred traces indicated that a fire had broken out here. ¡°...It seems like the ammunition depot exploded.¡± Aiden concluded after observing the fire scene. Remaining ammo boxes and dangerous unexploded ordnance stuck in the ashes left no doubt. So... could the explosion of this ammunition depot be the cause of the massacre? No, it was difficult to conclude like that. Even if the ammunition depot exploded, there were no signs of fire spreading to other buildings. The damage caused by this explosion and fire was limited to only a part of the base. It was far from sufficient to result in total annihilation. Moreover, the more critical point was the numerous bullet traces left at the fire scene. This indicated that some kind of combat had taken place here. In other words, the explosion of the ammunition depot didn¡¯t cause the battle, but rather, there was a confrontation before that, and as a result, the ammunition depot exploded. Beyond the ammunition depot, Aiden moved further inside. Whether it was a suspicious place or just a cursory search. Before he knew it, he had reached the innermost part of the forward base, opposite the entrance, with several warehouses and a large C-shaped building at its center. He had heard something about that C-shaped building; it was undoubtedly the command center of this forward base, playing a different role from other structures. Hence, its size was noticeably different, and it stood two stories high. However, the atmosphere around the command center and its surroundings was slightly different from elsewhere. The zombies that were casually wandering around were nowhere to be seen. The surroundings remained silent, and the silent buildings seemed even more tranquil. But Aiden frowned. He knew that this ominous silence was probably the presence of mutants. Perhaps the reason zombies didn¡¯t approach here was that a mutant was hiding from the sunlight somewhere in this building. ¡°...Guess I have to stop here.¡± Aiden decided to retreat for today. If by any chance provoking a mutant led to a battle, even Aiden couldn¡¯t guarantee survival within the swarming base of hundreds of zombies. Therefore, Aiden immediately headed back to the entrance. But then. ¡°...?¡± An insignificant noise reached his ears. The faint sound of thin metal bending, splitting, and the resulting friction. It was a sound he was extremely familiar with, the noise of opening a can. Curious, Aiden cautiously approached the direction of the building where the noise came from. It was coming from a small warehouse right next to him. Unlike the command center visible from the front, it was at best a building that could be used as a small warehouse. One peculiar aspect was that all the windows were completely sealed, and the door wasn¡¯t even open. Looking at the perfectly sealed space, Aiden had a hunch. It seemed that the survivors of this base had not been completely wiped out. ¡°Hey, is anyone there?¡± Aiden asked in a low voice towards the sealed window. Then, something inside made a sound, resembling the noise of a can falling. It unmistakably sounded like the dropping of a can. Chapter 104 ¡°...¡± Although there was a clear presence, there was no response from inside the warehouse. A moment of silence passed. At the end of it, Aiden spoke again. ¡°If you¡¯re there, say something.¡± ¡°What... what is it? Are you really a person?¡± ¡°Yeah. Sent here by the Union.¡± A deep sigh was heard in response. ¡°Damn it...! Those bastards finally!¡± It was a male voice. However, Aiden warned him as the voice was louder than necessary. ¡°Keep it down. Do you want to attract zombies?¡± ¡°Oh, right. Sorry. It¡¯s just... I got a bit excited seeing a person after three days.¡± Three days. Had this man been hiding here since the day the base collapsed? Aiden¡¯s mind became complicated with the unexpected presence of a witness. Meanwhile, the man asked a question. ¡°But how did you get here? There were corpses scattered everywhere. Did you kill them all?¡± ¡°No way. They are still here. I just... came in quietly.¡± ¡°...¡± The man remained silent for a moment after Aiden¡¯s words. He knew well how absurd it sounded for Aiden to talk about coming quietly into this small swarming base. But quickly changing the subject, the man spoke with enthusiasm. ¡°Anyway, are you here to rescue me now?¡± But Aiden shook his head. Not possible for today. ¡°Not today.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Honestly, I didn¡¯t think there would be a survivor. So, I wasn¡¯t prepared to rescue you.¡± Aiden said without adding a single lie. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was all true. If he thought there was a survivor, he would have brought Arian with him from the beginning. ¡°So, I¡¯ll come back tomorrow.¡± ¡°Are you telling me to spend another night here?¡± ¡°If you¡¯ve seen outside, you¡¯d know. We need preparation to avoid those things.¡± Of course, the man inside the building also knew that. However, Aiden, who boldly came to the man in this swarming base of hundreds of zombies, wasn¡¯t what he expected. ¡°But you came all the way here. Can¡¯t you just take me with you?¡± ¡°Are you confident that you can follow me?¡± ¡°What...¡± ¡°In that case, open the door and come out. Just like you said. But if you do that, you might probably die.¡± The man stopped speaking at Aiden¡¯s words. If the man really opened the door and came out, it would be quite inconvenient for Aiden. However, the man who had been hiding here silently for three days wasn¡¯t reckless. ¡°For heaven¡¯s sake... Will you really ome tomorrow?¡± ¡°Of course. Just that, before I go, I have something I want to ask.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Can you tell me what happened here? What can you tell me about the situation?¡± The man paused for a moment. Then, he refused Aiden¡¯s request. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you that tomorrow. If you get me out of here, I¡¯ll tell you that a hundred or a thousand times. Just make sure to come on time.¡± The man seemed to have noticed that Aiden had come to investigate the incident. In an attempt to create a reason for Aiden to come tomorrow, he said. ¡°Fine, let¡¯s do that.¡± ¡°You must come. Tomorrow, it¡¯s going to be out of water and food! Got it?¡± ¡°I got it.¡± This, too, was like another request for Aiden. Rescuing this man was equivalent to fulfilling the Union¡¯s quest to uncover the truth. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°...Liam Smith.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Aiden Lee. Well, see you tomorrow morning.¡± As Aiden was about to leave, Liam¡¯s voice caught up with him. ¡°Oh, wait a moment.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°There¡¯s something you need to know. It¡¯s about the command post behind this building. A large building. Be careful there. There¡¯s a mutant.¡± Aiden, who had already noticed the presence of mutants, nodded calmly. ¡°Did you see what kind of mutant it is?¡± ¡°Yeah. A weird guy with a chubby body, and he¡¯s got iron rods sticking all over his body.¡± ¡°Hedgehog, huh.¡± It was a mutant Aiden had encountered in the basement of a hotel once. Aiden recalled the memories from that time. ¡°Do you know it?¡± ¡°I do. He can¡¯t come out when the sunlight is strong. As long as you don¡¯t make noise, there¡¯s probably no need to fight. Is there anything else?¡± ¡°...No.¡± ¡°Alright, then see you tomorrow.¡± With that, Aiden left the building. And as he looked at the sky where the sun was setting slowly, he left the base. * * * The next day. Aiden had already explained the results of the exploration to Arian and had planned the operation to rescue Liam trapped inside the base. However, there was something he didn¡¯t anticipate. That was the weather today. ¡°This is... getting complicated.¡± Aiden furrowed his brows, pondering. Even though it was morning, the sky was dark. Thick clouds covered the sky, and on top of that, an immense downpour was falling down. ¡°It¡¯s raining.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you feel something strange?¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m not sure.¡± Arian shrugged her shoulders in response. Aiden¡¯s question was thrown in as a precaution. Because of the stories about radioactive rain falling from the sky before. But in reality, the imminent problem was not rain but the clouds. Clouds this thick blocked a considerable amount of sunlight. In other words, the mutants hiding inside the building might come out into the open. Of course, they wouldn¡¯t move around as freely as they would during the night. But if it rained on a clear day, they would react to much smaller stimuli. And if they became certain of the presence of prey, they would undoubtedly come out of the building. In short, those who couldn¡¯t come out at all were forced to remain outside under the current circumstances. Aiden saw this as nothing but bad news. There must be mutants inside the base. ¡°Should we change the plan? Or postpone it until tomorrow?¡± So Arian asked. But now, either option was difficult. Aiden¡¯s plan was focused on efficiently handling hundreds of ordinary zombies using the weapons he had. But even if mutants popped out, the ordinary zombies wouldn¡¯t go anywhere. The process of dealing with them itself was ultimately pointless. Maybe considering a delay until tomorrow could be reviewed. But that was inconvenient for Liam, the survivor they met yesterday. Therefore, Aiden decided to proceed with the operation despite the risks. ¡°No, let¡¯s proceed as planned.¡± ¡°What if a mutant pops out in the middle?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll hunt it down.¡± Understanding, Arian nodded. She already knew the identity of the mutants. Was it Hedgehog, as Aude mentioned? The Hedgehog mutant was confronted by them with nothing but conventional weapons in the narrow basement of a hotel. So, in a broad battlefield like the one they were in now, with ample weapons, they could easily hunt it down. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go.¡± Aiden and Arian each grabbed their weapons. Arian had her usual machete, and Aiden, in addition to his rifle and handgun, carried a large and sturdy bag. They moved towards the runway just like yesterday. And as they reached the point where a small bush ended, Aiden stopped. ¡°...¡± He looked at the runway from there. Until yesterday, the place where zombies wandering around the base perimeter could be seen at a glance. However, now, due to the pouring rain and mist, the visibility was significantly obscured. ¡°We need to get a bit closer.¡± The original plan was to snipe the zombies from this location, first clearing out the zombies outside the base to secure a safe area. However, now, the situation was such that even a hundred meters of visibility wasn¡¯t properly secured. ¡°Do we need to get incredibly close? Will sniping work like this?¡± Arian asked worriedly. As she rightly pointed out, calling shooting a target less than a hundred meters away sniping would be a stretch. But Aiden wasn¡¯t the only one whose vision was obscured due to the pouring rain. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. They won¡¯t be able to respond anyway.¡± The zombies¡¯ visibility was also limited due to the rain. Moreover, suppressed gunfire wouldn¡¯t spread far in this heavy rain. Even at a fairly close distance, zombies wouldn¡¯t be able to trace the sound or find Aiden, which means that it could have the same effect as sniping. Even at a fairly close range, zombies will not be able to track the sound or find Aiden Aiden took out a rifle equipped with a suppressor and carefully walked down the runway. Immediately afterwards, blurred images of corpses appeared. Aiden raised his gun in the midst of pouring rain. A gunshot from a suppressor that was difficult to describe, a mixture of the sound of a gunshot that had lost its momentum as if it had been weighed down and the sound of air escaping, rang out. At the same time, a zombie has fallen on the ground. But. ¡°Kiiii...¡± The zombies nearby just looked around and didn¡¯t react in any way. Although they barely recognized the gunshot, they were unable to track its location or find Aiden and his group hiding in the heavy rain. It was just as Aiden anticipated. ¡°Let¡¯s move like this.¡± Using the same method, Aiden started dealing with the zombies outside the barricade one by one. There were moments when their location was discovered by zombies in the process, but those zombies were swiftly cut down by Arian¡¯s machete as they approached. ¡°It¡¯s done. That was the last one.¡± Arian said as she watched a zombie fall with a pierced head. With just one walk around the base, Aiden¡¯s group successfully handled the zombies outside the base without making much noise. But it was too early to feel relieved. This was just the beginning. ¡°We can¡¯t fight like this inside, can we?¡± ¡°Of course not. The density is too high. So, let¡¯s proceed with the plan as intended.¡± Holding a heavy bag, Aiden entered the base alone. And Arian, standing outside, facing the pouring rain, waited for Aiden to return. What Aiden brought inside the barricade were all sorts of explosives and booby traps. After placing them around the entrance without any hindrance from zombies, he planned to lure zombies to the entrance and sweep them away at once. Arian thought it was a pretty decent plan. However, the problem was that the loud noise could stimulate the mutants inside the base. Arian steeled herself for what was to come and waited for Aiden to return. After some time. ¡°It¡¯s done.¡± Aiden, holding the shrunken bag, returned to the entrance. He removed the suppressor from his rifle and looked back at Arian. ¡°Are you ready?¡± From this point on, Arian¡¯s role was crucial. Until a sufficient number of zombies gathered, Arian had to block the entrance. Arian glanced at the twisted iron door in front of her. One side was properly closed, but the other side was severely bent, creating a gap for two or three people to pass through. Estimating the area she had to defend, Arian nodded with her usual calm expression. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s get started.¡± Saying that, Aiden fired his gun. The ferocious gunfire was different from the delicate sniping just a while ago. Switching to automatic fire, Aiden pressed the trigger deeply, emptying the entire magazine in an instant. Tat-tat-tat! The storm of gunfire swept away a few zombies, turning them into pieces of meat that fluttered through the air. Several times as many zombies as before turned their heads at the sudden noise. Following that, they saw Arian, holding a machete. The appearance of prey that looked almost human immediately ignited madness in the eyes of the zombies. And- ¡°Kieee!¡± ¡°Kaaah!¡± They charged. The undead corpses roared all at once at the appearance of their prey and rushed towards Arian. However, compared to the number of zombies, the entrance that Arian was blocking was extremely narrow. The waves of corpses pushing against each other soon collided with the twisted iron door. Bang! Fortunately, the iron door withstood the impact. Although countless hands of corpses reached out through the pierced entrance that the iron door couldn¡¯t cover. Chwaack! They were swiftly cut down from the elbows by the blood-soaked blade. ¡°Kii-¡° Perhaps sensing something strange, the zombie in the front made such a noise. But now, it couldn¡¯t retreat. Just like a crowded train, numerous kin were pushing it from behind. Arian¡¯s eerie blade slashed the neck of the pushed zombie. The one following immediately had its chest split, and the one wedging in next had its legs severed. This way, three, five... in an instant, dozens. The number of zombies brought down by Arian suddenly increased. However, the momentum of the zombies remained unchanged, even Arian¡¯s speed, which transcended common sense, was gradually being caught up by the frenzied rush of the creatures. Tat-tat-tat! Meanwhile, Aiden was diligently creating noise to attract more zombies. But gunfire alone wasn¡¯t enough. To lure all the zombies inside the base, a massive explosion that would drown out even this rain sound was needed. So, Aiden took another bomb in his hand. A flashbang designed to create a concussion using only the sound, striking the human cochlea with its explosive noise. For a base of this size, it would serve as a bait covering the entire area and still have some left. ¡°Arian, I¡¯m using the flashbang!¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Even as Arian swung her machete frantically, she responded. Without hesitation, Aiden threw the flashbang over the heads of the zombies. Booooom! The tremendous vibration of the air shook the base. Even zombies that never took their eyes off their prey turned their heads at the explosive noise. So, for a very brief moment, silence passed. ¡°Kiaaaaa!¡± Soon, the zombies regained their senses and rushed back towards the entrance. While Arian continued to cut down zombies, they relentlessly pushed forward. The ones pushed to the side pounded the twisted iron door and the barrier as if they were crazy, and their numbers gradually increased. The number of zombies drawn out from deep inside the base to the entrance was much larger than before. Therefore, the pressure on the entrance became overwhelming. Finally, Arian reached a point where she could no longer hold on. ¡°Aiden!¡± Arian called Aiden¡¯s name. It meant this was the limit. However, Aiden also had no intention of dragging out the time any longer. ¡°Retreat!¡± Aiden signaled. Arian and Aiden withdrew behind the barrier as if splitting. At the moment the zombies, like a collapsing dam, were about to burst out beyond the barrier. Another thunderous explosion occurred, and the ground vibrated. Explosives, mines, and claymores installed all over the entrance exploded simultaneously, and the fragments scattered in all directions. With the storm of steel, the screams of the corpses, which had been boiling until just now, were torn apart and erased as if torn. Chapter 105 ¡°...Are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± After the explosion had passed. Aiden, confirming the safety of his companion, looked ahead. The explosion a while ago was powerful enough. Shrapnel left wounds on the iron door, and some were sharp enough to bounce off the barrier and reach the outside. Also, the zombies swept away by it were torn into pieces, and their remains were scattered along the pierced entrance. Aiden cautiously passed through such an entrance and entered inside the barrier. A small space teeming with countless corpses. It had now become a hellish scene covered with torn and rotten flesh. The sounds of zombies had disappeared entirely. Everything went according to plan. ¡°...Okay, it¡¯s a success.¡± Following Aiden, Arian entered inside the barrier. She frowned slightly as she looked at the floor covered with the remnants of zombies and the flowing rainwater. ¡°It¡¯s incredibly dirty.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do about that. More importantly, are there any zombies left?¡± ¡°No. But... wait a moment.¡± Arian¡¯s gaze turned towards the inside of the base. She stared at something beyond the thick rain. ¡°A new one. It seems to have reacted to the explosion a while ago. And besides...¡± A subtle change in Arian¡¯s expression. In that uneasy atmosphere, Aiden quickly grasped what was there. ¡°A mutant?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Hmm, Aiden nodded. He had already prepared himself for that. It was natural to assume that the noise attracting regular zombies would also attract mutants. But Arian¡¯s words didn¡¯t end there. ¡°But... it¡¯s not just one.¡± With her words, the shadow of a creature distinctly different from regular zombies emerged behind the lightly spread fog. Two grotesque figures emerging simultaneously from both sides of the low building. The figures became clear with the low footsteps. ¡°Two... this is troublesome.¡± Aiden muttered, clicking his tongue. To think that there were two rare mutants here. It was unexpected, and it could only be felt as a heightened sense of crisis. The fact that one mutant turned into two meant that the enemy¡¯s strength had doubled, to put it simply. Aiden quickly checked the remaining weapons he had. A handgun, a rifle, three grenades, three normal ammo magazines, and one magazine filled with armor-piercing rounds. This level of armament wasn¡¯t insufficient to face a Hedgehog. Above all, the handgun he brought today wasn¡¯t an ordinary one. It was an Elephant Gun given to him by a certain hunter. Referred to as a monster revolver, this weapon, using bullets far larger than a typical 9mm, was an incomparable destructive force compared to ordinary handguns. However, even with such preparations, at the moment there were two monstrous beings, it became difficult to be sure of victory. Perhaps because of that. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s better if each of us takes one.¡± ¡°...That sounds like a good idea.¡± Arian suggested, and Aiden agreed with her words. Facing even one of them was burdensome enough, but it was better than dealing with a chaotic situation by facing both at the same time. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll lure the one on the left.¡± Saying that, Arian moved first. She, who was advantageous in battles with many obstacles compared to Aiden using firearms, planned to lead the Hedgehog toward the inside of the base with many buildings. Swiftly moving away, Arian¡¯s back disappeared. Observing this for a moment, Aiden loaded a magazine with normal ammo, pushed it into the rifle, and... Bang! He fired towards the mutant he had taken charge of. Not aiming for the head but towards the creature¡¯s broad torso. ¡°Grrrrr!¡± Upon hearing the gunshot and feeling the sensation of bullets piercing its body, the Hedgehog on the right reacted loudly. Meanwhile, Arian rushed towards the one on the left. With swift movements, before the mutant could react, she cut its arm with her machete and quickly disappeared into the mist. Naturally, the distance between the Hedgehog, hostile to Aiden, and the mutant chasing Arian increased. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The separation seemed to have been achieved smoothly. However, from this point on, a new challenge began. The Hedgehog that noticed Aiden started rushing towards him to collide with its massive body. Thud! Thud! With each step, the ground trembled. The self-embedded iron rods and blades scraped mercilessly against the building¡¯s outer wall whenever the creature placed its feet. Aiden, at the same time, immediately aimed for the creature¡¯s head and fired. Clang! However, the tightly embedded blades from the creature¡¯s neck were like a funnel protecting the Hedgehog¡¯s throat. The 5.56mm bullets collided with the steel and, creating an annoying cracking sound, scattered in all directions. It wasn¡¯t going to be easily resolved. Aiden changed the rifle magazine while dodging to the side. ¡°Grrrr!¡± Meanwhile, a screeching needle-embedded corpse had already reached Aiden¡¯s nose. Like a straightforward body charge, reminiscent of a bullfight. However, the mutant¡¯s massive weight and the blades embedded all over its body transformed this simple attack into a clear threat. Shiiing! Aiden¡¯s clothes barely swayed as he dodged, and the mutant¡¯s blades tore through them like a funnel. Slightly losing balance, Aiden stumbled on the ground. Due to this, the rotten flesh stuck to the ground emitted a disgusting odor, but Aiden paid no attention. Meanwhile, the Hedgehog, who lost sight of Aiden, instead crashed into the barrier door behind him. Bang! Even the sturdy door, standing firm amidst waves of countless zombies, couldn¡¯t withstand the impact and collapsed. The base¡¯s door swung wide open. Ignoring such a door, Hedgehog turned its head back towards Aiden. ¡°...¡± Indeed, it was a simple but overwhelming force. Blocking such weight head-on was unimaginable, and it was just like dodging bullets with eyes on them; it wasn¡¯t easy at all. In that case... Aiden thought about the Elephant Gun he had. It was a weapon with considerable destructive power, but unfortunately, its recoil was so intense that continuous firing was almost impossible. Also, the accuracy was not guaranteed, so it had to be used only at the right moment. To create that opportunity, Aiden pulled the pin of a grenade. The grenade he had wasn¡¯t an impact detonation but a time-delayed one that exploded after about 4 seconds. So, Aiden pulled the pin, detached the handle of the grenade, and... Tuck- Running towards the debris of the building behind him, he dropped it underneath himself. The lethal radius of the grenade was about 15 meters. It was a precarious distance to cover within 4 seconds, and the danger radius was twice that, making it risky for Aiden even without cover. So, Aiden ran towards the nearest building. ¡°Grrrr!¡± In the meantime, the raging Hedgehog fiercely chased after Aiden. Its vigorous movements caused the embedded blades in its body to sway wildly. Although its weight was several times that of Aiden, but the overly developed muscles allowed Hedgehog to move at a speed that Aiden couldn¡¯t match. Like a giant cannonball flying towards Aiden. Just before the mutant reached there. Boooom! The grenade that Aiden had dropped exploded like a mine right under Hedgehog¡¯s feet. Countless shrapnel shot up into the sky from directly beneath the creature. It tore apart Hedgehog¡¯s entire body, and some even bounced off the blades, flying in different directions. ¡°Graaah!¡± The creature screamed in agony at the overwhelming force that it couldn¡¯t withstand. Flesh from its body splattered in all directions. And as the Hedgehog¡¯s body collapsed forward, finally, that colossal being fell. At the same time, Aiden, who had been hiding behind the collapsed building, revealed himself. In his hands was a giant revolver, almost the size of a human forearm. Even for Aiden, it was a weapon that he couldn¡¯t handle with just one hand, so he held it with both. ¡°Graaa!¡± He looked down at the Hedgehog, emitting a low whimper as the trigger was pulled. Despite facing the direct impact of the grenade, the creature didn¡¯t die. Only its left leg was completely blown off. The right leg, with densely embedded iron rods, remained intact enough to maintain its form. However, the Hedgehog, in such a state, was now lying down. As a result, the funnel that had protected the creature¡¯s head was now exposed. Just like any fence, no matter how high, it couldn¡¯t stop attacks from the sky. Without any obstacles, the mutant¡¯s empty head was visible. ¡°Gruuh-¡° Now noticing Aiden¡¯s intention, the mutant twisted its body. But Aiden, still aiming the gun at its head, kept pressing the trigger deeply. Bang! The gunshot, sounding like a shotshell, echoed through the chaotic interior of the ruined base. The fierce recoil, almost unbelievable for a handgun, shook Aiden¡¯s two hands. As noisy as the gunfire was, its power was equally formidable. The Hedgehog¡¯s upper body, deeply penetrated from its head to its neck, fell in the position it was on the ground, it never moved again. * * * A while later. Arian, who had successfully brought down another Hedgehog, joined Aiden. ¡°What¡¯s up with you? Are you okay?¡± Arian asked, observing Aiden¡¯s disheveled appearance with torn clothes, covered in rotten flesh, rain, and marks from Hedgehog. It was like a mouse soaked in muddy water. In contrast, Arian looked almost unchanged from before. Aiden shook his head as if saying he was fine. ¡°You seem... a real zombie without a doubt.¡± ¡°...Are you sure you¡¯re okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. But I¡¯ve used up all the blood.¡± Arian showed an empty water bottle. ¡°No problem. I prepared it for this purpose.¡± ¡°So... are we going to find that person now?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Having caused such a commotion here, Liam, the man in question, must be aware that Aiden has arrived. By now, he would probably be waiting for Aiden to come inside the sealed warehouse. Aiden put on a helmet and checked his attire to meet him. Although his clothes were torn, there were plenty of spare clothes left inside the base. Aiden went into any building and grabbed a worn work shirt that someone had left behind. Then, together with Arian, he approached a small warehouse inside the base. ¡°Are you still there?¡± Aiden asked, tapping on the tightly closed window. Immediately, Liam inside responded. ¡°You¡¯re back! Hey, what the hell were you doing? It was incredibly loud.¡± ¡°Of course... we dealt with the zombies.¡± ¡°With that many of them? Huh, seems like quite a substantial search party.¡± It seemed like Liam thought Aiden was a search party. Since he would find out the truth soon enough, Aiden continued the conversation without much reaction. ¡°More importantly, open the door. We need to leave now, don¡¯t we?¡± ¡°Oh, right. Just wait a moment.¡± After the sound of several locks being undone, the warehouse door finally opened. The person who came out was a white man in his twenties. ¡°Ugh... damn. I thought I¡¯d be stuck there forever!¡± Ignoring the pouring rain, he stretched his arms, savoring the freedom. Seeing Aiden¡¯s group, he grinned anew. ¡°Huh? What¡¯s this? You guys aren¡¯t a search party, are you?¡± ¡°Yeah, no. We¡¯re junk dealers sent by the Union.¡± ¡°Junk dealers?¡± Liam raised an eyebrow, looking puzzled. Even though he seemed doubtful, Aiden pushed the conversation forward. Since this wasn¡¯t a suitable place to have a comfortable conversation, it was time to leave. ¡°Rather, let¡¯s move. There¡¯s nothing good staying here.¡± ¡°...Alright.¡± Aiden and Arian, along with Liam, exited the base. And they immediately headed towards the hiding place of the group. * * * ¡°...So that¡¯s what happened.¡± After returning to the hideout,Aiden explained to Liam the circumstances that led them to this place. Liam seemed to be aware that the situation in the Union was not ordinary, as his demeanor had lost some of its lightness. ¡°I want to know what happened here.¡± To Aiden¡¯s question, Liam nodded. He took a deep breath and slowly began to speak. ¡°First, let me tell you something. I¡¯m a police member. So... it might be a bit awkward.¡± ¡°Awkward?¡± ¡°Anyway, listen. you will understand what I am saying.¡± Liam told the story of what he saw and heard on the day the base collapsed. The incident he spoke of went like this. On that day, the search party that was staying here returned to the base after scavenging in the city. However, they refused to undergo mandatory body searches when returning from outside. It was a reenactment of the incident that happened in the previous Union. ¡°But... we couldn¡¯t handle it strongly. And because of that incident, violence even occurred in the Union.¡± Aiden nodded, vaguely understanding Liam¡¯s words. If the incident had been buried in the past, the police side would not have wanted to cause unnecessary trouble. But it was a mistake. One of the search party members had actually been bitten by a zombie. ¡°So, what do you think happened? That guy turned into a zombie in the middle of the night and bit his colleagues. Thanks to that, the search party was the first to be infected by zombies. So, well, you can guess what happened next.¡± Liam furrowed his brow as if recalling the scene of that day. ¡°People who didn¡¯t know how to fight panicked. But the police leading them were too few in number. Most of the people here were from the search party and workers. There were less than ten police officers.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°So, a battle with the zombie search party took place. They couldn¡¯t fight properly, but suddenly, a big fire broke out. The fire itself was okay, but the problem was, seeing it from outside, more zombies, including mutants, flocked here. After seeing that sight, I thought it was no longer safe, so I found a place to hide.¡± ¡°...I see.¡± Aiden let out a short sigh. After listening and seeing the base with his own eyes, Liam¡¯s words made sense. If his words were true, this incident was clearly the fault of the search party. But coming from a police officer, someone belonging to the Union, who made such a statement. It was unlikely that the search party would trust this and admit their mistake. Rather, the possibility of resistance was even greater. ¡°Do you have any evidence to prove this?¡± So when Aiden asked that, Liam shook his head. ¡°Well... How would I prove that? It¡¯s just my words. I¡¯ve been thinking about it since earlier, but there¡¯s no evidence.¡± ¡°...¡± It wasn¡¯t a good situation. This would inevitably lead to internal conflicts within the Union. But with a witness, it wasn¡¯t something that could be hidden or denied. ¡°...Nothing we can do about it.¡± So Aiden¡¯s conclusion was... to do nothing. As a junk dealer, he would faithfully carry out the Union¡¯s request. It was beyond the scope of their involvement to try to intervene in this matter. Even if this place was suitable for Sadie. Aiden couldn¡¯t dictate their path, especially considering the circumstances. ¡°For now, rest here today. We¡¯ll go back to the Union tomorrow.¡± ¡°...Alright.¡± Liam nodded with a complicated expression. That was the end of the conversation. The group spent that night at the hideout and left for Shreveport early the next morning, where the Union was located. Chapter 106 When Aiden and his group arrived at the Union, it was already afternoon. The weather, unlike the heavy rain from yesterday, had changed to a gentle drizzle. Aiden passed through the downtown area, which was a free zone, and headed to the Union¡¯s convention center. ¡°Can¡¯t I go back first? I¡¯m exhausted from being stuck in that damn warehouse.¡± Liam, who was standing in front of the center, muttered. Aiden could understand his perspective as well. Being surrounded by numerous zombies, hiding without making a sound for four days, was by no means an easy task. However, from Aiden¡¯s perspective, he couldn¡¯t simply let go of the only witness. ¡°Complete the procedure and then go. We have an important request. If we just let you go, it could cause problems for us.¡± Upon hearing this, Liam let out a short sigh. Although he was a member of the Union, there was no reason for him, in fact, to grant the request of an outsider like a junk dealer. Regardless of how it happened, Aiden was the benefactor who saved Liam¡¯s life. Liam couldn¡¯t be so audacious as to coldly reject the request of a benefactor. ¡°Well... fine, I guess. Let¡¯s finish this quickly and go.¡± Liam took the lead and entered the center. Aiden looked for Amara there. Instead of the usual reception, Amara was talking with a man at a nearby table. ¡°You¡¯re back already?¡± Amara, who noticed them, stood up from her seat. Next to her, a Middle Eastern man of similar age also turned to look at them. He asked Amara while looking at Aiden¡¯s group: ¡°Who are these people?¡± ¡°I told you before. They are junk dealers who received a request from the Union.¡± ¡°Oh, that...¡± The man seemed to roughly understand the situation and nodded. Approaching Aiden¡¯s group, he introduced himself. ¡°Nice to meet you. I¡¯m Andrew Olson, Amara¡¯s husband.¡± Saying so, the man extended his hand for a handshake. Husband. The story of Amara having a husband and that he was apparently a member of the search party was something Arian had said earlier. After confirming that his gloves were clean, Aiden lightly shook the hand Andrew offered. ¡°I¡¯m Aiden Lee.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Arian Clifford.¡± He was a lively man in contrast to the somewhat timid impression of Amara. After the husband¡¯s greeting, Amara immediately spoke. ¡°You¡¯ve come back sooner than expected. But who is that...?¡± Amara pointed at Liam and asked. ¡°He¡¯s a survivor we found at the Texarkana base.¡± ¡°A survivor...?¡± Amara and, of course, Andrew, were surprised by the words. Seeing their reaction, Liam put on a meaningless smile. ¡°Not the right time for this. Come on, wait a moment. Let¡¯s talk about the details inside.¡± Amara hurriedly guided Aiden¡¯s group inside the building. Naturally, Andrew remained in his original place, and after glancing at him for a moment, Aiden followed Amara. Inside was a small room. There, Aiden reported to Amara about the events that occurred at the Texarkana base. Of course, Liam¡¯s testimony was included in the report. ¡°Such an incident...¡± Amara¡¯s face darkened rapidly as she heard everything. She already had a fairly accurate prediction of what trouble this report would bring to the Union¡¯s headquarters. However, this was a problem that Aiden couldn¡¯t be involved in. So he calmly conveyed only what needed to be said. ¡°The report ends here. Is there anything else you want to ask?¡± Amara shook her head. Since it was a case where there was already a witness from the Union, Aiden, who brought him, had practically completed his role. ¡°No. I¡¯ll process the request immediately.¡± At Amara¡¯s words, Aiden nodded. With the conclusion of the conversation, Arian, who had been quiet, opened her mouth. ¡°Where is Sadie right now?¡± ¡°She¡¯s inside the Union. She is well. As requested before, while you handle the request, she¡¯s experiencing life here. She should be able to come out during the next entry time at 5 p.m.¡± The next entry time, which was until 5 p.m, was just a few hours away. Arian, who was about to reunite with Sadie after three days, smiled brightly. After concluding the conversation, Aiden¡¯s group stood up. Amara and Liam also left the room to head towards the Union¡¯s headquarters, and they parted ways. * * * A little later, approaching 5 p.m. At the entrance leading to the Union¡¯s headquarters, Aiden and Arian were waiting for Sadie to come out. There were only a few guards standing there, and the quiet door slowly opened. Several people came out from inside, and among them was Sadie. ¡°Sadie!¡± Arian waved her hand when she saw the child. ¡°Are you well?¡± ¡°Yes! Are you back?¡± ¡°Yes. The request is all done.¡± Upon hearing this, Sadie smiled brightly. Aiden asked Sadie: ¡°How was life in the Union?¡± ¡°It was interesting. That¡¯s...¡± Sadie conveyed her daily life in the Union to Aiden. It involved waking up early in the morning, going to the workshop to work, taking a short break for lunch and the afternoon, and then going back to sleep ¨C a routine like a hamster wheel. Arian, as well as Aiden, couldn¡¯t help but cast strange glances at the child, who was thrust into a routine similar to that of an office worker working long hours. But Sadie seemed unaffected, as if she found joy in working. ¡°Was it fun working?¡± ¡°Not really, but... still, I liked it. I also got this.¡± Sadie smiled and showed a banknote with a red stamp, which could be used within the Union. Perhaps received as compensation for labor. Sadie seemed to feel a sense of stability even while working, and Aiden, understanding Sadie¡¯s past instability, had no complaints if she found satisfaction in it. However, among the children there, Sadie seemed to be the only one who felt that way. ¡°But other people didn¡¯t seem as happy.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Other kids didn¡¯t like working.¡± According to Sadie, compared to the kids they met at Fort Wayne, the children here were weak and didn¡¯t smile much. So Sadie, with a bitter smile, said she hadn¡¯t made friends yet. ¡°...I see.¡± Aiden nodded as he listened to Sadie¡¯s words. It wasn¡¯t strange at all. Forcing children, who were no more than elementary school students, into labor was bound to have such side effects. Aiden, like Arian, had a negative stance on child labor. Therefore, compared to the makeshift school that was established in Fort Wayne, the environment in Shreveport could be considered worse for the children. Although Sadie seemed satisfied, satisfaction for this kind of communal life was as important as the satisfaction of others. In the end, becoming a member of such a group meant becoming friends or comrades with others. So, was the Union really an acceptable organization? While Aiden was pondering over this, someone approached their group. ¡°Hey! Remember my face?¡± As Aiden turned his gaze, he recognized a familiar face. It was Angelo Castro, the junk dealer Aiden had rescued from a farm a few days ago. It seemed that Angelo, like Sadie, had visited the Union¡¯s headquarters, coming from that direction. Aiden reacted to him, saying: ¡°Castro... was it?¡± ¡°Call me Angelo. This one is my younger brother, Maxim.¡± Angelo introduced the boy beside him. Maxim, looking at Aiden¡¯s helmet with interest, then turned his head toward Sadie, who was of similar age. Sadie waved at Maxim. But when Maxim saw Sadie, he turned his head back as if surprised. Watching the awkward greetings of the children, Aiden spoke again. ¡°Sure, what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°I happened to have something for you. Take this.¡± Angelo handed a small plastic container to Aiden. Aiden accepted it, raising an eyebrow. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s cookies. Freshly baked today.¡± ¡°Cookies?¡± Aiden looked at the container suspiciously and asked. Cookies. It was an unexpected item. But Angelo casually explained: ¡°Didn¡¯t you know? You can get these within the Union. Well, you might have to use some unconventional methods if you want to buy them as an outsider.¡± Chuckling, Angelo spoke. Aiden didn¡¯t want to know what those unconventional methods were, so he asked. ¡°Why are you giving me this?¡± ¡°Last time, I owed you a favor. You saved my life and got my car. Although we settled the life-debt with the request fee, I never paid you for the car, right? Consider it as a token of gratitude.¡± ¡°...I see.¡± Aiden nodded, recalling that Angelo had promised additional compensation for retrieving a vehicle from the marauders. Knowing Angelo was still recovering from injuries, Aiden didn¡¯t press further. Although cookies seemed like an odd reward, the value of this rare treat, something he hadn¡¯t smelled in three years, was certainly not the same as before. So, Aiden accepted the reward. ¡°Got it. Thanks for this.¡± ¡°Sure. If you ever need help, feel free to ask. Well then, take care.¡± Angelo said that and waved as he walked away. Judging by the limp in one of his legs, it seemed his injuries weren¡¯t fully healed yet. On the other hand, Maxim briefly glanced at Sadie, then followed his older brother. ¡°Cookies? I didn¡¯t expect to receive such a reward.¡± Arian muttered, watching the brothers disappear into the distance. Aiden handed the cookie-filled container to Arian and spoke. ¡°Let¡¯s head back.¡± * * * S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That night. In the dark hotel room, Aiden stared out of the window like a statue. Outside the window was the Free Zone¡¯s downtown. Although it was only three stories high, thanks to the hotel¡¯s elevated location, the moonlit downtown, and even the Union¡¯s barrier in the distance were clearly visible. ¡°...¡± During the day, there were quite a few people wandering in the downtown, but now, not a single ant-sized figure was visible. Even though the Union had secured the area, the fact that significant humans, conspicuous to the eyes of mutants, had already died was the reason. For Aiden, who couldn¡¯t sleep well, the familiar and long darkness and silence surrounded the downtown. Aiden, looking at the downtown, heard footsteps behind him. It was Arian. ¡°Aren¡¯t you sleeping?¡± ¡°Just can¡¯t sleep.¡± Arian looked at the downtown that Aiden had been gazing at. Unlike Aiden, she had eyes that could penetrate the darkness. Observing the downtown like that, Arian turned her head back to Aiden. ¡°What do you think will happen to the Union now?¡± Arian¡¯s question contained a subtle sense of pity. This Union was only a group where Sadie could stay.. Although it had its shortcomings, Sadie liked it, and it provided stability and a promising future. Therefore, Arian felt a bit uneasy about the situation involving the request that took place in Texarkana. In these shaky circumstances, the fact that an organization Sadie liked was being shaken wasn¡¯t pleasant. However, Aiden couldn¡¯t easily answer as he pondered over the situation. ¡°Well. I don¡¯t know¡± ¡°Do you think it¡¯ll end well?¡± Arian asked with a hint of hope. Aiden didn¡¯t completely deny that hope. ¡°Of course, that could be possible. The search team admitting their mistakes and withdrawing, accepting some degree of losses. That might be the safest outcome.¡± ¡°And if it¡¯s not safe?¡± ¡°They might resist.¡± Resist. Aiden only said that word, but the possibilities contained in it were truly endless. Thinking of some of those possibilities, Arian furrowed her brow. ¡°Are you saying it could go badly?¡± ¡°Just being overly positive isn¡¯t easy. The division between factions is too deep. Compared to that, the time the Union has spent united isn¡¯t that long.¡± ¡°So... what should we do? Should I enter the Union from tomorrow and assess the situation?¡± Aiden shook his head at Arian¡¯s words. ¡°You might be in danger.¡± ¡°Still, I could gather information.¡± ¡°Of course, that¡¯s true. But... getting more involved is not our role.¡± Aiden¡¯s calm words made Arian nod without being able to refute. They had already conducted enough investigation into the organization called the Union. Now, what remained was the Union¡¯s judgment. Whether one was a member or not, Aiden¡¯s group had no justification to interfere. ¡°So, for the time being, we¡¯ll just watch the situation.¡± Therefore, Arian couldn¡¯t oppose Aiden¡¯s decision. However, she sighed with a sense of regret. ¡°Can I have another of those cookies?¡± Perhaps it had been a long time. The cookies Angelo, the junk dealer, had given were exceptionally delicious. Also, Sadie seemed to really like them. So, Aiden agreed with that opinion. ¡°...It would be nice.¡± Murmuring that, Aiden looked back at the cityscape. In the quietly depressed landscape, only the moonlight shone desolately. * * * For the next few days, Aiden and his group performed only simple requests, keeping a close eye on the Union¡¯s situation. It was unusually quiet for a while. There was no noticeable reaction from the Union, and Amara knew only that a countermeasure meeting had started at the command headquarters. On the third day, finally, new information arrived. The Union¡¯s command had revoked the privileges of the search party and announced a change in the representative of the search party, taking responsibility for this incident. ¡°It¡¯s fortunate that it ended like this.¡± Amara said that, implying that the incident in Texarkana was completely resolved. She was worried about what would happen, but it ended without any trouble, she added with relief. However, Aiden couldn¡¯t completely reassure himself even with her words. Since a few days ago, the procession of the team going out to the outside world had not been seen at all. Aiden asked for the reason, but Amara said they were just gathering personnel to notify them of the changes in the search party¡¯s instructions. However, two days later, on the fifth day at midnight, the inevitable happened. ¡°...What¡¯s going on?¡± Arian, awakened by the noise in the middle of the night, asked. In response, Aiden simply pointed to the landscape outside the window that he had always been looking at. Beyond the darkened downtown, in the direction where the Union¡¯s base was. Arian¡¯s face stiffened as she looked at it. ¡°Something happened. We need to move now.¡± ¡°...Alright.¡± Arian woke up Sadie, and Aiden packed his belongings. The empty room, vacated by Aiden and his group, after hastily leaving. The sky beyond the window, overlooking the Union¡¯s base, was burning with an eerie reddish glow. Chapter 107 ¡°Now what?¡± Arian, sitting in the driver¡¯s seat after getting into the vehicle, asked Aiden. Usually, Aiden would immediately issue instructions, but this time, instead of an answer, he sighed. ¡°...¡± A civil war had broken out within the Union. Just looking at that fact, the obvious course of action for Aiden¡¯s group would be to leave this place. Even if the Union was an attractive group, there was no reason for Aiden¡¯s group to get entangled in their battles with bullets flying around. However, the problem was that it was midnight. During this time, when dangerous mutants roamed outside, no one, including Aiden, could guarantee safety. Amidst this, the Union was still making all sorts of noises, and flames were rising from all directions, bringing corpses towards this direction. This meant that the city center where Aiden was, as well as the entire Shreveport, had become extremely dangerous. ¡°Neither going out of the city nor going to the Union is safe. But we can¡¯t stay here either.¡± For Aiden¡¯s group, it was a situation of a strategic retreat. In this predicament, Arian was the one who decided on the direction. ¡°So... let¡¯s go to the Union.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Trying to leave the city in haste might end up surrounded by mutants. That would be the end.¡± ¡°Dangerous situations are the same in the Union. If we make a mistake, it could lead to significant harm to the people there...¡± Aiden stopped what he was about to say. He halted because he understood why Arian was trying to go to the Union. If they were to be surrounded by mutants to the point of not being able to overcome them, even Aiden¡¯s group would suffer great casualties. So leaving the city was an impossible task. Compared to that, the Union¡¯s danger had a different cause. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The reason the Union was dangerous now was because of the people involved in the civil war. And Arian didn¡¯t want to be a part of it, not by her own choice. Perhaps it was because those entities weren¡¯t natural enemies of humans. ¡°Could it be... you¡¯re planning to attack the Union?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± Arian shook her head at Aiden¡¯s concern. If Arian wanted to, she could end the civil war within the Union right away. Of course, in a direction that annihilated one side. But she naturally had no intention of doing such a thing. ¡°In the worst-case scenario, it seems easier to save our lives there.¡± Aiden fell into a brief silence at Arian¡¯s words. There was logic in what she said. So Aiden asked a question. ¡°After going to the Union?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s best to stay inside the barrier. Even if they don¡¯t accept us, we can enter.¡± ¡°Will they accept us? Besides us, many others will gather too.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Even if they don¡¯t accept, we can still enter.¡± Arian said shamelessly. With the abilities she possessed... indeed, it wasn¡¯t impossible to leap over that barrier. ¡°Moreover, there are people we know there. We might be able to ask for help.¡± At Arian¡¯s continued words, Aiden let out a short sigh. It was certainly not something he was inclined to do. However, compared to going out of the city, going to the Union was a safer option. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s go to the Union.¡± The vehicle of Aiden¡¯s group, who had finally made a decision, began to move. In the back seat, Sadie¡¯s eyes looked worriedly at the night sky, burning red. After a while, Aiden¡¯s group¡¯s vehicle arrived near the Union¡¯s base. Around them, the appearance of busy junk dealers was visible. Most people were unaware of what to do upon sensing the disturbance in the middle of the night. Some, despite the danger, were trying to leave the city. Aiden parked the vehicle near the convention center, a place he frequently used. Moving around here with the vehicle and its contents exposed to danger was a calculated risk. In the midst of all this, they had no choice but to endure such an adventure. Hoping the vehicle remained unharmed, Aiden took a step forward. ¡°This way.¡± A bridge leading to the wall behind the center. Aiden, wearing a helmet and fully armed, took the lead. Sadie followed closely behind with Arian. Aiden was worried that bullets might come flying at them, but fortunately, that didn¡¯t happen. They safely arrived at the Union¡¯s wall. ¡°Look there.¡± Arian pointed towards the front gate of the wall. There, a considerable number of outsiders were gathered, banging on the Union¡¯s door and shouting. ¡°Open this door!¡± ¡°Are you planning to kill everyone outside?¡± These were people who had been staying in the Free Zone. They were aware that the Union¡¯s commotion would attract zombies and mutants. That¡¯s why they were demanding either to open the door or stop the commotion. Although the atmosphere wasn¡¯t yet too tense, there were undoubtedly guns hanging behind them. If the commotion continued like this... they wouldn¡¯t stay quiet either. However, the Union seemed unable to respond to the situation. The few sentinels standing on the wall were already minimal in number. Even those few were scrambling inside, confused by the gunfire and noise from within. It seemed they hadn¡¯t expected a war to break out inside at this hour. ¡°...That¡¯s not good.¡± Observing the state of the wall, Aiden commented. As everyone here was worried, the commotion in the Union would undoubtedly attract zombies and mutants. But compared to that, the Union had no preparations whatsoever. Even though most of the stronghold was surrounded by a river. Not to mention the bridge, without troops to defend the wall, the advantage of such terrain would disappear. Seeing this, Arian furrowed her brow. ¡°Why are they doing this?¡± ¡°They probably have no experience. They might not know as much as we do.¡± Aiden muttered lowly while watching the sentinels fumble. ¡°This is bad...¡± Arian also sighed and groaned. Then, as they were looking at the wall, Arian suddenly pointed to one side. ¡°Aiden, over there!¡± In the direction Arian pointed, there was a shadow of someone. But due to the moonlight behind them, Aiden couldn¡¯t see clearly who it was. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± ¡°Probably Amara. She¡¯s up there. And she seems quite serious.¡± ¡°Why would that woman...?¡± As Aiden mumbled, Amara, probably because of the bright moonlight, spotted Aiden¡¯s group on the wall and gestured desperately. ¡°She seems to be looking for us.¡± Arian raised her hand towards Amara. In response, Amara pointed in the right direction, shouting something. Although drowned out by the junk dealers¡¯ cries, Arian¡¯s senses didn¡¯t miss it. ¡°She¡¯s telling us to go to the right?¡± Perhaps Amara wanted contact with Aiden¡¯s group. Since Aiden had the same intention, the group followed Amara¡¯s gesture, hugging the wall and turning to the right. As they walked a few hundred meters from the entrance, a small side gate in the wall came into view. It seemed to be an emergency exit rather than the main entrance. There, Amara revealed herself. ¡°Haah... p-please help!¡± Whether she had rushed down from the wall in a hurry or not, Amara spoke while catching her breath. Upon the sudden plea for help, Aiden first assessed the situation. ¡°What happened?¡± The story Amara conveyed was more complicated than Aiden had expected. The search party couldn¡¯t accept the orders from their command and attempted to gain independence from the Union. As a result, a battle ensued when they tried to disarm them, especially as the Union and the police vehemently opposed them. ¡°Because of that, the Union is now divided, fighting between the police and the search team. The situation is not good.¡± ¡°So... what do you want from us?¡± Aiden asked. Amara replied as if waiting for the question. ¡°I need to meet my husband.¡± Andrew, Amara¡¯s husband, was undoubtedly a high-ranking member of the search party. She tried to find Andrew and establish contact with the search party¡¯s command in an attempt to end this civil war through dialogue. ¡°Do you know his location?¡± ¡°Yes. A few hours before the battle broke out, the search party gathered all its members. He should be there. But... I can¡¯t go there alone.¡± Andrew was in the search team¡¯s headquarters, opposite the stronghold where the battle was taking place. So Amara urgently needed someone¡¯s help to find a way through the chaos. ¡°If you help me, I¡¯ll make sure all three of you can enter the wall. The battle is only happening inside the stronghold. It¡¯s safe near the wall. So...¡± Amara, perhaps discerning the situation of Aiden¡¯s group, extended this offer. It was an offer that Aiden¡¯s group could hardly refuse. As Amara said, the influence of the civil war had not yet reached near the wall. In contrast, outside the wall, it was on the verge of becoming dangerous due to zombies. So, for Sadie¡¯s sake, Aiden¡¯s group had to go inside the wall right away. ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡± Understanding this and going ahead, Arian stepped forward before Aiden. Arian, with her ability to sense the presence of humans, was invaluable in navigating through the battlefield, avoiding gunfire and finding a way. So Aiden nodded without much thought. ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll take care of Sadie.¡± Thus, they agreed to Amara¡¯s request, and the roles were assigned. Amara welcomed them inside the wall and first led Aiden and Sadie to a safe place. ¡°Here.¡± It was a building near the main gate. From there, sounds from the tumultuous wall beyond and even the sounds of the ongoing battle could be heard. ¡°I¡¯ve informed others. You can stay here.¡± ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go now.¡± Immediately, Arian tried to make a move with Amara. ¡°Be careful.¡± ¡°Come back safely.¡± Aiden and Sadie said to Arian. Arian nodded once and left the building. ¡°Which way?¡± ¡°That way.¡± ¡°Got it. Stay a bit behind me and follow my lead.¡± Arian said that and started walking towards the direction where gunfire was heard. * * * Inside the building where Arian left. ¡°...¡± Although Aiden and Sadie didn¡¯t say a word, it was far from silent. It was due to the junk dealers still protesting at the entrance. Their cries were now even louder than before. It seemed like they were about to draw guns anytime soon. Seeing this, Sadie cowered in fear. Aiden, after observing her for a moment, spoke up. ¡°Is there anything you want to ask?¡± Thinking that remaining silent might make Sadie uneasy, he threw out the question. Slightly fearful, Sadie cautiously opened her mouth. ¡°Why... do people fight here?¡± Sadie wasn¡¯t asking about the circumstances before or after this civil war because she didn¡¯t know. Aiden and Arian didn¡¯t secretly investigate the Union without Sadie, always sharing all the information with her. It was a natural precaution since she might belong to a different group. Therefore, Sadie knew about the factions within the Union and that they had strained relations. She was also aware of the recent incident where many people died due to a mistake by a search party at a certain base. She knew that the entire search party received reprimands and suffered losses as a result. However, despite this, Sadie couldn¡¯t understand why such incidents would lead to a full-scale war. ¡°...¡± And the answer to that question wasn¡¯t easy for Aiden either. Of course, human desires, power, etc. If he had to give reasons, he could come up with as many as needed. However, ultimately, those reasons were things Sadie wouldn¡¯t comprehend. So Aiden summed it up very succinctly. ¡°Because they are stupid.¡± Sadie blinked at his blunt words. Aiden calmly continued. ¡°Zombies are always predictable. So, we observe their habits and can read their patterns.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°But humans aren¡¯t like that. People can be extremely wise at times, but at times, they can be incredibly foolish. There are no patterns like with zombies; there are only impulses and emotions.¡± If one side had thought a bit more rationally, this incident wouldn¡¯t have happened. Even if they had lost privileges, suffered losses, or even returned some benefits without pushing the situation to the end, it would have been less costly than a war. However, the reason they went through with this was simply that their emotions couldn¡¯t endure those small losses. The exploded emotions fueled bold impulses, leading to this absurd conclusion. ¡°So, you don¡¯t need to bother understanding them.¡± Aiden added that there was no need to think deeply about it. Sadie was about to nod slightly at this. But... Bang! A loud gunshot startled Sadie, and she opened her eyes wide. It was a sound heard nearby. Aiden immediately focused his attention beyond the barricade. But it wasn¡¯t what he thought. Soon, the cries of an unknown junk dealer pointed out the cause of the gunfire. ¡°Zombies! Zombies are coming!¡± Following that, several more gunshots were heard. Eventually, the disturbance attracted zombies that passed through the city and reached the Union. ¡°Wait here.¡± With that, Aiden decided to leave Sadie here for a moment and head up the barricade. Leaving Sadie alone bothered him, but if the zombies¡¯ momentum was unusual, he needed to find a safer place. ¡°...Okay.¡± Sadie nodded. Aiden headed straight for the stairs leading up the barricade. Chapter 108 At the moment Aiden just climbed up the barrier. Arian and Amara were passing through a small market they had visited before. Tatatang! Clang! The place that used to be bustling with people was now completely turned into a battlefield. Bullets were raining from all directions, and occasionally, explosions could be heard. Yet, there wasn¡¯t a proper light source around. There was nothing but the flames of burning buildings and the faint moonlight to be considered as light. As a result, the visibility was almost blocked. In this reality where it was difficult to distinguish between friend and foe, Amara even felt a sense of despair. ¡°This is...¡± If she didn¡¯t have the intention to engage in combat herself, she thought she could resolve it through dialogue, even if she encountered the search party. Because they were once her colleagues, she believed there would be a certain level of trust. However, that was too naive of a judgment. The situation was even worse than she expected. Dead bodies, shot in the market, were scattered everywhere. The screams of those injured and dying echoed incessantly amid the deafening sounds of gunfire. But now, in this situation, encountering someone would likely result in getting shot before she opens her mouth. But how were they going to pass through this kind of path? ¡°What are you doing? It¡¯s this way.¡± Nevertheless, Arian urged Amara, who was staring blankly at the market¡¯s tragedy. Even though Arian was casually trying to enter the battlefield, Amara stopped her. ¡°Wait a minute. You¡¯re going through here?¡± ¡°So?¡± ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous. You might die.¡± Arian, who was being dissuaded by Amara, looked at her as if it were absurd. ¡°No, isn¡¯t it different from what you said earlier?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t expect the combat to be this intense. So it¡¯s over now. I don¡¯t want you to die either.¡± At that, Arian let out a short sigh. It was a bit frustrating, but Amara didn¡¯t say it with ill intentions. So Arian decided to take her to her husband even more firmly. ¡°Then can you not meet your husband?¡± ¡°This is a matter of-¡° ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go. Just follow me well.¡± Arian continued to walk confidently. Amara, who was perplexed by Arian¡¯s attitude even in this chaos, followed her hesitantly. Worried that a blind bullet might fly at any moment. ¡°How...?¡± However, until they completely exited the market, no such mishap occurred. Gunfire and shouts still echoed from all directions, and flames were rising here and there. A broken sign fell only a few meters away, and a building on one side of the road collapsed entirely due to an inexplicable explosion. But why was all that danger never reaching Amara? It was as if they were narrowly avoiding that all, like tightrope walking. How was this even possible? Amara directed a gaze filled with wonder towards Arian. Arian was barely an underage girl. Although she had proven her abilities by solving many requests with Aiden, it was still beyond the exceptional skills of a skilled junk dealer. She had thought that Arian was extraordinary from their first meeting... Was it some kind of superpower? Amara harbored such an absurd question in her head. Meanwhile Arian, who was leading the way, turned around. ¡°Where do we go from here?¡± They had almost reached their destination. Amara, who had just regained her composure, pointed to a 2-story building about several tens of meters away. It was a building made of rusty metal sheets, resembling an old factory. ¡°There. That building right there.¡± Fortunately, the building was unharmed. It didn¡¯t catch fire, and it didn¡¯t collapse. Moreover, it was located in the direction pushed away from the battlefield, and there were no signs of people nearby. If they approached carefully in the dark, Amara could probably reach it alone without much difficulty. ¡°...Are you sure about that place?¡± However, Arian, looking at the building, frowned slightly and asked in a low voice. Amara nodded her head. ¡°Yes. That place is where Andrew¡¯s unit is based. He is the captain of the search party, but even if there is a war, he wouldn¡¯t have participated. So he should be there.¡± Amara said with confidence. Well, this war was a battle between the search party and the police. So, Amara moved to stop the war. There was almost no possibility that Andrew, a whose wife worked in the police, participated in the battle casually. ¡°...¡± Unlike Amara, who just gained hope that she could find her husband, Arian¡¯s expression became cloudy. She already knew. There was no one alive in that building. All Arian could perceive inside the building was the strong smell of blood. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Nevertheless, Arian guided Amara to that place. Arian couldn¡¯t be sure whose blood it was. But because she couldn¡¯t go back like this, she reluctantly took steps forward. So, they entered the entrance of the building. The iron gate that should have been closed was oddly ajar. ¡°...¡± Seeing this, Amara¡¯s face slightly stiffened. Because she knew too well what an open entrance meant in this war. But ignoring the foreboding that came to mind, Amara entered the building. The first floor inside the building was wide, like a spacious warehouse. Because of that, Amara, who had come this far, sensed some lingering odor around her nose. ¡°Blood...?¡± It was the smell of blood. Even if she wasn¡¯t a vampire, she couldn¡¯t help but recognize this abundant scent of blood inside the building. However, the inside of the building was so dark that nothing could be seen. The building made of steel plates without a single window was blocking out the moonlight and the glow of the flames. ¡°I¡¯ll turn on the light.¡± Amara said with a slightly trembling voice. In her hand was a flashlight she had prepared in advance. Toward Amara saying that, Arian opened her mouth. ¡°It might be better not to see.¡± Amara turned to look at Arian. Arian, who was a little further inside the building than Amara, was completely buried in darkness. But even so, only her red pupils shone faintly as she stared at Amara. Amara felt a sense of eeriness inwardly at the sight, as if only her two pupils were floating. Without knowing that what was reflected in those pupils was concern for Amara herself. Pop! The flash instantly lit up. The bright light quickly dispelled the darkness and clearly illuminated the inside of this old building. Amara swallowed her breath as she saw the revealed tragedy. The inside of the building was entirely dotted with the color of Arian¡¯s pupils. ¡°This... how...!¡± The war didn¡¯t just avoid this building; it had already swept through and passed. Corpses were scattered all over the hall-like floor, all marked with the emblem of the search team. Among them, there were not a few faces that Amara knew. Because they were all subordinates of her husband, Andrew. Seeing their miserable appearance, Amara staggered. She breathed in sharply, trying to suppress the scream that was about to burst out. ¡°Shall we go back now?¡± Arian asked Amara, who was in such a state. It was a sweet suggestion. Amara wanted to leave this nightmare-like space right away. However, Amara shook her head. She still had things to do. ¡°No... I can¡¯t. I need to confirm... confirm it.¡± Althrough she was trembling, Amara walked towards the inside of the building. Arian quietly followed behind Amara. Amara carefully checked the faces, clothing, and other details of her cold acquaintances. But among them, there was no sign of her husband. Even though she couldn¡¯t feel relief yet, Amara moved toward the stairs. It was a staircase leading to the second floor. Unlike the first floor, the second floor had several office-like rooms arranged along the corridor. Amara and Arian checked each of these rooms one by one. In each office, there were from two to five dead bodies. And among them, when Amara approached the innermost room, she let out a tense sigh. That place was Andrew¡¯s exclusive office. Creak! Amara firmly twisted the closed doorknob and opened it. Then, the face of her husband, whom she had been searching for so desperately, came into view. Andrew, who always used the wooden desk and chair located in front of the door. He was sitting on that chair just like when he welcomed Amara, with a gunshot wound to the chest, lifeless. ¡°No... no, no!¡± Amara approached her husband. At first, not knowing what to do, she shook his shoulders. Then, realizing that his breath had long stopped, she collapsed in front of him. The despair that she had barely held back from her lips turned into cries. ¡°...¡± Arian just watched that scene silently and hardening her sences. She hoped that Amara¡¯s mourning won¡¯t be interrupted by anyone, even just for a moment. Amara¡¯s sobbing continued for a while in the middle of the battlefield. * * * ¡°Not good.¡± Aiden, who was first to climp up on the wall, sighed. Above the bridge leading to the entrance of the wall where junk dealers gathered. A single zombie had appeared there. ¡°Kiiiie!¡± It screamed, rushing towards dozens of junk dealers gathered there. Of course, they weren¡¯t incapable of dealing with the zombies. The zombie couldn¡¯t even pass half of the bridge and lost its head to someone¡¯s gunshot. But the problem wasn¡¯t that one. That one was just a signal announcing the beginning. The real problem was the countless corpses that were about to emerge from the darkness beyond the bridge. If the wave of those zombies pushed forward, Aiden couldn¡¯t be sure how long those junk dealers could endure. Then what should he do? In that moment of contemplation. ¡°Hey, you! What are you doing here?¡± Someone from the alliance on the barricade approached Aiden. The man with a sharp impression seemed to be a commander, judging by the atmosphere. Approaching Aiden, he eyed the helmet Aiden was wearing. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re the outsider Amara mentioned. But why are you here? I didn¡¯t say you could come up to the barricade.¡± ¡°I just wanted to check because it¡¯s noisy outside.¡± ¡°Really? Well, now that you¡¯ve checked, you can go down.¡± The commander pointed to the stairs leading down. His demand was valid. Considering that the only space allowed for Aiden, an outsider thanks to Amara¡¯s consideration, was that room below. However, even though he knew that, Aiden didn¡¯t just retreat. It was because of the voices below that were roaring like a thunder. ¡°...Don¡¯t you think we should open the door? They might be in danger like this.¡± Aiden said to the commander. Upon hearing this, the commander frowned and muttered. ¡°Do I not know that?¡± He looked down and observed the junk dealers. Unnoticed, another set of four zombies appeared on the bridge, and soon, shot down by gunfire again. But immediately after, more zombies appeared. This time, six. The number of zombies entering their sight was increasing. Watching this scene, the commander spoke calmly. ¡°But in this situation, I can¡¯t open the door and accept all those outsiders. It¡¯s not my authority, and it¡¯s not allowed. We¡¯re here to protect the Union.¡± His words were firm. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the midst of the war inside the Union, letting dozens of unknown outsiders into the barricade was reckless. Even if it were Aiden, there was no guarantee that the junk dealers who entered wouldn¡¯t cause trouble. In the worst case, they might take advantage of the chaos and plunder inside the alliance. Knowing this, Aiden couldn¡¯t force a choice on him. ¡°Are you a junk dealer too?¡± The commander asked, and Aiden nodded. He let out a short sigh. ¡°Yeah? Well... whatever, I¡¯ll allow support from up here.¡± The commander said so and moved away from Aiden. It meant that if he, as a junk dealer, was concerned about it, he could only shoot from up here. With that, there was nothing Aiden could do. ¡°Hmm...¡± At that frustrating moment when he let out a sigh. ¡°Kiiii!¡± ¡°Kaaaaa!¡± The unsettling cries of the disturbing corpses pierced through their ears. The number of those noises erupting from the darkness was more than just a few. The main force of zombies that had sporadically gathered was finally approaching, reaching right in front of them. ¡°These bastards!¡± ¡°Damn it...¡± While cursing at the junk dealers standing on the barricade without being ordered to do so, they raised their guns and lined up for a long time. It was to block the zombies crossing the bridge. Right after that. ¡°Kiiii!¡± A swarm of dozens of zombies emerged, covering the bridge. The junk dealers shouted. ¡°They¡¯re coming!¡± ¡°Darn it! Shoot!¡± Thus, the battle between the zombie horde and the junk dealers began. At first, it seemed like the junk dealers were holding their ground. Their shooting skills, with as much survival experience as Aiden, weren¡¯t that bad. Moreover, the dozens of rifles spewing bullets were more than enough to block the procession of corpses just jumping over the bridge. Like a dam blocking a pouring stream of water, they barely managed to hold on to a tug-of-war with bullets and zombies in the center of the bridge. But then, a variable appeared. It was a mutant. It was the Hedgehog that Aiden had faced just a few days ago. It came rolling across the bridge. ¡°Guuurgh!¡± Dozens of bullets aimed for the Hedgehog¡¯s head, but all of them bounced off its tightly attached armor, flying off in all directions. Ironically, one junk dealer hit by those stray bullets screamed and fell over. ¡°Tsk...!¡± Aiden, holding a rifle, became more frustrated. To pierce through the Hedgehog¡¯s head from where he was on the wall wasn¡¯t easy because of the wrong angle. Finally, the top of the Hedgehog¡¯s head became visible from where Aiden was, almost when it finished crossing the bridge. Bang! The bullet shot from above finally pierced through the Hedgehog¡¯s head, through its thick armor, and into its brain. The creature staggered after being hit, and only after Aiden shot consecutive 5.56mm bullets into its head did it finally collapse. So, the mutant was defeated, but the zombies that had been playing a close tug-of-war with the junk dealers in the middle of the bridge were now almost right in front of them. ¡°They¡¯re crossing the bridge!¡± ¡°Shoot! Shoot them!¡± ¡°Does anyone have grenades?¡± Junk dealers shouted from all directions. Now, their attacks were barely holding off the zombies from crossing the bridge. If another mutant appeared now, there would be no more options. But then. ¡°...Sadie?¡± Aiden noticed the small figure standing next to him. Somehow, Sadie had climbed up to the wall. Chapter 109 ¡°I¡¯m sorry. But... I couldn¡¯t just stand still.¡± Sadie, lying flat on the ground, spoke towards Aiden, who was looking at her. Sadie being here meant that she had violated Aiden¡¯s instruction to wait below. However, Aiden shook his head. ¡°No, you don¡¯t need to apologize.¡± The shouts of those fighting just below the wall must have been heard by Sadie as well. The wall couldn¡¯t block the sound, even if it could stop the zombies. Therefore, preventing her from seeing the scene wouldn¡¯t have made any sense. Instructing her to hide in the building, turning a blind eye, would only breed anxiety. So, Aiden didn¡¯t stop Sadie, who was slowly approaching his side. ¡°...¡± Sadie, standing beside Aiden, quietly watched the grim battle below the wall. The child didn¡¯t say anything for a while. However, Sadie¡¯s eyes soon seemed to fill with tears. Aiden followed Sadie¡¯s gaze. Soon, he could see something he hadn¡¯t noticed before. Among those desperately holding back the zombies, there was a familiar face. ¡°That¡¯s...¡± It was Angelo. The one who had given cookies to Aiden and his group a few days ago. Furthermore, behind Angelo, his younger brother Maxim was also visible. The child of similar age to Sadie did nothing but cower behind his brother, covering his ears. ¡°How... could this happen?¡± Sadie asked, but Aiden had nothing to say. There was no need for words. Just defending this wall was sufficient for the survival of Aiden¡¯s group. With the Union¡¯s first-line soldiers lined up on the barricade, even if a considerable number of zombies or powerful mutants were present, they could easily hold them back. However, helping those junk dealers here would be a serious adventure. It was impossible to determine how much resources would need to be invested, and even using all they had wouldn¡¯t guarantee victory. Moreover, even if they managed to save them, it was impossible to receive compensation for that effort. It wasn¡¯t a quest or anything like that. ¡°Stay back.¡± So, Aiden said that. Sadie, unlike usual, questioned his statement. ¡°Why?¡± Sadie looked at Aiden. Her gaze soon passed Aiden, targeting the Union¡¯s first-line soldiers below the wall. Sadie seemed unable to understand why they were just watching. But none of the people here were villains. Nobody wished for those junk dealers to die. Anyone would want to go down there and save them. However, engaging in such an act was an excessive arrogance. Everyone here knew what excessive arrogance brought about. The only one who didn¡¯t seem to understand that was this pure child. ¡°Is that... the right thing to do?¡± Sadie continued to ask. Aiden, who had been rubbing his lips to make a cool justification, eventually closed his mouth. It wasn¡¯t the right thing to say. At least, he couldn¡¯t answer this child the same way he did to others. As Aiden hesitated to answer, a vague sensation flashed through his mind. Sometime, a woman who threw him a similar question in a situation like this. ¡°...¡± A faint memory he thought he had forgotten revived. Jane Rose. The woman who had asked him this question once. However, at that time, she chose arrogance in response to this question and ultimately died because of it. Leaving her fiance turning into a corpse. Aiden now remembered that incident as a distant past. Once, he had regretted that decision several times. If he could go back to that time, he would never leave the same choice. However, looking at it objectively now, the current Aiden knew that it was impossible. If it were her, she would make the same decision even if she could go back to that time. The Jane he loved was such a woman. ¡°...¡± Aiden¡¯s consciousness, momentarily recalling the past, returned to reality. Below the wall, junk dealers were still fighting for their lives. And in front of him, a small child with teary eyes. Nothing had changed. Only Aiden¡¯s gaze seemed to have changed a little. ¡°...It¡¯s not the right thing to do.¡± He sighed and answered like that, then slung the rifle he had been holding over his back. Next, he checked his attire. The armament was... perfect. Thanks to anticipating combat from the beginning and being able to bring a variety of weapons from the vehicle. ¡°Stay here,¡± Aiden said to Sadie. However, Sadie grabbed the hem of Aiden¡¯s clothes. As if knowing what he was going to do from now on, she raised her head. ¡°I want to go too.¡± ¡°That¡¯s dangerous.¡± ¡°You¡¯re going because of what I said. Just me staying here... it feels cowardly.¡± Aiden smiled inside his helmet at Sadie¡¯s words. Even though she was a child, there was no way she didn¡¯t know that the battle raging below was dangerous. Moreover, there was no way she wasn¡¯t afraid. However, despite that, Sadie took responsibility for her words and didn¡¯t ignore them or avoid them using the excuse of being a child. Looking at Sadie like that, Aiden nodded. ¡°Understood.¡± Aiden, who had made a decision, went to the commander of the first-line soldiers. And he requested an emergency-use rope from him. In situations like this, escape ropes for emergencies were commonly equipped on these walls. If the way down was blocked by zombies, it was for escaping from the tightly sealed barricade. But that¡¯s why this rope was strictly one-way. It was intentionally made a few meters shorter than the distance from the ground. So that it could not be climbed up. It was made only for grabbing and falling. ¡°You¡¯re coming down?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t just watch anymore.¡± The commander, who sighed deeply at those words, nodded. If one of the junk dealers came down with the rope, it wouldn¡¯t harm the Union. The rope used for descending could be retrieved. Of course, preparing for this was an unnecessary effort in itself. However, even so, he personally installed the rope and handed it over to Aiden. ¡°Thanks.¡± Aiden lowered the tightly tied rope from the top of the wall. Next, he took out three grenades from his pouch. After pulling the pin, Aiden tossed them over the legions of zombies rushing towards the barricade and beyond. Finally, with a loud explosion, the steel fragments cleared the corpses, creating a short gap in the oncoming siege. ¡°W-what is it?¡± The junk dealers, who had momentarily stopped firing, looked towards the top of the wall. On top of the wall of the barricade, Aiden, holding Sadie in his arms, stood. Some of the junk dealers realized what he was trying to do and were astonished. And right after that- ¡°Then... Hold on tight.¡± Aiden immediately leaped off the wall. With only the strength of the grip on the handle, he skillfully controlled the descent speed. Although the gloves were hot due to the friction, the zombies¡¯ skin didn¡¯t even get a burn. Thud! Thus, Aiden and Sadie landed on the ground under the wall with a dull sound. The surrounding junk dealers turned their attention to Aiden and Sadie. Some of the junk dealers wore puzzled expressions at the situation where a child had been brought along. Among them was Angelo, but they had no time to open their mouths. ¡°Gyahhh!¡± The sharp scream of a zombie echoed, and the gazes of the junk dealers returned to the original direction. The one who stepped on the messed up bridge and appeared in sight was a mutant named Wielder. It, with one enlarged arm holding a construction site iron beam, was stamping the ground. ¡°Shoot!¡± The junk dealers resumed firing. Aiden also took out his rifle, and Sadie even joined with her small pistol. In the resumed chaos and gunfire, ¡°...¡± Maxim, who had been hiding behind Angelo, was now looking at Sadie. Seeing the young girl, about the same age as him, holding a gun with both hands and skillfully knocking down the corpses, Maxim felt embarrassed. While he couldn¡¯t do anything because he was scared, he was just hiding behind his brother. In contrast, Sadie was fighting zombies with her own strength. When the magazine ran out, Sadie moved her small hand to replace it. The hand movements were quite skillful. It was as if Maxim was looking at his older brother, whom he respected. Surpassing amazement in Maxim¡¯s eyes, a sense of respect mingled. * * * Inside the Union¡¯s stronghold, within an old factory. There, Arian was with Amara. Although Amara¡¯s sobbing had subsided a little while ago, she was still staring blankly at the lifeless body of her husband. ¡°Amara? We need to move now.¡± Seeing Amara like that, Arian, who couldn¡¯t stand it any longer, opened her mouth. Because they couldn¡¯t stay here forever. Upon hearing this, Amara slowly lifted her head. After letting out a long sigh, she finally spoke. ¡°...Just a moment. Please wait a moment.¡± Amara searched through her husband¡¯s lifeless body on the chair. Old photos, a single pistol, and a wallet, among other mementos. After arranging some of these items, she gazed intently at her husband¡¯s hand, or more precisely, the wedding ring he was wearing. ¡°...¡± However, unable to bring herself to take even that, Amara stood up, leaving behind other keepsakes. ¡°...Let¡¯s go.¡± Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Where to?¡± ¡°Back to where we came from... the wall.¡± Amara replied with a voice soaked with moisture. Arian nodded and led the way, just like when they arrived. The dawn was breaking far away. Looking at the slowly brightening morning sun, Arian asked: ¡°What are you going to do now?¡± ¡°I¡¯m leaving. I can¡¯t stay here anymore.¡± Amara was now lacking strength, but she spoke with a clear determination. Meanwhile, gunfire still hadn¡¯t ceased in the surrounding area. As if it wasn¡¯t enough to fight through the night. Arian narrowed her eyes and moved her steps. So, they returned to the wall. However, Aiden and Sadie had disappeared from the room where they had decided to stay. Arian initially raised an eyebrow but soon realized that their voices were coming from not too far away. ¡°...What happened?¡± However, their location was outside the wall. Aiden and Sadie were casually mingled among the junk dealers, where the zombies were supposed to be gathered. Unconsciously, Arian tilted her head. She couldn¡¯t understand why those two were outside the wall. ¡°Where did the others go?¡± Amara, who had finally looked around the room, asked. Arian cautiously uttered her assumption as if guessing her own certainty. ¡°They went outside... I guess?¡± Upon hearing this, Arian and Amara approached the side door leading outside. The door was still tightly closed, and there was even a sentry guarding it. Perhaps they were concerned that the junk dealers might break in through this door. ¡°...Open the door.¡± Amara said to them. There was a brief struggle between the sentry and Amara, but the sentry had no right to stop a member of the Union from going out. Thus, the door opened, and Amara and Arian came out of the barricade. ¡°What¡¯s all this...?¡± Arian murmured. Before their eyes unfolded an astonishing sight. The junk dealers who had gathered during the night were cheering. Some were exhausted and lying against the wall, resting, but most seemed unharmed. On the other hand, the sight of the bridge connecting to the city was beyond words. It was a mess, with collapsed structures everywhere, and most importantly, the number of corpses covering the area was truly overwhelming. In addition, there were a considerable number of mutants scattered around, testifying to how serious the battle was here. And Aiden... was surrounded by excited junk dealers. From what was being said, it didn¡¯t seem like he had fallen into trouble. On the contrary, the junk dealers seemed to consider him a savior of lives, and Aiden was drawing blood from them with a syringe. ¡°Just a moment.¡± Arian pushed through those junk dealers and approached Aiden. Soon, Aiden and Sadie came to her. Sadie embraced Arian, and Aiden opened his mouth towards Arian. ¡°You¡¯re back.¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m back. But what¡¯s all this?¡± ¡°...There was some trouble.¡± Aiden said calmly. However, in Arian¡¯s eyes, it didn¡¯t seem like the explanation was over with just that. So, she gestured with her eyes towards the opposite side of the barricade. It meant to talk in a quiet place. Aiden nodded, and they soon left the wall and moved to a quieter convention center. * * * After that, within the convention center in the deserted urban area, Aiden¡¯s group and Amara exchanged their stories from the previous night. ¡°...It¡¯s unfortunate about your husband.¡± Aiden, hearing Amara¡¯s story, said so. Amara nodded silently without saying a word. As the awkward silence passed, Arian asked: ¡°What now?¡± ¡°Of course, we¡¯re leaving. Right now.¡± Aiden said as if it were obvious. Combat was still ongoing within the Union. While the zombie onslaught had momentarily halted, there was no telling when they would swarm again. Therefore, Aiden intended to leave Shreveport as quickly as possible. ¡°Yeah, I think I should do the same. What about Sadie?¡± ¡°I... think the same way.¡± Sadie quickly agreed to leaving the Union. It was a clean agreement, free from any lingering attachment, unlike their time in Fort Wayne. Aiden then turned to Amara and asked: ¡°Will you join us if needed?¡± This was asked because Aiden had heard about Amara leaving this place. However, Amara shook her head. ¡°Not yet. There¡¯s still something I need to do.¡± Aiden nodded in understanding. Whatever it was, Amara¡¯s task probably involved her husband. After the frequent battles in the Union had subsided, she likely had to deal with his remains. ¡°Well, guess we should part ways here.¡± ¡°...Yes. Thank you all.¡± Amara bowed her head. Aiden¡¯s group bid her farewell and returned to the vehicle parked near the center. Fortunately, the vehicle they had left there the night before was intact, and its contents were unharmed. ¡°It¡¯s fortunate, but...¡± Aiden sighed briefly while organizing the vehicle¡¯s supplies. The recent battle, where they had risked their lives without any specific mission or reward, had depleted almost all of their strategic resources. Now, only a few rounds of ammunition remained. Just then- ¡°Hey! Wait a moment!¡± Someone approached their vehicle, running towards them. It was Angelo and his brother Maxim. ¡°Are you leaving now?¡± Aiden nodded in response to Angelo¡¯s question. Angelo, with a bewildered expression, then said: ¡°What will we do if you go like this? We all survived because of you. We should at least repay the favor.¡± ¡°Blood I got earlier is enough,¡± Aiden replied calmly. These people, who had poured out all the ammunition they had to survive the night, wouldn¡¯t have anything to give in return. Above all, since this wasn¡¯t something he did in hopes of receiving compensation, Aiden didn¡¯t ask for anything more than blood donation. In response, Angelo scratched the back of his head with a wry smile. ¡°Well... that¡¯s true. But still, take this.¡± Angelo handed over something long. It was an axe, a specially crafted one made of metal, from the blade to the handle. ¡°The one I used yesterday broke. This one was made by the Union. It¡¯s a good tool, specially made for zombie hunting.¡± As Angelo said, the crowbar he had been using until yesterday broke during the fight. It looked like he was paying attention and gave up the weapon he had. Aiden didn¡¯t decline his consideration and accepted the axe. ¡°Okay. I accept it gratefully.¡± ¡°And Maxim too. He has something to give you.¡± At Angelo¡¯s words, the boy, who had been hiding behind him, cautiously stepped forward. He handed a small bag to Sadie, not to Aiden. Inside the bag were cookies. Something they had bought before the Union battles broke out. ¡°Thank you.¡± Sadie accepted it with a smile. Maxim nodded with a red face. At that moment, a loud explosion came from the direction of the Union¡¯s stronghold. The warm atmosphere was shattered by the noise, and Angelo¡¯s forehead crinkled. ¡°Well, then we¡¯ll go.¡± ¡°...Yeah. Take care.¡± Aiden replied, and his group bid farewell to them. Soon, Aiden and his group got into the car. ¡°May you be safe.¡± The group waved goodbye to them and soon the car drove off. Sadie, sitting in the back seat, quietly looked back at Angelo and his brother and the Union¡¯s wall, which was slowly moving away. Chapter 110 Several hours after leaving Shreveport. The vehicle carrying Aiden¡¯s group was passing through the outskirts of Tyler, a city 150 km away. ¡°Phew...¡± Inside the vehicle moving along the flat road, Arian sighed in frustration. The reason for that sigh was not just the recent events in the Union; Arian was feeling uncomfortably hot. Arian tried to shield herself from the fierce sun shining from above with her hand. In other words, it was just too hot for her right now. ¡°It¡¯s incredibly hot...¡± She grumbled, glancing at the thermometer installed near the front windshield. The temperature was... 35 degrees. Indeed, it was a high temperature suitable for August in Texas. However, the vehicle Aiden¡¯s group had found wasn¡¯t equipped with air conditioning, according to Aiden. He had mentioned it was already broken when they discovered the vehicle. Aiden, being a zombie, couldn¡¯t feel the heat or cold, so he didn¡¯t bother checking for the presence of air conditioning. Of course, even if it was hot, Arian, being a vampire, would only feel discomfort. The problem was Sadie. She had stayed within the Union until now and didn¡¯t need to move during the day. However, now that they were leaving the Union, Sadie would be exposed to the scorching heat. Arian looked at Sadie with such concerns. ¡°Sadie, are you okay?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m fine.¡± Sadie answered with a slight smile to Arian¡¯s question. However, the fact that Sadie, who had spent the entire night awake, was now wide awake, indicated that she wasn¡¯t fine. It meant she couldn¡¯t sleep because it was too hot inside the vehicle. Creak- Arian opened the vehicle¡¯s window a bit more. However, just opening the glass wider didn¡¯t make the road under the summer sun any cooler. Moreover, Sadie¡¯s spot was sandwiched between luggage for safety, making it even more uncomfortable. ¡°Aiden, how much more do we have to go?¡± Arian asked, looking sympathetically at Sadie. Aiden answered immediately: ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I plan to stay nearby for today.¡± It was not even past 2 pm, so it was much earlier than their usual resting time. However, Aiden was already being cautious about the extreme heat. While immediate heat-related illnesses like heatstroke weren¡¯t likely, such weather inevitably led to physical exhaustion. Considering they barely rested the night before and faced the heat without respite, Aiden judged it better to rest early rather than insist on moving. With that decision, Aiden directed the vehicle towards the city. Vroom- The rough sound of the engine passed over the heated asphalt. Traveling on a bright four-lane road, Aiden¡¯s group entered Tyler. ¡°Do you know this place?¡± Arian asked. Aiden nodded. Even while in Shreveport, Aiden had been gathering information about the surrounding cities. He was well aware of Tyler, a medium-sized city, according to the information collected by the Union. ¡°According to the information I gathered in the Union, it¡¯s a quiet place.¡± Since Tyler was somewhat separated from Shreveport in the Union, their search party had visited several times to collect supplies. Explaining this, Arian raised an eyebrow. ¡°Well, then, hasn¡¯t the supplies already been looted?¡± ¡°Of course, they have. However, it¡¯s safer. The search party has cleared out the zombies.¡± ¡°What about people?¡± ¡°There aren¡¯t any significant groups, according to the information. Of course, there might be wanderers or looters by chance, but it seems there are no residents.¡± It was a straightforward story. 150 km. It wasn¡¯t a short distance, but it was by no means an impossible one. Moreover, there was a large group called the Union waiting for them there. There, the Union had no tendency to reject outsiders, so the small groups near Shreveport were already absorbed into the Union. ¡°So, it¡¯s safe but not much there?¡± ¡°We might prefer that. We need to avoid dangerous battles.¡± After the battle yesterday, Aiden only had about thirty rounds of ammunition left. It was an insufficient quantity to prepare for battles against mutants or armed humans. Therefore, Aiden decided to first visit a relatively safe city to secure ammunition. ¡°Do you have a place in mind?¡± Aiden nodded and took out a map of the area from the driver¡¯s seat. It was a detailed map of the surrounding area purchased from the Union. ¡°Here, it¡¯s the police station in the city center.¡± ¡°Is it safe there?¡± ¡°The chances are high.¡± There were three potential locations in Tyler where supplies might be found. One was the hospital-dense area to the north, the next was a large shopping district along the road to the south of the city, and finally, the eastern part of the city where small shops were concentrated around a large supermarket. ¡°If it were a search party, they probably focused on these areas. However, compared to these, the police station is in the downtown area where government offices are concentrated. It would be inefficient for large-scale search operations.¡± Even if they searched places like government offices, they wouldn¡¯t be able to secure as many supplies as in shopping districts or hospitals. So, Aiden naturally concluded that the police station would likely have been excluded from the search by the search party. ¡°Moreover, if we go there, we might be able to secure enough ammunition we need right away.¡± Aiden added. American police stations were relatively good places to supply firearms and ammunition. Most police handguns fired 9mm ammunition, the same type used in Aiden and Sadie¡¯s handguns. Additionally, the SWAT teams, commonly referred to as the U.S. police special forces, used rifles that fired 5.56mm ammunition. Both types of ammunition were essential for Aiden at the moment. Furthermore, during the recent battles in the Union, two out of the three rifles he owned had been damaged, and the remaining one wasn¡¯t in great condition. Choosing the police station as the next destination would not only allow Aiden to replenish ammunition but also potentially supply new rifles. ¡°Hmm... If that¡¯s the case, I understand.¡± Arian nodded at Aiden¡¯s explanation. At that moment, the vehicle carrying Aiden¡¯s group was approaching Tyler through Route 31, which runs from east to west, penetrating the city. In the distance, a large mart and several stores came into view. Aiden carefully examined the scenery. Although the surroundings were littered with trash and miscellaneous items, typical of most cities, the road leading to the mart was clear, and no zombies were visible. It seemed obvious that a search party had been here. ¡°...¡± Aiden confirmed this and continued to drive the vehicle further into the city. If this were an entirely unknown city, they might have to park the vehicle around here and proceed on foot. However, since they had prior knowledge that zombies had been cleared out by the search party, it was okay to be a bit more ambitious. Aiden didn¡¯t want to make Sadie walk in this scorching heat. Thus, the vehicle passed through the shopping district and residential area, continuing towards the downtown area. It wasn¡¯t far from where they parked the vehicle to the police station. ¡°It¡¯s a quiet place for a city.¡± Arian commented as she got out of the car. Perhaps because it wasn¡¯t a large city, it had a quiet atmosphere, and there were no towering buildings like those found in other cities. Aiden gathered his guns, melee weapons, and the few remaining rounds of ammunition and surveyed the surroundings. For now, there were no visible threats. ¡°Let¡¯s move.¡± Aiden¡¯s group quickly moved under the blazing sunlight. The police station was only a few blocks away, and there were no zombies in sight, making it easy to reach. ¡°There it is.¡± Oddly, in front of a road paved with red bricks, the police station building painted in dark gray and ivory colors came into view. In front of the entrance, the national flag, once a symbol of the country, hung dryly from a tall flagpole. ¡°...¡± Aiden walked ahead and headed towards the police station. The glass door entrance was broken, with one door shattered. When Aiden approached the entrance, Arian spoke up. ¡°There are zombies inside. About three of them. They¡¯re not mutants.¡± Upon hearing that, Aiden nodded. If that was the extent of the threat, there was no need to use firearms. He cautiously stepped over the broken glass and entered the interior. There, an eerie atmosphere permeated the police station, which was somewhat out of place for the scorching heat. What kind of incidents had occurred in the past? Although traces of destruction were scattered around, with broken chairs and reception desks, a layer of dust covered them, obscuring the grim past. ¡°Strange...¡± In this lonely scene, a zombie came into view. The creature showed no reaction to Aiden, but Aiden did. Swish! Swiftly approaching, he decisively thrust his greatsword from the zombie¡¯s jaw, and it collapsed instantly. However, Aiden didn¡¯t stop and quickly found and took down the other two. ¡°Come in.¡± After clearing the zombies, Aiden called his companions and explored the inside of the building for a moment. Fortunately, it didn¡¯t take much time. While there were some locked doors that couldn¡¯t be entered, the main reason it was quick was that the building itself wasn¡¯t large. Moreover, this building was just a part of Tyler¡¯s police station. Tyler¡¯s police station consisted of three buildings. Among them, the place Aiden entered was the lobby, where there were reception counters for meeting citizens, a few offices, and a small holding area. The other two buildings were the police headquarters and the prison, located in the rear area accessible from this entrance. Among them, Aiden needed to explore the police headquarters. It was neither easy nor safe to expect any significant harvest from the prison. ¡°For now, Sadie should rest here.¡± Securing a safe area, Aiden suggested. It was a reasonable suggestion, but looking at where Aiden chose for Sadie to rest, Arian furrowed her brow slightly. ¡°Of all places, here?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s the safest place.¡± Aiden¡¯s chosen location was the holding area. Of course, his choice wasn¡¯t wrong. This place was the most secluded in the building, and with all the doors from the entrance and the corridors made of steel, it was perfect for quietly resting away from zombies. However, Arian didn¡¯t like the idea of Sadie resting in such a holding area. Unhappy with the choice, Arian sighed briefly. ¡°Okay, well. Can¡¯t be helped.¡± S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll go check the headquarters.¡± ¡°Alone?¡± At Arian¡¯s question, Aiden nodded. Although he lacked weapons, he had planned for this from the beginning. He had no intention of exploring an unknown area where zombies might be present, especially dragging the tired Sadie along. However, at that moment, Sadie, who had been quiet, spoke up. ¡°I¡¯m okay alone.¡± Before he could say anything, Sadie continued. ¡°I¡¯ll be quiet.¡± With Sadie¡¯s repeated offer, Aiden pondered for a moment. Her request wasn¡¯t entirely reckless. They had already confirmed the safety inside the building, and among those, the holding area, where Sadie would rest, was the most secure place due to its location in the corner of the building and all the doors leading to it being made of steel. Above all, Sadie seemed to want to avoid being a burden to the group. Therefore, Aiden decided to respect Sadie¡¯s intention. ¡°...Okay, understood. Then, Arian and I will do the exploration. Is that okay?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Sadie responded immediately, and Arian, with no other choice, nodded her head. So, leaving Sadie in the holding area, Aiden and Arian proceeded towards the headquarters. Soon, a three-story building made of gray bricks came into view. Right before entering that entrance- ¡°I¡¯ve been wanting to ask since yesterday.¡± Suddenly, Arian spoke up. Aiden turned to look at her. ¡°What¡¯s with the sudden kindness? I thought you were just a machine solving requests.¡± It was a question about Aiden going out to help the junk dealers yesterday. Faced with an unexpected question, Aiden hesitated for a moment. What should he say? It wasn¡¯t like there was a significant reason or expectation from Arian. It was just... ¡°It¡¯s a simple whim.¡± Aiden answered like that. However, Arian stared at Aiden without saying anything. Not satisfied with just that gaze, Aiden tried to elaborate on the word ¡®whim¡¯. ¡°It just reminded me of the past.¡± ¡°The past?¡± ¡°About my fiance.¡± ¡°Ah, now that you mention it...¡± Arian had heard at some point that Aiden had a fiance. However, at that time, she didn¡¯t insist on knowing who the fiance was or what kind of person they were. But now... suddenly, she became curious about Aiden¡¯s past. ¡°What kind of person was she?¡± So, Arian asked without hesitation. Aiden looked at Arian for a moment and then began to explain. ¡°She wasn¡¯t someone suitable for this world.¡± ¡°Does that mean she was kind?¡± Arian said as if she already knew everything. In fact, she had become quite accustomed to Aiden¡¯s way of speaking. ¡°Her name was Jane Rose.¡± ¡°That was her name. Where did you meet her?¡± ¡°At university.¡± ¡°What did she do for a living?¡± ¡°She was a researcher at a large pharmaceutical company.¡± Answering Arian¡¯s rapid-fire questions, Aiden remained calm. With that, the two entered the headquarters building. Behind the broken wooden door, the interior consisted of a small lobby and corridors extending to the sides... And wasn¡¯t in a good condition. ¡°It seems like there was a battle here.¡± With barricades piled up in the corridors, bullet marks everywhere, and even corpses that had dried up and become like skeletons after being neglected for a long time. ¡°We¡¯ll talk about the rest later. Are there any zombies?¡± Arian nodded slightly disappointedly at Aiden¡¯s words. Then her gaze, sharper than before, scanned the desolate interior of the building. ¡°There seem to be quite a few. There might be dozens on the first floor alone.¡± ¡°No mutants?¡± ¡°Fortunately, no.¡± Aiden sighed briefly. Even if they were just regular zombies, dealing with that many would be burdensome. However, with Arian by his side, calmly dispatching them should be manageable. In the end, Sadie¡¯s suggestion to take Arian along seemed to be the right choice. Aiden smiled wryly and took out his axe. ¡°Let¡¯s clean them up first.¡± Upon Aiden¡¯s words, Arian also lifted her machete. Quietly, the two began to clean up the inside of the police station infested with zombies. Chapter 111 ¡°That room. There¡¯s one as soon as you enter, and another one farther inside.¡± Arian whispered, pointing at a slightly open door that led off from the hallway. Nodding, Aiden approached the door and lowered his voice. ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll take the one in front.¡± ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll handle the one in the back.¡± The door immediately opened, and simultaneously, the spinning axe blade struck the zombie¡¯s head. Without even letting out a scream, the zombie collapsed, and Arian swiftly followed inside. ¡°Kri-¡° The zombie, just about to turn its back, had its head launched into the air. Thus, the two zombies that had been trapped in the small office room fell like rotten pieces of wood. Aiden looked at the faded police uniforms the zombies were wearing and spoke. ¡°Next?¡± ¡°Hmm... none. That was the last one on the first floor.¡± At Arian¡¯s words, Aiden nodded his head. ¡°Okay, then... let¡¯s go to the warehouse.¡± While clearing out the zombies, Aiden and Arian had already found the police station¡¯s armory located in a corner of the first floor. Although it was locked and they hadn¡¯t checked inside yet, now that all the zombies on the first floor were cleared, it was the first place they needed to visit. The two immediately headed towards the armory entrance. The armory door had a double door structure, with metal bars in the front and a wooden door behind. It was a fairly robust security measure, but Aiden¡¯s group didn¡¯t need to bother finding a key. Arian could easily cut through the metal bars alone, and the wooden door behind it would be no problem. ¡°I¡¯ll cut it then.¡± Arian¡¯s crimson blade sliced through the bars. The sharp tearing sound echoed through the quiet building. Zombies on the upper floors responded with eerie screeches, but the staircase leading down was still quite far away, so it ended as a momentary commotion. Arian used the same method to cut through the other wooden door as well. After opening the door, they entered the armory, but... ¡°What, there¡¯s nothing here?¡± The place was completely empty. The only things left were flares used as signal lights and non-lethal rubber bullets, just miscellaneous items. There wasn¡¯t a single usable weapon in sight. Arian frowned in disappointment. ¡°Now what?¡± In response to her question, Aiden silently looked around the empty armory. From the fact that it was locked from the outside, and the traces left in the building, it didn¡¯t seem like someone had already looted it. Yet, for the weapons to have disappeared without a single one left behind, it was hard to assume they were simply consumed during combat. Then... it was more likely that the weapons had been deliberately relocated somewhere beforehand. ¡°Seems like the weapons were moved somewhere else. We should search the surrounding area first.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll check over there then.¡± Aiden and Arian began searching through the dusty, corpse-filled interior of the police station. While Arian checked the opposite side of the hallway, Aiden entered an office. It was a typical office space with rows of desks and chairs arranged at a fixed distance. Aiden first scanned the desktops. A few yellowed documents caught his eye. Looking at the contents, it seemed to be a document sent from some government office three years ago. The content itself was meaningless, so Aiden brushed it aside and looked at the bulletin board. There were names, photos, and phone numbers listed, along with records of crimes under investigation. He then opened the drawers under the desk. Inside were candies or chocolates, still wrapped in their pretty packaging, reflecting the sunlight peeking in from outside, though it was impossible to tell when they were purchased. They looked beautiful, but after being left at room temperature for over three years, they had undoubtedly spoiled, so Aiden easily ignored them. In this way, he moved from desk to desk, searching one by one. When Aiden reached the desk farthest back... ¡°...¡± He discovered a skeleton lying behind it. It was undoubtedly a police officer. The completely skeletonized remains were still wearing a police uniform. Judging by the skeleton, it seemed to be a man who had taken shelter under the desk before breathing his last. Although only bones remained, his cause of death could be clearly determined. Not only was there a penetrating hole through his skull, but more importantly, the handgun still clutched in his fingertips provided the decisive clue. Aiden carefully retrieved the gun from his hand. As he did so, the finger bones, barely supported by leaning against the gun, crumbled and fell. It was one of the standard 9mm pistols commonly used by police officers. A few rounds were still loaded inside, and since it had been kept at room temperature without getting rained on, the condition of the gun wasn¡¯t too bad. It was definitely usable. With that judgment, Aiden took the pistol for himself. After all, the man no longer needed a gun. Aiden stood up. He intended to search this desk where the man had been hiding and then leave the office immediately. But then... ¡°Hmm...?¡± Aiden¡¯s eyes caught a familiar word as he glanced over the documents on the desk. Zombie. A word that couldn¡¯t be found in any government documents before this virus appeared. In other words, this document was created after the zombie outbreak. Aiden immediately skimmed through the contents. It was a report written by the police. The author¡¯s name was... Amelia Johnson. It contained an account of the events that occurred in this city of Tyler during the early stages of the zombie outbreak, and the struggle of law enforcement against the zombie virus. ¡°...¡± Aiden calmly read through the faded letters, discolored by sunlight. Eyewitness accounts of the first sightings of the ferocious monsters. The horrific damage inflicted by being attacked by those monsters. Yet, according to the government¡¯s announcement, it was all just violent delusions caused by a contagious virus. The report then detailed the police¡¯s anguish over whether they should shoot and kill all those infected patients. Written in a stiff tone, listing the facts and opinions the author had witnessed, the chaos and fear it contained were vividly conveyed to Aiden as well. How could he not understand it? Aiden himself had gone through the same era and process to reach this point. Rustle- Aiden turned to the next page of the report. It concisely summarized the subsequent situation. The police seemed to have tried various means to confront the zombies, but in the end, the city of Tyler, like many others, was eventually devoured by them. And this police station appeared to have been the last bastion for the remaining survivors at that time. ¡°Hmm...¡± Aiden let out a sigh, recalling the scene he had witnessed in the hallway. Those barricades and corpses were likely remnants of their final struggle. Turning to the last page of the report, Aiden finally found the clue he was looking for. ¡°So they moved the weapons at this time.¡± The report also mentioned that the police had planned to barricade themselves inside the station, gathering all available manpower, and as a precaution, they had moved all usable supplies to the third floor. Aiden immediately found Arian and shared the information he had discovered, and they decided to go up to the third floor. ¡°There are zombies on the upper floors too. Less than the first floor, but still some.¡± ¡°Understood. We¡¯ll clear them out as we go.¡± The two carefully began dealing with the zombies on the second floor. On the second floor, there were not only offices but also interrogation rooms. As Arian sliced through the zombies, she cast a curious glance at the bare light bulb dangling in one of the interrogation rooms. Noticing her intrigued gaze, Aiden asked: ¡°Why are you looking like that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s my first time coming to a place like this. Isn¡¯t this where the police and criminals used to sit face-to-face? I¡¯ve seen it in movies before.¡± Arian spoke while looking at the table in the interrogation room. Aiden seemed to understand what she was referring to. Interrogation rooms like this were a staple in many popular crime and investigation movies that were once big hits in America. ¡°I see.¡± ¡°What, have you been here before?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Arian¡¯s jaw dropped at Aiden¡¯s nonchalant response. ¡°Why, did you commit some crime?¡± ¡°Not as a criminal. But this isn¡¯t the first time I¡¯ve searched a police station.¡± ¡°Ah...¡± For some reason, Arian let out a slightly disappointed sigh. The two then passed through the interrogation room and climbed the stairs leading to the third floor. ¡°...¡± At first glance, the scene on the third floor didn¡¯t differ much from the first. Barricades piled in the hallway, traces of countless bullets grazing the walls, and scattered corpses on the floor. It was identical to the first floor where combat had taken place. It wasn¡¯t surprising. According to the report, three years ago, the police had planned their last stand here. Moreover, after moving all their supplies to this top floor, this place must have become their final line of defense. But for some reason, the number of corpses seemed oddly low. More importantly, there were hardly any corpses wearing police uniforms. Then did that officer named Amelia, who wrote the report, manage to achieve her goal? While Aiden was having these thoughts- ¡°Look over there.¡± Arian, who had also been observing the surroundings, pointed to a nearby room with a slightly ajar door. Inside... were weapons. Although not in huge numbers, there were about ten rifles placed on racks, and a few ammunition boxes were visible nearby. Aiden immediately approached the rifles. Painted in black, they were all military-grade automatic rifles. Moreover, they were from the same lineage as the U.S. military rifles, similar to the ones Aiden had been using. Although their condition wasn¡¯t great due to being left unattended for a while, and not all ten were in working order, Aiden could still obtain usable rifles without any trouble. ¡°How is it? Seems okay?¡± ¡°Yeah. This should be enough to take a breather.¡± Aiden took out the three rifles in the best condition and leaned them against the wall separately. Next, checking the ammunition boxes, he was able to recover around 200 rounds for the rifles and 100 rounds for pistols. It was a bountiful harvest, more than enough to accomplish their purpose for coming here. Afterwards, Aiden and Arian briefly checked the rooms connected to the third floor, just in case there were any other supplies stored. However, apart from this armory, the rest were just regular offices with no notable supplies. ¡°Should we head back with these then?¡± Arian gestured towards the rifles. With the search of all floors completed, there was nothing left to do in this building. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. So Aiden was about to nod in agreement when he suddenly noticed a shadow outside the window. He went over and opened the window. There... was an emergency staircase leading up from the third floor to the rooftop. ¡°...Let¡¯s check up there as well.¡± After carefully checking the condition of the stairs, Aiden spoke. The two climbed up the creaky emergency stairs and reached the rooftop. However, the rooftop they had struggled to reach was completely empty. ¡°It¡¯s super clean.¡± Arian muttered in apparent bewilderment. As she said, there wasn¡¯t a single piece of debris on the rooftop. Only a clean gray concrete surface covered the area, as if no one had ever set foot there. ¡°...¡± But Aiden was finding the answer to the curiosity that had been nagging him. Protruding from the flat rooftop were a few vents and structures. And on one of them, someone had tied a rope. Aiden approached and examined it closely. Although somewhat worn, it was a typical fire escape rope. Moreover, it reached all the way down to the ground, making it obvious who had installed it and for what purpose. ¡°...¡± Aiden silently nodded his head. He felt like he had finally confirmed the conclusion to the report he had found. Of course, Aiden had no way of knowing what happened to them afterwards. But he was satisfied with the fact that, at the very least, they hadn¡¯t died here. ¡°Ah, this is...¡± Arian, who had belatedly noticed the rope, muttered. She too seemed to have reached the same conclusion as Aiden, alternating her gaze between the rope and the ground below. In the meantime, Aiden straightened his body, which had been bent over towards the rope. ¡°Let¡¯s head back.¡± The sky was already dyed in the colors of sunset. It was time to return. Chapter 112 That night. Aiden¡¯s group was still at the police station in Tyler. They had cleared out the surrounding zombies, and the building itself was sturdy, so Aiden saw no reason to look for another hiding place. In the holding cell, Sadie was chewing on the cookies she had received that morning, using a small candle as light for her late-night snack. The child¡¯s expression was quite bright. Perhaps because she had rested sufficiently during the day, her fatigue seemed to have vanished completely. Arian was chatting with Sadie when she suddenly seemed to have a thought and looked back at Aiden, who was standing by the entrance. ¡°Ah, that¡¯s right. We were in the middle of a conversation earlier, weren¡¯t we?¡± ¡°A conversation?¡± Aiden asked back, unable to recall immediately. Arian nodded. ¡°Yes, about your fiance.¡± Now that she mentioned it, they had indeed had such a conversation during the day. It had been cut off when zombies appeared. However, was it really important enough to bring up again? As Aiden was having that thought, Sadie¡¯s voice came through. ¡°Fiance?¡± ¡°Yeah. Aiden had a woman he promised to marry. Did you know that?¡± Sadie shook her head. Arian then relayed to Sadie the details about Aiden¡¯s fiance, Jane Rose, that she had heard from him earlier. Simple information like the name and occupation of a person who had died long ago. Yet, Sadie¡¯s eyes gradually filled with interest as she listened. ¡°So now I want to ask about something else.¡± After Arian finished her explanation, Sadie turned an expectant gaze towards Aiden. In this world with little entertainment, even the mundane past story of a zombie seemed to pique the child¡¯s interest. ¡°Well... if you don¡¯t want to talk about it, I can¡¯t force you.¡± However, before asking her next question, Arian hesitated. After all, it was about his deceased lover. She thought it might be rude to simply ask out of curiosity. But Aiden nodded, indicating it was alright. It wasn¡¯t a memory so painful that he didn¡¯t want to talk about it. Arian then smiled and immediately asked her question. ¡°So, what kind of person was Jane?¡± What kind of person? After pondering the question for a moment, Aiden mentioned the first characteristic that came to mind. ¡°She was an abnormally positive woman.¡± Aiden recounted to them the past events involving Jane. Based on her experience working at a pharmaceutical company, she had tried to create a cure for the virus herself. ¡°Because of that, Jane went out to capture zombies alive. She even set up traps over the course of several days.¡± ¡°So? Was she successful?¡± ¡°In the end, yes.¡± Looking back, her traps were amateurish, but Jane managed to capture zombies and eventually conducted various experiments. Of course, her experiments at the time didn¡¯t lead to any major breakthroughs, but they weren¡¯t entirely meaningless either. It was during that time that Aiden discovered that the zombie virus didn¡¯t die after being heated, but merely weakened ¨C the fundamental knowledge behind the neutralizer he currently uses. ¡°She would cry, saying she felt sorry for cutting off the zombies¡¯ limbs for safety, but a few minutes later, she would calmly crack open their skulls when they turned. She couldn¡¯t control her emotions.¡± ¡°Well... she sounds like an interesting person.¡± An interesting person. That was indeed an evaluation Jane had often received during her lifetime. At the time, Aiden had thought it was one of Jane Rose¡¯s charms as a person. But in this changed world, he couldn¡¯t only see it in a positive light. ¡°However, that kind of personality wasn¡¯t helpful for survival. That¡¯s why she couldn¡¯t last even half a year.¡± Aiden¡¯s cold follow-up remark caused Arian¡¯s face to briefly stiffen. ¡°Can I ask what happened?¡± Aiden nodded. It wasn¡¯t a story he felt apologetic about telling. By now, recalling those memories didn¡¯t evoke any particular emotions in him, so he continued in a composed manner. ¡°It¡¯s a common story. She messed up while trying to rescue people being chased by zombies. She had succeeded in similar situations before, so she thought she could handle it this time too.¡± To be precise, she had been betrayed by the very humans she was trying to save. She had extended a hand in blind kindness, but it was not reciprocated. Even so, until the moment of her death, she never regretted her choice. However, Aiden didn¡¯t go into those details and simply continued. ¡°It was all due to careless judgment. As a result, I became a zombie, and Jane died from severe injuries on the spot.¡± Seeing Aiden casually mention his fiance¡¯s tragic demise, Arian felt a pang of regret. This wasn¡¯t a question she should have asked. The thought belatedly crossed her mind. ¡°...Let¡¯s stop the story there.¡± By now, Sadie¡¯s expression and gaze had also turned somber. So Arian quickly changed the subject. ¡°Anyway, where are we heading tomorrow?¡± ¡°Tomorrow? For now... we¡¯re planning to go to Dallas.¡± Despite the abrupt change in topic, Aiden promptly provided an answer. Dallas was a major city about 170 km from here and over 300 km from Shreveport. Right next to it were other major cities like Fort Worth and Arlington, forming a single metropolitan area known as the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. The size of this metropolitan area was the largest not only in Texas but across the entire United States. As such, in the past, the population living there had reached several million. Now, it had become a city swarming with that many zombies. ¡°Dallas is a dangerous city. Even the Union couldn¡¯t handle the zombies inside and gave up on it.¡± ¡°And you want to go there?¡± ¡°In exchange, there are resources. And there¡¯s also a survivor group or gang there that¡¯s targeting those resources, in a somewhat unique form.¡± Aiden unfolded a map of Dallas and Fort Worth. He then pointed to the lakes on the outskirts of the metropolitan area. There were as many as five large lakes. Looking at those lakes, Aiden spoke. ¡°This is where the survivor group is located.¡± ¡°On the lake? Did they build houses on the water?¡± ¡°Exactly, that¡¯s what they did.¡± These lakes were originally recreation spots for the residents of the city. So there were numerous yachts and boats scattered across the lakes. The survivor group here had tied together dozens of those boats and built houses on top, living on the water. ¡°That¡¯s why they use boats to go back and forth to land. Thanks to that, they seem to be living quite stable lives right next to the city swarming with zombies.¡± Zombies can¡¯t swim. Of course, they don¡¯t drown by entering water, and they can cross shallow rivers or ditches by flailing around. But lakes spanning hundreds of meters in width are impossible for them to cross in that manner. The survivors of the Dallas-Fort Worth area were those actively utilizing this fact to survive. ¡°Hmm... so which one are we visiting first?¡± ¡°Here, Lake Ray Hubbard.¡± Aiden pointed to a lake northeast of the city. To the north of the lake, there was a long peninsula-like landmass extending inward. The ruins of a former yacht club there were the only point of contact with the lake¡¯s survivor group. ¡°We can also access this area through an embankment leading from the opposite side of the city. We don¡¯t have to pass through the city itself, so it¡¯s the safest place we can go to right away. I¡¯m planning to take requests here first.¡± Arian nodded her head. While she didn¡¯t know what kind of place this survivor group was, it seemed necessary to find out. After all, they would need to continuously trade with humans to obtain blood. ¡°Sounds good. Did you hear that, Sadie? We¡¯re going to a lake this time. Maybe we¡¯ll even get to ride a boat.¡± At Arian¡¯s words, Sadie¡¯s eyes lit up. The child, who had never ridden a boat before, seemed to look forward to the new experience. And so, the conversation shifted to the topic of the lake and the yachts floating on it, as the night deepened. * * * The next day. ¡°Wow...!¡± Sadie exclaimed as the scenery of the lake stretched out on both sides. Aiden¡¯s group¡¯s vehicle was traveling along a long embankment. Although not a particularly large lake, it extended lengthwise, giving the impression of a sea from their direction. As expected, apart from the road and railway tracks, there were few zombies on the embankment with the lake on one side. There were some, but in a manageable number. Clearing the way, Aiden¡¯s group was finally approaching their destination. ¡°Over there?¡± As they neared the land, Arian asked. Aiden nodded and slowed the vehicle¡¯s speed. This peninsula jutting out into the lake was a wasteland devoid of anything on the lake side. However, on the opposite side, it connected to the city center, residential areas, and more. In other words, zombies driven out of the major city could be lurking around. Fortunately, there were no zombies in their immediate vicinity for now. ¡°...¡± After confirming this, Aiden cautiously turned the vehicle towards the direction of the yacht club. It was just past 1 PM. Although the scorching sun beat down from above, the lake scenery somehow made the heat feel less intense. Then, a small vacant lot by the lake came into view. Weeds and small trees grew up to the waist on the dirt ground, with only a few utility poles standing amidst the desolate space. Aiden parked the vehicle there. He wanted to hide the vehicle if possible, but there was no cover in this area. ¡°Stay here.¡± Aiden said that to Arian and Sadie, then got out of the vehicle after arming himself. He walked towards the lake. Soon, structures with only roofs remaining came into view on the water. It was the marina of the former yacht club located here. More than half of the yachts, which would have been densely parked like cars in a lot, were now gone. Those missing ones had likely been used to build a base on the lake. As Aiden approached the lake with that thought, a voice called out. ¡°Stop!¡± The voice came from a small building at the marina. What seemed to be the marina¡¯s management office had two gun barrels pointing at Aiden. ¡°Who are you?¡± Aiden stated his name and occupation as usual. But the response he received was only a hostile shout. ¡°We have no requests for junk dealers. Get lost!¡± Aiden raised an eyebrow at this. It was a different response from the information he had gathered. According to what he had heard from the Union, this place was supposed to be the most open to outsiders among the survivor groups in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Yet... this outright rejection. ¡°...Can¡¯t be helped.¡± Aiden muttered softly and retreated. He couldn¡¯t keep blaming faulty information forever. If he showed a hesitant attitude towards this hostile group, it would only invite misunderstanding. ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡± However, even as he retreated, Aiden couldn¡¯t let his guard down. In addition to the two gun barrels he had initially spotted, there were other barrels poking out from inside the abandoned yachts at the marina and from behind. Aiden counted a total of five. Fortunately, none of those guns fired at Aiden until he reached his vehicle. ¡°What happened?¡± Arian asked as Aiden promptly returned. She had already grasped the gist of the conversation, but she hadn¡¯t expected such an uncooperative response. In response, Aiden opened his mouth with a short sigh. ¡°Who knows. Something must have happened, or the information was wrong. In any case, it¡¯s going to be difficult to trade with this place. I¡¯ll leave right away.¡± It was at the moment Aiden was about to start the vehicle when Arian spoke up. ¡°Wait a second.¡± Arian pointed towards the weed field. ¡°There¡¯s someone following us from inside there.¡± ¡°How many?¡± ¡°One in the front, two in the back.¡± Aiden frowned. After being refused a trade, they were secretly trailing the retreating junk dealer. Only one intention came to mind. ¡°...They¡¯re crossing the line.¡± Aiden let out a heavy sigh. He then secured Sadie¡¯s safety with a bulletproof vest and luggage before taking out a rifle. Seeing Aiden¡¯s actions, Arian asked: ¡°You¡¯re going to fight?¡± ¡°I have no choice.¡± Aiden had no choice. As long as he couldn¡¯t be certain of their intentions, he couldn¡¯t simply depart. In the worst case, they could receive a hail of bullets as soon as they set out in the vehicle. However, in response to Aiden¡¯s decision, Arian proposed an alternative. ¡°I¡¯ll go first and check it out.¡± ¡°You? What are you going to do?¡± ¡°Try negotiating. If I take the one who came out front as a hostage, wouldn¡¯t that give us an opportunity?¡± Arian spoke lightly. It was a reckless plan, but not an impossible one considering Arian¡¯s abilities. Even so, Aiden was concerned for her safety. ¡°But what if you get shot at-¡° ¡°I won¡¯t die even if I get shot. I told you, didn¡¯t I? I¡¯ll take a hostage.¡± However, Arian¡¯s words weren¡¯t spoken without any countermeasures. The enemy she planned to capture as a hostage wasn¡¯t just an ordinary hostage. In the unlikely event that things went wrong, the blood filling that hostage¡¯s body could become Arian¡¯s insurance. It was a cruel proposition, but better than openly engaging in a shootout. After making that judgment, Aiden nodded after a brief contemplation. ¡°...Alright. Do it your way. But they might attack as soon as we get out of the vehicle. Be careful.¡± The previously closed vehicle door opened, and Arian and Aiden exited one after the other. However, there were no gunshots as they had feared. Whether they were hesitating or timing their actions, the group had clearly not expected such a move from Aiden¡¯s side, as there was no immediate reaction. In that moment, Arian dashed into the weed field. The small trees and grass reaching up to an adult¡¯s waist instantly concealed Arian¡¯s figure. The enemies were briefly thrown into disarray, but in an instant, Arian swiftly advanced through the grass field at tremendous speed. ¡°Ugh!¡± In the blink of an eye, Arian grabbed a white man from behind as he hid in the grass. She immediately pressed her blade against his throat and stood up abruptly. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The man, taken by surprise, turned pale and froze as he saw the chilling machete aimed at his jugular. ¡°You two, come out. I know you¡¯re there.¡± In that state, Arian spoke. The man and woman who had been hiding then revealed themselves, their expressions tense. However, they were holding rifles and shotguns, all aimed at Arian. Before they could say anything, Aiden took the lead. ¡°I clearly said I was leaving. Why did you follow us?¡± There was no response. Arian then slightly waved the machete in her hand. The hostage let out a faint scream, and the woman shot an anxious glance at the man beside her. A middle-aged black man with a rugged appearance. Did he have the authority to make decisions? Aiden turned his gun barrel towards him. The man then glared at Aiden and opened his mouth. ¡°I¡¯ll explain everything. So let him go.¡± ¡°No, you give that brilliant explanation first.¡± Aiden replied in a low voice to the man¡¯s demand. The man then twisted his expression and moved his heavy lips. Chapter 113 ¡°My name is Asher Thompson. I didn¡¯t intend to harm you. I swear.¡± The man who introduced himself as Asher said that. However, Aiden showed no reaction to his words, as a mere oath meant nothing. Instead, he continued with his question. ¡°Then why did you follow us?¡± ¡°We had to figure out if you were affiliated with anyone.¡± ¡°Affiliated?¡± ¡°Yeah, like gangs or self-defense groups... things like that. But it doesn¡¯t seem like you¡¯re part of those kinds of groups.¡± Asher said that while looking over Aiden, Arian, and the vehicle behind them. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Aiden and Arian¡¯s composition seemed odd for scouts of any group. A white-coated man with his face hidden by a helmet and an underage Asian woman. Moreover, the van they had arrived in wasn¡¯t a vehicle suitable for scouting. It couldn¡¯t move separately, and its maneuverability in urgent situations was relatively poor. If it were really for scouting, they would have ridden motorcycles instead. At first, Asher had thought they might have sent a combat team of nearly ten people, but only two people got out of the vehicle. At that point, Asher had already inwardly realized they didn¡¯t belong to any group. After all, carrying miscellaneous items instead of people in a van was the quintessential look of a junk dealer. ¡°I already told you we don¡¯t belong anywhere.¡± ¡°Yeah, but I couldn¡¯t believe that.¡± At those words, Aiden silently glared at Asher, as if asking why he should believe him. Asher then stiffly cracked his neck a few times and opened his mouth. ¡°Do you know Lewisville Lake?¡± Aiden nodded. That was also a lake on the northern outskirts of the city known to have a survivor group. ¡°There was a gang we periodically cooperated with there. But... recently, that gang was wiped out. We don¡¯t know the reason. But our contact who always visited that place brought us the news. Of course, we directly confirmed it afterwards... it was true.¡± ¡°So?¡± ¡°So, it¡¯s obvious what happened next. Who could have taken down that gang? Zombies? No, the gang that was wiped out was like us, based on the lake. Zombies can¡¯t approach there. This was clearly the work of humans.¡± Asher stated with certainty. After hearing that much, Aiden finally understood what Asher was trying to say. ¡°You¡¯re saying you thought we might have attacked that gang.¡± Asher nodded. ¡°We needed to be wary of you. But it seems like the misunderstanding has been cleared now. So let him go. If you do that, I won¡¯t do anything.¡± Aiden silently looked at Asher, who spoke those words. To be precise, there was no evidence to back up his claims. However, Aiden judged that their words made sense. If they had truly intended to attack Aiden¡¯s group, the distribution of personnel seemed odd. The number of gun barrels Aiden had seen at the yacht club was definitely five. Yet, only three of them had actually followed Aiden¡¯s group. If an attack was intended, that distribution should have been the other way around. Moreover, they had even missed several opportunities to attack. Especially when Aiden¡¯s group was about to get out of the vehicle, that would have been the most opportune moment to strike. Yet they had blatantly watched the entire process unfold, suggesting their words could be true. So Aiden decided to test them. ¡°...Then put down your guns first.¡± At Aiden¡¯s demand, Asher gestured to the woman. The two of them then lowered the guns they had been aiming at Aiden and Arian. Confirming this, Aiden nodded once towards Arian. ¡°...¡± Understanding Aiden¡¯s intention, Arian¡¯s eyes quietly shone. She moved the machete away from the man¡¯s throat and released him. ¡°Whew...!¡± The man who had been held hostage immediately took quick steps towards Asher¡¯s side. Arian stared intently at Asher and the other woman welcoming the man. The distance between them was only about 10 meters. If they were lying and tried to attack Aiden¡¯s group, it was close enough for Arian to sever their necks before their gun barrels could even rise. ¡°You thought well. They¡¯re people we can talk to.¡± Fortunately, such a situation didn¡¯t occur. As promised, Asher and the other two didn¡¯t act hostile towards Aiden¡¯s group. They simply cast guarded glances in this direction. Just as Aiden was about to retreat, thinking it was over, Asher spoke up. ¡°I apologize for my rudeness.¡± Aiden only nodded in acceptance of his apology. At Aiden¡¯s plain attitude, Asher raised one corner of his mouth. ¡°By the way, are you really junk dealers?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Well then, it¡¯s good. I have a request I¡¯d like to entrust you with. Care to listen?¡± Arian let out a chuckle at Asher¡¯s brazen attitude. They had their guns and blades aimed at each other¡¯s throats just moments ago, and now he was talking about a trade. However, Aiden was accepting Asher¡¯s proposal. ¡°I¡¯ll take any request.¡± Aiden walked towards Asher with heavy steps. The guns that had been aimed at each other were now slung over their backs. Seeing the two of them acting as if nothing had happened, Arian felt bewildered. Were all the people living in this world accustomed to such sudden shifts in stance? But even Asher¡¯s companions seemed unable to grasp what to do, their faces perplexed. Realizing she wasn¡¯t the strange one, Arian inwardly felt relieved. ¡°Just to make sure, is this all of your companions?¡± ¡°There¡¯s one more in the vehicle.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± In the meantime, the two men were conversing as if in casual chatter. Without explicitly mentioning that Sadie was a child, Aiden simply answered. ¡°Where are you from?¡± ¡°Shreveport.¡± ¡°Ah, from the Union, then.¡± Asher seemed to be aware of the Union as well, saying that. He looked at Aiden with a puzzled expression and asked: ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it have been better to stay there? Why did you come all this way?¡± ¡°...¡± Aiden, who had been answering questions readily, closed his mouth. And Asher wasn¡¯t unaware of why the junk dealer suddenly fell silent. ¡°Well, you¡¯re quite tight-lipped for a junk dealer.¡± Asher took out the rifle he had slung over his back. Seeing this, Arian briefly tensed up, but Asher only removed the magazine from the rifle. ¡°How many rounds for the information?¡± Asher spoke while holding the magazine. He was suggesting exchanging that many bullets as payment for the information. However, Aiden¡¯s response was slightly different from his expectation. ¡°I should at least receive that entire magazine.¡± Asher¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. He couldn¡¯t tell if Aiden was joking or being serious. However, judging that this was also a way to gauge the junk dealer¡¯s nature, he obediently handed over the entire magazine to Aiden. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll give it to you. Now tell me.¡± ¡°A civil war broke out in the Union. It was quite serious.¡± At the first sentence, Asher¡¯s face stiffened. Aiden then proceeded to inform him about the approximate cause of the civil war and its progression, sharing the information he knew. After the detailed explanation that seemed impossible to have been made up on the spot, Asher asked in a low voice: ¡°Is that... all true? Any proof?¡± ¡°Not exactly proof, but I do have this.¡± Aiden held out a clean metal plate. It was an identification plate issued to junk dealers by the Union. While now a useless item, it could serve as proof that Aiden had directly stayed within the Union. ¡°Do you recognize it?¡± ¡°Ha... damn... yeah, I know it.¡± Asher was also familiar with this identification plate. Although not frequently, he had traded with junk dealers active in Shreveport on multiple occasions. After confirming this, Asher wiped his face with his hand. That a civil war had occurred there wasn¡¯t something Asher could simply brush off from his position. The Union was an enormously large group incomparable to the small group Asher led. So if the Union collapsed due to this incident, or even if a part of it broke away from the Union, it was inevitable that countless refugees would flood all the way to Dallas. ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve felt it wasn¡¯t a waste to pay a junk dealer for information.¡± Asher fell briefly silent as his mind rapidly processed the situation. After waiting for Asher¡¯s thoughts to settle, Aiden finally spoke again after sufficient time had passed. ¡°Anyway, you said you had a request to entrust me with.¡± ¡°...Right, I did.¡± Asher let out a short sigh and cleared his throat. Deciding to deal with the immediate matter first and set aside his other thoughts for now, he opened his mouth towards Aiden. ¡°Yeah, I want to give you a request. As for the content... well, you can probably guess, right?¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°What I said earlier wasn¡¯t made up. It was all true. So, I want you to investigate the identities of the ones who attacked Lewisville Lake. They¡¯re definitely humans, but we can¡¯t figure out where they¡¯re from.¡± ¡°You want me to find the invaders¡¯ base?¡± ¡°If it¡¯s difficult, even clues would be enough. Of course, they need to be reliable clues. And there are some items we need from the Lewisville Lake base. If you can retrieve those, there will be separate compensation for that.¡± After grasping the gist of the request, Aiden nodded. Although somewhat vague, it wasn¡¯t a request he couldn¡¯t accept. With that in mind, Aiden began further negotiations on the detailed content and compensation. ¡°...Alright. I¡¯ll accept it.¡± After all the discussions had concluded, Aiden finally nodded. In his hands was a vial of blood. He had already taken the blood of the three people here as an advance payment for this request. Asher seemed puzzled as to why Aiden would accept blood as an advance payment, but he didn¡¯t press further when Aiden didn¡¯t explain. ¡°Right. When you¡¯re done with the job, come back here. I¡¯ll greet you normally next time.¡± After finalizing the negotiations, Asher leisurely returned to the riverside with his companions. Aiden and Arian also headed for their vehicle. As they boarded the vehicle again, Sadie, who had been quietly waiting, spoke up. ¡°Is everything okay now?¡± ¡°Yeah, it went well. Sorry, were you hot?¡± As soon as she returned, Arian checked on Sadie¡¯s condition. Due to the heat and having to wear a bulletproof vest and helmet inside the vehicle, Sadie was drenched in sweat. The vehicle immediately started moving. It was only after they had returned to the embankment they had crossed that Sadie was finally able to take off the protective gear. ¡°Haah...¡± With her lightened body, Sadie let out a long sigh as the lake breeze hit her. As she wiped the child¡¯s sweat with a cloth, Arian looked towards the approaching landmass across the embankment and asked: ¡°Are we going straight to the gang¡¯s base that was wiped out?¡± Aiden shook his head. The Lewisville Lake where the gang was supposedly located was to the north of the city. But of course, they couldn¡¯t pass through the zombie-infested city. So Aiden had to circle around the outskirts of the city and approach from the north. To do that, the distance they had to travel was considerable. Circling the perimeter of the massive metropolitan area, even with a conservative estimate, would span dozens of kilometers. It was already past 2 PM, and covering that entire distance alone would be a challenge. ¡°No, I¡¯ll just find a hiding place in that area first. We¡¯ll start the investigation tomorrow.¡± So Aiden said that. Arian nodded, and their vehicle continued along the extended embankment. As a result of their hurried movements, Aiden¡¯s group was able to secure a temporary base that day at an abandoned real estate office north of Lewisville Lake. * * * The next day, Aiden¡¯s group set out for Lewisville Lake early in the morning as planned. Beside Aiden were not only Arian but also Sadie. ¡°It should be around here somewhere...¡± Aiden muttered as they reached the riverside leading to Lewisville Lake. To approach the gang¡¯s base in the middle of the lake, a boat was naturally required. The one who had arranged that was their client, Asher. He had informed Aiden of the location of a boat that his group frequently used to make contact with the gang at Lewisville Lake. ¡°Is that it over there?¡± Arian pointed to a boat lying abandoned near the lake. Aiden immediately checked the condition of the boat. It was a small and extremely old boat. It was the most basic form, a wooden boat with a motor attached, but even that had its paint peeled off, making it look unsightly. ¡°Are you sure this... is okay to ride?¡± Arian asked, referring to its dilapidated appearance. However, its exterior matched Asher¡¯s description from the previous day. The fuel for the motor was also properly prepared. It seemed undoubtedly the vessel used by Asher¡¯s companions. ¡°We¡¯ll find out once we launch it into the water.¡± To prevent the boat from drifting away, Aiden and Arian pushed the boat, which was resting on the dirt ground, towards the lake. The boat then wobbled precariously as it floated on the water¡¯s surface, rocking like a canoe. Aiden, who had boarded first, tried starting the motor. Vroom! Vroom vroom! The motor immediately started without any issues. Seeing the boat operating smoothly, Arian frowned in displeasure at its unimpressive state, but Sadie beamed and boarded the boat, seeming to look forward to riding the decrepit vessel. Letting out a sigh, Arian also boarded. ¡°Let¡¯s depart.¡± At Aiden¡¯s words, the boat began moving. Although not at a rapid speed, the boat glided across the water more smoothly than expected. ¡°Wow...!¡± Seated at the very front, Sadie exclaimed as the boat cut through the lake. Arian gazed fondly at Sadie¡¯s reaction, while Aiden remained vigilant, surveying their surroundings for any potential threats. ¡°How far do we need to go like this?¡± ¡°About 8 kilometers.¡± Lewisville Lake was an elongated lake stretching vertically. So Aiden¡¯s group, departing from the northern end, had to travel a considerable distance. ¡°That¡¯s quite far. Will this boat hold up?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hope so. More importantly, the city will soon come into view. We might be able to visually confirm the situation inside.¡± As he said, the forested scenery surrounding them soon ended, revealing the cityscape adjacent to the lake. Residential areas and parks only a few dozen meters away came into view. However, Arian¡¯s face stiffened upon seeing them. Even Sadie, who had been enjoying the view from the boat until moments ago, shrank back in fear. ¡°Oh... that¡¯s...¡± Unable to even let out a wry laugh, Arian muttered. What was densely covering the residential area was none other than zombies. But their density was at an incomprehensible level. In the residential area near the lake, far from the city center, zombies were lined up at intervals of nearly 1 to 2 meters. The visible number alone was at least in the thousands. Even for Aiden and Arian, engaging such a vast number of zombies in combat was unthinkable. ¡°...We have to give up on entering the city.¡± Observing the enormous number of zombies, Aiden spoke. Amid their astonishment, the decrepit boat continued drifting smoothly across the tranquil lake. Chapter 114 ¡°That must be it over there.¡± After riding the boat across the lake for quite a while, Aiden¡¯s group finally came into view of Lewisville Lake¡¯s floating base. Countless boats and yachts were intertwined, creating a landmass of steel and plastic floating on the water ¨C a scenery even more peculiar than they had expected. ¡°They really built this properly, didn¡¯t they?¡± Seeing this, Arian made that remark. Aiden nodded in agreement. The way the floating base was constructed seemed quite systematic. The people who made this base didn¡¯t simply tie the boats together haphazardly. First, the boats located on the outermost perimeter were all large vessels with tall decks. By standing on those decks, one could look down as if there were walls surrounding them, while also blocking a considerable portion of the view from the outside towards the inside. ¡°Hmm...¡± Since the boat Aiden¡¯s group was on couldn¡¯t simply cross over those yachts, they slowly circled around the outskirts of the floating base. Soon, an entrance leading into the base¡¯s interior came into view. At the entrance was a wide waterway extending towards the center of the base. This waterway seemed to have served as both a dock for boats coming and going from the base and a loading bay for unloading supplies brought from land. ¡°But is there anything else here?¡± Aiden parked the boat near the entrance and asked. Arian narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing the floating base. She soon shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t sense anything right now.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s head inside first.¡± The boat started moving again. Passing through the tall boats standing like gatekeepers, the interior of the base finally came into full view. Most of the hulls inside were tied together with ropes. Walkways had been installed between them to facilitate movement, and the existing cabins, kitchens, and bathrooms of the yachts had been partially remodeled for continued use. ¡°Hmm...¡± Observing this scenery, Aiden let out a sigh. He had expected life on this floating base to be far more arduous than on land. The situation in the cities they had passed by was clearly not favorable, and for safety reasons, there were likely considerable restrictions on entering and exiting the base, making it difficult to procure supplies. However, upon seeing it directly, that didn¡¯t seem to be the case. On one deck, someone¡¯s broken guitar lay rolling around. On another yacht, fishing lines leisurely swayed, dangling outwards. Although shattered into pieces, even the remnants of a small flower pot were visible. While not appearing abundantly affluent, the scenery exuded a subtle sense of leisure. After observing this for a moment, Aiden soon realized the reason for this impression. ¡°They¡¯ve completely eliminated the threat of zombies.¡± S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For any survivor group, their base was merely a relatively safe space. If a crisis arose, they would have to abandon and flee at any time. But for those who had lived here, that wasn¡¯t the case. They had the belief that zombies couldn¡¯t reach this place. So even if they struggled to procure supplies, they could fully rest within this base. That mental respite was emanating from this scenery. ¡°...¡± Aiden disembarked onto the floating base. He then helped Arian and Sadie get off as well. Although it was more like transferring from one boat to another, the feeling of setting foot on an unknown, wondrous island brought a faint smile to Sadie¡¯s face. ¡°So then...¡± Aiden looked around the surroundings. The base wasn¡¯t particularly large. At most, it consisted of only 40 or 50 yachts tied together. The number of gang members who had lived here was likely similar to the number of yachts. However, according to Asher, this place had been attacked by someone, leading to their annihilation. In other words, combat had occurred here. And the traces of that were indeed left behind... Unlike the relatively intact yachts near the entrance, the surrounding area immediately revealed hulls with shattered glass, walkways, and walls. And then... ¡°Look over there.¡± Arian pointed to the floor of a nearby yacht. There, the thin floor was clearly marked with traces of multiple bullets having pierced through. It seemed like gunfire had been directed at someone boarding the base from where Aiden¡¯s group was standing, but upon observing this, Aiden soon felt a sense of disquiet. ¡°...Strange.¡± ¡°What is?¡± ¡°Why were they shooting at the floor?¡± The bullet marks on the floor couldn¡¯t have been made during an exchange of gunfire between people facing each other. If that were the case, the marks should have been on the outer walls of the distant yachts, not the floor. ¡°Maybe they made a panicked mistake?¡± Arian suggested, but those marks weren¡¯t just one or two instances. Most of the bullet marks found throughout the floating base were aimed at the floor. That wasn¡¯t the only strange thing. ¡°There¡¯s a lot of blood, but no bodies.¡± It was clear that a tragedy had occurred here. Some of the yachts were drenched in blood, and in some places, torn flesh was even scattered around. However, not a single proper corpse could be seen anywhere. At this, Arian spoke up. ¡°So they must have disposed of the bodies separately. Maybe threw them into the lake?¡± ¡°Well, they could have done that. But...¡± Aiden shook his head slightly. Whether it was a gang or an ordinary survivor group, there was no particular reason for them to dispose of the bodies. If they were like the cultists Aiden had encountered before, they might have collected the bodies of the humans they had killed. But such people weren¡¯t common to begin with, and Asher hadn¡¯t mentioned anything about cultists being present. Of course, considering exceptional circumstances, there could also be maniacs who ate human flesh for survival. But that didn¡¯t seem to be the case here either. Aiden picked up a blood-stained can lying on the floor. Whoever had turned this place into a mess hadn¡¯t touched the supplies on the yachts. They had only killed the people and disposed of the bodies before disappearing. Moreover, considering the heavily damaged cabin doors, walls that seemed to have been hit by something, and the amount of blood splattered as if bodies had been dragged around, there were too many oddities for it to be a battle against humans. After carefully examining the clues scattered around, Aiden cautiously put forth a conjecture. ¡°The ones who attacked this place weren¡¯t human.¡± ¡°What? You mean...¡± Arian¡¯s brow furrowed. One of the basic premises regarding this floating base had been overturned. ¡°Zombies? But zombies can¡¯t swim, you said.¡± ¡°Yeah, they can¡¯t.¡± ¡°Even if some accidentally got in... that doesn¡¯t make sense. Then there should be zombies left behind.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± As Arian said, if it wasn¡¯t humans, then saying it was zombies also didn¡¯t add up. How could zombies have entered here in the first place, and if they had, where did they all go? ¡°...¡± Aiden briefly fell into contemplation over this. But even Aiden couldn¡¯t easily conclude the cause of this incident when Sadie, who had been searching the surroundings, raised her hand. ¡°There¡¯s a strange mark over here.¡± Aiden, who had been deep in thought, turned his gaze towards her. He didn¡¯t dismiss her discovery as that of a child. So he broke off his train of thought and approached her. ¡°Ah...!¡± Seeing what Sadie had found, Aiden let out a wry laugh. There was a crucial clue he hadn¡¯t even considered. And based on this clue, if Aiden hadn¡¯t seen it, he would never have been able to figure out the answer. ¡°The answer was alligators.¡± What Sadie had discovered were bloody footprints left by alligators. For Aiden, who had lived in Pittsburgh, it was an unfamiliar creature. But this was already the southern state of Texas. Somehow, those massive reptiles had entered this place, which was their habitat. ¡°Alligators...?¡± The moment Arian repeated those words, her head turned, seeming to have sensed something. Coincidentally, just as Aiden had revealed their identities, those creatures were directly revealing themselves. However, they weren¡¯t ordinary alligators. Through Arian¡¯s keen senses, three zombies could be clearly felt cutting through the lake and moving. Then, they were seen leisurely crawling up onto the dock of the floating base. With peeled, missing skin, severed tails, and even a missing eye, three zombie alligators stomped onto a nearby yacht, moving without issue. ¡°Were they waiting for us to come?¡± Aiden frowned and picked up his rifle. The weapons he had brought today were regular rifles, not large-caliber ones. He had come armed expecting combat against humans, with no large-caliber ammunition. But now that they had to hunt alligators, the firepower felt inwardly lacking. Of course, even these regular rifles would be enough to take down ordinary alligators. However, with zombie alligators, there was no way to predict what variables might be involved. Perhaps sensing this, Arian took out her machete and stepped forward. ¡°I¡¯ll draw their attention. You just provide support with your gun.¡± ¡°Is that possible?¡± ¡°It won¡¯t be difficult in this terrain.¡± Arian looked around as she spoke. Due to the yachts being interconnected, the uneven surface of the floating base would be advantageous terrain for Arian to run across the rooftops. Recognizing this, Aiden nodded. ¡°Understood. Take this.¡± Aiden handed Arian the vial of blood he had received as an advance payment from Asher. Arian accepted the old water bottle and poured it out into the air. The blood flowed along an invisible path, forming a crimson sphere. ¡°I¡¯m going.¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll take care of Sadie.¡± Arian dashed off. She leaped over the yachts in between, landing on the rooftop of the yacht where the alligators were. Then... ¡°Grooooar!¡± Letting out roars akin to dinosaurs, the alligators charged. An over 4-meter-long adult alligator swung its tail, slamming it into the control room wall that Arian was standing on. Crack! Such force was exerted that the yacht¡¯s wall immediately cracked with a splintering sound, as if it would crumble. Not only the yacht the alligators were on but the entire floating base shook as if an earthquake had occurred. ¡°Ah!¡± Caught in the shaking, Sadie nearly fell over, but Aiden swiftly grabbed her. Sadie had already taken out her pistol at some point. However, Aiden made her put it away and instead pointed to a handrail on the yacht. ¡°Hold onto this tightly. Those 9mm rounds won¡¯t be effective against them. That caliber lacks the penetrating power needed.¡± Sadie obediently nodded at Aiden¡¯s words. Standing beside her, Aiden aimed his rifle at the head of one of the three alligators. Bang! Bang! Meanwhile, the alligators continued slamming the yacht Arian was standing on with their tails. Each time, the floating base shook violently. An ordinary person would have been thrown off by such shaking long ago. Yet Arian was calmly watching for an opportunity to strike, standing steadily on the rooftop in an almost unbelievable manner. ¡°Tsk...¡± At the intense rocking, Aiden clicked his tongue briefly. Only now did Aiden seem to understand the reason for the bullet marks scattered around this area. The owners of this floating base had likely intended to climb onto the yacht rooftops and retaliate, but due to this violent motion, they must have all fallen off, unable to aim their guns properly. And Aiden was no exception to that. Even for him, it was impossible to shoot perfectly amid such swaying movements, as if dancing on the water¡¯s surface. So he changed his approach. Switching his rifle from single-shot to full-auto, he unleashed a hail of bullets towards the most exposed alligator. ¡°Grooaarr!¡± Unable to aim for the head amid the shaking ground and recoil, the steel shower still tore through the massive alligator¡¯s body, shredding it to pieces. The alligator that had received a barrage of bullets all over its body turned its gaze away. It had spotted Aiden and Sadie standing on the opposite yacht, identifying new prey. Shifting its focus from Arian, the alligator charged towards them with ferocious steps. Thump! Thump! An astonishingly swift movement for its massive size. And Aiden also moved towards the charging alligator. Leaping over the shallow railing of the yacht, Aiden took aim at the alligator¡¯s front. Click! Having already reloaded a new magazine, he stood with his back against the wall, facing the alligator just a few meters away, with only a small boat separating them from the rampaging beast. Bang! The floating base continued to violently shake due to the other two alligators still rampaging. Aiden maintained his balance by pressing against the wall, but aiming accurately was still ineffective. However... ¡°Grrr-¡° When the alligator approached right in front of Aiden¡¯s nose, it was a different story. No matter how much the ground shook, he could easily hit the alligator¡¯s head from just 2 or 3 meters away. Moreover, if the beast was charging straight at him with its mouth wide open, and Aiden poured bullets into it without restraint, even a monstrous alligator wouldn¡¯t be able to endure it. Rata-tat-tat-tat! With that judgment, Aiden firmly braced his rifle and opened fire on the alligator lunging towards him. Even before the beast could reach Aiden, the magazine was emptied, with dozens of bullets tearing into its mouth and shredding its brain ¨C a sight clearly visible to Aiden¡¯s eyes. However, he couldn¡¯t avoid the alligator¡¯s body that had already been thrown forward. Crunch! The massive alligator¡¯s bulk crushed Aiden. An impact that would have broken multiple bones for a human, but Aiden simply clicked his tongue and barely managed to push off the alligator¡¯s body before standing upright again. Immediately reloading a new magazine, Aiden looked towards Arian to provide support. ¡°Over there!¡± At that moment, Arian was slicing off the entire upper jaw of one of the alligators. Her following strike brutally cleaved the head of the beast, now unable to bite its prey. Only one zombie alligator remained. ¡°Grooooar...!¡± Indeed, it seemed to have a good head on its shoulders. Instantly recognizing its disadvantage, the alligator tried to retreat. The same alligator that had been vigorously shaking the floating base just moments ago swiftly turned to flee the way it had come. But it would never set foot in the water again. Arian¡¯s crimson sword strike came flying towards the back of its head, while Aiden¡¯s gunfire rained down on the path it was trying to escape. With its front and back blocked off, the alligator was pierced by bullets and had its head shattered before finally falling silent. ¡°Whew...¡± Arian let out a sigh, as if everything had been taken care of, and shook her machete once. In the meantime, Aiden checked on Sadie. The child was unharmed. However, Sadie seemed concerned about Aiden, who had been crushed by the alligator. Aiden nodded, indicating he was fine. ¡°But then... does this mean the request is completed?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Arian asked, and Aiden answered. The request was to find the base of those who had annihilated this place, and since the alligators¡¯ base was this very lake, the request had been perfectly fulfilled. ¡°Now we just need to take some evidence back.¡± Aiden spoke while looking at the cleanly severed head of a zombie alligator. At this, Arian¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. Chapter 115 After taking down the zombie alligators, Aiden¡¯s group thoroughly searched the floating base again. This was because there were a few items Asher had asked them to find there. Most of them were essential items like food and fuel, but there were also some whose purposes couldn¡¯t be discerned. One such item was a red baseball cap. It had the logo of a once-famous basketball team embroidered on it ¨C an unremarkable cap. Aiden came out carrying the cap, which had been stored in the cabin of one of the yachts. ¡°Are we done?¡± Returning to the boat they had arrived on, Aiden asked his companions. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m done.¡± ¡°Me too!¡± Arian and Sadie responded. Of course, they too had been searching the floating base for the requested items, eventually finding about half of what Asher had asked for. It was gradually becoming time to depart back to land. As Aiden was organizing their belongings, Arian worriedly asked: ¡°But what if those Beasts appear again?¡± At her question, Aiden let out a short sigh. Even he had been having that concern from earlier. The boat they had arrived on was too small and weak to cross a lake where zombie alligators ¨C Beasts ¨C lived. However, Aiden didn¡¯t have a better solution at the moment. ¡°For now, finding a working yacht among those tied here would be the best option.¡± ¡°And if there aren¡¯t any?¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll go back alone. After that, I¡¯ll have to arrange for a proper means of transportation.¡± Arian¡¯s expression stiffened slightly. When she hadn¡¯t known about the existence of the Beasts, she had crossed the lake without issue by boat. But after learning about them, she couldn¡¯t feel at ease anymore. If they really tried to cross the lake on that decrepit boat and were attacked by a pack of alligators, the boat wouldn¡¯t even withstand a single strike before breaking apart. ¡°I don¡¯t want to stay here any longer either... but we have no choice. Let¡¯s search for a boat first. If it¡¯s operational, I¡¯ll cut the ropes tying it.¡± Aiden nodded and began checking the larger yachts on the outskirts of the floating base first. ¡°Hmm...¡± After inspecting a few yachts, Aiden let out a sigh. Most of the yachts seemed to have been thoroughly remodeled for residential purposes, ruling out any possibility of reactivating them. In some places, makeshift beds had been installed where the control rooms had been completely removed. In others, the dashboards and steering wheels had been taken out to make space for tables. It seemed there weren¡¯t any intact large yachts. So Aiden next inspected the yachts near the entrance. He presumed that those who had lived on this floating base would have had vessels for transportation or carrying supplies. And as a result... ¡°This one... seems alright.¡± As expected, he found one yacht that appeared to have been used until recently. Conveniently docked near the entrance, it was slightly larger than a small yacht but considerably safer than a canoe-like motorboat. The control room and dashboard were intact, and there was even fuel inside. While the ignition key was nowhere to be seen, Aiden quickly found it after searching the cabin. ¡°We¡¯ll take this one.¡± Afterwards, Aiden¡¯s group transferred their belongings onto the yacht and cut the ropes tying it to the base. The yacht, which had been part of the floating base, slipped away like a puzzle piece, slowly exiting through the waterway entrance. And so, the yacht carrying Aiden¡¯s group began moving back towards land. ¡°Unexpected.¡± Aiden spoke while watching Arian sitting at the yacht¡¯s controls. Aiden didn¡¯t know how to operate a yacht himself. He had never owned or even ridden on one, so it was only natural. He had intended to somehow get it moving, even taking some risk if necessary. But then Arian stepped up ¨C she was well-versed in operating yachts. ¡°What?¡± ¡°You said you couldn¡¯t drive a car, but you can handle a yacht.¡± At Aiden¡¯s words, Arian shrugged her shoulders. ¡°Well, when you¡¯re constantly on the run, you need to know how to move regardless of the terrain. So I learned. But since running on land with my own feet was better, I didn¡¯t particularly need to know about cars.¡± It was a story from her past life, when she had been the enemy of many people in that other world. So while Aiden didn¡¯t fully understand her reasoning, he was grateful that Arian knew how to operate a yacht. There was no need for the reckless adventure of randomly pressing all the buttons around the control room to test it out. ¡°Good thing the methods are the same in this world and that one.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± With those words, Aiden¡¯s gaze turned towards the tranquil lake surface. In the water tinted with shades of blue and gray, nothing could be seen beneath. However, somewhere in this lake, Beasts lurked. That fact kept Aiden¡¯s tension taut. ¡°Look over there.¡± Arian pointed towards the gradually approaching land. It was the lakeshore of a wasteland area, somewhat distant from the city. There, an alligator was attacking a passing zombie. The zombie, its leg suddenly bitten, let out a screech. But the alligator paid no heed, immediately dragging the zombie¡¯s leg into the lake and disappearing underwater. ¡°...¡± The scene resembling a nature documentary momentarily left Aiden speechless. So this was how the alligators had become zombies ¨C they must have hunted zombies entering this lake in such a manner. It wasn¡¯t strange at all. Alligators were natural scavengers that readily ate rotten, decaying meat. So to them, zombies ¨C rotten corpses ¨C were clearly recognized as prey. ¡°This lake... was more dangerous than I thought.¡± Aiden muttered while caressing his rifle. In the distance, another alligator that had been watching them quietly submerged into the water. * * * A while later. After completing the request within a day and making contact with Asher again, Aiden¡¯s group explained what they had discovered and presented the evidence ¨C the severed head of a zombie alligator. ¡°Damn it... I¡¯ll be damned. Zombie alligators this time?¡± Seeing the grotesquely shattered head, Asher¡¯s rugged face twisted his brow. It was an unexpected enemy, and simultaneously, an extremely dire situation for him. ¡°Seems you didn¡¯t know about them.¡± In response to Aiden¡¯s words, Asher answered with a heavy sigh. Aiden could fully understand Asher¡¯s frame of mind. While this new type of Beast was merely a threat for Aiden to remember, for Asher and his group who had built a floating base and lived there, it was a bombshell revelation. The existence of these Beasts directly negated the very premise of the floating base¡¯s existence ¨C that zombies couldn¡¯t cross water. ¡°Has there never been any alligators in this city before?¡± ¡°At least not since the zombie outbreak. This is the first time I¡¯ve seen them.¡± ¡°What about before that?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Charlie, you¡¯re from around here, right? Do you know anything?¡± Asher asked one of his companions. The man called Charlie was the same one Arian had taken hostage earlier. After racking his memory for a moment, Charlie answered: ¡°About 5 years ago, there was news of alligators appearing in that lake. But the state government immediately drove them all out, or so I heard. It had been quiet since then.¡± At those words, Aiden nodded his head. Ultimately, with the government¡¯s collapse, the alligators had broken free of human control and infiltrated the city again after 3 years. Aiden continued his questions. ¡°What are the chances of the ones from Lewisville Lake coming here?¡± ¡°High. The lakes aren¡¯t that far apart, and moreover, there are rivers flowing from the surrounding lakes into that one. If they followed those rivers... they could spread across the entire lake area. Maybe they¡¯ve already entered.¡± Saying that, Asher gritted his teeth. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He was realizing the crisis facing himself and his organization. ¡°Holy shit...¡± Whether out of frustration or not, Asher roughly scratched his head. If Aiden¡¯s words were true, remaining at the floating base any longer would be suicidal. So they would have to immediately abandon their base and relocate elsewhere, but that was no easy task. Whichever path he chose, Asher would be staking the lives of his entire group. Thus, being forced to make that choice, Asher couldn¡¯t help but feel immense pressure. Watching Asher in that state, Aiden calmly confirmed the remaining part of the request. ¡°I found some of the items you asked for.¡± Arian laid out those items on the ground. With a conflicted expression, Asher gestured to his companions. They then retrieved some food supplies, fuel, and other resources. But there was one item... The red cap Aiden had brought back, Asher silently held in his hands and stared at. ¡°Are you sure you found the right one?¡± Aiden asked Asher. Letting out a brief sigh, Asher opened his mouth. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m sure. This is... my friend¡¯s belongings.¡± He flipped the cap over and pointed to the inside. There, someone¡¯s initials ¡®A.T.¡¯ were embroidered. Asher¡¯s words continued. ¡°He was with me until last year. But he got fed up, didn¡¯t want to be part of this group anymore, so he left. And he joined that gang at Lewisville Lake.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°The bastard betrayed me, but thanks to him, I was able to establish contact with that gang. After that, we reconciled and met occasionally... but it ended up like this.¡± Asher let out a bitter smile and put the cap on his head. The casual cap clashed with his rugged appearance, exuding an awkward dissonance. However, Asher continued speaking in that state, unfazed. ¡°I¡¯ll give you the compensation right away. Charlie!¡± Through his companions, Asher had Aiden¡¯s request compensation delivered. It included a suitable amount of rifle ammunition, two grenades, and vehicle gasoline. Additionally, three people came forward to provide their blood. Aiden had Arian assist in collecting their blood donations. And as Arian took out the syringes for drawing blood, Asher continued speaking. ¡°Hey, junk dealer. If you¡¯re not leaving right away, I want to give you another request.¡± ¡°Another request?¡± ¡°Yeah. As you can probably guess, we have to leave immediately.¡± Asher spoke in a heavy tone. Although he had seemed flustered earlier, it appeared he had only made a decision after receiving the belongings of his deceased friend. ¡°But the situation isn¡¯t good right now. During the last scouting trip, we suffered many casualties. So I need some help.¡± Asher¡¯s request was straightforward. He and his companions now had to abandon the floating base and move to land. However, they currently lacked any vehicles to transport people and supplies. Since operating vehicles within the zombie-infested city was impossible anyway, they had mainly been using boats. So Asher designated a temporary base on the opposite side of the city, near the lake. He intended to lead the entire group there on foot. However, since most of the personnel would be carrying supplies during the journey, he lacked sufficient manpower to clear the path and provide escort. That was the role Asher wanted to entrust to Aiden. ¡°If it¡¯s true that you took down three such monsters, then you¡¯re worth entrusting this request to. Don¡¯t you agree?¡± Asher spoke while looking at the shattered alligator head. Instead of answering directly, Aiden asked a question he needed to know. ¡°How many people are in your group in total?¡± ¡°A little over 50. The number we can spare as combatants is... around 10, I¡¯d say.¡± At the response, Aiden tilted his head slightly. Even considering various circumstances, he had expected at least half of the 50, or around 20 people at the very least, to be combatants. ¡°That¡¯s far too few. Is there a reason?¡± ¡°Out of those 50, around 10 can¡¯t participate in combat at all. They¡¯re children. Not just combat, they can¡¯t even properly hold a gun yet.¡± At the unexpected revelation, Aiden¡¯s head swiveled in surprise. Not three or four, but 10 children. For a small group of around 50 people, that ratio was too high. ¡°Why are there so many children?¡± ¡°Somehow... it just ended up that way.¡± Asher avoided answering. Aiden stared intently at him. Even without hearing the words, he could guess the circumstances well enough. ¡°You couldn¡¯t abandon the children.¡± In this world, children who lost their parents were mostly rejected by groups. For any group, beings who couldn¡¯t fight or work were merely burdens. But not everyone was like that. There were still some people who couldn¡¯t bring themselves to be so cold-hearted, and Asher seemed to be one of those people. On the other hand, Asher let out a bitter smile at those words. ¡°...Do you think I¡¯m foolish?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± Aiden shook his head. If Asher were truly foolish, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to survive until this point. So Aiden simply continued his questioning. ¡°Where is the location of this temporary base?¡± Asher took out a map right there. After scrutinizing the local area depicted on it for a while, he soon made a decision. ¡°Here. Do you see it? On the other side of the lake, there¡¯s an area called Heath. The temporary base is a small farm beyond that.¡± Aiden checked the map. Based on the lake Asher¡¯s group was staying at, it was on the opposite side from the city. The only path connecting to the city center was a narrow embankment. Apart from that, they would have to make a large detour around the lake, making it difficult for the zombies swarming the city to reach that far. ¡°There should be fewer zombies than in the city.¡± ¡°Right. In fact, I went there a few weeks ago. Unless there have been major changes in just a few weeks... we¡¯ll still have to be prepared for combat on the way, but there shouldn¡¯t be any zombies.¡± Aiden nodded his head. Asher¡¯s words continued. ¡°And we¡¯ll disembark the personnel and supplies as close to this location as possible. Specifically, this park here.¡± Asher pointed to a park adjacent to the lake. From there to the school building was about 8 kilometers. Not an excessively long distance, but there were residential and commercial areas of varying sizes in between. Passing through those while providing escort for a group of dozens would be no easy task. ¡°I want to entrust the role of clearing the path to your group. Of course, I¡¯ll join as well. What do you say, will you accept the request?¡± There was a brief silence as Aiden considered Asher¡¯s question. In fact, for Aiden, there was no particular need to accept this request. From the blood needed for their next destination to the gasoline, he had already secured everything required through the previous request. However, that was merely Aiden¡¯s perspective. Arian, who had been listening to the negotiation process right beside them, would likely have a completely different opinion. She, who cared for children, had been quietly glaring in this direction ever since hearing that Asher¡¯s group had children. Moreover, Sadie, waiting in the vehicle, would also likely want to accept this request. Considering his companions¡¯ judgments as well, Aiden soon nodded. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll accept it.¡± At that answer, Arian nodded, and Asher faintly smiled. ¡°Then let¡¯s meet tomorrow morning at that park in Heath.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± The discussion ended there. With many tasks still remaining, Asher hurriedly returned to the base with his companions. Aiden watched their retreating figures for a moment. Chapter 116 The next day. Aiden¡¯s group was surveying the park, which was the agreed meeting place. The scenery of the misty lake on the cloudy morning was truly gloomy. Amid that gloomy park, a cracking sound echoed ¨C Crack! Aiden, holding an axe in one hand, was smashing a zombie¡¯s head. The zombie crumpled over, its waist bent and body draped like a rag over an old park bench. Confirming that the creature had stopped moving, Aiden called out to Arian behind him. ¡°Next?¡± ¡°None. That was the last one.¡± Aiden nodded and lowered his axe. Since Asher¡¯s group would soon arrive at this park, Aiden had cleared the area first. ¡°Then let¡¯s wait near the lake.¡± Aiden, Arian, and Sadie took a seat on a bench overlooking the lake. Soon after, the sound of engines pierced through the thick fog. Six yachts came into view, carrying people on board ¨C likely cautious of the Beasts. ¡°...¡± At this, Aiden briefly surveyed the surroundings, concerned that any overlooked zombies might be drawn by the noise. But fortunately, there were no such signs, and the boats began docking one by one along the lakeshore. ¡°Move quickly, quickly!¡± People disembarked from the boats, which had anchored at a spot that wasn¡¯t an actual dock. Amid that brief commotion, a man approached Aiden¡¯s group. It was Asher. ¡°You were here.¡± Having spotted Aiden¡¯s group from the yacht, he calmly reunited with Aiden. His gaze then naturally fell on Sadie standing beside Aiden, and he slightly raised his eyebrow. ¡°And who is this child?¡± ¡°A companion who stayed in the vehicle. Didn¡¯t I mention before that I had one more companion?¡± At those words, Asher let out a wry laugh. He had indeed heard that during his intense first encounter with Aiden. However, Aiden had never shown any other companion besides Arian, even when reporting the results of the request. So Asher had thought Aiden¡¯s previous statement was mere bluster, but now there was this unexpected turn of events. ¡°...I see.¡± ¡°Is it inconvenient?¡± ¡°No, no. Rather, it makes me trust you more.¡± With a faint smile, Asher simply said that and turned away. He then began directing his companions and organizing the situation. The yachts carried not only people but also supplies belonging to Asher¡¯s group. Asher¡¯s companions began unloading and distributing the supplies among themselves. Meanwhile, those classified as combatants prepared their armaments. Their number was exactly 10, as previously mentioned. Of them, three would join Aiden and Asher as the vanguard to clear the path. The rest would serve as the escort guarding the children, injured, and porters. ¡°It seems better for you and Sadie to join the escort group.¡± Watching the personnel distribution, Aiden suggested this to the other two. Arian tilted her head at that. ¡°Clear the path? Wouldn¡¯t it be better if I joined that side?¡± Of course, not having Arian¡¯s strength in the vanguard was a pity. However, considering the worst-case scenario of being attacked from behind, having Arian as insurance in the escort group was better for Sadie¡¯s sake. After Aiden explained this, Arian worriedly continued her questioning. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I can¡¯t argue, but... will you be okay alone?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll have to trust these people. At the very least, they won¡¯t be completely inept.¡± Aiden spoke while observing Asher and the vanguard members he had chosen. Although they were all unfamiliar faces, this group had somehow survived in this zombie-infested city for over 3 years. Combatants specially selected from among such survivors were undoubtedly highly experienced, Aiden had judged. ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll do as you say.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine with it too.¡± And so, Arian and Sadie moved to join the escort group. Aiden approached Asher, who was studying a map with the vanguard troops. ¡°Have you decided on the route?¡± ¡°Hm? Yeah, I was just discussing that.¡± Asher handed the map he had been looking at to Aiden. On it, a faint reddish line had been drawn using diluted ink, tracing the path to their destination farm. ¡°What do you think?¡± Asher asked. While Aiden didn¡¯t know the detailed zombie density in this area, based on the common knowledge of avoiding residential areas, the route seemed reasonably logical. ¡°Not bad. Have you personally followed this route before?¡± ¡°No, I haven¡¯t. This... isn¡¯t an area we frequented. So there could be unforeseen dangers. Let¡¯s try to avoid using guns if possible.¡± Hmm, Aiden let out a sigh. Ultimately, Asher couldn¡¯t guarantee their safety, but that wasn¡¯t surprising. If it were truly safe, they wouldn¡¯t have needed to hire Aiden in the first place. ¡°When are we departing?¡± ¡°As soon as we¡¯re ready. Charlie! Is it still a long way?¡± In response to Aiden¡¯s question, Asher immediately urged his companions. The people who had been in disarray slowly formed ranks. At the front were the injured, their slower pace setting the speed for the rest. Meanwhile, despite their various injuries, those injured still carried at least one pistol in hand, prepared for combat if things went awry. Behind them were children carrying small loads. Although the children weren¡¯t armed, their faces were filled with anxiety. And at the very back were the porters carrying the heaviest loads. The escort group encircled this formation in a ring. ¡°We¡¯re ready!¡± As the formation assembled, Charlie reported to Asher. Asher nodded and turned his gaze towards the vanguard. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s begin.¡± At Asher¡¯s command, the five-man vanguard began moving. Behind them, Charlie followed at a distance to adjust the pace of the group based on the vanguard¡¯s position. And so, with his rifle slung over his back and an axe gripped in both hands, Aiden entered the desolate residential area. It was a gray road with an open field on one side and scattered houses where people had once lived on the other. However, the thick fog still lingering from the lake severely limited visibility. ¡°...¡± Aiden and the vanguard members advanced cautiously through the residential area, spreading out to the left and right, their eyes fixed on the unseen beyond the fog while suppressing even their breaths. Soon, the hazy silhouette of a house with a large garden came into Aiden¡¯s view. A brick house with a gray roof surrounded by a black fence. Beyond its tightly closed doors and windows, only stillness prevailed. How far had they walked through this residential area? Thump! Thump! Suddenly, amid the tranquil, desolate scene akin to a watercolor painting, a peculiar sound emerged. A noise resembling something striking the ground with a hammer. Aiden¡¯s gaze immediately turned in that direction. The source of the sound was the garden of a house with an iron fence slightly shorter than an adult¡¯s height. In front of the brown building, with two large oak trees standing guard, a single zombie was visible. For some reason, the creature was repeatedly ramming its head into one of the trees. ¡°That guy...¡± While it hadn¡¯t noticed their presence, it posed a threat that couldn¡¯t be ignored. So Asher tried to step forward, but Aiden blocked his path. Asher glared at Aiden. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Look at the ground.¡± At Aiden¡¯s words, Asher examined the garden¡¯s floor. The weed-covered garden initially appeared normal. However, Asher soon felt a peculiar sense of unease as he noticed traces of the ground being dug up, obscured by the overgrown weeds. ¡°Do you know what that is?¡± Aiden asked. Instead of answering, Asher cautiously approached the garden and prodded the ground with the shaft of his spear. Pock ¨C the spearhead sank deeply into the ground, the sensation akin to piercing a sponge rather than typical soil. Asher frowned at the unexpected softness. ¡°Damn it... what is this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Trappers¡¯ nest.¡± A Trapper ¨C a mutant that dug tunnels underground, creating a hazardous trap zone. While individual Trappers weren¡¯t particularly powerful, they ambushed anyone who stepped into their well-camouflaged tunnel networks. ¡°It¡¯s not just the garden. That field on the other side also seems to be their territory.¡± Aiden added. As he said, the Trappers had dug up even the grassy area beyond the concrete road. Asher¡¯s brow furrowed at this realization. With Trappers lurking on both sides of the road, advancing wasn¡¯t safe. More importantly, for the sake of the group following behind, these Trappers needed to be dealt with. ¡°We... have to eliminate them.¡± At Asher¡¯s judgment, Aiden nodded. Dealing with Trappers was relatively simple compared to other mutants. Within their territory, there was an entrance to the nest they cherished. If that entrance was disturbed, the Trappers would frenziedly emerge from underground, making it far easier to engage them on the surface. However, Asher let out a frustrated sigh. ¡°Junk dealer, are you familiar with Trappers?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you the one... who doesn¡¯t know about Trappers?¡± ¡°To be honest, I don¡¯t know much. I¡¯ve only heard the name and basic information. Aren¡¯t they not very common mutants?¡± Asher¡¯s words were somewhat unexpected to Aiden. After all, in the Pittsburgh area Aiden was from, Trappers were among the most common mutants. But were they rare in this southern region? Aiden soon continued speaking. ¡°They were common in the Northeast. The tactics are simple.¡± Aiden then explained to Asher and the vanguard what he knew. Understanding this, Asher nodded. ¡°In other words, we need to find the nest entrance.¡± ¡°Finding it won¡¯t be difficult. They have a habit of strangely decorating their exits. If it comes into view, it¡¯ll be immediately noticeable.¡± Saying that, Aiden surveyed the surroundings. Although visibility was obstructed by the fog, Aiden had a rough idea of where the nest entrance might be located. ¡°It¡¯s probably behind that house. Trappers are smart enough. That¡¯s why they prefer areas near obstacles like that rather than open ground.¡± ¡°And then after finding it?¡± ¡°Normally, you just blow it up with a bomb. That will make the Trappers come out on their own. After that, you can mow them down on the surface. That¡¯s it.¡± Asher shook his head while stroking his chin. In their current situation, where they didn¡¯t know how many zombies were in the vicinity, making a loud noise with explosives was concerning. ¡°Bombs are too noisy. Isn¡¯t there another way?¡± ¡°Then... let¡¯s use fire instead. With this thick fog, there¡¯s less risk of being noticed.¡± ¡°That seems like the best option. Understood. Prepare molotov cocktails.¡± The vanguard, now armed with molotov cocktails, circled around the Trapper¡¯s territory and the garden, approaching from behind the house. As Aiden had said, a peculiar structure was visible right behind the building. Mounds of dark soil were scattered everywhere, having been dug up haphazardly. Amid those mounds, several rotten branches were stuck upright, with various scraps of cloth hanging like laundry from those branches. ¡°I¡¯ll throw the molotovs. Everyone, prepare for combat.¡± Asher spoke as he lit the rag attached to a fuel-filled bottle. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The other vanguard members nodded with grim expressions and immediately readied their weapons. Asher then hurled the bottle he had been holding. Bang! The sound of shattering glass and a small explosion overlapped. Simultaneously, the flaming gasoline engulfed the bizarre structure of the Trapper nest. ¡°...¡± After throwing three molotov cocktails in succession, the rotten branches and dirty cloths caught fire, rapidly emitting black smoke. The vanguard members gripped their weapons, watching that scene unfold. A few seconds later, the Trappers underground began stirring as the acrid smoke seeped into their tunnels. ¡°Keeek!¡± ¡°Greeee!¡± The ground, where they had been quietly waiting for prey, irregularly twitched here and there. Finally, unable to endure any longer, one Trapper burst out onto the surface. Covered in black soil as if it had been coated in mud, the Trapper shrieked at the sight of its burning nest. ¡°Kaaaaahh!¡± That was the signal for the battle to begin. Sensing the crisis to their nest, the Trappers that had been hiding underground all came crawling out, swarming like a massive colony of ants. Asher¡¯s expression involuntarily twisted at the sight. ¡°How many of them are there?¡± One of the vanguard muttered. The number of Trappers filling the house¡¯s garden and the field beyond exceeded 50. Fortunately, however, most of them were simply screeching at the sight of their burning nest. Only half of them had noticed Aiden, Asher, and the vanguard. ¡°Here they come!¡± Soon, those Trappers charged like a swarm of bees towards the vanguard that had attacked their nest. Around twenty Trappers rushed forward on all fours, clawing at the ground. ¡°Use melee weapons as much as possible! If it¡¯s too difficult, use pistols with silencers!¡± Asher shouted those words and thrust his spear at the nearest approaching Trapper. The Trapper¡¯s heart was instantly impaled, but as a zombie, it wouldn¡¯t die from just that, instead going into a frenzy. However, Asher kept it skewered on his spear and slammed it to the ground before stomping on its head with his steel-spiked combat boots. Crunch! Such was the force exerted that the Trapper¡¯s head burst open like a watermelon. Asher¡¯s considerable brute strength befitting his large build made the fluid motion of pulling out his spear and dealing with the next one in the same manner seem natural to Aiden. ¡°Kak!¡± Next to Asher, one of the vanguard members swung a hammer, felling another Trapper. Asher¡¯s other companions in the vanguard were also fighting skillfully, not inferior to Asher himself. Truly veterans handpicked for the task, their abilities surpassed even capable junk dealers. At this level, Aiden could entrust the battle to them. With that judgment, Aiden moved even more proactively. The combat axe he had received in Shreveport sliced through countless zombie necks and cleaved their heads. The shrieks of the zombies and the tearing sounds of blades cutting through rotted flesh alternated. ¡°...¡± It was only a few minutes later that the small garden shrouded in fog finally fell silent once more. Chapter 117 ¡°Phew... it¡¯s over.¡± After the battle with the Trappers, Asher let out a breath and spoke. Black blood dripped from the spear he was holding towards the ground. Asher wiped his spear a few times and surveyed the surroundings. ¡°Any injuries?¡± Aiden and the rest of the vanguard shook their heads. Apart from one member whose weapon was damaged, there were no casualties. Perhaps thanks to their proven skills, even though they had targeted the Trappers¡¯ weaknesses, suffering no losses while facing over 50 of them was a considerably fortunate result. ¡°By the way, junk dealer, you fight quite well.¡± Asher spoke while looking at Aiden. In the previous battle, while everyone fought capably, Aiden particularly stood out. Without exerting excessive force, he cleared out the Trappers with restrained movements akin to a well-trained soldier. ¡°Are you perhaps a former military veteran?¡± So Asher asked. The bulletproof helmet and vest Aiden was wearing also served as grounds for that question. At a glance, anyone could tell they were military-grade equipment. However, Aiden shook his head. ¡°If you¡¯re asking about my former profession, I was a doctor.¡± ¡°A doctor?¡± Asher¡¯s eyes widened, and Aiden showed him the ID tag hanging from his neck. Asher let out a dry laugh. ¡°You don¡¯t look like a doctor... you¡¯re quite a talented guy.¡± Asher scrutinized Aiden with an appraising gaze, as if evaluating an item. Displeased with that look, Aiden opened his mouth. ¡°Why is that?¡± ¡°Our group doesn¡¯t have a doctor. If you have nowhere to go, would you consider joining us?¡± Perhaps he was tempted by the existence of a doctor who could fight like a soldier. With a sly smile, Asher extended an offer to recruit him. In response, Aiden shook his head with a wry smile hidden within his helmet. ¡°I can¡¯t. I still have things to do.¡± ¡°Is that so? Well, can¡¯t be helped then.¡± Asher shrugged and backed off. Some of the vanguard members grumbled about Asher¡¯s failed scouting attempt. Asher shot a playful glance at his companions before quickly returning to a serious expression, facing forward. ¡°Enough chatter. Let¡¯s keep moving.¡± And so, Aiden and the vanguard passed through the residential area connected from the park. Fortunately, until the end of the residential area, they only encountered a few ordinary zombies. After dealing with them, the residential area soon ended. ¡°Phew...¡± After exiting the residential area into an open field, Asher let out a long sigh. The first hurdle had barely been overcome. Confirming this, Asher briefly gathered the vanguard members. The thick fog still lingered. The dense rain clouds above seemed ready to pour down at any moment. As a result, despite it being morning, it wasn¡¯t particularly bright, with visibility limited to barely 50 meters. However, being well-acquainted with the weather in this area, Asher knew this fog wouldn¡¯t last long. In an hour or two, the clouds would likely pass, and the scorching sun would soon beat down as if nothing had happened. Then, the fog would dissipate completely, and visibility would be fully restored. So Asher judged that there was no need to rush for now. ¡°Let¡¯s take a short break. But... you all know to be cautious from here on, right?¡± At his words, the vanguard members nodded. If the residential area was the first hurdle, the small commercial district beyond was an even greater challenge. Asher took out a map from his pocket and pointed to one location. ¡°From here on, there are larger buildings gathered instead of houses. This is the most dangerous part of our route. Especially here, where the police station and elementary school are adjacent.¡± As he said, the path ahead featured a church followed by a few small commercial buildings, government offices, and a hospital stretched across a mere three-block area. However, since each building was considerably larger and taller than a house, there was a concern about a massive zombie emergence. ¡°So stay fully alert from here on. Those zombie bastards could be hiding anywhere. Understand?¡± After warning the vanguard, Asher briefly rested before leading the group forward again. After walking about a hundred meters further, the church marking the start of the commercial district came into view. However, apart from a few abandoned vehicles in the parking lot, there were no signs of zombies anywhere. ¡°...¡± Asher silently gestured with his hand. The vanguard then spread out horizontally, approaching the church cautiously. Soon, Asher, who had taken the lead, surveyed the interior. However, contrary to their concerns, the church was completely empty. ¡°This place... seems alright.¡± The expression on Asher¡¯s face as he spoke was a mixture of relief and slight suspicion. He hadn¡¯t expected it to be this deserted. However, it wouldn¡¯t be strange for aimlessly roaming zombies to simply not have entered the church by chance. So Asher didn¡¯t dwell on it further. ¡°This way.¡± Asher immediately moved towards the next building. However, the peculiarities didn¡¯t end there. ¡°Here too, it¡¯s empty?¡± The large restaurant beyond the church was also completely vacant. Not only that, but there were no zombies in the adjacent gym, hospital, souvenir shop, or even the famous burger chain restaurant. ¡°...¡± Even the police station and elementary school buildings, where they had braced for combat, were the same. Thanks to this, Asher¡¯s group was able to pass through the area they had thought would be the most dangerous in a matter of mere dozens of minutes, as if taking a casual stroll. After passing through the commercial district, Asher couldn¡¯t hide his suspicion. ¡°Strange. Should I just chalk this up to good luck?¡± ¡°Who knows.¡± Aiden responded to Asher¡¯s doubtful words. Aiden too wasn¡¯t viewing this situation positively. ¡°Do you have any guesses why?¡± ¡°There are definitely traces of zombies moving. But... their direction is all the same. Look at this.¡± Aiden pointed to the dirt ground beside the road. Although somewhat faded, numerous footprints all headed in one direction were still visible. Undoubtedly left by zombies. Observing this carefully, Asher tilted his head. ¡°What could be the cause?¡± ¡°It could be due to a mutant, or maybe because of humans.¡± At that conjecture, Asher let out a short sigh. Whether mutants or humans, to Asher, they were far more formidable foes than ordinary zombies. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°For now, let¡¯s keep advancing. I hope it was just good luck.¡± Saying that, Asher exited the commercial district and moved onto a field overgrown with tall weeds. From here to their destination, not even half the distance remained. Moreover, there were no more residential or commercial areas ahead. All that remained was the road stretching across the empty fields. With few human traces, the likelihood of encountering zombies was low, and even if they did, dealing with them wouldn¡¯t be difficult. And amid all this, the sun began to peek through the sky as well. As Asher had predicted, the weather was clearing up. Simultaneously, the fog obscuring their vision gradually thinned. As the gloomy scenery transformed into the vivid hues of summer amid the bright sunlight, Aiden and Asher¡¯s group arrived at a certain graveyard. ¡°Over there, do you see it?¡± Asher spoke to Aiden, pointing his finger ahead. Beyond the graveyard he was indicating, a forest and shallow hill were visible. ¡°Once we pass through that forest, we¡¯re right at the farm. We¡¯re almost there.¡± Asher¡¯s voice was brighter than usual. He seemed to think the dangerous operation of relocating their base was nearly successfully completed. ¡°Then let¡¯s hurry.¡± Aiden and Asher climbed up the hill through the forest. With trees of varying sizes, it wasn¡¯t easy to forge a path, but since the hill itself wasn¡¯t very tall, they soon reached the top. The bright sunlight had now completely erased the lingering fog, fully opening up their forward vision. However, when Asher looked down at their destination farm from there... ¡°...¡± His face instantly froze. He lost his words as he witnessed what was trampling the farm. And standing beside him, Aiden calmly uttered their name. ¡°...A zombie horde.¡± The phenomenon of dozens to hundreds of zombies roaming across wastelands that Aiden had witnessed in the Northeastern United States. However, here, with an entire city of millions of zombies right before their eyes, the scale was on a completely different level. The entire horizon visible from atop the shallow hill was completely covered in living corpses. Their number was... beyond counting. One could only estimate that it exceeded several million. That vast number of zombies was surging directly towards Asher and Aiden like a massive tidal wave. ¡°Impossible. Why are those things here...¡± Watching that scene, Asher couldn¡¯t even finish his words, his eyes wide open. He had already braced himself for potential unforeseen threats. But not to this extent. Even Asher had been unaware that a zombie horde of a scale akin to a natural disaster was roaming this area. The vanguard members who had belatedly arrived were also rendered speechless by the overwhelming sight before them. ¡°We need to evade them.¡± Aiden¡¯s voice reached those frozen individuals. There was no time to hesitate. Asher asked in response. ¡°Evade? Where to?¡± ¡°South.¡± The zombie horde was headed from east to west. Precisely the opposite direction Asher¡¯s group had been heading, resulting in them directly confronting the horde head-on. Hence, Aiden suggested evading towards the south. However, even that was not a perfect solution. ¡°We¡¯ll be caught before escaping their territory.¡± It was an obvious assessment. The sphere of influence of the tsunami-like zombie horde blanketing the ground was far too vast. Even heading south, where an end was visible, it was at least a few kilometers. The vanguard alone might have made it. But for the main group, including the injured and children, to cover that distance before the horde arrived was a tall order. ¡°Completely escaping will be difficult. So we need to select a suitable building and fortify it. We can¡¯t do anything in this open area.¡± ¡°Fortify? You mean fight those things?¡± ¡°Then what other choice do we have?¡± At that question, Asher briefly contemplated. However, no solution came to mind. Only regret flashed through his thoughts. Asher gritted his teeth. There was no other way. ¡°Damn it...!¡± Despite cursing out of frustration, having judged Aiden¡¯s proposal as the best option, he eventually turned back. ¡°Regroup with the main force! Run!¡± Asher and the vanguard hurriedly descended the hill. Charlie, who had been waiting behind with the main group, greeted them with a startled expression. However, without uttering a word to Charlie, Asher shouted towards the main group. ¡°A zombie horde is coming! We need to evacuate immediately!¡± At Asher¡¯s shout, those following behind showed bewildered expressions, seemingly unaware of what was happening. However, instead of explaining, Asher prioritized giving orders to them. ¡°Abandon everything except weapons! Keep only guns and grenades. Move as fast as possible!¡± As Asher commanded the people, Arian and Sadie, who had been part of the escort, approached. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Aiden explained to Arian what he had witnessed. ¡°That many? But for me...¡± ¡°There¡¯s still some distance. So we need to come up with countermeasures before then.¡± Soon, after completing preparations, Asher set the group in motion. They had prioritized mobility by abandoning even their supplies, but their speed was still sluggish. The vanguard members shouted and urged the group forward. But there was a limit to that as well. And in that moment... ¡°O-Over there...!¡± The zombie tidal wave from beyond the horizon finally came into view. Seeing the long-heard zombie horde with their own eyes, the people became restless. Only then did their steps become hurried. But that wasn¡¯t a good thing. Not only the injured but even able-bodied people froze in their tracks out of fear. Some fell on the open ground, while others even dropped dangerous ammunition boxes. Fortunately, there were no explosions, but this only further slowed their pace. Eventually, the vanguard members who had been urging them forward changed their approach and began trying to calm the people down instead. ¡°...¡± Aiden silently watched those people. The situation wasn¡¯t favorable. In the worst case, he wondered if he should abandon them and escape with only Arian and Sadie. Aiden let out a short sigh as he entertained that thought. It was a choice he absolutely didn¡¯t want to make. Not only would it mean failing to complete the request, but it would also betray his own principles. However, considering Sadie¡¯s safety, it might be the best option. At that moment... ¡°Move over there!¡± Asher shouted. The building he had urgently sought was now within reach. It was a large warehouse belonging to some unknown company, a two-story structure with white exterior walls. Asher intended to fortify the rooftop and weather the zombie horde¡¯s passage. ¡°Charlie! You go first and find a way up! Hurry!¡± At Asher¡¯s shout, Charlie ran towards the warehouse. However, after entering, he immediately came running back out, screaming. Behind him, over 10 zombies were chasing him. ¡°Damn it all!¡± All the available combatants rushed to the front. Thanks to that, the zombies were quickly taken care of, but Asher¡¯s expression remained grim. There was no way to know how many more zombies might be inside that vast warehouse. ¡°Charlie! Are you alright?¡± ¡°Yes...! Ha... Huff...!¡± Charlie, who had desperately fled, gasped for breath. With no other choice, Asher temporarily halted the main group and entered the warehouse with only the combatants to secure it first. Time was of the essence, but securing the interior took priority. ¡°Wipe them all out! Firearms are permitted.¡± ¡°You mean use guns?¡± With the zombies visibly approaching en masse, the combatants were instead apprehensive about using guns. However, Asher shook his head. Whether they used them now or later, it would ultimately be the same. ¡°We¡¯re going to have to fight here anyway. We¡¯ll have to kill any zombies that come after hearing the gunshots. Understood?¡± And so, a brief firefight ensued inside the warehouse. It didn¡¯t take long, but by the time they had barely secured a path to the rooftop, the zombie horde had advanced considerably closer. The zombie masses, having spotted the people gathered in front of the warehouse from kilometers away, were now charging towards them. ¡°They¡¯re coming! Hurry!¡± Even as he kept an eye on those approaching zombies, Asher led the people up to the rooftop. Fortunately, everyone was able to reach the rooftop before the zombies arrived. Asher blocked off the path they had ascended and positioned the people in a ring around the rooftop¡¯s perimeter. Soon, this warehouse would be surrounded by countless zombies. The two-story height was far too low a threshold to stop such zombies. So they would have to continuously fend off the zombies trying to climb up the walls from all sides, and for that purpose, all available personnel capable of firing guns were deployed. Only the seriously injured, unable to use guns, and children remained in the center. In the eyes of those incapable of fighting, only deep fear could be seen. Arian looked at those people with a bitter expression. ¡°Stay close to me.¡± In one corner of the rooftop, Aiden urged Arian and Sadie. The two nodded. ¡°Kiaaaah!¡± ¡°Koooohh!¡± Right on cue, the first wave of the zombie horde reached the warehouse. Hundreds of frenzied corpses furiously shook the warehouse walls, trying to break through. Chapter 118 ¡°Hick...!¡± Someone let out that sound while watching the zombies swarm underneath the warehouse building. Those corpses, having already run for several kilometers, didn¡¯t seem tired at all as they mindlessly tried to climb up the warehouse walls. The frenzy flickering in their eyeballs caused some people¡¯s consciousness to become disturbed. However, before that disturbance could turn into panic, Asher¡¯s shout rang out. ¡°Stay focused, everyone! Here, take these magazines!¡± Even in a situation where zombies were right at their doorstep, Asher busily moved around the warehouse rooftop. He concisely informed each person of what they had to do. Of course, what Asher said to everyone was essentially the same. The only task for all those present was to prevent the zombies from climbing up. However, the reason Asher personally approached and repeated similar words to everyone was because of their fear. There were still those unfamiliar with combat present. And even for those accustomed to it, some were uneasy due to their injuries. Asher was trying to calm them down. ¡°...¡± Aiden highly evaluated Asher¡¯s actions. For a group leader, even of a small group, it was indeed a fitting judgment. Even if they clearly knew what needed to be done in such chaotic situations, having their minds stabilized would be a great help. Moreover, this would be Asher¡¯s only chance to encourage his companions like this. Once the thousands of zombies that had already swarmed truly began their assault on the warehouse, there wouldn¡¯t even be a moment¡¯s respite to speak. ¡°Kiiiii!¡± Bang! Without hesitation, Aiden fired at a zombie attempting to climb up the wall. The zombie with its head pierced fell backwards. However, as soon as one corpse fell, two others immediately took its place, clawing their way up. The shrieks, now doubled, erupted along with four hands flailing towards the sky. Bang! Ba-bang! Aiden silenced one of them, and in that moment, Sadie beside him blew off the head of the other. Having experienced several battles by now, Sadie¡¯s shooting skills with a pistol had markedly improved. Not only that, but the clarity in her eyes was now unwavering. While even most adults were daunted by the sheer number of zombies, this child had taught herself how to face combat without fear. ¡°...¡± Aiden looked admiringly at Sadie¡¯s transformation. On the other hand, Arian¡¯s gaze was filled with bitterness. And amid that, the zombies¡¯ shrieks resounded. ¡°Tsk...¡± Clicking her tongue as if annoyed, Arian picked up her pistol. Since she couldn¡¯t use her machete from atop the warehouse, this was the pistol Aiden had given her earlier. The pistol spat bullets. Although Arian¡¯s shooting motions were more awkward than even Sadie¡¯s, her bullets still admirably struck the zombies¡¯ heads. ¡°Aiden.¡± At that moment, Asher approached Aiden. Having visited every other person, he had now come to Aiden as well. However, Aiden, who didn¡¯t need reassurance, opened his mouth as Asher handed him magazines and a few grenades. ¡°How much ammunition is left?¡± ¡°About 5,000 rounds, excluding what I¡¯ve distributed. See over there in the center? Ask them if you need more.¡± Asher pointed towards the center of the warehouse rooftop. There was a large ammunition box that they had desperately brought, even abandoning other supplies. The injured unable to fight and the children were filling magazines and distributing them to those with guns. ¡°5,000 rounds...¡± Aiden shook his head slightly. For a small group like Asher¡¯s, it was a considerable amount of ammunition, but it was clearly insufficient against the zombie horde rapidly approaching. ¡°Also, I have a request.¡± Asher pointed to the door near Aiden that led to the stairs down to the lower floor. It was connected to the path they had ascended earlier. ¡°Can you and your group block that entrance? I had it temporarily barricaded, but it won¡¯t hold for long at this rate.¡± Aiden had indeed seen Asher and his companions piling boxes there earlier, but as Asher said, it wasn¡¯t a sturdy enough barricade. Those zombie masses would soon tear through those boxes and break down that door. It seemed like a waste not to utilize Arian¡¯s strength in such a situation. There was no reason to refuse. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll take care of it.¡± So Aiden accepted his request. For Aiden¡¯s group, it wasn¡¯t a particularly burdensome task. At this, Asher nodded and swiftly moved on. ¡°The stairs-¡° ¡°Got it, I¡¯ll handle it.¡± As if already aware of Aiden¡¯s thoughts, she responded. She had already put down her pistol beside Aiden and taken out her machete. ¡°Should I go down there?¡± ¡°No, don¡¯t waste too much effort. We need to conserve our strength as much as possible.¡± Aiden briefly watched the zombies trying to climb up the warehouse walls, ignorant of their own fingers breaking in the process. ¡°Kieee...¡± The ferocity with which the zombies had been charging seemed to gradually weaken. No matter how numerous the hundreds of zombies were, Aiden¡¯s side had 50 armed combatants. Thanks to the absolute geographical advantage of being on top of a perpendicular building, dealing with this number of zombies wasn¡¯t too difficult. However, behind those zombies... Tens of times more were surging across the plains as far as the eye could see. That frenzied charge would reach them in barely a minute. If those masses arrived here, the advantage in force would immediately be reversed. Aiden didn¡¯t avert his gaze from this fact but faced it directly. ¡°Conserve our strength?¡± ¡°With our current numbers, we won¡¯t be able to hold out for long. There will be breaches. You and I need to plug those gaps.¡± ¡°And the stairs?¡± ¡°Destroy them completely. Can you do that?¡± The warehouse they were in was a prefabricated structure centered around a steel frame. As such, the interior stairs were also made of steel, something Arian could easily sever. Of course, that would also mean eliminating their path for descending, but this was not the time to consider that. ¡°...Understood.¡± Arian opened the door to the stairwell and went downstairs. Soon after, the distant shrieks of zombies could be heard. The noise, which had initially sounded like a faint whisper, gradually grew louder, as if someone was slowly increasing the volume on a speaker. And finally, when those shrieks became as loud as thunder... ¡°Take grenades!¡± Asher shouted to his group. Those guarding the walls facing the direction the zombies were coming from pulled the safety pins on their grenades. Their hands holding the explosives trembled like willow branches. ¡°Throw!¡± Grenades flew towards the thousands of oncoming corpses. Small metal objects that seemed insignificant compared to the crashing tidal wave surging forth. One of them struck a zombie¡¯s head and fell to the ground. Another zombie then trampled over it, passing by. Neither the one hit nor the one stomping had any idea what they had been struck by or what they had stepped on. And right after that... Boooom! The grenades exploded simultaneously with an earth-shattering roar. Corpses were torn apart and scattered by the deafening blasts. The arms and legs of those following behind were ripped off, flying through the air. In an instant, the ground in front of the warehouse, previously densely packed with corpses, was cleared. But that only lasted for a moment. Like the beach sands swallowed by the rising tide, more corpses surged into that space. ¡°Kiiiiii!¡± ¡°Kiii-!¡± With frenzied cries, the rampaging zombies collided against the warehouse. Bang! The building shook with the impact. The steel pillars supporting the structure creaked, seeming on the verge of snapping. Fortunately, however, the building barely withstood the collision with the zombie horde. But the zombies didn¡¯t stop there. Even as the ones in front were crushed between the building and the subsequent wave of zombies, the next ones clambered up using the crushed corpses as stepping stones. In an instant, the zombie horde surrounded the entire warehouse. ¡°Shoot! Don¡¯t hesitate, open fire!¡± Asher shouted. The other vanguard members also bellowed from various points. Kreeee- Then, the sound of steel being forcibly bent rang out. For a moment, it seemed like the building was about to collapse, causing some people to anxiously look around, but the structure remained intact. It was the sound of the stairs Arian had severed collapsing under the weight of the climbing zombies. ¡°...Incredible.¡± Arian, who had returned to the rooftop, let out those words as if exhausted. Aiden couldn¡¯t even turn his head towards her. Despite pouring out rifle rounds, stemming the onslaught of the oncoming corpses was no easy task. ¡°There will be breaches soon. Support them. Remember, we cannot allow these things a path to climb up.¡± Even amid that, Aiden¡¯s voice remained calm. Arian nodded and readjusted her grip on the machete. The situation requiring her movement soon arrived. It began with a certain man stationed at a corner. Click! Despite having one arm broken, he was trying to fend off the zombies with a pistol in his other hand, frowning as the trigger only produced empty clicking sounds, having run out of ammunition. A new zombie was already clawing its way up, having shoved aside the one with its head blown off. ¡°Damn it...!¡± He hurriedly looked at the magazine right beside him. Pressing the magazine catch with his hand, he used his teeth to remove the empty magazine. Then, holding the loaded magazine upright on the ground, he pressed the pistol down onto it from above to seat it in place. It was a remarkably swift motion for using only one hand. However, it wasn¡¯t as fast as with both hands intact, and that slight difference ultimately proved costly. ¡°Kieee!¡± Before he could finish reloading, a zombie¡¯s head suddenly protruded up. Unable to endure those few crucial seconds, it had already crawled up. The man immediately tried to back away, but the sturdy arm of another zombie that had followed grabbed his leg. Reflexively, the man tried to kick that zombie away. But to the zombie that had finally seized its prey after a prolonged hunger, such a kick was inconsequential. ¡°Ughh!¡± The zombie¡¯s arm yanked the man down. In that moment, when he couldn¡¯t even resist and was about to be dragged off the rooftop by that force... Chwaak! A blade came flying from somewhere, cleaving off the zombie¡¯s head. The arm that had been pulling him went limp, and the man hurriedly withdrew his leg, kicking away the corpse. The corpse then fell backwards, plummeting below. At that sudden rescue, the man looked to the side. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There stood a young girl. ¡°What are you doing? Stay focused!¡± Those crimson eyes chastised the man. Jolted by that unsettling gaze, the frozen man¡¯s senses were forcibly reactivated. He recalled what he had to do. After finally reloading his pistol, he took a position at the corner and unleashed a barrage of bullets towards the clawing corpses. When he briefly glanced aside, the girl who had been next to him was already gone. ¡°It¡¯s endless...¡± Arian moved across the rooftop, defending the perimeter line. Her movements had clearly surpassed human limits by now, but the zombies¡¯ onslaught was so intense that hardly anyone even noticed, let alone pointed it out. ¡°Huuu...!¡± Amid that, Asher let out a long sigh. While responsible for one sector of the rooftop himself, he was also constantly monitoring the overall situation and recognized their disadvantage. No, it would be more accurate to say their situation had already gone far beyond just ¡®disadvantageous¡¯. Speaking coldly, the entire rooftop should have been overrun by the zombie masses long ago. The fact that they were still barely holding on was solely thanks to the junk dealer group Asher had recruited ¨C Aiden¡¯s group. The shooting skills of that junk dealer named Aiden, who wore a bulletproof helmet concealing his face, were astonishingly precise. While appearing to simply spray rifle rounds, every single bullet accurately pierced the heads of the zombies climbing up the walls. Moreover, whenever there was a brief lull for reloading, the grenades he threw seemed to calculatedly buy them that precious time like clockwork. His performance was so remarkable that it wouldn¡¯t have been strange if he had been solely responsible for defending one entire wall of the warehouse. And that wasn¡¯t all. The girl called Arian, whom he had introduced as Aiden¡¯s companion, was beyond astonishing. Her movements, dashing at an unbelievable speed across the three walls Aiden couldn¡¯t cover, were clearly unnatural. She didn¡¯t seem to tire at all, her speed never faltering. The old water bottle she occasionally drank from like a beverage undoubtedly contained the blood Asher had given them as compensation. The only normal one was the young female child they had brought along. But compared to other children of similar age who were at best transporting ammunition, the fact that she was independently handling an entire sector, dealing with the zombies... it didn¡¯t seem quite right either. However, despite Aiden¡¯s group¡¯s remarkable efforts, Asher couldn¡¯t feel reassured. Simply because there were too many zombies. ¡°...¡± He raised his head. Zombies were still densely packed as far as the eye could see. Only now could the end barely be seen in the distance, but even so, the sheer number was still outrageous. This was the result of their desperate flight southward to secure this position. They had only grazed the edge of the zombie horde spread across dozens of kilometers. So the zombies that had swarmed here amounted to at most thousands. Compared to the tens of times larger overall horde, it wasn¡¯t that significant a number. And yet, they were already running low on ammunition to deal with them. If their bullets ran out... they would have no choice but to fight with melee weapons. In that case, they wouldn¡¯t even be able to hold on by a thread like they were now. Anticipating that outcome, Asher grit his teeth. Hoping against his own grim prediction. But that moment eventually arrived. ¡°We¡¯re out of ammunition now!¡± How long had they been fighting? It was only after the zombies¡¯ momentum had gradually begun to wane. One of the children who had been continuously distributing magazines shouted those words and threw down his own empty magazine. Asher, having hurled his own emptied magazine aside, furrowed his brow. Chapter 119 How inconvenient that it had to be now. It was just when the end was finally in sight. They had endured the massive tidal wave of the zombie horde, and only the lingering ripples remained. If they could have held out just a little longer, it would have been over. However, no amount of lamenting would bring back the ammunition they had expended. So Asher surveyed their surroundings with a dispassionate gaze. The remaining zombies numbered in the hundreds. But they were far more threatening than at the beginning. The fallen zombie corpses had become stepping stones, forming a slope leading up to this rooftop. Their geographical advantage was now almost nullified. The remaining corpses were surging towards the rooftop in droves. Asher shouted. ¡°Everyone, take up your weapons!¡± He gripped his spear. And his companions also discarded their guns, each taking up their respective melee weapons to confront the onrushing zombies. Everywhere, zombie shrieks and human screams intermingled. ¡°Aaack!¡± Casualties immediately began mounting. A man swinging a club with one hand was grabbed by a zombie and dragged off the rooftop. Below, only a terrifying, indescribable sound could be heard. On the opposite side, a woman had her throat torn out by a zombie. An immense amount of blood poured out onto the ground like a faucet had been turned on. As her final act, the woman smashed the head of the zombie that had ripped out her throat with a hammer before collapsing, never to move again. Such scenes unfolded from all directions. Asher¡¯s face contorted hideously at the deaths of the companions who had trusted and followed him. ¡°Kiiiik!¡± But not all he saw was a desperate sight. The number of zombies, which had reached hundreds, was decreasing at an alarming rate. At the center of it all was Arian. Her crimson blade, the sight of which alone made one¡¯s hair stand on end, slaughtered the corpses with tremendous force. Her machete, enveloped in an indescribable red aura, cleaved through the zombies like sheets of paper. For some inexplicable reason, the blood of Asher¡¯s fallen companions was also flowing through the air towards her. It was an eerie spectacle. From a certain perspective, it was even more unbelievable than the zombies themselves. As such, her appearance was terrifying and ominous, like witnessing a demon, but beyond that, it was exhilarating. Towards Arian, Asher felt gratitude rather than fear. If she could eliminate the corpses devouring his companions, and even save the life of a single companion because of it... Even if that girl named Arian was an actual demon, Asher didn¡¯t care. And finally... ¡°Kiee...!¡± The last of the zombie horde that had assaulted this place was torn apart by the crimson blade. With the sound of that falling, crushed head like a squashed tomato, silence at last descended upon the area around this small warehouse. ¡°...¡± However, none of those present could raise a cheer of victory. Asher raised his eyes to confirm the number of remaining companions. Nearly half, over twenty people, were nowhere to be seen. Most of them had been the injured, but some vanguard members were also among the missing, and even a few children were included. Overwhelmed with grief, Asher closed his eyes and lowered his head. For a while, no one there could speak. In the west, where the sun had already set, the black tidal wave of zombies that had engulfed them was slowly receding into the distance. * * * A while later... ¡°...You did well.¡± Aiden spoke to Arian, who had returned after dealing with the zombies. However, she didn¡¯t say a word. With a stiff, expressionless face, she stared intently at a corner of the corpse pile. There, smaller corpses could be seen, distinct from the others. Arian¡¯s gaze lingered on each of them. She grit her teeth. Once again, she had fought desperately. Forcibly using the blood of the sacrificed, she had tried to drive away the zombies, but in the end, she had failed to protect them. Regret caused Arian¡¯s hand, still gripping the machete, to tremble. A small hand grasped her trembling hand. Arian¡¯s gaze, fixed on the deceased, shifted. ¡°...¡± It was Sadie. Even after the ammunition had run out, leaving her by Aiden¡¯s side throughout that ordeal, she had emerged unscathed. Arian tightly embraced Sadie. Sadie also hugged Arian back, and Aiden silently watched them before turning away. He couldn¡¯t console them in that way. He had simply decided to do what he needed to do. ¡°We need to move.¡± Aiden approached Asher and said that. Asher, who had been blankly staring at the corpses, furrowed his brow at Aiden¡¯s words. ¡°What...?¡± ¡°It¡¯s dangerous to remain here. Night will fall soon. We need to leave immediately and find a place to take shelter.¡± Asher¡¯s lips quivered as he processed Aiden¡¯s words. Many people had died here. They were all Asher¡¯s companions, not a single one whose name he didn¡¯t know or with whom he hadn¡¯t conversed. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And now Aiden was telling him to abandon their corpses and leave this place immediately. ¡°We can mourn later. Right now, we need to struggle to survive.¡± The following words were tinged with anger. The emotions he could barely contain wanted to lash out in rage. However, after barely suppressing that impulse and reconsidering, he soon realized the truth. Aiden¡¯s words were simply an acknowledgment of reality. Raising his downcast gaze, he looked up at the sky. The sun had already set considerably. In just two or three hours, it would completely disappear below the horizon. They needed to move before then. With many injured, securing a hiding place took priority, requiring personnel organization and scouting. And if possible, they needed to dispatch people to retrieve the supplies they had abandoned. The food and water for today were still there. ¡°Phew...¡± Coming to his senses, he realized there was more than just one or two tasks at hand. He raised his hand and slapped his own cheek. The clear sound drew the attention of a few people towards Asher. Asher first looked towards Aiden. ¡°Junk dealer... no, Aiden. Do you have any energy left?¡± ¡°Why do you ask?¡± ¡°We need to retrieve the supplies we abandoned. Even just a portion of them. We only need the food and water for today. We can gather the rest tomorrow. Can you retrieve them?¡± At his words, Aiden nodded. For him, unaffected by fatigue or injury, it wasn¡¯t a particularly difficult task. ¡°Thank you. And Charlie... are there any injured...¡± Asher¡¯s words momentarily trailed off. It was only now that he realized Charlie¡¯s absence from the very beginning. After briefly biting his lip, he soon opened his mouth again. ¡°Mark, sort out the injured. And from those unscathed, pick scouts. We need to find a place to stay tonight.¡± A man nodded at Asher¡¯s words. And so, Asher tended to his companions and assigned them their respective tasks. Despite unable to hide their grief and fatigue, his companions silently followed his instructions without complaint. ¡°...¡± Watching this, Aiden turned to retrieve the supplies. It was as if the clock hands, which had barely stopped, were starting to move again. ¡°For a moment, I¡¯ll leave Sadie in your care.¡± He said that to Arian, who was still holding Sadie in her embrace. Arian silently nodded. Instead of using the severed stairs, Aiden descended by stepping down the slope of corpses leading up to the second-floor rooftop. * * * The next day, Aiden¡¯s group left their temporary shelter early in the morning. Although they had reluctantly stayed with Asher and his companions the previous night, now that the request was completed, there was no reason to linger any further. ¡°You¡¯re leaving?¡± The one seeing off Aiden¡¯s group was, of course, Asher. The others were still resting, unable to overcome the fatigue from the previous day. ¡°We have to. The request is over.¡± Asher nodded. However, he soon continued with a somewhat embarrassed expression. ¡°Will that really suffice as compensation?¡± Asher hadn¡¯t been able to provide the compensation he had promised Aiden. It was because they had expended nearly all their resources in the previous day¡¯s battle. So instead of the promised compensation, Aiden had received their blood. It was a significant shortfall compared to the promised reward, causing Asher to feel apologetic. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± However, Aiden waved it off with those words. Having witnessed the previous day¡¯s battle, Aiden was well aware of their circumstances. Moreover, there had been numerous casualties as well. In a situation where they couldn¡¯t be said to have fulfilled the role of escorting Asher¡¯s group as per the request, demanding the full promised compensation would have been excessive. ¡°More importantly... what will you do now?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll have to change our plans. We can¡¯t stay in this area for long. We might have to go quite far away. I¡¯ll need to discuss it with my companions.¡± ¡°Yes, that would be wise.¡± Asher had originally intended to stay in this area for a while, scouting for potential base locations. However, if this was a place where a massive zombie horde roamed, the situation changed. Their top priority now was to escape the horde¡¯s territory. Asher was well aware of this, and he in turn posed the same question. ¡°So where are you planning to go?¡± ¡°Houston.¡± ¡°Houston... heading south, huh. Why there?¡± ¡°We have information from Shreveport. There¡¯s supposed to be a survivor group there too.¡± In Houston, there was a fairly large survivor group numbering in the thousands. However, for the Union in Shreveport, resources were more urgent than people. As such, they had no intention of venturing southwards where people were present, and they seemingly had little to no interaction with Houston. For that reason, detailed information was difficult to obtain, but unexpectedly, Asher seemed to know something about Houston. ¡°Yeah, there is one. But...¡± ¡°Do you know anything about them?¡± ¡°You could say that. But there¡¯s no solid evidence, so you can take it with a grain of salt.¡± Aiden nodded, indicating it didn¡¯t matter. Asher¡¯s words continued. ¡°That group in Houston, we¡¯re quite familiar with them. For about a year, we continuously traded with them, distributing some of the resources we could procure in Dallas.¡± ¡°What kind of resources?¡± ¡°Mainly things like plant seeds and fertilizer. I heard they were attempting agriculture.¡± ¡°Agriculture...¡± For a survivor group numbering in the thousands, it was certainly an endeavor worth attempting. The credibility of the information Aiden had obtained from Shreveport increased. However, Asher¡¯s next words sounded somewhat ominous. ¡°But the trades abruptly stopped about two months ago.¡± ¡°For what reason?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. They were always the ones sending people, but then they just stopped coming. That¡¯s all I know.¡± As Asher said, it wasn¡¯t information with any clear details. Only the faint possibility that something might have happened was hinted at. Although not enough to change their destination, it did suggest the need for some level of preparation. ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll keep it in mind.¡± Aiden nodded his head. There was nothing more to discuss with Asher. So as he turned to leave, Asher¡¯s voice stopped him. ¡°And one last thing... thank you. To you, Aiden, and to the two of you as well.¡± Asher turned his gaze towards Arian and Sadie. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you, we would have all died on that damned warehouse rooftop. Of course, I still don¡¯t understand how it happened, but...¡± Asher trailed off after saying that. The abilities he had witnessed from Arian the previous day were so unbelievable. However, Asher didn¡¯t question her about it until the end. He had already sensed that Aiden¡¯s group wouldn¡¯t welcome such inquiries. So he simply lowered his head. ¡°I won¡¯t forget your help.¡± In response to Asher¡¯s gratitude, Aiden silently looked at him. Arian showed a bitter smile, while Sadie gave a somewhat shy one. ¡°May your journey be safe.¡± Aiden extended his hand for a handshake towards Asher. Asher grasped Aiden¡¯s hand and nodded. With that, Aiden¡¯s group parted ways with Asher and his companions. They soon returned to the vehicle they had hidden before the request and set off for their next destination. * * * Interstate Highway 45, directly connecting Dallas to Houston. After traveling about 160 km along the road, Aiden parked the vehicle in a small town called Fairfield. Originally with a population of only around 2,300, the town was small in scale. However, Aiden had something to do here today. ¡°We¡¯ll stay here today.¡± ¡°Already?¡± Arian asked. The sun was still high in the sky. Yet Aiden had decided on an early base because they needed to search for supplies. Not only ammunition and weapons, but even their relatively ample food and water supplies were gradually dwindling. If there was a survivor group in Houston to replenish those supplies, it wouldn¡¯t have mattered, but Aiden didn¡¯t take Asher¡¯s information lightly. Considering the possibility of something amiss there, he wanted to try and resupply at least a little here. ¡°There are many supplies we need to find. So let¡¯s split up and move separately today.¡± Fairfield was a town that stretched east-west along State Highway 84, which branched off from the interstate it flanked. Aiden¡¯s group was in the western part of the town, where there was a small commercial area with a few restaurants and hotels. Aiden planned to have Arian and Sadie handle that area while he ventured further into the town himself. ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Arian and Sadie respectively responded to Aiden¡¯s suggestion. After confirming they had entered a fast food establishment, Aiden also set off, following the road that cut through the town. Chapter 120 ¡°...It¡¯s quiet.¡± Aiden muttered as he walked along the road. For Aiden, this small town was a place without any prior information. He had selected it as a search location based solely on the judgment that its location was decent and its size not too large, meaning it would likely be relatively safe. Until recently, he had been on guard for the presence of zombies. Although it appeared safer than other small cities in the vicinity, just like that immense zombie horde crossing the open plains, no one knew if there might be an unexpected number of zombies or mutants here as well. However, Aiden¡¯s vigilance gradually eased as he moved along the road. Until he reached the center of this small town, he had barely seen any traces of zombies, let alone humans. ¡°...¡± Under the cloudy sky, only lush tree leaves and grass swayed in the wind. On the empty road, only a discarded vehicle silently rusted in one corner. Since no cars seemed to have passed for a while, wildflowers had bloomed in the cracks of the split concrete. There were no signs of humans or the undead corpses that pursued them anywhere. It was an atmosphere completely opposite to the major city of Dallas, which had been teeming with zombies. However, he couldn¡¯t completely let his guard down amid this peaceful scene either. A few zombies would likely remain somewhere in this small town. With that thought, as Aiden continued along the road, he soon discovered a grocery store. A typical American grocery store with an open parking lot around the building, a low structure, and a wide entrance. Aiden approached that entrance. One of the shutters meant to block the entrance was raised, and the glass door inside was shattered. ¡°Hmm...¡± Aiden carefully examined the broken marks. The unnaturally raised shutter on one side and the lack of any rotten flesh stuck to the cut edges clearly indicated human involvement. So had someone previously visited this place? Despite knowing this, he still entered the grocery store. By now, there were hardly any stores left in this country that hadn¡¯t been looted over the past three years. Inside the dim, cave-like interior, only dusty shelves greeted him. Aiden walked inside, his footsteps echoing. There was no sign of any food or water supplies. Only remnants of trash and rotten food remained. However, Aiden hadn¡¯t harbored any fantastical expectations of finding shelves fully stocked with food and beverages from the start, so he felt no disappointment. He immediately headed towards the grocery store¡¯s stockroom. Inside the modest stockroom were a few paper boxes that had decayed from neglect and various scattered debris. After briefly scanning them, Aiden soon discovered something. ¡°This is...¡± It was an empty tuna can. Picking up the discarded can from a corner, Aiden frowned. If it had simply been a damaged can, he could have ignored it as trash. However, a completely consumed can meant someone had been present. Moreover, judging by the sticky residue and accumulated dust, it seemed to have happened not even a day ago. At this realization, Aiden raised his previously lowered guard once more. While there didn¡¯t seem to be any zombies in this town, there were still humans present. At that moment... ¡°-!¡± The sound of clothing rustling came from the entrance Aiden had used. Aiden immediately turned around, drawing his pistol. Then, beside an empty shelf, an Asian middle-aged woman came into view. She was hiding beside the shelf, aiming a shotgun at Aiden. ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± The woman, her face tense, spoke those words. While restraining any provocative actions to avoid agitating her, Aiden surveyed his surroundings from within his helmet. There didn¡¯t seem to be any of the woman¡¯s companions immediately visible. Unless her companions were being exceptionally cautious, it meant she was alone. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. So how should he respond? Reflexively, Aiden had drawn his pistol, but the magazine was actually empty. Having expended all his pistol ammunition during the previous day¡¯s battle, it was merely a bluff. If the woman attacked first in this situation... his only option would be to flee for now. So Aiden immediately searched for an exit route. There was another door beside the stockroom. If he momentarily diverted her attention, it was a distance he could easily cover. Then the next step would be... Just as Aiden¡¯s thoughts reached that point, the woman continued speaking. ¡°I don¡¯t want to fight. Just answer my questions.¡± Perhaps her purpose in finding Aiden wasn¡¯t robbery. Since she was attempting dialogue first, Aiden nodded to indicate his acceptance. Then an unexpected question came flying. ¡°Have you seen a young boy around here?¡± ¡°What...?¡± Aiden slightly tilted his head in response. At Aiden¡¯s reaction, the woman¡¯s expression stiffened. Although Aiden didn¡¯t say anything, she had already grasped the implication of his response. Was that why... ¡°That¡¯s what I-¡° ¡°If not, then it¡¯s fine.¡± As if further conversation was unnecessary, the woman said that. Cutting off Aiden¡¯s words, she gradually retreated backwards. ¡°Stay still. I¡¯ll shoot if you try anything.¡± With her gun barrel fixed on Aiden, she issued that warning. Then, the moment she exited the grocery store, without a chance to call out... The woman dashed out. ¡°...¡± After the woman left, Aiden immediately took cover. Was she in that much of a hurry? Without even trying to conceal her footsteps, she quickly disappeared northward. Aiden cautiously stepped outside as well. ¡°Hmm...¡± Recalling the woman from earlier, Aiden let out a sigh. Although she had appeared and vanished abruptly, her purpose seemed clear. She was searching for a child. Thinking normally, it was reasonable to assume a mother was looking for her own child. It was highly unlikely for there to be any other children in this place, and even if there were, there would be no reason for her to search so desperately. Additionally, while the woman might have had more companions, based on her searching for a child, she didn¡¯t seem to be part of a gang or larger group¡¯s scouting force. So was she likely a wanderer then? It was fortunate that she wasn¡¯t a plundering force, but Aiden couldn¡¯t let his guard down. Wanderers without any food to eat could turn into plunderers in an instant. With that assessment, Aiden decided to halt his search and rejoin his group first. If a conflict with a wandering group erupted, separating would be dangerous. Aiden immediately returned along the path he had come, heading back to the commercial area where Arian and Sadie were. By the time Aiden arrived, Arian, having sensed his return, was poking her head out from the second-floor window of a hotel. She waved at him from there. Aiden ran towards the hotel. ¡°You¡¯re back already?¡± Seeing Aiden rejoin the other two, Arian asked. In response, Aiden relayed the events from earlier to them. ¡°She was looking for a child?¡± ¡°It seemed that way.¡± ¡°But I didn¡¯t sense any nearby...¡± At that, Arian¡¯s gaze turned serious. It was clear what she was thinking. Sensing this, Aiden added in a low voice: ¡°That woman was quite wary of outsiders.¡± ¡°So?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just saying you don¡¯t need to intervene. It might only raise her guard.¡± Aiden spoke as if advising her. However, Arian nodded as if fully understanding his concern. ¡°I know that. But what crime has the child committed?¡± Arian¡¯s attitude was that she would accept any friction with the wanderers if it meant finding the child. It was a way of thinking Aiden could never have. Yet, he didn¡¯t attempt to deny Arian¡¯s choice. Aiden fully understood her past and her way of thinking. Moreover, it was only the previous day that Arian had been forced to witness the deaths of children right before her eyes. Although she appeared unaffected outwardly, given her unusually caring nature towards children, she had undoubtedly suffered a great trauma. And amidst that, she had now heard about another child potentially in danger today. Her reaction couldn¡¯t be as indifferent as Aiden¡¯s. So instead of immediately responding, Aiden first changed the subject. ¡°Did you find any supplies?¡± ¡°Yes, I found these.¡± The reply came from Sadie. Sadie opened her small bag and showed the fruits of their search in the commercial area. Although there wasn¡¯t much inside, one item stood out. Among the canned goods and salt shakers, ammunition was clearly visible, glistening. ¡°These are...?¡± ¡°They came from a zombie in the hotel. It was carrying a gun.¡± Aiden nodded and took them. A total of five rounds. Not even enough to fully load a magazine, but better than nothing. ¡°Since we¡¯ve searched this area to some extent, let¡¯s change locations.¡± Aiden spoke. Arian silently waited for Aiden¡¯s next words. ¡°We¡¯ll head to the town center.¡± In the center of this small town, there were various buildings like pharmacies, shops, and government offices. As such, it was a place worth searching to some degree. However, it was also the dangerous area where Aiden had encountered the woman searching for a child earlier. Even so, the reason Aiden had selected the town center as their next search location was in response to Arian¡¯s request. While they couldn¡¯t actively search for an unknown child, he was leaving open the possibility of encountering them during their supply search. Arian also agreed to this reasonable compromise. ¡°Then let¡¯s go.¡± Aiden¡¯s group immediately headed towards the town center. Along the way, they passed by the grocery store Aiden had visited, but the woman was already out of Arian¡¯s detection range. With no choice, the group continued moving westward. Soon, a butcher shop came into view. Although it was a place that had dealt with food, there wasn¡¯t much to expect in terms of supplies. With no great expectations, they searched the interior and unexpectedly found a can of pickled peppers. Aiden¡¯s group took it and moved on to the next building. There was a government office that had handled paperwork and a security guard¡¯s office. From the government office, they found a single pen with ink that hadn¡¯t dried yet. From the security guard¡¯s office, after taking down a security guard who had remained guarding it even in death, they additionally obtained 4 rounds of ammunition. The bullets they had found this time were given to Sadie. However, until then, there were still no traces of any child. As she rummaged through a dirty desk drawer in the office, Arian¡¯s brow was slightly furrowed in impatience. It was a subtle sign of restlessness ¨C something Aiden couldn¡¯t do anything about himself. Thinking positively, perhaps that woman had already found the child. It was when they exited the security guard¡¯s office and moved to the next block that it happened. ¡°...There¡¯s a person.¡± The previously silent Arian spoke those words. Her gaze was directed far beyond the office they had been about to search next. At this, Aiden nodded and had Arian take the lead. Soon, a church came into view, and beside it, a few roughly built structures were visible within a fenced area. The buildings had a peculiar appearance ¨C it turned out to be a museum. A small open-air museum with historical buildings and exhibits set up inside the fenced area. Arian indicated there was a person inside. ¡°How many?¡± ¡°One. And there are zombies too. Five of them.¡± ¡°Hmm...¡± At those words, Aiden let out a brief sigh. The number of zombies seemed high for the location. That likely meant they had pursued the person taking shelter here with a high probability. While it was uncertain if the person inside was truly a child, someone did seem to be isolated there. ¡°We¡¯ll enter. You go over the fence and go straight in. Sadie and I will enter through the entrance.¡± The fence enclosing the museum grounds was about the height of an average adult. While Aiden could easily climb over it, the height was too much for Sadie. So Aiden made that suggestion, and Arian nodded. Arian climbed over the fence and entered the interior, while Aiden and Sadie moved to find the entrance. The entrance connected to the red building wasn¡¯t far away. However... ¡°Krrrr...¡± Zombies were blocking the way. Two of them. Aiden drew his axe. He felt the heavy weight of the fully metal axe, from handle to blade. ¡°Kiii!¡± At that moment, the zombies sensed their presence and spotted Aiden and Sadie. They let out shrieks. The clear frenzied sound caused Sadie¡¯s face to tense. ¡°Kiieee!¡± The corpses immediately charged towards Sadie, but Aiden blocked their path. The axe he was holding rushed towards one of the two zombies running side by side. Crunch! The horizontally swung axe collided with the zombie¡¯s head. The sharp axe blade shattered the skull while simultaneously penetrating inside. That unpleasant sensation was dully conveyed to Aiden¡¯s fingertips. In an instant, the zombie with its brain pulverized collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut. Bang! However, in that gap, the other one tried to slip past Aiden¡¯s opposite side. It wasn¡¯t looking at Aiden. Fixated on the small child standing behind him, it gnashed its grotesque teeth like a broken machine. There was no time to retrieve the axe embedded in the other zombie¡¯s head. So Aiden gripped the passing zombie¡¯s neck with his opposite hand. Kaakh ¨C letting out a ferocious sound, the zombie¡¯s arm pushed against Aiden with inhuman strength that would have instantly knocked down a regular person. However, Aiden didn¡¯t budge even after taking that blow. ¡°Kieeee!¡± Only then did the zombie, focused solely on its prey in front of it, finally look at Aiden. But by that time, Aiden was already holding a sword instead of an axe. Swoosh! Aiden, still gripping the zombie¡¯s neck, stabbed the sword upwards from its jaw. The corpse immediately fell backwards, and after finishing the fight, Aiden retrieved his weapon. He then entered the museum grounds along with Sadie. Chwaak! There, Arian had just finished dealing with the other zombies. Including the ones Aiden had taken down at the entrance, there had been a total of five. There were no more zombies left here now. Aiden gestured towards Arian. In response, Arian raised her finger, pointing to a white building within the museum grounds that resembled a wooden garage from the outside. No, it actually did contain a vehicle inside. Displayed in an ornate manner was a vehicle with a design from over 100 years ago ¨C the kind that would typically be exhibited in a museum. And behind that vehicle... In the narrow space between the garage wall and the vehicle, someone was hiding. Chapter 121 ¡°...¡± Aiden quietly focused his attention there. At a glance, the space didn¡¯t seem very large. Not to the extent an adult couldn¡¯t fit, but it certainly wasn¡¯t roomy either. If it had been, limbs or elbows would have been protruding outwards, which wasn¡¯t the case. However, not a single part of the person hidden behind the vehicle was visible. If not for Arian¡¯s indication, even Aiden wouldn¡¯t have noticed. That was probably why the zombies had failed to find the child as well. ¡°Come out.¡± Aiden said that. But there was no response or action in return. Even if someone was hiding there, they should have been aware of the zombies¡¯ presence, not to mention the fact that those zombies had just been taken down. Yet the person hidden there wasn¡¯t rashly revealing themselves first. Aiden let out a brief sigh and approached the vehicle himself. He temporarily put down the weapon he had been holding. Whoever was hiding there wasn¡¯t someone who didn¡¯t trust Aiden or was trying to lure an enemy closer with some scheme. They were simply a child, frozen in fear, unaware of what to do. ¡°Hick...!¡± And finally, as Aiden revealed himself behind the vehicle, a young boy gasped. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The same Asian boy Aiden had seen the woman searching for earlier. His exact age was... perhaps 7, or maybe 8 years old. Younger than Sadie. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Aiden asked the child. But at Aiden¡¯s gruff voice, the boy flinched and curled up. Tears streamed from his eyes, already welled up with moisture. ¡°You¡¯re scaring the child!¡± At Arian¡¯s remark, Aiden awkwardly stepped back. Now that he thought about it, with his helmet on, his face wasn¡¯t visible at all. So it was only natural for a child who had been in the terrifying situation of hiding among multiple zombies to be afraid of him. Since the child didn¡¯t seem to be armed separately, Aiden exited the garage. In the meantime, Arian and Sadie rushed over to the child. ¡°Are you hurt anywhere?¡± At that, the child¡¯s expression clearly changed. Especially after seeing Sadie, whose age difference wasn¡¯t too great, he seemed to relax a bit. And so, Arian and Sadie conversed with the child for a while. Aiden listened to their conversation from outside the garage while keeping watch over the surroundings. Most of it was simply comforting the child, but some informative content was included as well. ¡°So you¡¯re saying, Theo, that you got separated from your mom yesterday?¡± In response to Arian¡¯s question, the child who had introduced himself as Theo nodded. As they learned of the circumstances, Theo was, as expected, the child of a wanderer. Theo had entered this city along with his mother about a week ago and taken shelter at a temporary base in the vicinity. However, yesterday, while his mother had gone outside, zombies had infiltrated the base. Theo had luckily escaped from there but ended up becoming isolated at this location after being separated from his mother. ¡°Hmm...¡± After roughly grasping the situation, Aiden let out a sigh. Soon after, Arian exited the garage, holding Theo¡¯s hand. The child, who had been sobbing until recently, had now calmed down considerably. However, he still seemed afraid of Aiden, unable to look at his face. ¡°What should we do now?¡± Aiden asked. Now that they had truly found the child, continuing their supply search activities while taking the child along would be reckless. As such, their top priority was to find the child¡¯s mother first. However, there was one more urgent matter. ¡°We need to feed him first. He said he hasn¡¯t eaten anything since yesterday.¡± Arian spoke with a pitying tone. After fleeing from the zombies, Theo had been hiding behind that narrow vehicle for a full day. An unbearable length of time for a child not even eight years old. Well aware of this, Aiden immediately grasped what Arian meant to say. ¡°Then we¡¯ll take the child and go to our temporary shelter.¡± ¡°Yeah, and I¡¯ll go find his mother and bring her back.¡± The woman had been armed with a shotgun, but Arian would be capable of dealing with her. Moreover, they had just confirmed through Theo that she didn¡¯t have any other companions. In other words, it wouldn¡¯t be too dangerous for Arian to act alone. With that judgment, Aiden nodded. ¡°The woman I encountered earlier was heading north from that grocery store. You should search around there.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± After their discussion, Arian turned to Theo. She explained to him what would happen next. While the child was happy to hear his mother would be brought back, he showed an uneasy expression at having to follow Aiden right away. ¡°Are you that scared of this mister?¡± In response to Arian¡¯s question, Theo silently nodded. It seemed he had a significant aversion to Aiden, as if he knew Aiden was a zombie. However, Sadie encouraged the child. She earnestly vouched for Aiden, saying he was a good person, not a bad one. Only after receiving Sadie¡¯s assurance did Theo agree to do as Arian had said. However, the child clung to Sadie instead of Arian and tried not to approach Aiden. ¡°...¡± Watching Theo¡¯s behavior, Aiden suddenly had a thought. Did he really appear that frightening to children? It was a question he had never considered until now. After all, the only child around him had been Sadie, and she had never been afraid of him. Was Sadie the unusual one, or was Theo simply exceptionally timid? Inwardly leaning towards the latter, Aiden spoke up. ¡°Let¡¯s depart.¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll see you later then.¡± With her swift movements, Arian soon vanished from sight. Aiden cautiously led the two children towards the temporary shelter he had previously scouted. Fortunately, the return journey was quiet. No zombies or humans were encountered. And so, they entered a small office building slightly separated from the commercial area. An orange brick building that had originally served as a bank. After safely arriving at the temporary shelter, Aiden retrieved supplies from the vehicle and handed them to Sadie. She offered Theo appropriate water and food, and it was only then that the child began to eat. Watching the two children eat on an old sofa, Aiden quietly stepped outside. As always, he remained vigilant, surveying the surroundings for any potential dangers. ¡°...¡± It wasn¡¯t long before Arian returned. As planned, the woman from the grocery store was by Arian¡¯s side. The woman was panting, as if she had been running for quite a while. Her expression, a mix of concern and relief, seemed almost desperate in an indescribable way. Without hesitation, the woman crossed the road and reached the entrance of the bank, their temporary shelter. Her gaze briefly turned towards Aiden standing at the entrance. She seemed to have already sensed their prior encounter, but without any spare time for conversation, she immediately opened the door and went inside. And finally, she found her child. ¡°Theo!¡± The woman embraced Theo. The child, who had been so terrified of zombies that he hadn¡¯t even cried out, now burst into tears. * * * ¡°Thank you. Really... thank you so much.¡± Susan Graham, the woman who had been searching for her child, repeatedly expressed her gratitude to Aiden¡¯s group. The wariness she had shown when first encountering Aiden was nowhere to be seen. It wasn¡¯t a strange reaction at all. She had left her child behind at their shelter, but upon returning, only zombies remained. Moreover, after searching for an entire day without finding her child, she had assumed the worst. Yet Aiden¡¯s group had found and protected that child. According to their explanation, they had even rescued the child who had been isolated among zombies. In this world that had long since decayed, it was an inconceivable act of kindness and consideration. ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± However, in response to Susan¡¯s words, Aiden simply gave a plain reply. He didn¡¯t even request any compensation. Of course, even if he had asked, she didn¡¯t have much to offer, but Susan was suspicious enough about their intentions due to their excessive kindness. However, her suspicion soon faded when she noticed the other child playing with Theo after his tears had subsided. That was the girl named Sadie. Although she didn¡¯t seem to be Aiden¡¯s own child, as someone also caring for a child, Susan realized she couldn¡¯t simply abandon them. As she watched the children play, the sun had already set. Aiden¡¯s group readily allowed Susan and Theo to stay at their shelter. After having their evening meal and the children had fallen asleep, Aiden proposed an information exchange to Susan. ¡°Do you know much about this area?¡± She couldn¡¯t refuse his offer. Since she had no supplies to offer in return, she felt it was only right to honestly share what she knew. ¡°Not really. I¡¯ve only been in this town for about a week.¡± ¡°Then where were you before that?¡± ¡°Initially, I was in Jackson, Mississippi. After that, I wandered through various cities before coming here.¡± Aiden nodded his head. Jackson, Mississippi, was the state capital, located east of Shreveport. A city with no connection to Aiden¡¯s group, who had come from the north. ¡°How was it there?¡± ¡°It was a mess. Not just because of the zombies, but also due to constant infighting between people.¡± Susan explained to Aiden about the situation in Jackson. From the immediate aftermath of the zombie outbreak, Jackson had been plagued by chaos as numerous gangs and survivor groups ran rampant. Even until she had left, there had been many conflicts between them. It was amidst that turmoil that Susan had lost her husband before finally departing the city. ¡°So you¡¯ve been constantly moving with your child since then?¡± Susan nodded in response to Aiden¡¯s question. It was quite an astonishing feat. The distance from Jackson to this Fairfield town was at least a few hundred kilometers. In this world, for an ordinary person to wander such a distance was no easy task. ¡°It must have been difficult.¡± ¡°Then what about you? Where did you come from?¡± When Aiden answered Pittsburgh, Susan¡¯s mouth fell open. It was practically equivalent to traversing half the nation¡¯s landmass. ¡°Compared to that, my difficulties were nothing.¡± Susan added those words. It was clearly a misunderstanding, but Aiden didn¡¯t bother explaining and simply changed the subject. ¡°So where are you headed now?¡± ¡°Houston.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s convenient. We¡¯re also going to Houston.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Susan¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°My uncle is there. When we reach Houston, I¡¯ll be sure to repay this favor.¡± ¡°You said you wandered through various cities. When did you find out about that?¡± ¡°It was recent. A few weeks ago, I happened to meet a friend who was a junk dealer.¡± That junk dealer was someone who knew both Susan and her uncle. So after luckily encountering him in one city, Susan learned that he had spotted her uncle in Houston. ¡°My uncle had originally lived in Houston. But I never expected that old man to still be alive...¡± Susan didn¡¯t have a poor relationship with her uncle. So she informed them that she planned to end her wandering life and join the survivor group in Houston where her uncle was located. ¡°But if that¡¯s the case, why did you stay in this place for a week?¡± ¡°Because I needed to find supplies to reach the next city. It would take at least a few days, so I had to secure at least some water, which wasn¡¯t easy.¡± Susan said that. Since she didn¡¯t have a vehicle, it was an understandable measure. If she had to travel on foot to the next small town, it could very well take several days. ¡°Ah, that reminds me...¡± At that point, Susan spoke as if recalling something. ¡°You came here to resupply as well, didn¡¯t you?¡± Aiden nodded at Susan¡¯s words. There was no need to hide it. If not for that purpose, there would have been no reason to come to this town. Susan then smiled and continued speaking. ¡°Then I have some information that might help.¡± ¡°Help?¡± ¡°I had completely forgotten about it... but did you know there¡¯s a nursing home in the northern part of the town?¡± Aiden shook his head. He hadn¡¯t visited that area yet and hadn¡¯t planned to. Susan¡¯s words continued. ¡°There are traces of a survivor group left there. And a lot of zombies too.¡± At those words, Aiden¡¯s eyes quietly lit up. Traces of a group and numerous zombies. The implication was simple. The group that had been there was likely wiped out by zombies. A tragic occurrence, common enough. However, for survivors, such tragedies didn¡¯t merely end as sad stories. The abundant resources left behind by the protagonists of those tragedies could become a new hope for others. And their current situation was precisely that. ¡°You¡¯re saying there¡¯s a possibility of finding something there.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Do you want to go together tomorrow? Actually, I was planning to go alone, but it¡¯s quite a dangerous place.¡± Susan cautiously suggested. Since Aiden hadn¡¯t secured any definite gains today, he had no reason to refuse her proposal. ¡°Let¡¯s do that.¡± Aiden agreed. Susan nodded with a faint smile. Chapter 122 The next morning, Aiden and Susan arrived in front of a nursing home in the northern part of Fairfield. A sturdy building made of light brown bricks with a reddish roof. It was considerably larger in scale than an ordinary house. According to Susan, there was even an indoor garden space inside. Aiden looked at the nursing home. Apart from the many windows, it seemed sufficient to serve as a group¡¯s base. ¡°Grrreee...¡± However, in the flat parking lot in front of the nursing home, abandoned vehicles and zombies could be seen together. Their number was only four. Not a lot. But since there were likely many more inside the building, they needed to be dealt with carefully to avoid provoking them. ¡°Will the children be alright?¡± Susan abruptly asked that while observing the zombies. Her son Theo was currently with Arian and Sadie at their temporary shelter. And Aiden was well aware of Susan¡¯s concern, having nearly lost her son just a few days ago. Perhaps she was worried about leaving the two children in the care of Arian, who wasn¡¯t even an adult. However, Arian was more trustworthy than anyone else present here. So Aiden shook his head firmly. Unnecessary worries would only hinder their upcoming operation. ¡°There¡¯s no need for concern. The shelter is safe enough. Instead, focus on the situation here. If anything, we¡¯re in far greater danger.¡± ¡°...Yes, I suppose you¡¯re right.¡± Susan let out a short sigh. Shaking her head to brush aside her concerns, she opened her mouth again. ¡°Should I go first?¡± In Susan¡¯s hand was a spiked mace. A weapon that could have been seen in a museum, momentarily drawing Aiden¡¯s gaze. It was a thin steel pipe with a fist-sized steel ball welded at the end, leaving the interior hollow. Although a far cruder implement than the antique artifacts, it seemed to have been specifically made for hunting zombies, like the axe Aiden was carrying. ¡°Where did you get that?¡± ¡°This? I took it from a plunderer.¡± But she added that she didn¡¯t know where or how it had been made. Aiden nodded and inwardly assessed Susan¡¯s capabilities. Judging by her lack of excessive fear when facing zombies, she seemed quite experienced in combat. It made sense, considering Susan had the feat of walking hundreds of kilometers across various cities while accompanied by a child. So Aiden decided to regard her as more capable than an ordinary survivor when engaging in combat. ¡°Let¡¯s take them out simultaneously. I¡¯ll handle the two on the right.¡± ¡°Understood. Then I¡¯ll deal with the rest.¡± The two, who had been hiding behind the abandoned vehicles, split up to the left and right. Aiden fluidly approached one of the zombies he had turned his back on. The moment the zombie sensed the abruptly approaching presence and tried to turn its head... Sploosh! Before it could even look back, Aiden¡¯s axe was embedded in its skull. The corpse standing on the asphalt collapsed to the ground, as if returning to its original place. ¡°Kiiik!¡± At the same time, another zombie nearby turned towards Aiden. But before it could let out a shriek, Aiden¡¯s blood-stained axe blade had already sliced through the air. Shhaak ¨C accompanied by the sound of the wind being cut, the merciless strike tore through the zombie¡¯s neck. ¡°Geeeh-¡° The impact caused the zombie¡¯s body to stagger. A wheezing sound escaped from its severed trachea. However, the zombie still reached out its arms towards Aiden in that state. Its gnashing teeth drew dangerously close, as if about to tear into his flesh. Aiden swiftly kicked the zombie¡¯s torso. The zombie staggered backwards from the blow to its chest. Crack! Aiden then brought his axe down, crushing the head of the zombie that had just regained its footing. The axe blade struck at an angle, shattering the skull and putting the undead to eternal rest. After confirming the zombies¡¯ silence, Aiden turned his gaze towards Susan. Wielding her spiked mace, she had already smashed one zombie¡¯s head and was facing the second. ¡°Kieeee!¡± The zombie charged towards Susan in a frenzied rush. But even faced with that manic charge, Susan didn¡¯t flinch. She simply kept the mace slung over her shoulder, then brought it down with perfect timing. Crunch! The steel ball at the end struck the zombie¡¯s head squarely, pulverizing its skull and brain. Indeed, it was a calm and composed response. Exactly as capable as Aiden had expected. So Aiden decided to proceed with their search. ¡°This way.¡± Beyond the parking lot where the zombies had fallen was a white door leading into the nursing home. Aiden peered through the gaps of the boarded-up windows, surveying the interior. The lobby connected directly to the entrance. As Susan had warned, there were quite a few zombies inside. ¡°...¡± Aiden gestured to Susan. Having spotted the zombies herself, her expression stiffened as well. Susan¡¯s gaze swept across the area. The number visible at the moment already exceeded 10. Directly charging into the nursing home and engaging in a frontal assault would be reckless. ¡°It¡¯s better to lure them here and guard the entrance.¡± So Aiden made that suggestion. Unlike the stores or government offices, the nursing home¡¯s entrance had only a single small door. A narrow entrance compared to the size of the building, which could be advantageous. By defending just this entrance, they could significantly mitigate the disadvantage of being outnumbered. ¡°Are you sure? Even with that advantage, the numbers are still too high.¡± Even so, Susan answered hesitantly. She must have thought that even with the geographical advantage, just the two of them would still be insufficient against such numbers. However, after intently observing the zombies inside the building, Aiden soon spoke again. ¡°...It will be fine.¡± ¡°On what basis?¡± ¡°Those aren¡¯t normal zombies.¡± Susan tilted her head in confusion. To her, they didn¡¯t seem any different from other zombies. So Aiden added one more remark. ¡°Just use that if it seems we¡¯re being overwhelmed.¡± At those words, Susan nodded her head. The remaining shotgun shells numbered only eight. Not a lot, but not an insufficient quantity to deal with this number of zombies either. ¡°Alright.¡± With their plan decided, Aiden carefully opened the nursing home¡¯s door. Kreeee- The sound stimulated the previously quiet interior. A few nearby zombies turned their heads. ¡°Ki-¡° It was only a matter of time before they noticed Aiden and Susan. The starved corpses that had found their prey let out shrieks akin to cheers of celebration. The zombies inside the dim, cave-like building surged towards the entrance in a dark mass. ¡°...!¡± At their sheer number and frenzy, even Susan seemed a little unnerved. But Aiden, devoid of any emotion, swung his axe at the foremost zombie that had burst out of the entrance. Crack! With an unerring strike, the zombie¡¯s body fell backwards. In the bright morning sunlight pouring onto the concrete, for a while, the only sound was the grisly cracking of shattered corpses. * * * A while later. ¡°Phew...¡± Standing amidst the remains of the zombies, Susan let out a heavy sigh. Over twenty zombies were lying fallen at the entrance they had been guarding. However, during that time, Susan hadn¡¯t fired her shotgun even once. It was because Aiden had been able to hold the entrance far more firmly than she had expected. ¡°As you said... those zombies were a bit strange.¡± Aiden¡¯s performance had exceeded Susan¡¯s expectations. Simultaneously wielding an axe and a military greatsword, he fought fearlessly without hesitating to grapple, like an action movie star. In contrast, compared to Aiden, the zombies¡¯ movements were remarkably clumsy. Their speed wasn¡¯t as fast as expected, and some even mindlessly struck walls instead of the door. It was sufficiently strange, if not more so. However, Aiden showed no reaction and simply urged Susan onwards. ¡°More importantly, let¡¯s start searching.¡± At this, Susan nodded her head. While the zombies were strange, it wasn¡¯t that important of an issue. They began thoroughly searching the interior of the nursing home. In the modest lobby, Susan first entered the nearby reception area and the small office connected to it. Inside was a dusty space with only two desks and a small cabinet. It seemed to have been neglected for quite some time. Only the areas touched by the sunlight seeping through the boarded windows had turned pale. Carefully to avoid raising dust, Susan rummaged through the desk drawers and cabinets. However, all she found were a few miscellaneous items and documents. The only decent find was a lighter with some fuel remaining. ¡°There¡¯s nothing much here. But...¡± Susan trailed off as she exited the office holding the lighter, noticing Aiden was already searching the fallen zombies. Generally, rummaging through the corpses of dead zombies in search of items was both dangerous and of little value. It wasn¡¯t impossible for zombies to occasionally carry useful supplies, but such cases were rare. Most were people who had died in combat, so they wouldn¡¯t have pocketed food, water, or other provisions just before their deaths. At best, the only expected items would be guns, magazines, or melee weapons. But even those would be immediately noticeable if the zombies were carrying them, without needing to thoroughly check inside their tattered pockets like Aiden was doing. So Susan asked: ¡°What are you looking for?¡± ¡°Keys. The door leading further inside is blocked.¡± Aiden gestured with his chin towards the door connected to the lobby. As he said, there was a solidly closed brown wooden door. Susan approached it and turned the handle. But as expected, since it was locked, the handle wouldn¡¯t turn further, and the door couldn¡¯t be opened. ¡°But would the zombies have keys?¡± ¡°They might. Look at their clothes.¡± Susan examined the clothes of the zombie Aiden had been searching. Soiled with dried blood and torn to the point where the original form was barely recognizable. Even so, Susan could immediately identify those clothes. They were called scrubs ¨C the attire worn by nurses. ¡°These are... ah...!¡± Realizing this, Susan quickly caught on to something. She then carefully observed the other fallen zombies around them. Only then did she fully grasp the meaning behind Aiden¡¯s earlier words about the zombies here being abnormal. While a cursory glance hadn¡¯t revealed anything, upon closer inspection, some of the zombies were unusually emaciated, with bent spines and legs. Moreover, the faded hair remaining on their heads was clearly the white hair of the elderly. Noticing this, Susan frowned deeply. ¡°These people... don¡¯t tell me...¡± ¡°They were probably the elderly residents and nurses who lived here. So the keys to get further inside are likely carried by the nurses.¡± At Aiden¡¯s words, Susan could only stiffen her expression. She didn¡¯t want to know the true identities of the corpses she had just smashed. ¡°Here it is.¡± However, Aiden paid no heed to Susan¡¯s reaction and eventually found a set of keys in a nurse¡¯s clothes. The rusted keys fit into the keyhole of the closed door. Click- The sound accompanied the unlocking mechanism. With the door handle in his grasp, Aiden looked back at Susan. ¡°Be careful. There must have been a reason they locked this area.¡± Even without Arian¡¯s presence, it was clear that the interior posed a danger. Susan nodded her head in response. And the door opened. Creeeeak- Beyond the door was a long corridor. A desolate yet mystical scene with sunlight pouring through windows connected to an indoor garden. However, in the middle of that corridor were over 10 zombies. ¡°Kiiiiik!¡± ¡°Kiee!¡± The zombies immediately charged towards them. In that unobstructed space without any cover, upon seeing the onrushing zombies, Aiden and Susan felt a sense of bitterness rather than impending danger. The zombies in this corridor were in even worse condition than those in the lobby. Only grisly shrieks echoed through the empty corridor. More than half of them couldn¡¯t even stand properly. Even those that managed to remain upright simply staggered in a frenzy before collapsing like dominos. Some crawled using their hands despite having intact legs. Their emaciated arms moved slowly, and their pitiful flailing wasn¡¯t the least bit threatening, even for zombies. ¡°...¡± As Susan blankly watched those invalid-like zombies, Aiden took action first. His axe systematically shattered the heads of the immobile corpses one by one. After quickly clearing the corridor, Aiden surveyed the surroundings. While there was nothing visible, zombie cries could still be heard from somewhere. Aiden followed the source of those sounds. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Their origin was one of the small rooms connected to the corridor. Inside the broken doorway was... as expected, a zombie. It lay on a bed like a patient, only able to move its head as it cried out. ¡°...¡± Seeing this, Susan covered her mouth with her hand. She must have inwardly guessed the condition this zombie was in. ¡°Normal nursing homes aren¡¯t places where healthy elderly people gather. It seems even after becoming zombies, they couldn¡¯t overcome their senility.¡± Aiden muttered those words. He drew his sword and finally granted eternal rest to the zombie unable to support its own body. With that, silence returned to the corridor once more. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Aiden asked Susan, who had been tense ever since earlier. With difficulty, she tore her gaze away from the zombie that had died on the bed. ¡°I¡¯m... I¡¯m sorry. It reminded me of my mother who was bedridden...¡± Susan wiped her dry face with one hand. However, the nightmarish scene carved into her mind didn¡¯t disappear so easily. ¡°My mother was also in a nursing home, you see.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°But it¡¯s alright. Fortunately, she passed away five years ago.¡± Under normal circumstances, one might question what was fortunate about that, but after witnessing this scene, even Aiden couldn¡¯t argue against her words. Judging that any consolation or empathy would be inappropriate, Aiden simply stated their next task. ¡°We should search the patient rooms now. Will you be able to?¡± ¡°Yes. I was just startled since it was my first time seeing zombies like this. Let¡¯s start right away.¡± Susan, having barely regained her composure, answered that way. Her expression had relaxed considerably compared to earlier. Chapter 123 ¡°...There¡¯s not much here after all.¡± Susan spoke those words as they searched through the private rooms lining the corridor of the nursing home. As she said, they had already checked over 10 rooms, but there were no significant gains. ¡°It couldn¡¯t be helped. We shouldn¡¯t have expected much from a place like this.¡± In response, Aiden said that. Susan had assumed this was a base occupied by a survivor group. And until entering the interior, even Aiden hadn¡¯t doubted Susan¡¯s assumption. It had seemed like a plausible enough location. However, this nursing home wasn¡¯t an abandoned base from long ago. The zombies that had remained here weren¡¯t survivors who had settled in, but rather elderly residents unable to leave, along with the nurses who hadn¡¯t managed to abandon them. ¡°...¡± In those private nursing home rooms, there was only a single bed, a clothes hanger, and a small drawer. Most of the beds were empty. Likely because those still capable of forced movement had left their beds after becoming zombies. Aiden briefly examined the IV stands beside the beds. On the desiccated IV bags were dates faintly inscribed from about 3 years ago. He then opened the knee-high small drawers. First, he saw someone¡¯s photograph. The faded photo showed an elderly man smiling with what appeared to be his family. Next to it were a national medal and a small ring. Truly just items for the elderly to reminisce about the past. However, none of it qualified as useful supplies for survivors. So Aiden simply closed the drawer again. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It seems I made you go through unnecessary trouble due to my misjudgment.¡± After checking most of those rooms, Susan apologized. The end of the rectangular corridor encircling the indoor garden was already in sight. Aiden shook his head. ¡°We haven¡¯t checked everything yet, so there¡¯s no need to jump to conclusions.¡± He pointed towards a door at that end. Twin deep blue doors that seemed quite different from those leading to the private rooms. However, those doors were covered in suspicious marks. Perhaps from fingernails? It seemed the zombies had once tried to force their way through. Click- But the doors were locked. Aiden rummaged through the key ring he had found and located the matching key. The door soon opened. Inside wasn¡¯t a small patient room, but a much larger space. It was... a dining hall. ¡°This is...¡± Susan looked around the dining hall. The interior was quiet. Several tables and chairs were scattered haphazardly on the floor, but atop the layer of dust, there were no other marks. It meant no one had entered here for a long time. ¡°...¡± Seeing this, a glimmer of hope finally appeared in Susan¡¯s eyes. If it was the dining hall, or more specifically the kitchen, there was a high probability of finding supplies. So Aiden and Susan immediately crossed the dining hall and entered the kitchen. It was a fairly large kitchen. Incomparable to a regular household, it was as spacious as a decent restaurant¡¯s kitchen. Lining the kitchen walls were numerous cooking utensils and equipment. However, any edible provisions were... almost non-existent. While some remnants of long-rotted ingredients could be seen, there were no preserved foods like canned goods. At best, only some salt and pepper seasonings were present. But that alone couldn¡¯t be considered proper supplies. Since they couldn¡¯t even obtain food and water for today, it was practically a complete loss. ¡°Look at this.¡± It was then that Susan called out to Aiden. What she had found was a small door in a corner of the kitchen. Upon closer inspection, it seemed to be a walk-in freezer that had been converted into a large storage room. ¡°The door is locked. There should be something inside...¡± Susan spoke with concern. She seemed to have pinned her final hopes on that freezer storage. However, instead of keys, Aiden first drew his axe. ¡°Be careful.¡± There had clearly been traces of zombies trying to force their way into the dining hall door. That meant people had been present, but there were no zombies or corpses in the dining hall and kitchen. Moreover, there didn¡¯t seem to be any other space where people could have escaped. So it was highly likely that whoever had been trapped here was inside that freezer storage. ¡°...Understood.¡± Realizing this, Susan also gripped her weapon. Aiden used one hand to unlock the padlock and carefully opened the door. ¡°...¡± The interior of the pitch-black freezer, devoid of any windows, was revealed. Along the freezer walls were tall shelves, and on them could be seen some water and food supplies. They had finally discovered scavengeable resources. However, neither Susan nor even Aiden immediately approached those supplies. In front of those shelves lay a fallen corpse that couldn¡¯t be mistaken for a zombie due to its complete skeletonization. Aiden slowly lowered his weapon. He then carefully observed those remains. The long-deceased corpse consisted of two individuals. Judging by their remaining clothes and hair... perhaps a man and a woman each. Additionally, the matching wedding rings on their bony fingers were clearly of the same design. And amid their intertwined skeletal hands lay a single pistol. It seemed this couple had ultimately committed suicide together in their final moments. ¡°Haah...¡± Whether it was a sigh of relief at the absence of zombies or a lament for the tragic fate of this unnamed couple, a deep breath escaped Susan¡¯s lips. As Susan hesitated to enter through the doorway, Aiden walked steadily into the freezer. First, he carefully removed the pistol that had been between the couple. Perhaps to retrieve any remaining ammunition, but after doing so, it appeared as if the two skeletons were now holding hands. There were a total of six rounds in the pistol. Moreover, on the shelves were also unused rifle cartridges. It seemed this place had served as both a food storage and one of the few weapon caches. ¡°Take only what we need and let¡¯s move on. There¡¯s no point lingering here any longer.¡± After surveying the scene, Aiden calmly spoke those words. Prompted by his urging, Susan dispelled her hesitation and entered the freezer. And so, they gathered enough food and water supplies for 2 or 3 days before returning to their temporary shelter. * * * The next day. After completing their search in Fairfield, Aiden¡¯s group set out for their next destination, Houston. The scenery along Interstate Highway 45 they were traveling remained serene yet desolate, but Aiden¡¯s vehicle had guests today. Susan and Theo. The originally 6-seater vehicle had ample space even with the two new passengers. It was because many of their supplies had been expended after the recent series of events. ¡°Thank you for giving us a ride.¡± Susan, seated in the back, spoke those words. The distance from Fairfield to Houston exceeded 200 kilometers. A single day¡¯s journey by vehicle, but if traveling on foot, even an adult would need a full 5 days of walking. So for Susan, Aiden¡¯s assistance wasn¡¯t a trivial matter, saving her not only time but also the consumption of supplies and potential dangers on the journey. Aiden nodded in response. Giving these wanderers a ride wasn¡¯t purely a one-sided kindness from Aiden¡¯s group. Now, Aiden¡¯s group needed to make contact with the survivor group in Houston. Yet Susan already knew the specific location of that group. If there truly was a base there, and Susan¡¯s uncle was part of that group... From Aiden¡¯s perspective, it would bypass many necessary processes to establish at least a minimum level of trust. Since they were headed to Houston anyway, it was no loss for them. However, there was one point that concerned Aiden. It was the possibility Asher from Dallas had mentioned ¨C that something might have happened to the Houston survivor group, causing their trade to abruptly cease. Aiden hadn¡¯t shared that with Susan. It wasn¡¯t a certainty, merely the ambiguous clue that their continuous trade had suddenly been cut off. However, that afternoon... ¡°How could this... happen...¡± Upon arriving at the supposed base of the Houston survivor group, Susan trailed off. There, Aiden could confirm with his own eyes that it wasn¡¯t just an ominous premonition. ¡°...Was there a battle here?¡± Aiden muttered while observing the shattered remnants of a barricade. One side of the roughly 4-meter-tall barrier, woven from wooden posts and steel plates, was completely demolished. At this, Aiden frowned deeply. The group that had been here was supposed to number around 2,000 people. Although small compared to places like Shreveport or Fort Wayne, it wasn¡¯t a size that should have been easily overwhelmed by a mutant or two. So then... had there been a conflict with another group? The collapsed barricade alone didn¡¯t provide enough clues. ¡°...¡± Aiden briefly contemplated their next course of action. The situation hadn¡¯t unfolded as expected, but they couldn¡¯t simply move on to another city. They had no leads regarding cities beyond Houston, and their supplies for travel were also lacking. Moreover, it was still unknown whether the group that had been here was completely wiped out or not. If even a portion of them had survived and Aiden¡¯s group could encounter them, it would be worthwhile to make contact. Even if they couldn¡¯t obtain supplies, they could at least secure their blood. ¡°Let¡¯s check the interior first. What do you think?¡± So Aiden made that suggestion, and his companions agreed. They parked their vehicle near the collapsed barricade. Aiden decided to move together as a group without splitting up. While Susan seemed to think it would be better to leave the children in the vehicle, Aiden didn¡¯t change his mind. If they left the children behind, it would inevitably mean leaving Arian in the vehicle as well. But to assess the situation of this destroyed base, her abilities were essential. And so, they crossed over the collapsed barricade. Inside were makeshift buildings constructed from tents and the like. And scattered around were the corpses of both zombies and humans. ¡°...¡± Seeing this, Susan¡¯s face stiffened. She must have been apprehensive about potentially discovering her uncle among those corpses. Arian¡¯s expression also stiffened. This scene of human bodies decomposing en masse was certainly not something she wanted a child to witness. ¡°Both of you, just look at your sister, understood?¡± So Arian said that as she tried to block Sadie and Theo¡¯s line of sight. While Sadie obediently nodded, Theo seemed frustrated and tried to evade Arian¡¯s interference, looking around restlessly. ¡°Theo! Stay still!¡± Only after his mother¡¯s stern rebuke did the child¡¯s tantrum subside. In the meantime... ¡°There seems to be more than one cause of death here.¡± Aiden was the only one carefully observing the numerous corpses. On the already significantly decayed bodies, maggots were swarming in droves. However, Aiden paid it no heed and calmly surveyed the scene. Arian, after entrusting the children to Susan for a moment, approached Aiden. ¡°Any clues?¡± ¡°To some extent. For example, this person didn¡¯t die from a zombie bite. They were shot in the head and killed.¡± Aiden pointed to a particularly gruesome corpse as he spoke. Arian briefly looked at that body but, unlike Aiden, couldn¡¯t discern the cause of death. So she immediately demanded the conclusion. ¡°Are you saying there was ultimately fighting between people?¡± ¡°No... there also seem to be some who fell victim to zombies. It¡¯s hard to tell which came first.¡± Aiden let out a sigh as he said that. Battles between humans drawing in zombies was a common occurrence. However, even Aiden couldn¡¯t be certain whether the people here had fought and inadvertently lured in zombies, or if zombies had attacked first, leading to infighting among the survivors. ¡°We should look around more. You said there was a school here?¡± Observing the corpses, Aiden turned to Susan and asked. According to her, this base had been established centered around two schools in the northern part of the city. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Then that must be the school building over there.¡± Aiden spoke while looking at a distant structure. As he said, amid the chaotic ruins, a building stood prominently on the flat ground. With a road running between them, schools flanked on either side. At this, Aiden gestured towards Arian. She would be able to sense if anyone remained inside. However, Arian shook her head. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Then, in a voice low enough for only Aiden to hear, she muttered: ¡°It¡¯s strange. There are no people or zombies in either of them.¡± ¡°Hmm...¡± Aiden let out a quiet sigh. An empty base, it seemed. In the end, they wouldn¡¯t encounter any survivors, but it wasn¡¯t an entirely negative fact. If it had simply been a battle between zombies and humans, leading to the group¡¯s annihilation, there should have been at least some zombies left inside the base. But with not a single zombie remaining within, it meant someone had intentionally cleared out this place afterwards. In other words, even if this base was vacant, there were still survivors in the city who had handled the cleanup. ¡°Let¡¯s move further inside.¡± Aiden¡¯s group entered those school buildings and quickly swept through the interiors. The result was as Aiden had expected. In the base where over 2,000 people had lived, hardly any supplies remained. Additionally, the number of corpses didn¡¯t seem to match that population either. At most, only about half that number had died here. The rest appeared to have survived and escaped from this base. Aiden shared this conjecture with his companions. There were no objections, and instead, Susan let out a sigh of relief at the prospect of survivors. ¡°Then next... we need to search for those survivors in the city.¡± Naturally, their next task was decided. Just as Aiden was about to declare their withdrawal, it happened. ¡°...Wait a moment.¡± Arian, who had been surveying the surroundings, called out to Aiden. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a person.¡± ¡°How many?¡± ¡°One. But I can¡¯t tell if there are more further back due to the distance.¡± It was unexpected information. Aiden had thought everyone had already departed, but there was a survivor remaining at the base. However, Arian¡¯s next words negated Aiden¡¯s conjecture. ¡°The location is outside the barricade. Do you see over there?¡± Arian pointed beyond the school buildings. In the opposite direction from where Aiden¡¯s group had entered, towards the residential area. The barricade on that side was also heavily breached, and Arian said there was a person in one of the houses beyond that collapsed barricade. It was a rather strange location, with the residential area outside the barricade being dangerous yet unlikely to harbor anything of value. ¡°What should we do?¡± Arian asked. But for Aiden, who had decided to search for survivors, the answer was already set. ¡°We should meet them once.¡± Chapter 124 ¡°There¡¯s a person?¡± Inside the abandoned school building of the base that had fallen into silence, Susan¡¯s eyes widened at Aiden¡¯s words about a survivor remaining. ¡°Yes, outside the barricade.¡± Aiden pointed in that direction. As he said, beyond the windows, a residential area could be seen several hundred meters away. However, it was too far to spot a person with the naked eye. So Susan asked: ¡°How do you know?¡± ¡°...By chance.¡± Aiden mumbled his response. Before Susan could ask her question, he continued with his next statement. ¡°So I¡¯m planning to make contact with that person.¡± ¡°Of course we should. I also need to find out what happened here. But since it¡¯s dangerous, let¡¯s leave the children here first-¡° ¡°No, Arian has already gone to meet that survivor.¡± ¡°What? Alone?¡± Susan¡¯s tone was a mix of surprise and consternation. For the not-yet-adult Arian to go alone to make contact with a potentially dangerous survivor, and for Aiden to have permitted it ¨C it was an act beyond recklessness, verging on peculiarity. However, Aiden lightly disregarded Susan¡¯s dubious gaze. ¡°So we just need to wait a bit.¡± Before departing for the residential area where the unnamed survivor was located, Arian had left them with the instruction to wait only 5 minutes. If there were any unseen issues there, she would return within 5 minutes. Otherwise, she would directly subdue the survivor and wait for them at that location. Aiden had agreed to that simple yet sufficiently safe plan. If there truly was only one person as Arian had sensed, no matter what weapon they possessed, they wouldn¡¯t be able to withstand her. And if there were more people hiding, Arian would have detected it in advance. ¡°How long do we have to wait?¡± ¡°...It¡¯s almost time now.¡± Soon, the promised duration had passed. Arian¡¯s presence still hadn¡¯t returned, which likely meant she had successfully subdued the survivor without incident. Aiden decided to move towards the residential area where Arian would be waiting. ¡°Let¡¯s go slowly.¡± Saying that, Aiden boldly exited the building. Sadie immediately followed behind him. While still seeming doubtful, Susan didn¡¯t try to contradict Aiden¡¯s decision as she held Theo¡¯s hand and trailed after them. A short while later, they arrived at an ordinary house with a black roof and white walls. Aiden briefly had Susan and the children wait outside before entering through the already open door. In the living room, a man and Arian were standing face-to-face. The man was a rugged-looking Caucasian, over 180 cm tall, with a rather unsavory appearance. ¡°You¡¯re here?¡± Arian reacted upon seeing Aiden. At that, the man fixed an antagonistic gaze towards Aiden¡¯s helmeted face, his demeanor as if he might charge at any moment. Faced with that impending hostility, Aiden momentarily halted in place. He then looked towards Arian. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you would have him subdued?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. He¡¯s not dangerous.¡± Only now did Aiden notice Arian¡¯s backside, where a rifle, knife, and other weapons were visible. She must have already disarmed the man. If so, Aiden had no complaints, but for some reason, the man¡¯s apparent hostility seemed too pronounced. Sensing that dissonance, Aiden continued his questioning. ¡°Did you not explain anything to this man at all?¡± ¡°Nope. Talking wasn¡¯t my responsibility.¡± Arian shrugged her shoulders in response, and Aiden let out a brief sigh. In that case, the man¡¯s hostility was understandable. If an unknown person had approached, disarmed him, and tried to subdue him without any explanation, anyone would react that way. Aiden looked at the man again. It seemed he would have to start the conversation from here. He first introduced himself. ¡°I¡¯m Aiden Lee, a junk dealer.¡± Aiden then began explaining to the man the circumstances that had brought them here and their reasons for finding him. * * * Some time later... ¡°So... you came all this way looking for people, is that it?¡± The man Arian had apprehended, River Evans, asked that question. While his face was still tense, his posture leaning against the window frame had somewhat relaxed. Not completely, but his wariness had significantly eased compared to earlier. Perhaps it was due to Aiden¡¯s thorough explanation of the situation. Or maybe he had judged they weren¡¯t plunderers after Susan and the children had belatedly joined them. In any case, it was a positive development. Aiden nodded at River¡¯s words. ¡°That¡¯s about right. So if possible, I¡¯d like you to explain what happened here.¡± ¡°I can do that much. But before that, who are you looking for?¡± At that question, Aiden looked towards Susan. As if waiting for it, she responded. ¡°Xavier Nelson. He¡¯s in his 60s and of the same Northeast Asian descent as me. Do you know him?¡± ¡°Ah... that old man. Of course I do. The one who loves his drinks, right?¡± River slightly smiled as he spoke. However, Susan tilted her head in confusion. ¡°Huh? After the surgery a few years ago, my uncle hasn¡¯t been able to drink alcohol.¡± At that, River immediately wiped away his previous smile and continued speaking. ¡°I see. Since I hadn¡¯t heard about you being his niece, I was just testing the waters. But it seems... you really do know Xavier.¡± sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. River said that while looking at Susan and then Theo behind her. Faced with the imposing gaze of the intimidating middle-aged man, Theo hid behind his mother. Observing River¡¯s behavior, Aiden spoke. ¡°Then answer my question now. What happened to the group that was here?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious from the state of things? The base was demolished, and the people scattered.¡± ¡°How did that happen?¡± ¡°It started because of one dumb mutant bastard.¡± River rambled about the mutant he had witnessed. It was a type even Aiden had never heard of before. ¡°The thing had a body larger than any other zombie. Over 3 meters tall, and its grotesquely swollen muscles made its physique like a basketball.¡± River called that mutant a Rhino. A name derived from how it would charge like a rhinoceros, using its body as a battering ram to smash through everything. ¡°It was a real monster. The bullets just bounced off its rock-hard muscles, and a single strike from it brought down the barricades. And that wasn¡¯t all ¨C it turned the inside of the base into a mess too.¡± So that was the reason for the barricades being breached in multiple places that Aiden had noticed earlier. Aiden furrowed his brow as he recalled the state of the abandoned base he had previously passed through. ¡°We barely managed to drive it out of the base after a hellish struggle. But by then, after the overnight battle, many of our people had already died. But... that wasn¡¯t the end of it. Soon after, those gang bastards came pouring in.¡± ¡°A gang? The ones nearby?¡± ¡°Yeah, the ¡®Iron Sight¡¯ ones. The guys who had been occupying the city center. Naturally, they weren¡¯t on good terms with us.¡± ¡°How many of them?¡± ¡°A bit over 500.¡± After roughly grasping the situation, Aiden nodded. In the end, it seemed River¡¯s group had been swiftly overwhelmed by an unexpected mutant attack, followed by an assault from hostile forces taking advantage of the situation. Compared to the remnants of the base Aiden had surveyed, there was no reason to doubt his testimony. ¡°Then where did the survivors go? Surely there must have been some who made it out alive.¡± At that question, River gritted his teeth. With a fierce gaze, he glared outside through the window, towards the direction of the city center. ¡°Half of the survivors were taken by Iron Sight.¡± ¡°Taken?¡± It was a puzzling statement. In this world where even securing food for themselves was difficult, for one organization to forcibly take the defeated remnants of another after their conflict... Could it be an attempt to use people as resources, like cultists or cannibals? However, when Aiden voiced that doubt, River shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s not like that. They probably intend to use them as slaves.¡± It was a concept Aiden couldn¡¯t comprehend. Even if they truly did employ slaves, a minimum infrastructure would be required. They would need some sort of primitive farm for the slaves to work and generate resources through their labor. In this world of scavenging abandoned supplies amidst the zombies, the concept of slavery didn¡¯t seem feasible. ¡°It might not make sense if you came from another city, but... there¡¯s a reason for it here.¡± As if guessing Aiden¡¯s thoughts, River continued speaking. ¡°This has been a place of relentless warfare for the past 3 years. For over 2 years, gangs consisting of the military and civilians, combined with zombies, fiercely battled each other.¡± Originally a major city with a population exceeding 2 million, River said most of Houston had now been completely destroyed by that prolonged conflict. ¡°The city center was hit the hardest. All those high-rise buildings and structures that had stood there were utterly demolished. But here¡¯s the interesting part. Along with those collapsed buildings, an incredible amount of resources were also buried.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Thanks to that, this city became a strange place where digging into the ground yields resources. So here, slaves hold value. Without even needing to deal with zombies, just doing some digging can unearth food.¡± So there was a reason like that. After hearing River¡¯s explanation, Aiden could understand the gang¡¯s actions. Naturally, his interest then shifted towards the existence of this man named River. ¡°But why were you here?¡± ¡°To keep watch.¡± ¡°Over who?¡± ¡°Those Iron Sight bastards. That demolished base was part of their patrol territory.¡± From River¡¯s words, Aiden quickly grasped a certain fact. ¡°...Seems you weren¡¯t alone.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I mentioned earlier that half the survivors were taken, right? Some of the remaining half just left for other cities. But on the other hand, there were also people who gathered for revenge.¡± And River added that he was one of those people. Vendettas and cycles of retaliation between survivor groups were all too common tales in this world. So Aiden calmly nodded, but there was someone who couldn¡¯t simply overlook that information. Susan. ¡°Then what about my uncle? Was he there too?¡± ¡°No, he wasn¡¯t. From what I know, that old man was likely taken by Iron Sight.¡± Those words cast a shadow over Susan¡¯s face. Not only was she worried about her uncle, but the long journey she had undertaken to receive news of him now seemed like wasted effort. It was a lamentable situation, but there was nothing Aiden could do about it. It was at that moment, as Aiden was thinking that way... ¡°So, junk dealer. Won¡¯t you help us? I want to hire you for a request.¡± River made that proposal. However, the content of the request he mentioned was all too obvious. Which was why Aiden immediately shook his head. ¡°I refuse.¡± His intention was resolute. For a junk dealer to intervene in conflicts between gangs was akin to gambling. The requests such people entrust to junk dealers are invariably the most dangerous or unsavory tasks in combat operations. Yet even so, the path to receiving that compensation was treacherous. After all, if by any chance the gang that had hired him was defeated in battle, the employer would simply vanish. ¡°Is that so? But it¡¯s already too late, my junk dealer friend.¡± In response to Aiden¡¯s refusal, River ominously smiled and only said that. Sensing the ominous undertone in his attitude, Aiden glared at him. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°I told you, didn¡¯t I? This is those bastards¡¯ patrol territory.¡± At those words, Aiden clicked his tongue in realization. It meant Iron Sight had already detected Aiden¡¯s group¡¯s presence. ¡°And it¡¯s not just here. Those guys are monitoring all the major routes in this city. All to capture junk dealers and wanderers like you and use them as slaves.¡± Inside his helmet, Aiden¡¯s brow furrowed deeply. If River¡¯s words were true, they had already fallen into danger. Having a similar thought, Arian abruptly posed a question. ¡°Wait. Then what about our vehicle?¡± ¡°You had a vehicle? Forget about it. They¡¯ve probably already seized it. And they¡¯re on their way here to capture you.¡± River tapped the window facing the base with his finger. The view of the devastated base visible through the breached barricades was still a gruesome sight. However, in that distant part of the scenery, there did seem to be moving shadows. While Aiden¡¯s eyes couldn¡¯t discern what they were... Arian¡¯s vampiric vision was accurately detecting the minute movements of humans, appearing no larger than dots. ¡°It¡¯s true. Three... no, four armed guys are coming this way. And there might be more behind them.¡± At Arian¡¯s words, Aiden let out a sigh. An unexpected situation. However, he showed no signs of panic. Aiden simply considered the viable countermeasures one by one. ¡°Should I go?¡± Arian then asked that. Of course, deploying her was one possible method. Regardless of how many were approaching, she could potentially wipe them all out. But that wouldn¡¯t be a complete solution. The real issue was their vehicle. Not only the supplies and weapons they had accumulated so far, but the vehicle itself was a means of transportation they couldn¡¯t easily abandon. So if possible, they needed to recover it, but the fact that those men had advanced this far likely meant their vehicle had already been seized. Ultimately, to retrieve the vehicle, they would need to make a move against Iron Sight¡¯s base. Simply eliminating the men here would be meaningless. So Aiden shook his head and looked at River. ¡°Did you know this would happen from the start?¡± In response to that suspicious question, River shook his head. Chapter 125 ¡°Don¡¯t blame me for this. If you had just left, you would have either died or become slaves.¡± ¡°...¡± River calmly responded to Aiden¡¯s words, and Aiden couldn¡¯t refute him further. If River only knew Aiden and Arian as ordinary people, his statement wasn¡¯t wrong. So River¡¯s intention of detaining Aiden¡¯s group here despite knowing the gang was coming couldn¡¯t be seen as entirely malicious. ¡°And that¡¯s not all. Iron Sight doesn¡¯t care about kids. They think they can¡¯t even use them as slaves. If you had been captured, the children would have been killed outright.¡± At those following words, Arian frowned. However, River paid no heed and continued speaking. ¡°So if you have no intention of helping us, leave this city immediately. I¡¯ll tell you the way out.¡± Surrender or flee ¨C that was his suggestion. However, it wasn¡¯t a choice Aiden could make. ¡°We can¡¯t just leave.¡± Aiden muttered. Fleeing empty-handed without any supplies or a vehicle harbored risks greater than fighting the gang. They could starve to death without food or die of thirst without water. For Aiden and Arian, who would be in danger if they didn¡¯t consume blood for even a few days, it was even more perilous. So Aiden let out a deep sigh and looked towards his companions. ¡°We can¡¯t simply leave. No matter what, we need to at least secure the vehicle.¡± At those words, Arian also nodded her head. She fully understood the importance of the vehicle as well. ¡°Let me check first and come back. We still don¡¯t know for sure if they actually took the vehicle.¡± The vehicle had been parked outside the collapsed base¡¯s outer wall, at a considerable distance from here. Even so, Aiden simply nodded in agreement. Soon after, Arian exited the building, and River shook his head as he spoke. ¡°It¡¯s no use. If you¡¯re hoping they didn¡¯t take it because they lacked keys, give up on that. Those guys have technicians among them. Opening the door and hot-wiring it takes no more than a minute.¡± ¡°...¡± Despite River¡¯s negative words, Aiden silently waited for Arian¡¯s return. The members of Iron Sight who had already begun searching the ruined base eventually came into view. It seemed they thought Aiden¡¯s group was hiding inside the school building and were searching there. Soon, Arian returned. Her expression alone conveyed the answer ¨C the vehicle had indeed been seized, as she relayed. ¡°Then... I guess we have no choice.¡± Aiden looked at River. He had decided to accept the man¡¯s proposal. Of course, he still harbored reservations about intervening in a gang war. However, the situation had changed. Iron Sight. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They themselves had given Aiden a reason to become their enemy. ¡°What are the exact details of the request?¡± At Aiden¡¯s words accepting the proposal, River faintly smiled. ¡°We¡¯ll soon be attacking Iron Sight. So the request could involve joining us in raiding them, or you might be assigned a separate mission.¡± ¡°...It will be dangerous.¡± ¡°Of course it will. But I won¡¯t give you an unreasonable request. After all, we can¡¯t completely trust you either.¡± Aiden nodded at River¡¯s words. Forcing an overly reckless request would only lead to the junk dealer fleeing, which would be troublesome for River¡¯s side. So he was saying the request would be within reasonable bounds. While Aiden couldn¡¯t fully trust him, he had no other choice, so he accepted River¡¯s words. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll accept it. Then what will our role be?¡± However, instead of answering, River turned his gaze outside. There, the gang members who had finished searching the building were now slowly approaching this location. ¡°Before that, let¡¯s change locations first.¡± River spoke those words. Aiden nodded his head. * * * A short while later... ¡°This place...¡± Aiden muttered while looking at the large hospital building. Quite a distance northwest from the ruined base, at the outskirts of Houston. Completely outside Iron Sight¡¯s patrol territory, this was the hideout of the group River belonged to ¨C the Kingwood Militia. ¡°Come on in. This is our militia¡¯s base.¡± River guided the group through the hospital¡¯s entrance as he spoke. At the left and right of the entrance, several men and women stood on guard with their guns ready. Upon entering further, even more people became visible. Some of those militia members approached River. ¡°River, who are these people?¡± ¡°People who want to join.¡± ¡°You brought more?¡± ¡°Well, we are short on manpower.¡± The man addressing River briefly glanced over Aiden¡¯s group, Susan, and Theo. Fortunately, his gaze only held normal wariness, without any negative undertones. Perhaps they were accustomed to accepting outsiders. With that thought, Aiden followed behind River. Soon, they occupied one of the hospital¡¯s patient rooms. ¡°Shall we continue our previous discussion?¡± There, River looked around at the group and spoke those words. Aiden, as if waiting for it, posed his question. ¡°You said Kingwood Militia? How many people are you in total?¡± ¡°Around 200.¡± ¡°Not a lot.¡± River had mentioned earlier that Iron Sight numbered around 500. Compared to that, 200 was less than half the opposing force. ¡°With those numbers, fighting Iron Sight won¡¯t be easy. Do you have a plan?¡± To attack the enemy¡¯s base, a significantly larger force would be required. For a number not even reaching half to drive them out... unless they had an exceptional method, it was an almost unimaginable task. Even so, River confidently stated: ¡°We have a few countermeasures in mind.¡± ¡°What are they?¡± ¡°First, explosives.¡± River raised one finger. ¡°We have a considerable amount of explosives. Iron Sight¡¯s base is an abandoned military facility in the city center, set up by soldiers during the initial zombie outbreak. And our explosives are enough to blow that place sky-high in one go.¡± Explosives, huh. If they were powerful enough to demolish barricades, it was certainly a viable countermeasure. However, it naturally wouldn¡¯t be sufficient on its own. ¡°And after that?¡± Even if they breached the barricades, this wasn¡¯t a medieval siege. If their forces rushed through that narrow opening in vehicles, they would simply become target practice amidst the incoming gunfire from all sides. ¡°We¡¯ll drive that thing inside.¡± ¡°That thing...?¡± ¡°The Rhino. We¡¯re planning to lure that mutant.¡± At River¡¯s words, Aiden frowned deeply. Within his common sense, it was an inconceivable act. ¡°...That¡¯s madness. I¡¯ve never seen a single instance of intentionally luring zombies end well. It¡¯s a reckless act.¡± So he firmly stated that. However, River¡¯s determination didn¡¯t easily waver. ¡°I know it¡¯s dangerous. But it¡¯s the best option. We lack the numbers. And the only way to make up for that shortage is to utilize the corpses. Unless you have another method?¡± Aiden let out a sigh. As River said, there was no other countermeasure available. Accepting that, River continued speaking. ¡°We can use the explosives twice. First, we¡¯ll destroy the front barricade with them. Then we¡¯ll drive the mutant inside and lure out Iron Sight¡¯s forces.¡± ¡°Lure them out?¡± ¡°Yes. In the meantime, we¡¯ll blow up the rear barricade.¡± ¡°You mean leaving the front to the zombies while annihilating them from behind?¡± It was a common tactic. And simultaneously, one that Aiden had witnessed numerous gangs fail at in the past when attempting similar maneuvers. However, there was a slight difference in River¡¯s plan. ¡°Annihilation is fine too. But behind their base, there are our comrades being held captive by those guys. Rescuing them comes first.¡± The militia¡¯s primary objective was to extract their captured comrades from Iron Sight. While not a significant difference, the possibility of avoiding direct confrontation with the zombies was preferable. After grasping the militia¡¯s overall plan, Aiden soon pinpointed the crux. ¡°But... how do you plan to lure the mutant?¡± It was the most dangerous yet crucial task. Of course, they wouldn¡¯t assign such a role to Aiden¡¯s group, who were essentially outsiders like junk dealers. If they failed, the entire operation would be in vain, so they wouldn¡¯t entrust such an important task to external parties. ¡°We¡¯ll handle that ourselves. You don¡¯t need to know.¡± Perhaps for that reason... River didn¡¯t share the specifics of that method with Aiden. Without further inquiry, Aiden moved on to his next question. ¡°Then what will our role be?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll load the explosives into a vehicle and charge straight into the barricade. The operation will take place right after sunset. It¡¯s a simple task, but there will be one guy with a machine gun posted atop the barricade. We need someone to confirm he¡¯s far enough away and give the signal.¡± ¡°A simple mission.¡± ¡°Of course. That¡¯s why I¡¯m hesitant to assign our combatants to it. If possible, I¡¯d like the lady in your group to take this on.¡± River pointed at Arian as he spoke. He still didn¡¯t seem to regard Arian as a proper combatant. If so, there was no reason for Aiden to refuse such a proposal. Aiden looked towards Arian, and they nodded at each other. ¡°Then what about my role?¡± ¡°The vanguard of the rear assault squad. Literally the personnel who will charge in first once the rear barricade is breached.¡± Indeed, it was no trivial task. And yet, it wasn¡¯t a solo operation but rather a mission involving multiple people. Even if he tried to break the contract and flee, secretly slipping away would be difficult. It was a suitable task to entrust to a junk dealer. However, for Aiden, it was a request he could handle without issue. Bullets weren¡¯t as dangerous to him as they were to ordinary people. ¡°Alright, I accept.¡± ¡°Eh, this easily?¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll also have grounds to make some demands of you.¡± At Aiden¡¯s words, River gave a wry smile. ¡°Ah, you mean compensation?¡± ¡°First, you must guarantee the child¡¯s safety.¡± Aiden pointed at Sadie as he spoke. No matter who he was, taking Sadie into a battlefield filled with gunfire would be unthinkable. River readily acknowledged Aiden¡¯s demand. ¡°Of course. We also have children here. They¡¯ll all be waiting at this hideout. While minimal, we¡¯ll leave some personnel behind to protect them.¡± At his response, not only Aiden and Arian, but even Susan, who had been guarding Theo, let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to receive part of the compensation as an advance payment.¡± In addition to the basic weapons provided for the request, Aiden asked for bullets, grenades, and blood. Weapons to prepare for unforeseen situations, and blood for Arian¡¯s sake. River readily agreed to this as well. However, perhaps unable to contain his curiosity, he posed a question. ¡°But why blood?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to know that.¡± At Aiden¡¯s firm response, River easily backed down. He wasn¡¯t so tactless as to pry into unimportant matters. ¡°Alright. The operation starts in 3 days. Until then, you can stay comfortably here. Use this room as is.¡± Saying that, River exited the room. Susan and Theo followed after him. Unlike Aiden¡¯s group, having formally joined the militia, they would be staying elsewhere as fellow members rather than outsiders. After their departure... In the now quiet patient room, Arian asked Aiden: ¡°Do we really need to go this far?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I could just handle it.¡± Arian spoke nonchalantly. As she said, if they left everything to Arian, the task could proceed smoothly. Arian alone could potentially wipe out a gang numbering around 500 in a single night. However, Aiden shook his head. ¡°There¡¯s no reason for you to go that far.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°This is a revenge they need to take themselves. We only need to retrieve the vehicle.¡± ¡°But...¡± ¡°And you... don¡¯t really want to do that either, do you?¡± Arian slightly raised her eyebrow. ¡°You think... I wouldn¡¯t want to?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Would you really enjoy killing people?¡± Arian only blinked her eyes. While Aiden¡¯s words were true, she had never avoided combat for such a reason. In the past, even if she didn¡¯t want to fight, she always had to. No matter how much she ran, the hunters would chase her to kill her, and at those dead ends, she had to kill those hunters with her own hands. So Aiden¡¯s consideration felt somewhat strange to Arian. However, she didn¡¯t dislike it at all. ¡°Well... I suppose so.¡± And so, Arian accepted Aiden¡¯s kindness. Completely oblivious to Arian¡¯s feelings, Aiden indifferently continued speaking. ¡°If the operation proceeds as planned, while they rescue their people, we¡¯ll seize the opportunity amid the chaos to retrieve our vehicle and escape. If we play our part then, it might be easier than expected.¡± Watching him discuss their role with such seriousness, Arian stroked Sadie, who was sitting beside her. * * * And 3 days later... As promised beforehand, Arian stood atop the ruins of a building in Houston¡¯s city center. Chapter 126 Iron Sight¡¯s base, an abandoned military facility, was sprawled across a large park in the northwest part of Houston¡¯s city center. Three years ago, it had originally been established with the purpose of aiding Houston¡¯s citizens. Perhaps for that reason, one side of their base occupied a major road, while the opposite side was adjacent to the city center. Moreover, Aiden had heard that due to the frequent wars that had driven away not only people but even zombies, the zombie density in Houston¡¯s city center was lower compared to other cities. ¡°...¡± Which was why as Arian looked upon that Houston cityscape, a tinge of regret emanated from her gaze. If there had been a proper survivor group here, staying in this place might not have been so bad ¨C that was the thought that crossed her mind. However, Arian¡¯s regret was far too futile. Another war was about to unfold right here. As a major city, Houston¡¯s downtown had originally been a forest of skyscrapers exceeding 60 floors in height. But now, the number of buildings still maintaining their former towering stature could be counted on one hand. Most had either completely collapsed or been partially demolished amid the wars, leaving the once glamorous city center in utter ruin. And the building Arian was standing on was no exception. This business plaza, which had once boasted 71 floors, now had only about 20 floors remaining above ground. The other 50 floors were tilted and crumbled to the side, as if forcibly torn apart by a giant. As a result, the pillars and steel beams that had supported the structure jutted out grotesquely, twisted as if silently screaming. It was almost miraculous that even those 20 floors were still standing. And yet, compared to the surrounding buildings, this was relatively intact. Some structures had collapsed without a trace. ¡°...¡± In the western sky tinged red like a blazing sunset... From there, Arian looked down upon the hideout of a certain gang. The distance between them was about 200 meters. Close enough for the human eye to clearly discern, which was why Arian had concealed herself behind one of the tilted pillars. Arian checked the LED light she was holding. Her task here was simple. After sunset, a machine gunner would patrol atop Iron Sight¡¯s barricade at regular intervals. When that machine gunner moved far enough away, Arian only needed to turn on her flashlight facing the rear. If the truck loaded with explosives tried to charge the barricade within range of the machine gun¡¯s fire, there was a risk of it being blown up midway. Arian clicked the button on the LED light. The blinking light shone towards the gradually darkening sky. In the midst of that, Arian suddenly thought of Sadie. The child waiting for their return at the Kingwood Militia¡¯s base. However, Arian wasn¡¯t too worried. From what she had observed, the Kingwood Militia seemed quite trustworthy. Their attitude towards Aiden¡¯s group held at least a basic level of respect, which extended to how they treated children as well. Of course, she hadn¡¯t judged solely based on their attitudes. What had truly instilled trust in Arian was their enemy itself. During the past 3 days of preparing for this battle, Arian hadn¡¯t simply remained idle at the base. Having been deceived in the past by those who sought to exploit her abilities for their own gain, Arian was more skeptical of the Kingwood Militia and River¡¯s words than even Aiden. So every night, she had ventured out. The place Arian headed to was none other than Iron Sight¡¯s base. There was one thing she wanted to verify there. Whether the Kingwood Militia¡¯s claims were true or false. And the result had been positive. While there were some misunderstandings and exaggerations in River¡¯s perceptions and testimonies... The fact that Iron Sight was capturing people and using them as slaves was undeniable. At the very least, River and the Kingwood Militia hadn¡¯t lied to Arian and her companions. That was why she was here now. If there had been even a shred of deception, she wouldn¡¯t have assisted them like this. ¡°How boring...¡± Arian looked up at the sky. The sunset hues had already faded, leaving the sky pitch-black, but the warm late summer air showed no signs of cooling. It was then that the promised time finally arrived. With the sun completely set and darkness enveloping all directions, the only light source was the bright moonlight. In that dim environment, Arian quietly focused her gaze on the barricade above. At that precarious distance where human eyes could barely discern the machine gunner stationed atop the barricade, Arian¡¯s vision clearly pinpointed the gunner, and she flashed the light as the militia had requested. However, for some reason... ¡°...What are they doing?¡± Despite the machine gunner patrolling back and forth along the barricade four times, the truck loaded with explosives showed no signs of arriving. Even Arian, capable of detecting a far wider range than ordinary humans, couldn¡¯t sense its presence. Just as she wondered if something had happened... S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°There it comes now.¡± When she flashed the light for the fifth time, the sound of a truck¡¯s engine could be heard from hundreds of meters away. But the brief relief Arian felt was soon replaced by a sense of dissonance. How to put it... The truck¡¯s engine was far too loud. Moreover, its speed exceeded Arian¡¯s expectations. Amidst the ruined buildings and debris littering Houston¡¯s city center, there were naturally no proper roads remaining. Even for an ordinary vehicle, extreme caution would be necessary. Yet the truck carrying explosives was speeding through the city center at nearly full throttle. No matter how urgent the situation, did they really need to rush like this? However, Arian soon realized the reason for their haste. Another presence pursuing the desperately fleeing truck had entered her detection range. It was... the mutant. Its footsteps were tremendously heavy, and the weight they carried was incomparable to any other mutant zombie. A presence Arian had never sensed before. This must be the Rhino they had planned to lure. ¡°Dangerous maneuvers...¡± Arian muttered with a slightly furrowed brow. Both the truck charging through the city center with explosives and luring the mutant behind it were acts that could easily lead to disaster if mishandled. If they simply slipped on the debris, the truck would overturn, and the mutant would trample it. It wasn¡¯t just dangerous ¨C it was reckless. Was the militia that desperate? However, contrary to her concerns, the truck passed through the city center swiftly yet stably. The driver seemed quite skilled. It was right as the truck approached the building ruins where Arian was standing... ¡°Hm...?¡± Another problem arose. Not only the truck¡¯s engine, but Arian¡¯s hearing could even pick up the conversations going back and forth across Iron Sight¡¯s barricade. Due to the roaring engine noise that shouldn¡¯t have been audible in the quiet darkness, the gang had detected the truck¡¯s presence. The gang members who had immediately sensed the anomaly began gathering atop the barricade. Among them was even the machine gunner who had just departed. Arian watched the truck that had now reached right before her. Even if she turned off the LED light now, that truck wouldn¡¯t be able to stop. Realizing this, Arian let out a long sigh. ¡°...Can¡¯t be helped, I suppose.¡± Arian briefly left the LED light on the railing, still illuminated. To allow the truck to continue advancing. Then, machete in hand, she turned away. Just as her silhouette seemed to melt into the darkness... ¡°Wh-What the hell?¡± Arian immediately appeared atop Iron Sight¡¯s barricade. The gang member who spotted her let out a startled shout. Without acknowledging his shock, Arian simply swung her machete down. Crack! It passed cleanly through the machine gun in the gang member¡¯s hands, cleaving it in two. The machine gunner¡¯s eyes widened as if they would pop out. However, before he could utter a word, Arian¡¯s figure had already vanished in the blink of an eye. ¡°What... what was that just now!¡± The gang member shouted as if he had seen a ghost. But his astonishment didn¡¯t last long. Even before his companions could fully register what was happening, the indistinct engine sound that had been concealed in the darkness, along with the accompanying monstrous roar, reached their ears. ¡°Grooooaarr!¡± The gang members trembled at the low, ominous howl that seemed to reverberate from underground. The ground was already rhythmically shaking. Wooooong! Accompanied by a deafening engine roar, the truck that had been concealed in the shadows of the building ruins finally sped into the open area before the barricade. ¡°Stop those bastards!¡± Gunfire rained down towards the truck and the mutant. But neither the truck nor the mutant slowed down. They were charging straight towards the barricade. It was only then that the gang members stationed atop the barricade realized the truck¡¯s intent. They belatedly spotted the machine gunner trying to take a position to stop the truck. However, his machine gun had been cleanly split in two. The gang members looked at the gunner with bewildered expressions, as if asking, ¡®What is this?¡¯ Without uttering a word, his eyes only seemed to convey a sense of injustice. Right after that... The truck that had finally reached the barricade spectacularly exploded. The sturdy barricade crumbled in a cascading collapse, and amid the billowing dust, a massive corpse appeared. Then, like a rhinoceros, it began rampaging through the gang¡¯s base. * * * ¡°Alright, looks like the frontal assault was a success.¡± At that moment, in the forest behind Iron Sight¡¯s base... River, holding a radio, spoke those words. Around him, including Aiden, the vanguard was concealed in the dark shadows of the forest. River was present as the frontline commander overseeing this vanguard force for today¡¯s operation. At his words, the vanguard members nodded in relief. Breaching the front barricade and driving in the mutant ¨C it had been the operation¡¯s start, but also an exceptionally difficult task. However, despite River¡¯s reassuring words, Aiden showed no signs of relief as he remained vigilantly surveying the surroundings. To him, simply being outside in this enveloping darkness felt precarious. There was no way to know when or from where an unexpected enemy might appear. In fact, looking up at the ruined city center visible from the forest, he could see the shadows of corpses gradually gathering, drawn by the earlier explosion at the barricade. Fortunately, there didn¡¯t seem to be any mutants among them yet, but that was no reason to let his guard down. As Aiden maintained his sense of crisis, River¡¯s voice continued. ¡°Then get ready, everyone. We¡¯ll be moving soon too.¡± He pointed ahead. Some distance from the forest, atop Iron Sight¡¯s barricade... The flustered forms of gang members could be seen. Some were running to relay information, while a few sentries were hurriedly relocating their positions ¨C an unmistakably confused atmosphere. ¡°...¡± Below that barricade, a few shadows moved. They were Kingwood Militia members carrying armfuls of dynamite. Since Iron Sight¡¯s base was located beyond a road on the rear side, it was mostly surrounded by forest. Unable to utilize trucks there, they had taken advantage of the distracted barricade to directly approach on foot. ¡°Huu...¡± Watching the bomb-laying team¡¯s movements, someone let out a tense sigh. While the team seemed quite skilled at planting the explosives along the barricade wall, it was still a time-consuming task. And that was the problem. ¡°Enemies below the barricade!¡± In the midst of attaching the bombs to the wall, one of the sentries stationed atop the barricade finally spotted them. He immediately opened fire towards the shadows he had seen. One of their comrades was struck, spilling blood as he collapsed. ¡°Damn it...!¡± Seeing that, River gritted his teeth. The sentry continued calling out to his companions, and the gang members, initially flustered by the sudden attack, soon regained their composure and began approaching. In that situation, River couldn¡¯t remain idle either. ¡°Everyone, prepare suppressing fire! Target the ones on the barricade!¡± At his command, the vanguard members scattered haphazardly in the forest rapidly took up positions to the left and right. Aiden also raised his rifle. Simultaneously, a slight concern crossed his mind. In this darkness, firing at enemies atop the barricade was highly unlikely to hit accurately. Of course, River¡¯s judgment wasn¡¯t mistaken. If the bombs weren¡¯t planted, the entire operation would become impossible to execute. So issuing that improvised order the moment the plan went awry was a reasonable enough decision. However, the issue was that the ammunition supplied by the Kingwood Militia was barely sufficient for full combat operations. And this was even before the main battle had begun. The already scarce bullets being consumed in this manner was certainly not good news. But despite Aiden¡¯s concerns, River immediately gave the order to open fire. In the pitch-black forest, muzzle flashes flickered. Followed by thunderous gunshots. ¡°Those bastards are shooting!¡± Startled by the sudden noise from the forest, the gang members let out shouts. They briefly retreated behind the barricade, but that defensive posture didn¡¯t last long. Hearing the gunshots and their companions¡¯ cries, more and more gang members began climbing atop the barricade. Moreover, having realized the suppressing fire¡¯s accuracy wasn¡¯t high... Some of them, undeterred by the incoming fire, tried to return fire from below the barricade. ¡°Damn it...!¡± River¡¯s expression contorted as the situation unfolded contrary to his intentions. Aiden too sensed that the circumstances were taking an unfavorable turn. At this rate, the operation would fail without even breaching the barricade. So he retrieved the military night vision scope he had brought, just in case. The barricade and the gang members concealed atop it, shrouded in darkness, became clearly visible. Among them, Aiden aimed at the one most aggressively engaging in the offensive. Bang! With that gunshot, a gang member immediately clutched his chest and plummeted from the barricade. The next moment, another next to him suffered a headshot and similarly fell. The sickening thud of a meaty sack hitting the ground resounded. ¡°Henry¡¯s dead!¡± ¡°You bastards!¡± Only after witnessing their comrades dying did the remaining gang members hurriedly take cover behind the barricade. Naturally, the gunfire raining down on the bomb-laying team momentarily ceased. They had barely bought some time. ¡°Not done yet?¡± Amid that, River¡¯s murmur could be heard. He too had realized the situation was taking an unfavorable turn. Perhaps prompted by his urgency... The team that had been moving to plant the bombs began retreating from the barricade. They had finally completed the setup and were falling back to prepare for detonation. However, there was one who didn¡¯t retreat with the others. It was... a woman who had initially collapsed after being struck by the initial gunfire. ¡°...¡± While invisible to others, Aiden¡¯s night vision scope clearly captured her form. The woman, who had fallen after being shot in the thigh, held a detonator switch in her hand. What that unnamed woman intended to do next, Aiden had already realized. A brief sigh escaped his lips. Boooom! An immense explosion that shook the air simultaneously engulfed the barricade and the woman. A momentary flash, a plume of earth shooting upwards, and billowing dust. As it settled, the woman¡¯s figure was nowhere to be seen, and the previously sturdy barricade had been utterly demolished. ¡°Vanguard, move out!¡± River¡¯s command immediately followed. The combatants who had been providing suppressing fire from a distance finally charged into the enemy base. Chapter 127 Arian descended from the building ruins she had been standing on and walked towards Iron Sight¡¯s base. Inside the collapsed barricade was utter chaos. ¡°They¡¯re coming!¡± ¡°Stop them, no matter what!¡± ¡°Bombs! Bring bombs!¡± The Rhino rampaged through the base¡¯s structures and gang members, smashing through every obstacle. Meanwhile, from the ruined city center, corpses were gradually gathering, drawn by the earlier explosions and gunfire. However, Arian¡¯s gaze was fixed on the area beneath the breached barricade. ¡°...¡± There was the truck¡¯s driver¡¯s seat, its form barely recognizable after the explosion. Just moments ago, a living person had been seated there. But now, that person had been incinerated along with the truck, the barricade, and the explosives. The driver had chosen death. It was an outcome Arian hadn¡¯t anticipated. She had known there was someone in the driver¡¯s seat from the start. But she had expected them to at least attempt to jump out midway, preserving their own life. Yet they hadn¡¯t even tried. For Arian, who had always fought solely for survival, it was an incomprehensible action. So the driver¡¯s death felt strangely unsettling to her. ¡°Kieeeee...!¡± At that moment, the cries of corpses rang out. The zombies had already approached the immediate vicinity, their numbers nearing triple digits. Had this many zombies still been lurking amidst the completely ruined city center? Moreover, among them were mutants like Bigfoots and Wielders. If those were lured into the base, the militia¡¯s plan to sow chaos within the gang would seem highly successful. In other words, the mission Arian had been entrusted with by the Kingwood Militia was now complete. So now, she decided to act for the sake of her companions. Woosh! Her silhouette on the ground rose into the air, entering a small watchtower atop the barricade. There, a man was frantically firing at the Rhino. He momentarily averted his gaze to reload... ¡°Wha-! What are you?¡± ...And noticed the suddenly appearing Arian. But instead of answering, Arian struck his solar plexus with her fist. Despite not being a particularly large punch, it deeply sank into his abdomen. ¡°Ugh!¡± The impact caused the man to double over. And he didn¡¯t get back up. He wasn¡¯t dead. There was simply no need for Arian to kill him. All she required was this vantage point overlooking the entire base interior. ¡°...¡± Arian¡¯s eyes surveyed Iron Sight¡¯s base within the barricade. The Rhino was still causing havoc, and the other zombies that had recently entered through the breached barricade were joining the fray. It was a full-blown pandemonium. At this rate, the gang¡¯s base would soon be overrun by the frenzied corpses. However, Iron Sight wasn¡¯t so easily overwhelmed. As the chaos reached its peak, a certain Middle Eastern man began commanding the gang. ¡°That person is...¡± It was a face Arian recognized. Not personally, of course. During her investigation of Iron Sight over the past few days, she had identified this man as the gang¡¯s leader. He barked orders and curses at his subordinates in a gruff voice. While his tone was rough and ill-tempered, his instructions were clear and astute. Soon, the gang members who had been randomly firing formed a defensive line. Those previously stationed atop the barricade also gathered to reinforce that line. Their scattered firepower was now concentrated. ¡°Graaaah!¡± But then, the Rhino charged straight towards that defensive line. ¡°Fire!¡± At the leader¡¯s command, the gang members in the defensive line opened fire. The hail of bullets raining down finally caused the Rhino to falter for the first time. After a few incendiary rounds struck as well, the unstoppable charge of the Rhino, which nothing had been able to impede until now, was finally deflected sideways. Like a runaway train, the mutant smashed through a nearby makeshift structure as it passed. The gang members cheered at this. But their cheers didn¡¯t last long. ¡°Kieeeee!¡± ¡°Aarrgghh!¡± With the Rhino momentarily driven back, the zombies and mutants that had crawled in from outside surged towards the defensive line instead. Dozens of regular zombies were mowed down by the concentrated firepower, and two Bigfoots were riddled into falling. However, a cunning Wielder had been hiding behind those Bigfoots, and with delayed timing, it sprang forth to disrupt the defensive line. Some gang members struck by the Wielder¡¯s flailing steel pipe died without even letting out a scream. ¡°Fall back! Fall back!¡± The leader shouted. Despite his subordinates dying right before his eyes, he showed no signs of flustering. He simply calmly withdrew his forces. And in that gap, the Rhino charged again. It was as the battle between the gang and the zombies raged on... ¡°...Not bad, I suppose?¡± Watching the gang successfully eliminate the mutant, Arian¡¯s expression stiffened. Now that they had dealt with that, their next target would be the rear area where Aiden was located. It was an unfavorable development for the Kingwood Militia, who were likely still in the process of rescuing their comrades. ¡°Leave the wounded behind! Those who can move, grab your weapons and follow me! This isn¡¯t over yet!¡± As Arian had predicted, after resolving the situation, the leader tried to lead the gang members onwards. Confirming this, Arian quietly concealed herself to relay this news to Aiden. * * * Bang! Bang-bang! Gunfire erupted from all directions. After the barricade¡¯s collapse, Aiden and the Kingwood Militia¡¯s vanguard force that had been deployed clashed with Iron Sight¡¯s gang. The rear area where Aiden was located was beneath an extended elevated highway. ¡°...This has become troublesome.¡± Concealing himself between the massive pillars supporting the road, Aiden surveyed the surroundings as he spoke those words. As expected, the enemy¡¯s numbers weren¡¯t particularly high. It seemed most of their forces had already been committed to dealing with the zombies unleashed at the front. Thanks to that, those who had climbed atop the barricade were already corpses. However, some gang members still remained. And those gang members were using the very people they had captured as human shields, concealing themselves in various locations. The area where Aiden and the vanguard were engaged in combat was a prison. A long row of prison cells constructed with fencing between the road¡¯s pillars. Those imprisoned within were the people Iron Sight had captured, and the gang members were firing from behind that fencing. Pffuing! A deflected bullet grazed Aiden¡¯s helmet as it flew past. But Aiden didn¡¯t even flinch. Instead, with his precise marksmanship, he took down one of the gang members hiding behind the prison cells. ¡°30 rounds left...¡± Checking his remaining ammunition with each shot, Aiden muttered those words. His magazine was now empty. Aiden concealed himself again and reloaded with one of his two remaining magazines, clicking his tongue softly. With his night vision scope, distinguishing enemy from ally wasn¡¯t particularly difficult for him. Most of the imprisoned people were lying prone on the ground to avoid stray bullets. So Aiden only needed to take out those standing, especially those holding weapons. However, the other vanguard members without such scopes couldn¡¯t do the same in this darkness. Since the prison area was covered by the elevated highway like a roof, even moonlight didn¡¯t properly illuminate it. As a result, they couldn¡¯t discern whether the moving figures were their captured comrades or the gang members who had captured them. Of course, the same applied to their opponents as well ¨C their vision was equally obscured. The only difference was that those gang members didn¡¯t seem to care about the human lives within the prison cells. So as time dragged on, the situation only worsened. Aiden could clearly see several hostages already struck down by the gang members¡¯ indiscriminate shooting at any movement. Bang! Another of Aiden¡¯s bullets hunted down a gang member. But there were still many of them remaining. Despite sniping any that entered his field of view, with all the obstacles present, his line of sight was inherently limited. From beyond that, incessant gunfire could be heard. But he couldn¡¯t tell whether it was from allies or enemies. ¡°...Can¡¯t be helped, I suppose.¡± So Aiden carefully rose from his position. It was a somewhat reckless decision, but he intended to independently infiltrate deeper into the enemy¡¯s base. Letting more time pass would only make things worse. They needed to quickly secure control of this prison area and then fully commit the main rescue force to evacuate the captured people. It was at that very moment, as Aiden was about to set off... ¡°Aiden, I¡¯m here.¡± Arian¡¯s figure emerged from the darkness as if being painted. Aiden wasn¡¯t surprised by Arian¡¯s sudden appearance. He simply confirmed her safety with a nod. ¡°What¡¯s the situation at the front?¡± ¡°They took down the Rhino. The main force will be coming soon.¡± At those words, Aiden let out a sigh. It was far from good news. This side was still caught in a predicament. ¡°How many survived?¡± ¡°Quite a lot. They even dug a pit inside the base. It seems the gang leader was well-prepared.¡± After roughly grasping the situation, Aiden nodded. If so, the difference in forces seemed clear. They couldn¡¯t claim superiority even now, and facing the enemy head-on would no longer guarantee victory. ¡°So what do we do now?¡± ¡°Retreating under these circumstances would be problematic. For us and the militia.¡± Aiden spoke those words. From the militia¡¯s standpoint, sustaining such investment only to fail at rescuing even a single hostage would be an unacceptable loss. And from Aiden¡¯s perspective, with the Kingwood Militia securing control of this prison area, their plan to search for the vehicle would be significantly disrupted. So retreat was not a viable option. ¡°We need to buy some time, no matter how little.¡± ¡°Then...¡± ¡°Would you clear the surrounding area first?¡± Arian nodded. Her silhouette blended back into the darkness. And soon, the gunfire echoing from various directions rapidly diminished. ¡°In that case...¡± Aiden judged this to mean the elimination of all enemies within the prison area. With Arian¡¯s abilities, even the most cleverly concealed opponents would be dispatched in the blink of an eye. ¡°River!¡± Aiden approached River. Despite battling against unseen enemies in the darkness, River was maintaining his composure as much as possible. However, his expression still betrayed a hint of restlessness he couldn¡¯t conceal. Proof that the situation wasn¡¯t favorable. River turned towards Aiden, who had approached from the side. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°There are no more enemies now. We need to move to the next phase.¡± As if asking what he meant by that, River glared at Aiden. Just moments ago, bullets had still been flying in from the front. In response, without further explanation, Aiden simply showed him the night vision scope he possessed. River¡¯s expression brightened as he opened his mouth. ¡°You had something like this?¡± Even River was well aware of just how rare military night vision equipment was in this world. He never expected Aiden to have such a device. ¡°The prison area has been roughly cleared.¡± Aiden let River use the scope to survey the surroundings. Only then could River see the fallen enemies with his own eyes. ¡°You dealt with all of them?¡± ¡°I did receive some assistance. More importantly, we need to hurry.¡± River¡¯s question about who had helped them was immediately overshadowed by Aiden¡¯s urgency. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. River looked at the radio in his hand. He had only just received the report about the Rhino they had lured to the front going silent. As Aiden said, there was no time to dawdle. The enemy¡¯s main force would soon arrive. Before that, they needed to secure the path leading to this prison area and buy more time for the rescue effort. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll send in the rescue team. In the meantime, the vanguard will advance and block the enemy¡¯s reinforcements.¡± At River¡¯s decision, Aiden nodded his head. Chapter 128 ¡°Over here, cut through this fencing too.¡± ¡°John, you¡¯re alive!¡± Rescue forces steadily entered the prison area secured by the vanguard. They seemed to already know the prison¡¯s layout, carrying various tools to cut through the fences and locks. As the prison doors and fences were opened, the people trapped inside came out. ¡°...¡± Aiden observed their appearances. At least from the outside, those who had been imprisoned by Iron Sight didn¡¯t seem to be in good condition. Likely the result of not being properly fed and being subjected to hard labor for a long time. ¡°That one is...¡± Among those being rescued, one person caught Aiden¡¯s eye. It was an elderly man with full gray hair. His appearance resembled Susan¡¯s uncle, whom she had briefly mentioned. Unable to walk properly, the old man exited the prison with the support of another man. Whether fortunate or not, it seemed Susan¡¯s uncle had indeed been captured by this gang, as River had said. After watching the old man leave the prison for a moment, Aiden approached River. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was to inform him of his intention to disengage from the operation. ¡°Then I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡± At Aiden¡¯s words, River¡¯s expression stiffened slightly. Becoming part of the vanguard to secure this prison area ¨C that had been the request entrusted to Aiden. And Aiden had successfully completed that mission. Especially his performance during that time was impressive enough that River couldn¡¯t find any fault. Which was why... ¡°Can¡¯t you fight with us a little longer?¡± River pleaded, clearly reluctant for Aiden to leave. However, Aiden firmly shook his head. Now was the time for him to act on behalf of himself and his companions. ¡°I see, I can¡¯t stop you then. Good work, junk dealer. We¡¯ll discuss the rest later.¡± While promising Aiden additional compensation, River permitted his disengagement. ¡°Vanguard, how many personnel remaining?¡± Right after that, a woman approached River. She was the leader of the Kingwood Militia. From their conversation, it seemed the combat forces, including the vanguard, would soon be moving deeper into the base¡¯s interior. Their destination was the bridge within the base connecting to the prison area. At the center of this expansive base, which encompassed the park at the city¡¯s edge, the roads beyond, and several buildings, a small stream flowed. That bridge spanning the stream was the only path linking the prison area to the rest of the base. The militia likely intended to secure that chokepoint and buy more time for the rescue operation. It wasn¡¯t a bad judgment call. Of course, River¡¯s forces were still somewhat outnumbered. The Kingwood Militia numbered just under 200, but according to Arian, the surviving gang members still approached 300. However, even those numbers would be sufficient to stall the enemy at the narrow bridge for a while. Knowing this, Aiden had completed his request and withdrawn. As the combat forces gradually exited the prison area... The now lone Aiden was rejoined by Arian, who had been assisting the rescue effort. ¡°Is it over now?¡± ¡°The request has been fully completed. Now we need to take care of our own matters. Were you able to locate the vehicle?¡± ¡°I have a general idea, but it doesn¡¯t seem to be in this area.¡± ¡°Is that so...?¡± Aiden¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. At the very least, the vehicle wasn¡¯t in the prison area. It wasn¡¯t a strange occurrence, as there would be no reason to store a vehicle where people were being imprisoned. ¡°It¡¯s likely inside the base somewhere...¡± Muttering those words, Aiden retrieved a small map and a flashlight. Although from 3 years ago when this area had been an ordinary park, the map detailed the base¡¯s terrain. ¡°Can you make use of this?¡± ¡°I can make an educated guess.¡± Aiden checked the various roads leading into the base¡¯s interior. They wouldn¡¯t have driven the vehicle over rough terrain or obstacles like soil or trees when intact roads were available. He judged the vehicle would likely be near one of the roads. And excluding the front area of the base and this prison zone that Arian had already confirmed, there were four remaining roads. However, two of them were elevated highways, with entrances too distant and inconvenient for the gang to access. So those were naturally eliminated, leaving only two candidates. The narrow road leading into the city center and the 8-lane road extending westward from the base¡¯s main entrance. Aiden focused on the latter. With such a wide road, it wouldn¡¯t be strange if they had utilized part of it as a parking area. ¡°Let¡¯s check this one. There¡¯s no need for us to directly confront them. It would be better to simply bypass the barricade altogether.¡± Aiden said that, and Arian nodded. * * * At the Kingwood Militia¡¯s base, the Houston Medical Center... Only the children unable to fight and some guard personnel held their breath, awaiting the others¡¯ return. ¡°...¡± Among those guards was Susan, gripping her rifle as she glared through the dark window, not even illuminated by moonlight due to the clouds. Her gaze harbored a hint of worry and fear. Concern that the operation might fail, or that zombies or the gang might attack this practically empty place. ¡°Phew...¡± However, both were ultimately needless worries. No matter how much she fretted, nothing would change. So Susan shook her head, trying to dispel those thoughts. Creak- At that moment, the sound of a door opening came from inside the building. From the direction of the patient room where the children were sleeping. Perhaps someone needed to use the restroom. Susan briefly turned her gaze in that direction. Soon after, a familiar young girl appeared. ¡°Sadie?¡± ¡°...I couldn¡¯t sleep.¡± Sadie spoke those words as if making an excuse. She then approached the window where Susan stood. It had been several hours since they had put the children to bed, but Sadie showed no signs of sleepiness at all. She had truly been unable to fall asleep, spending the night wide awake. ¡°Can I stay here for a bit?¡± At those following words, Susan smiled faintly and nodded in affirmation. Sadie also smiled softly as she turned her gaze towards the view outside the window. From the hospital corridor they were in, only the expansive parking lot with a few abandoned vehicles could be seen. Beyond that, the view was obstructed by haphazardly growing street trees. It was a scenery devoid of anything noteworthy, yet Sadie gazed at that parking lot for quite a while before speaking. ¡°They must be fighting right now, aren¡¯t they?¡± At that question, Susan looked at Sadie. The child¡¯s eyes were filled with worry and anxiety. Not much different from Susan¡¯s own feelings earlier. ¡°Yes, they probably are. But it¡¯ll be alright. They¡¯ll definitely return safely.¡± So Susan said that. An unfounded reassurance to comfort the child. However, Sadie didn¡¯t seem to fully believe those words. The girl simply nodded once and continued looking outside. Her eyes still appeared uneasy. ¡°Are you worried about them?¡± ¡°...Yes.¡± Susan had certainly expected that response. However, Sadie¡¯s reaction was somewhat ambiguous. She nodded in affirmation, but Susan could clearly sense she was thinking about something else. So Susan continued speaking. ¡°You seem to have other concerns. Why don¡¯t you share them with me?¡± Susan gently prodded in a soft voice. After a momentary hesitation, Sadie slowly opened her mouth. ¡°Why did they leave me behind?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°I can fight well too...¡± It was an unexpected question for Susan. She hadn¡¯t imagined this child would be concerned about the reason she wasn¡¯t taken to the battlefield. ¡°Well, of course it¡¯s because they value you dearly.¡± ¡°Not because I¡¯m useless?¡± ¡°How could that be the case?¡± ¡°But... I only receive help from them. I can¡¯t do anything for them in return. That¡¯s not right. I want to be helpful too.¡± At those following words, Susan looked at Sadie with a mixture of surprise and pity. Her point was valid. No, it was an extremely logical argument. But simultaneously, it wasn¡¯t the kind of thought a child should have. How had this mere 10-year-old come to harbor such concerns? However, as Susan pondered Sadie¡¯s circumstances, she quickly realized it wasn¡¯t that strange after all. Aiden and Arian, who traveled with Sadie, were certainly not her family. So Sadie couldn¡¯t simply accept their one-sided kindness toward a non-family member with an open heart. Viewed objectively, it was a relationship that could be severed at any time without being unusual. That was why Sadie wished to reciprocate in some way. To avoid being abandoned by them, no matter what. ¡°...¡± Without a word, Susan gently stroked Sadie¡¯s head. It was a concern an ordinary child, like her own son Theo, wouldn¡¯t even comprehend. So Susan didn¡¯t offer any glib, consoling words to placate the child. ¡°Then... how about waiting a little longer?¡± After deeply contemplating for a while, those were the words Susan spoke. Sadie looked at her. ¡°Wait?¡± ¡°It¡¯s simply not the right time yet. But there will definitely come a day when you can be helpful to them.¡± ¡°...Do you think so?¡± Sadie seemed unconvinced. Susan gazed at her with a gentle expression. ¡°Each person has different things they can do. Among the things you can do, there are surely some that they cannot accomplish. Isn¡¯t that right?¡± ¡°Such things as...¡± Sadie¡¯s words trailed off, as if she was about to say ¡®none.¡¯ But then she seemed to recall something. While Susan wouldn¡¯t know, weren¡¯t Aiden a zombie and Arian a vampire? So they were exceptionally powerful. However, to ask if there were only advantages to their nature would be incorrect. Sadie understood Aiden¡¯s predicament of always having to conceal his face and Arian¡¯s loneliness of being unable to view non-children with pure eyes. Realizing this, Sadie¡¯s eyes quietly lit up. It seemed she finally grasped what Susan was trying to convey. ¡°So there¡¯s no need to be too hasty.¡± At Susan¡¯s following words, Sadie gave a small nod. The clouds obscuring the moon gradually drifted away. Pale moonlight began pouring down onto the parking lot Susan and Sadie were observing. * * * ¡°...Found it! This is it!¡± On the road within the gang¡¯s base that Aiden had specified... After inspecting one of the vehicles lined up there, Arian spoke those words. Hearing her voice, Aiden immediately approached. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s definitely ours.¡± Aiden inserted the key and opened the door. He then checked the vehicle¡¯s condition. As expected, most of the supplies inside had been taken. However, they had already resigned themselves to that eventuality. While the loss of the food, water, and even some military-grade firearms they hadn¡¯t been able to retrieve was not insignificant, there was no point in scouring the gang¡¯s base for those. But there was another issue. There were signs the vehicle had been partially disassembled. The gang had likely stripped some components. ¡°Damn it...¡± Despite confirming that, Aiden still tried starting the engine. Wooong! The engine itself started without issue. And after testing the driving, there didn¡¯t seem to be any immediate problems with movement. While they would need to identify exactly which parts were missing, it wasn¡¯t an urgent matter, so Aiden decided to withdraw for now. ¡°Get in. We need to get out of here as quickly as possible.¡± Aiden put the vehicle in motion. Their direction was towards the base¡¯s front entrance. While there was a possibility of enemies remaining there, the breach in the barricade was the only passage to take the vehicle through. With Aiden and Arian aboard, the vehicle advanced along the darkened road. The engine sounded somewhat unsettling. Meanwhile, distant gunfire could be heard. It seemed the gang and militia forces had clashed. As the vehicle neared the base¡¯s front entrance where Arian had been keeping watch, it happened. ¡°Wait a moment. Look over there.¡± Arian pointed towards an open area beside the road. A mound of haphazardly dug-up soil could be seen. However, since nothing else stood out, Aiden tilted his head in confusion. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± ¡°That pit... it¡¯s where the Rhino was originally trapped.¡± Only after hearing those words did Aiden frown deeply. As Arian said, there did seem to be traces of a pit. But whether it was due to the Rhino¡¯s struggles or the bombardment of explosives aimed at it... One side of the wall had collapsed like a landslide, forming a gradual slope. ¡°...¡± Aiden approached and closely examined the pit. On that slope, massive footprints were clearly imprinted. ¡°So that mutant... didn¡¯t fall here after all, it seems.¡± ¡°...It would appear so.¡± Arian spoke in a low voice. Perhaps she had made the careless assumption... If it had been a human, she would have immediately realized they were merely feigning death. Arian could detect even breathing and heartbeats. But zombies were different. For those corpses without breath or heartbeats, if they remained motionless, even Arian couldn¡¯t discern if they were alive or dead. That was the reason for her misjudgment. The cunning mutant had waited quietly until everyone left before escaping this trap. ¡°This isn¡¯t good. There¡¯s only one place it could be heading.¡± Aiden raised his head and looked beyond the pit. Towards the prison area, where gunfire still hadn¡¯t ceased. The Rhino that had survived here would likely follow the humans and sounds in that direction. ¡°But it could also aid the militia.¡± In this position, the Rhino would inevitably encounter the gang¡¯s forces before the militia. It would strike the gang¡¯s rear as they advanced without caution. They would undoubtedly suffer significant casualties. However, Aiden shook his head. ¡°Mutants can¡¯t be trusted. After decimating the gang, it will immediately target the militia next.¡± ¡°Then what should we do?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t need to confront it ourselves. But we should at least confirm the situation.¡± Arian nodded. Soon after, they exited through the collapsed barricade. Outside the barricade, zombies were roaming here and there. The ongoing battle was still drawing them in. However, Aiden didn¡¯t have time to deal with them one by one. So he drove the vehicle, simply running over the zombies to clear a path. Bang! Crunch! The corpses struck by the moving metal mass were feebly knocked aside, rolling across the ground. Each impact caused the vehicle¡¯s body to shake, which concerned Aiden, but there was no other choice for now. And so, they moved to return to the rear area of the base. Chapter 129 A short while later... ¡°Those are...¡± Upon arriving at the rear area, Aiden clicked his tongue while observing the front. The prison area had already been vacated, as if the rescue was complete. However, some forces were just now exiting through the barricade. ¡°Everyone fall back!¡± They were River and the militia combatants. Their numbers were not high. Only about five were visible. Moreover, they weren¡¯t even properly holding their rifles as they scattered in all directions. It resembled the sight of defeated remnants fleeing after losing a war against the gang. However, what had driven them to flee wasn¡¯t human. ¡°Grooooaarr!¡± The ground rumbled heavily and ominously. And matching that tremor, a monster appeared, stomping across the surface. The Rhino. Crunch! It burst through the barricade and charged out. The Rhino¡¯s appearance was far from ordinary. As evidence of an intense battle, one of its tree-trunk-thick arms was nearly severed, and its head appeared partially melted. Even its remaining legs had deep gashes as if struck by a landmine. As Arian had said, it had survived the trap but sustained significant damage. The situation was clear. After dealing with the gang from the rear, the Rhino was now pursuing the militia. At least it was fortunate that the rescue forces had fully withdrawn beforehand. Otherwise, a catastrophe would have undoubtedly occurred here. ¡°...¡± Watching them, Arian looked at Aiden. As if asking what they should do. Aiden opened his mouth after a brief sigh. ¡°With those numbers, we could probably fit them in the vehicle.¡± Arian nodded at his following words. While unrelated to their original request, there was no reason not to rescue them. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± The vehicle¡¯s engine roared loudly. The black van sped at full speed towards the people being chased by the Rhino. Seeing the vehicle approaching them, River and the vanguard members hesitated. They couldn¡¯t be certain if it was an ally or enemy. ¡°Over here!¡± Unable to watch any longer, Aiden called out to them. It was then that the people desperately ran towards him. But the Rhino was hot on their heels. At this rate, they would be trampled before even reaching the vehicle. So Aiden raised his rifle. To buy them the time needed to board the vehicle, even briefly, he poured gunfire towards the Rhino¡¯s head. ¡°Grooaarr!¡± The bullets that would have been ineffective against its rock-hard muscles in pristine condition... But the Rhino¡¯s current state could hardly be called good. As the bullets struck the gaps in its melted flesh and muscle, penetrating its skull, the Rhino faltered. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Crunch! And Arian didn¡¯t remain idle either. Having already exited the vehicle, she deeply slashed the Rhino¡¯s exposed ankle bone with her machete. Thump! The Rhino staggered and dropped to one knee. However, even that wasn¡¯t enough to fully bring it down. Letting out a roar filled with fury, it tried to swat Arian away with one hand as she approached. Bang! But that hand only swept through empty air before slamming into the ground. As Arian bought them time... ¡°Get in!¡± Aiden loaded the people into the van. River and the vanguard members hurriedly boarded, panting from exhaustion. Once the last of them was aboard... ¡°Arian!¡± Aiden called out to his companion. At that moment, Arian, who had been drawing the Rhino¡¯s gaze, vanished from that spot in the blink of an eye. ¡°I¡¯m in too! Drive!¡± Arian¡¯s voice came from atop the vehicle¡¯s roof. While the others appeared perplexed by the scene, Aiden, now accustomed to such occurrences, immediately stepped on the accelerator. ¡°Wait! There are still people left behind.¡± At that moment, one of the vanguard members spoke those words. It seemed there were still comrades remaining within the barricade. However, Aiden immediately shook his head. ¡°Abandon them.¡± ¡°What? But Jane is-¡° ¡°Enough. We can¡¯t go back now.¡± River muttered those words while looking at him. At that, the man who had spoken could only dejectedly lower his head, unable to say anything more. Meanwhile, the Rhino had tried to pursue the vehicle, but the injury inflicted by Arian seemed serious, as it could no longer properly walk like before. Thanks to that, distance was quickly created between them. The silhouette of the Rhino, barely visible by moonlight in front of the dark barricade, soon disappeared completely. The only thing audible from afar was the furious roar of the raging corpse. ¡°Phew...¡± Witnessing that, someone let out a sigh. It was River. With someone else¡¯s blood splattered across his body, he addressed Aiden with a grim expression. ¡°Thank you. Truly... if it weren¡¯t for you, we would have all died.¡± Aiden nodded. River continued speaking. ¡°But junk dealer. Why did you come back?¡± ¡°I confirmed the Rhino had started moving again. So I thought, just in case, and sure enough...¡± Aiden spoke indifferently. His plain tone seemed to inadvertently point out River¡¯s mistake of intentionally luring the mutant, causing him to wryly smile. ¡°Any injuries?¡± ¡°Not unscathed. But I¡¯m alright. This blood... isn¡¯t mine.¡± River muttered bitterly. Aiden glanced over the other people. They were all drenched in blood as well. However, there didn¡¯t seem to be any corresponding injuries on them. As River had said, that immense amount of blood didn¡¯t belong to them. ¡°Ah... ah...¡± One of the combatants groaned as he clutched his head. The blood covering their bodies belonged entirely to their fallen comrades. It was unlikely such a state resulted from a simple gunfight. Undoubtedly, their companions had died in far more gruesome ways right before their eyes. All the consequences of involving zombies, and mutants, in the battle. While the militia had achieved their original objective, they had paid a heavy price. Aware of this himself, River couldn¡¯t even offer words of consolation to his groaning comrade. ¡°Rest. We¡¯ll arrive at the hospital soon.¡± To those people, that was all Aiden said. The vehicle soon reached the Kingwood Militia¡¯s base. * * * The next day. The hospital where the Kingwood Militia was staying was bustling with activity from the morning. Some people were tending to the injured from the battle and those rescued who had difficulty moving. Susan was among them. She had reunited with her uncle who had returned alive. Fortunately, her uncle only seemed to have his strength sapped from the prolonged labor, and it appeared he would soon be able to rise from bed. In another area, packing was underway. They were loading the spoils from Iron Sight¡¯s base that hadn¡¯t been retrieved the previous night. The Wielder mutant would have vanished as soon as daylight arrived, so they were gathering the loot to prepare for potential plundering by other wanderers. And so, every single militia member seemed preoccupied with one task or another. In a corner of that hospital, Aiden¡¯s group was preparing to depart on their next journey. ¡°How is it looking?¡± Aiden asked River, who was inspecting his vehicle. River¡¯s original occupation seemed to have been an auto mechanic. After hearing about the previous day¡¯s events from Aiden, he had volunteered to personally service Aiden¡¯s vehicle. Since Aiden was also concerned about the vehicle¡¯s condition, he didn¡¯t refuse River¡¯s kindness. ¡°As you said. There were some missing parts, so I replaced most of those. But...¡± River spoke those words and let out a brief sigh. ¡°There are also some completely damaged components. It looks like they tried to strip out the necessary parts.¡± ¡°So it can¡¯t be driven?¡± ¡°No, it can still move like this somehow. But not for long distances. You know what I mean? It could suddenly break down in the middle of the road at any time.¡± Inside his helmet, Aiden frowned deeply. It wasn¡¯t good news. Not just him, but Arian and Sadie¡¯s expressions also turned grim. ¡°Then what¡¯s the solution?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll need to get a new vehicle. Since it¡¯s the engine, this one can¡¯t be repaired through replacement.¡± At those following words, Aiden let out a sigh. A new vehicle, huh. Of course, obtaining one would be no easy feat. Even this Kingwood Militia numbering in the hundreds only had a mere three vehicles in their possession. Vehicles in proper condition were that difficult to find, and if available, most already had owners. Well aware of those circumstances, River continued speaking with a wry smile. ¡°Sorry. I volunteered to service it, but I only ended up delivering bad news.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m grateful just to have learned about this.¡± It was better than remaining unaware until the vehicle broke down. At least they could now devise countermeasures. With that judgment, Aiden started loading the luggage he had temporarily set aside into the vehicle. A modest amount of food, water, and weapons were placed inside one by one. Watching this, River asked: ¡°Are you leaving right away?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no particular reason for us to stay here any longer. But before that, there¡¯s something I want to ask.¡± Aiden requested information about the nearby cities from River. River readily accepted that request. ¡°That much, sure. Of course I¡¯ll share what I know. Just give me a moment.¡± River went somewhere and soon returned. In his hands was a large map. Not just of Houston, but depicting the entire state of Texas and its surrounding areas. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll tell you everything I know. Have you decided on a direction?¡± ¡°For now, we¡¯re planning to head westward.¡± ¡°Then... it would be Austin or San Antonio.¡± Those were major cities located 220 and 300 kilometers, respectively, from Houston. However, River shook his head after considering them. ¡°But I wouldn¡¯t recommend those two cities. Especially San Antonio.¡± ¡°Why is that?¡± ¡°That city has been completely overrun by zombies. It¡¯s too dangerous to even approach, let alone enter. So the nearby Austin isn¡¯t safe either. If you¡¯re going west, wouldn¡¯t it be better to travel through smaller towns instead?¡± Aiden nodded. While a city where they could potentially find a new vehicle would be preferable... If there were that many zombies, even acquiring a vehicle wouldn¡¯t guarantee their ability to escape. So Aiden excluded those two cities from their destination options. If there were no vehicles or people, there was no reason to go there. Aiden pointed towards the lower part of the map. ¡°Then... what about the south?¡± ¡°The south? You mean Mexico?¡± Aiden nodded. While not American soil, if there was a habitable place, crossing borders wouldn¡¯t matter. However, River waved his hand dismissively. ¡°That¡¯s even worse.¡± River briefly recounted the events that had transpired at the Mexican border 3 years ago. When the US government finally collapsed, countless civilians had tried to flee south across the border to escape the zombie virus. However, that refugee procession was naturally something Mexico couldn¡¯t accept. The deadly nature of the plague they carried had already been proven. So the Mexican military had tried to stop them. But the American civilians weren¡¯t mere refugees. Each armed to protect themselves, they soon erupted into a massive war at the border. ¡°But in the end, neither the US nor Mexico emerged victorious.¡± The true winner was none other than the zombies. Amid the frenzied conflict between the two sides, the zombie virus spread uncontrollably. As a result, the current Mexican border had become a habitat for countless zombies, a mixture of refugees and soldiers. ¡°So it will be difficult to go that way.¡± At River¡¯s assessment, Aiden silently gazed at the map. If so, there was only one remaining direction. Advancing northwest from Houston, leaving the state of Texas and entering New Mexico. The only other option would be the complete opposite ¨C heading eastward along the coast. However, Aiden had heard testimonies that the coastal areas were in a similar state as the Mexican border. ¡°Do you know anything about the smaller towns?¡± ¡°A little bit.¡± River shared all the information he had with Aiden. While not particularly substantial, even the basic details would be of great help to Aiden. ¡°Thank you. This will be enough.¡± ¡°No, thank you. I also learned something valuable.¡± That was the extent of their discussion with River. After a final handshake and exchanging wishes for each other¡¯s safety, River departed. Watching River¡¯s retreating figure, Arian looked at the map he had left behind. ¡°But are we really going northwest?¡± ¡°Why do you ask?¡± ¡°Well, there are deserts and mountain ranges in that direction, aren¡¯t there?¡± Arian spoke with concern. As she said, beyond the halfway point of Texas, the plains transitioned into desert. And from New Mexico westward, they would have to cross mountains. An environment starkly different from the gentle hills they had traversed thus far. Yet they would have to travel through such terrain with a vehicle that could break down at any moment. ¡°But we have no other choice. The west and south are blocked by the Mexican border, the east is the coast, and the northeast is the direction we came from.¡± ¡°What about taking a wide detour northward?¡± Arian offered another suggestion. However, Aiden shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s too risky. Summer will be ending soon. And then winter will come.¡± In this world, winter posed dangers incomparable to summer. Of course, the scorching summer sun was grueling to endure, but winter¡¯s cold could outright kill. The main issue was the plunging temperatures at night when they would have to remain absolutely still and hidden. If they lit a fire to avoid freezing, the light seeping out would draw mutants right to them. ¡°So it¡¯s better to remain in the south until spring arrives, even if we have to cross the desert.¡± ¡°I... suppose we have no choice.¡± Haah¨C Arian let out a deep sigh. Even she could see no other viable path. In the end, Aiden¡¯s group decided on a northwestward direction for their next journey and boarded their vehicle. But just before that vehicle could depart... ¡°Wait a moment, please!¡± Someone called out to Aiden¡¯s group. Looking in the rearview mirror, Susan was running towards them from behind, carrying a large box. ¡°Ah... it seems I made it in time.¡± ¡°Did you come to say goodbye?¡± ¡°Yes. But that¡¯s not all.¡± In response to Aiden¡¯s words, Susan smiled faintly and opened the box. Inside were two specialized weapons that had been in Aiden¡¯s vehicle. The high-powered Elephant Gun and a military anti-materiel sniper rifle. They had abandoned these items after their vehicle was seized by the gang. ¡°How did you...¡± ¡°They were mixed in with the spoils. These belong to you, don¡¯t they? I¡¯ll return them. Of course, I received permission from the militia as well, so don¡¯t worry.¡± It seemed Susan had recognized these as Aiden¡¯s belongings from his vehicle and brought them separately. For an act Aiden hadn¡¯t even expected, he simply expressed his gratitude. ¡°I¡¯ll gladly accept them.¡± ¡°Not at all. You are my benefactors.¡± Aiden loaded the weapons Susan had brought into the vehicle. In the meantime, Susan also exchanged final farewells with Arian and Sadie. Once again, Aiden boarded the vehicle and started the engine. As they finally departed from the hospital, Susan saw them off. ¡°I wish good health upon all of you!¡± Standing at the entrance, Susan waved as she spoke those words. Arian and Sadie also waved until Susan¡¯s figure was no longer visible. Hoping each other would remain unharmed, no matter how long it took. Chapter 130 After leaving Houston, about 130 kilometers northwest in Leander, north of Austin... Aiden cautiously parked his vehicle near a small lake in a park. In the distance, zombies could be seen standing idly like rotten street trees scattered throughout the vast residential area. Their number amounted to several dozen. Not an overwhelming amount, but considering Leander¡¯s location at the city¡¯s outskirts, it was certainly not insignificant. ¡°...¡± Aiden intently observed the scenery of that residential area. On their way here, Aiden¡¯s group had circled the outskirts of the major city Austin, trying to assess its condition. The conclusion came swiftly, aligning with River¡¯s advice. Austin¡¯s interior seemed impenetrable due to the immense zombie presence, and perhaps because of that, there were no signs of human activity at all. It was simply a city overflowing with decayed corpses. Even for Aiden, entering would be exceedingly dangerous. However, he needed to search within rather than the sparsely populated outskirts. He had to find a new vehicle immediately. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even on their way here, the vehicle Aiden¡¯s group was using had been exhibiting abnormalities like the engine sound changing noticeably. It was clear it wouldn¡¯t last much longer. So despite knowing the risks, Aiden had circled the outskirts searching for areas with relatively fewer zombies, eventually arriving at this Leander. ¡°You two wait here for now.¡± Aiden spoke those words. Even in this area with relatively fewer zombies, it was still unsuitable to bring Arian and Sadie along. Moreover, the chances of encountering people were low here. So Aiden decided to proceed alone, to which the other two gave their familiar responses. ¡°Got it, be careful.¡± ¡°Stay safe.¡± Aiden acknowledged their words with a nonchalant nod before exiting the vehicle. Perhaps due to the adjacent lake or the lack of major structures... The densely vegetated park Aiden had entered was quiet. Additionally, the early afternoon sunlight of late summer was still scorching hot. Aiden advanced along the heated asphalt path, overgrown with weeds sprouting through the cracks, as if taking a stroll. Soon, the distant residential area came within close range. Aiden entered that residential neighborhood. Immediately, a zombie leaning against a brown fence turned its gaze towards him. ¡°...¡± However, upon seeing Aiden¡¯s face without even a helmet, the zombie looked away from him again. Like a resident spotting a strangely dressed passerby, it seemed uninterested in further involvement. Aiden likewise paid no heed to such zombies and turned his attention in the opposite direction. Abandoned vehicles and garages were visible here and there throughout the residential area. Their numbers weren¡¯t particularly high. Moreover, unlike the concentrated parking towers or lots in city centers, they were scattered, necessitating a thorough search for any usable ones. It was a situation Aiden had already resigned himself to, so he calmly approached the nearest vehicle ¨C a red compact car inside a half-open garage. Using his flashlight, Aiden first inspected the garage¡¯s interior. No hidden mutants or the like... He then crouched down and entered the garage. Click! The car door didn¡¯t open. However, after roughly assessing the vehicle¡¯s condition, Aiden wasn¡¯t too disappointed. The car¡¯s roof was thickly coated in dust. It seemed to have been abandoned since the zombie outbreak. Such a vehicle would be unusable no matter if the keys and fuel were present. After being neglected for 3 whole years, considerable effort would be required to restore it to working condition. The battery would naturally have drained, requiring replacement, and the tires supporting the chassis would need changing. Moreover, all consumables like engine oil and coolant, as well as the internal lubricants that had solidified, would need attention. And even after addressing all that, there was no guarantee additional issues wouldn¡¯t arise. While gangs or survivor groups occasionally pooled resources and deployed technicians for such repairs... For an individual like Aiden, those efforts would be an unreasonable investment. ¡°Hmm...¡± So Aiden unhesitatingly exited the garage. Next, he headed towards a silver van in the neighboring house. For a while, Aiden inspected over a dozen vehicles this way. During that process... ¡°This one...¡± He finally discovered a noteworthy vehicle. A gray sedan. However, the difference was that it was heavily dented in various places, and the surrounding area was littered with zombie remains. Moreover, that vehicle had crashed into a house wall. It seemed to have been in an accident. But its front door was wide open, almost inviting Aiden inside. Perhaps it had belonged to a wanderer or junk dealer who had passed through here. However, there were no signs of the owner anywhere. Considering the vehicle¡¯s condition, it had likely been abandoned for at least a week. Yet the fact that the owner hadn¡¯t returned meant one of two things ¨C either the vehicle was discarded, or the owner couldn¡¯t return. Unfortunately, the latter possibility seemed more likely. They had probably been driving through this residential area when surrounded by zombies, causing them to crash into the house in their panicked flight. At least the driver seemed to have escaped outside, but there was no guarantee how far they had fled on foot. Aiden inspected the vehicle¡¯s interior. The car keys were still inserted in the ignition. Moreover, there was even a small amount of fuel remaining. Aiden tried starting the engine. A sputtering engine sound could be heard, but it didn¡¯t immediately start. However, after a few more attempts, the engine finally turned over. Kukukung! The engine sound wasn¡¯t good. Even so, Aiden carefully pressed the accelerator to test it. But disappointingly, the vehicle didn¡¯t move. ¡°Tsk...¡± Aiden clicked his tongue. Perhaps due to the collision with the building, some issue had arisen where the engine would start but controls were unresponsive. It was disappointing, but not a complete waste. At the very least, he had learned there was an uncharged battery remaining here. As Aiden made a mental note of that and prepared to turn off the ignition... ¡°Ah, ah. Can you hear this?¡± Suddenly, a voice emanated from the vehicle¡¯s speakers. It was... a radio broadcast. The radio the owner had been listening to until they exited, automatically playing as soon as the engine turned over. ¡°To all survivors hearing this broadcast.¡± Upon hearing this, Aiden slightly raised his eyebrow. It was a radio broadcast he was already familiar with. One transmitted from LA, or perhaps propagated by people from there. ¡°LA is currently safe. So-¡° The content was nothing out of the ordinary. A message stating that the entire city of LA was intact and welcoming all wanderers and survivors to join them. Furthermore, it seemed to be a pre-recorded file playing on repeat, with not a single word changed from what Aiden had heard months ago in Pittsburgh. Content he had once dismissed as mere hearsay. And even now, after crossing half the American continent, Aiden still couldn¡¯t bring himself to believe those words. ¡°Hmm...?¡± In the midst of those thoughts, Aiden suddenly realized something. The radio¡¯s audio quality was far too clear compared to his expectations. The last time he had heard this radio broadcast, it had taken considerable effort just to make out the words. So did that mean it was being transmitted from relatively nearby? Aiden unfolded the map he had in his pocket. This local map he had obtained from the Kingwood Militia. Even for a major city, there weren¡¯t many places a radio broadcast could originate from. So Aiden began searching the map for likely candidates, and... ¡°It must be here.¡± ...he soon identified one potential location. It was a certain mountain northwest of Austin, adjacent to the Colorado River. Deep within that mountain was an old radio tower that had been constructed long ago. From Aiden¡¯s current location in Leander, it was practically right next door. ¡°...¡± Aiden silently gazed at the map, lost in thought. Was it worth investigating this place? If a radio broadcast was indeed coming from here, it meant there were humans managing that radio tower. Of course, contact with people was a dangerous proposition. However, for Aiden¡¯s group, it was also a necessity. They continuously required blood consumption. Moreover, if those people were truly dispatched from LA... Aiden could potentially obtain information about LA¡¯s true nature or any deceptions they might be hiding. In that case... it might not be a bad investment of their remaining time today. Having reached that judgment, Aiden folded the map. He then turned off the vehicle¡¯s ignition. The radio and engine noise had already drawn some nearby zombies towards them. Aiden exited the damaged vehicle and left the approaching zombies behind as he returned to where his companions were waiting. * * * A short while later... Aiden was sharing the information he had uncovered with Arian and Sadie. ¡°A radio tower?¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s up in the nearby mountain.¡± At Aiden¡¯s words, Arian looked out the car window at their surroundings. The vehicle, which had been rattling along the road, had now entered a mountain path. Amid the scenery of tall conifers obstructing the view on both sides, Arian continued speaking. ¡°By the way, if it¡¯s LA... we¡¯ve come quite far west already, but it¡¯s still so distant.¡± Arian let out a small sigh as she spoke those words. From Pittsburgh to Houston, they had traversed nearly half the American continent. However, to reach LA, they would need to travel that same distance once more. Moreover, the terrain between them consisted of rugged mountain ranges and deserts. While they were currently heading westward, it was an overwhelmingly daunting journey. ¡°You can¡¯t seriously be thinking of going to LA?¡± ¡°Not necessarily. I just want to go and obtain some blood.¡± ¡°Hmm... I suppose that¡¯s alright.¡± After traveling that mountain path for a while, the vehicle came to a stop. The paved asphalt road had ended, transitioning to a dirt path. However, that dirt path, left unattended for 3 years, was overgrown with weeds and eroded by rainwater into a mess. ¡°We¡¯ll have to proceed on foot from here.¡± Aiden spoke those words. The road conditions were too challenging for their already poorly maintained vehicle to force its way through. Moreover, the distance remaining to the radio tower wasn¡¯t that far from this point. Aiden¡¯s group all armed themselves and exited the vehicle. If things went smoothly, they could trade for blood and information. But if not, a gunfight could potentially break out. So Aiden had Sadie equip a bulletproof vest and helmet, instructing her to stay close behind him. ¡°Let¡¯s move out.¡± Arian took the lead, advancing first along the mountain path. For a while, the path ¨C wide enough for two vehicles side-by-side ¨C continued. And finally, as they neared the radio tower... ¡°There are people here.¡± Arian said those words. In response, Aiden moved away from the path with Sadie, entering the forest. ¡°How many?¡± ¡°Four. But... it¡¯s a bit strange.¡± Arian, who had been focusing her senses in that direction after detecting human presences, frowned slightly. ¡°Strange how?¡± ¡°I smell blood.¡± At those words, Aiden¡¯s demeanor noticeably shifted. Arian¡¯s statement didn¡¯t simply mean someone was injured and bleeding. It implied those people had killed someone. ¡°So they aren¡¯t as peaceful as their radio would suggest.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t say for certain. Let me move a bit closer to check.¡± At Arian¡¯s words, Aiden nodded. She cautiously advanced through the forest. The wooded area along the uphill path towards the radio tower wasn¡¯t particularly dense with trees. While the view wasn¡¯t wide open, there was sufficient space to traverse on foot. So there was no need to use the exposed path. However, after proceeding about ten meters that way... ¡°-!¡± A sense of disquiet emanated from the ground beneath Arian¡¯s footstep. Something thin like a wire had been stepped on. Simultaneously, without a sound, something flew towards Arian from the side. Thunk! Arian caught the abruptly launched object with her bare hand. It was... an arrow. Looking in the direction the arrow had come from, a cleverly concealed crossbow could be seen behind a tree. It was likely a trap mechanism linked to whatever Arian had stepped on. At that sight, Arian¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. If she hadn¡¯t possessed superhuman reaction speed surpassing ordinary humans, that arrow would have undoubtedly pierced her head or neck area. It was an unmistakable lethal trap. Moreover, a string was attached to the rear end of that arrow. The moment the arrow fired, it must have pulled something via that string. Which was why... ¡°Wheeeet!¡± ...a shrill whistle sounded immediately after, likely their alarm system. While resembling the cry of a mountain bird, it couldn¡¯t deceive Arian¡¯s hearing. Meanwhile, Arian sensed all four presences at the radio tower starting to move in her direction in response to that signal. They were approaching Arian¡¯s location. Arian glanced behind her. To inform Aiden of this development. ¡°...¡± However, Aiden had already been observing Arian. Having anticipated the possibility of their stealth approach failing from the start, he had been maintaining maximum distance from her. Holding his rifle, he gestured with his eyes. No words were needed between them. As usual, Aiden would engage with his firearm while Arian struck from behind. Despite smiling at his resolute demeanor, Arian fixed the enemies with a cold gaze. She could vividly sense them spreading out wide as they descended. Towards the center of those approaching enemies, Arian charged forward. Her sudden beast-like movement startled one of the foremost enemies, shock spreading across his face. Chapter 131 As soon as Arian revealed herself, those at the radio tower immediately opened fire. Gunpowder let out a fierce roar, and dozens of bullets rained down like an avalanche. However, not a single one struck Arian. Woosh! Arian, her crimson eyes glowing, lunged towards them, leaving a red serpentine afterimage. She was too fast to be hit by gunfire. Simultaneously, an inexplicable dread assailed the people who had been aiming their guns at her. For no apparent reason, their hands gripping the firearms began trembling. It was only in that moment that they realized... What had descended upon them wasn¡¯t human. ¡°Uu... Aaaargh!¡± Someone, their sanity consumed by terror, let out a scream. They deeply depressed the trigger towards the area of that crimson aura, firing until their magazine was completely empty. Oblivious that the direction they aimed was where their own comrades were. ¡°Aaack!¡± A woman struck by the indiscriminate gunfire collapsed, clutching her abdomen. However, her suffering didn¡¯t last long. Shlick! A crimson blade abruptly flew forth, slicing halfway through her neck to sever her carotid artery. The last sight her eyes beheld was her own blood spurting from her throat into the air. As Arian charged into the midst of the enemies during that chaos, Aiden precisely sniped those who had been thrown into disarray from behind. Bang! A man who had been waiting atop the radio tower to snipe Arian was instead sniped by Aiden. His skull pierced, he staggered before plummeting down. Losing two comrades in an instant, the man who had been screaming in terror abandoned his rifle and began fleeing. But he didn¡¯t get far before encountering Arian and collapsing on the spot. The final person was inside the building. Armed with a pistol, he attempted to target Arian¡¯s blind spot through a window, but couldn¡¯t evade Aiden¡¯s crossfire. And just like that, the battle swiftly concluded. With only four ordinary people as opponents, it was never going to last long from the outset. ¡°Are you unharmed?¡± Arian rejoined Aiden and Sadie. Not a single bullet had properly flown towards Sadie¡¯s direction. Aiden nodded once. ¡°By the way, what were these people up to?¡± Arian frowned slightly. For Arian, who tried to engage in minimal dialogue whenever possible, these people hadn¡¯t even given her that opportunity ¨C sheer brutes. ¡°Who knows. We¡¯ll have to investigate now.¡± Aiden spoke indifferently as he closely examined the trap Arian had triggered. Had these people originally nested in this mountainous area? The trap was so stealthily and meticulously concealed that even Aiden would have struggled to detect it. It wasn¡¯t something that could be noticed after just a cursory attempt or two. ¡°This is...¡± After observing that trap, Aiden retrieved the crossbow component that had been used as part of the mechanism. While somewhat worn, it was a modern metallic crossbow coated in black paint. Moreover, its size was small enough to be suitable for trap usage. The advantage of such a crossbow was clear. Despite being a ranged attack weapon, it produced minimal noise, making it unparalleled for stealthy actions against ordinary zombies. However, its drawback was also obvious ¨C the arrows, its ammunition, were exceedingly difficult to obtain. Even the bullets for the once ubiquitous firearms were now in short supply. So procuring crossbow bolts, which hardly anyone possessed from the outset, was literally like searching for needles in a haystack. Of course, there was the possibility of retrieving and reusing spent bolts. But the fundamental premise of crossbow operation was stealthy movement. So having one¡¯s movements restricted for the sake of bolt recovery was inherently inefficient. Naturally, its greatest shortcoming was its ineffectiveness against mutants. Against those with rock-hard muscles and skulls that even bullets couldn¡¯t penetrate, a crossbow could only be used against ordinary zombies. So for Aiden, who had no need for stealthy maneuvers against regular zombies, it wasn¡¯t a particularly useful weapon. However, it wasn¡¯t entirely without purpose either. There was someone else who could use it ¨C Sadie. The crossbow¡¯s size wasn¡¯t too large, and its weight was light as well. When Aiden tested loading it, the draw force required didn¡¯t seem excessive either. While not quite child-sized, it appeared to be a model focused on reducing the burden of operation rather than sheer power. ¡°You should probably hold on to this.¡± So Aiden handed it to Sadie. Sadie observed the crossbow with a curious gaze. To a child, its complex structure must have seemed puzzling. ¡°I¡¯ll teach you how to use it later.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Sadie responded. Having already become accustomed to firing pistols, handling a crossbow shouldn¡¯t pose much difficulty for her. With that thought, Aiden turned his attention back towards the radio tower atop the mountain. ¡°Then let¡¯s proceed. I¡¯ll check the bodies, so...¡± ¡°Got it, I¡¯ll keep Sadie with me.¡± Aiden approached the fallen enemies while exercising caution against potential traps, intending to determine whether they were from LA or mere plunderers. ¡°Hmm...¡± Their clothing and armaments were ordinary. No different from any other plunderers. However, emblazoned on their bodies was an arrow-shaped brand. ¡°What is this...?¡± It was a pattern Aiden had never seen before. Burn scars in inconspicuous areas like the sides, thighs, and inner arms ¨C likely made by pressing a heated brand. Could there be another group behind these people? Come to think of it, it wasn¡¯t that strange. The systematic traps, alarm devices, and even the whistles they had used to call their comrades... Those methodologies seemed too organized to have been established by a mere group of four roaming plunderers. ¡°So they belonged to a gang, huh.¡± Aiden muttered those words softly. However, that speculation left him with a lingering sense of disquiet. For a gang, there would be no reason to come all the way to this radio tower. The radio tower was a simple two-story brown building with a large spire erected atop it. Just a small, isolated structure deep in the mountains ¨C not a place with any noteworthy resources. Unless it was for the purpose Aiden had come ¨C to gather information or make contact with people themselves. No gang would travel here solely for plundering supplies. Then why had these people ventured this far? Aiden had tried to unravel that, but the bodies offered no other clues. So Aiden could only abandon further conjecture and simply collected the ammunition they had been using. A few dozen rounds of rifle and pistol cartridges were secured. Along with around 20 crossbow bolts. Afterwards, Arian drained every drop of blood from the bodies. As she did, the plunderers¡¯ corpses dispersed like scattered ashes. Witnessing that eerie sight, Aiden soon turned and headed into the radio tower. The building beneath the soaring spire. The door leading inside was already open. ¡°Hmm...¡± Upon entering, Aiden unconsciously let out a small groan. It was due to the overwhelmingly strong scent of blood permeating the building¡¯s interior. This must have been the smell of blood Arian had mentioned. Aiden briefly looked back. Arian, seeming to roughly guess what was inside, had remained at a distance with Sadie. Reassured by this, Aiden ventured deeper inside. There, he found the broadcast room from where the radio was being transmitted. In front of the outward-facing windows, a table was placed with old broadcasting equipment on top of it. Beside that, a makeshift generator hummed as it supplied power, allowing the radio to continuously broadcast its signal. On the opposite side was a firmly closed wooden door leading to a storage room. The source of the blood scent was undoubtedly there. After confirming no abnormalities in the broadcast room, Aiden unhesitatingly opened the storage room door. Creeeeak- The door made an ominous creaking sound as it moved. It was then that sunlight poured into the windowless storage room, illuminating its interior. There... the decapitated corpses of a man and woman were suspended upside-down by ropes. ¡°...¡± Even before a gruesome sight that would make an ordinary person scream, Aiden calmly surveyed the room. The unidentified man and woman were completely naked. Moreover, beneath their hanging bodies was a large trough, seemingly to catch the blood draining from their bodies. Upon realizing this, Aiden¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. While it could be dismissed as the deeds of mere insane killers, this was an act of far lower depravity. Leaving human corpses in such a state was quite literally for the purpose of draining their blood. Like a hunter draining the blood from hunted game for the meat¡¯s flavor. So Aiden could barely guess the true nature of the plunderers who had been here. ¡°...Eaters, huh.¡± A cult Aiden had only heard about by name. While their actions were similar to the cultists encountered in Pittsburgh, they were an entirely separate group. Reportedly, they followed a religion that sanctioned cannibalism. Their numbers had been slowly growing as plunderers and wanderers became increasingly desperate from starvation. ¡°...¡± Recalling that, Aiden clicked his tongue briefly. The man and woman hanging here were likely the ones who had been broadcasting that radio urging others to go to LA. However, that had been their misfortune. Aiden wasn¡¯t the only one capable of tracing the source of that radio broadcast. And for these Eaters, who weren¡¯t an ordinary gang but consumed human flesh, there was ample reason to descend upon this place. Understanding that chain of events, Aiden first decided to properly handle the victims¡¯ remains. He brought down their upside-down hanging bodies and moved them outside the building. Since their heads were missing and there were no tools like shovels, Aiden simply laid the corpses amid the vegetation and covered them with fallen leaves as much as possible. After tending to the remains, Aiden returned to the radio tower. It was to inspect the second floor he hadn¡¯t explored yet. The second floor could be accessed via an exterior staircase. The radio tower¡¯s second story was a small living area divided into several rooms. Perhaps used by the deceased man and woman, it still contained miscellaneous items like clothing and sleeping bags. Aiden searched those rooms. As expected, any usable food or water supplies seemed to have already been taken care of by the Eaters, as none could be found. However, there was something else Aiden was searching for. Vehicle keys. If these people had truly come from LA, Aiden expected they would have possessed a vehicle. Indeed, outside the radio tower, a small used sedan was parked. It was highly likely the vehicle they had arrived in, so if Aiden could find the keys, that would suffice. In the midst of rummaging through some clothing, Aiden felt something rectangular. He retrieved it, but its identity was something he hadn¡¯t anticipated. ¡°This is...¡± An identification card. Not a pre-apocalypse driver¡¯s license or employee ID that Aiden was familiar with. Written on it were the words ¡®LA Citizen ID¡¯. It contained the deceased man¡¯s photograph, along with an unfamiliar identification number, job code, and issue date. An innocuous item at first glance. However, upon seeing it, Aiden¡¯s eyes widened slightly. The ID¡¯s material wasn¡¯t scrap plastic, but a properly manufactured one. Moreover, the issue date was clearly more than a year after the onset of the zombie pandemic. In other words, this was... substantial evidence validating the possibility of LA as an intact city for Aiden. If the city of LA was truly capable of independently producing and issuing such identification cards... Then its scale wasn¡¯t comparable even to the largest survivor group Aiden had encountered ¨C the Shreveport Alliance. Taking photographs, manufacturing plastic IDs... Didn¡¯t that imply society¡¯s infrastructure was nearly perfectly preserved there? For Aiden, who had assumed all infrastructure and systems had already collapsed, it was nothing short of a shock. ¡°Perhaps...¡± Which was why, upon seeing that ID card, Aiden revised his previous thoughts regarding LA. Of course, not all his doubts were resolved by this single card, but a possibility had emerged. The possibility that LA might be the only remaining city left in America. Organizing those thoughts, Aiden continued his search. The vehicle keys were soon discovered. Left intact in one of the room¡¯s drawers. After completing his investigation, Aiden exited and rejoined his companions. He shared the information he had uncovered. ¡°Is that really true?¡± Upon Aiden explaining the details about LA, even Arian seemed somewhat surprised. However, Sadie showed no particular reaction, perhaps not fully grasping the implications yet. ¡°So... does this mean we have to go to LA now?¡± Holding the LA Citizen ID, Arian asked that question. But Aiden neither affirmed nor denied it. ¡°Even if LA is such a place, not much will change for us at the moment. If we find a suitable location along the way, we can stay there. We simply need to set LA as our ultimate destination.¡± Aiden¡¯s words were simple. They would search for a base where Sadie could reside, just like they had been doing, but ultimately aim to reach LA in the end. Arian nodded, seeming to understand. ¡°I suppose that works. But... you said there¡¯s a new vehicle too?¡± ¡°Yeah, that one over there.¡± Aiden pointed towards the brown compact car parked near the radio tower. Upon seeing it, Arian tilted her head in confusion. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit too small?¡± It was only large enough for four people at most. Moreover, with hardly any trunk space, they could barely load any luggage. ¡°It also seems quite old... just look at that mileage reading. It¡¯s been driven a lot, hasn¡¯t it?¡± Contrary to Aiden¡¯s words about a ¡®new¡¯ car, the vehicle here appeared extremely worn. However, Aiden wasn¡¯t unaware of that fact. ¡°You¡¯re right. But we have no other choice.¡± At that, Arian closed her mouth. She already knew their large van they had been using until now could break down at any moment. ¡°Let¡¯s at least test driving it down the mountain first. We need to find a place to stay for today, at minimum.¡± Aiden¡¯s words gained his companions¡¯ agreement. They boarded the new vehicle, and Aiden started the engine. For some reason, the engine sound seemed rather weak. Aiden carefully drove the vehicle down the mountain. Until then, it seemed to be holding up decently. However, the moment they found a hideout spot on the city outskirts... As if it had been waiting, the vehicle¡¯s engine spontaneously shut off. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Observing that, Aiden let out a resigned sigh. Chapter 132 Several days after leaving the radio tower. While traveling along Interstate 67 through central Texas, Arian suddenly frowned. ¡°It looks like it¡¯s going to stop again.¡± She tapped the car window with her finger as she spoke. Aiden¡¯s group was currently using the compact car they had obtained from the radio tower. Since the very first day, this mode of transportation had exhibited numerous issues, including engine failures. Yet its condition still hadn¡¯t improved much. Excluding minor problems, there were two major issues with this vehicle. First, its maximum speed was inadequate. At best, it could only reach around 50 km/h ¨C a speed that would make it difficult to properly flee if they encountered a zombie horde. And the second problem was that the engine frequently stalled, just like now. The frequency was consistent, about once every two hours. Fortunately, before stalling, there would be changes in the engine sound that not only Arian but even Aiden could detect if focused. ¡°What a piece of junk. Why does it keep stopping?¡± Due to this vehicle, over the past few days, Aiden¡¯s group had found themselves stranded multiple times in the middle of empty roads. After stopping and resting, the engine would eventually restart. Based on that, Aiden had his own guesses about the cause. ¡°It¡¯s probably overheating. There seems to be an issue with the cooling system.¡± A common problem in older vehicles. Saying that, Aiden maneuvered the car off the road and concealed it amidst nearby trees. He then turned off the ignition and waited for the engine to cool down. The required time was approximately 30 minutes. A clear waste of time, but their destination for the day wasn¡¯t far. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better to just walk at this point?¡± Arian posed that sincere question. Due to the series of issues, there wasn¡¯t much difference in speed between traveling by this vehicle or on foot. Moreover, the car was so small that they could barely load any luggage. On top of that, they were still consuming fuel, so wouldn¡¯t it be more convenient to simply walk? However, Aiden shook his head. ¡°Walking also consumes energy. That would require more food and water. Just conserving those makes it worthwhile.¡± ¡°I... suppose you¡¯re right.¡± Arian responded with a sigh-like answer before exiting the car. Sadie also seemed to have grown restless from being confined in the cramped interior, immediately following behind her. Aiden also stepped out of the driver¡¯s seat to inspect the vehicle¡¯s condition. Arian stretched while gazing up at the sky. ¡°By the way... there¡¯s nothing around here at all.¡± Beneath the drifting white clouds in the sky, their surroundings were a gentle plain. The only vegetation growing there was some weeds, nameless yellow wildflowers, and short trees. A scenery that seemed to straddle the boundary between desert and prairie. That landscape extended all the way to the horizon. ¡°...¡± Arian and Sadie gazed blankly at that scenery. In the autumn weather, a pleasantly cool breeze blew. Not a single piece of litter or abandoned vehicle could be seen on the road. A serene view completely devoid of any human traces. However, Arian couldn¡¯t fully appreciate it. Instead, she felt preoccupied with concern. Aiden¡¯s group needed to find people. Since leaving the radio tower, they hadn¡¯t encountered a single person. Naturally, their stockpile of blood had been completely depleted. While they had secured enough blood for four people at the radio tower, human blood would spoil within a day or two. For purposes other than combat, frequency of supply was more important than quantity. ¡°Sheesh...¡± Arian let out a sigh, dismayed that such worries prevented her from properly enjoying nature. Sensing something was amiss, Sadie looked up at Arian. Arian simply smiled softly and stroked the child¡¯s head, as if to say it was nothing. They had been leisurely resting like that for about 10 minutes when... ¡°Over there...¡± Arian¡¯s gaze towards the horizon sharpened. Like mold devouring a beautiful landscape painting, a dense wave of green corpses had suddenly appeared in her field of view. ¡°Aiden.¡± Arian immediately called out to her companion. Approaching their location was a zombie horde numbering in the hundreds. The so-called roaming hordes that drifted across these plains. ¡°We need to evade them.¡± Upon hearing those words, Aiden quickly reached that conclusion. There was no reason to engage in combat, nor did they have that luxury. The numbers were too overwhelming. ¡°Evade them is fine, but where to?¡± Zombie hordes didn¡¯t remain stationary, sweeping across the land like waves. So to avoid them, the best choice was to hide inside a building out of their line of sight and wait for that wave to pass. However, there was nothing to conceal themselves within in these surroundings. Hiding among the trees or bushes, no taller than 2 meters, felt too unsafe. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°For now, let¡¯s walk along the road. Something should appear eventually.¡± Aiden spoke those words. It was a makeshift measure, as there hadn¡¯t been any suitable buildings along the path they had traveled thus far. At least the zombie horde was still distant, and their next small-town destination was nearby. Increasing the likelihood of finding a building to take shelter in. ¡°Gather our belongings. Pack lightly. We might not be able to return to the vehicle today.¡± Aiden urged his companions. In response, Sadie and Arian prepared the necessary food, water, and other supplies. Aiden also armed himself, and once ready, the group immediately set off. As they departed, Aiden briefly glanced back at the vehicle concealed amidst the bushes. While somewhat rudimentary, it wasn¡¯t easily noticeable to passersby on the road. Despite being a barely functioning junker, Aiden hoped it would still be there upon their return, quickening his pace. ¡°There¡¯s a side path over here.¡± After walking along the road for a while, Arian spoke those words. As she said, a dirt path branched off from the road. Its entrance was blocked by a wire mesh gate, but at a height easily climbable. It didn¡¯t seem to have been erected by survivors. This gate had likely been there to block this makeshift road since before the apocalypse three years ago. What lay at the end of this road was obscured by the trees. However, Aiden didn¡¯t hesitate to change their direction towards it. The existence of this path and gate naturally implied there was private property not far away. ¡°Over there.¡± True to Aiden¡¯s prediction, after proceeding a short distance, several buildings came into view. Perhaps once someone¡¯s residence or a farmstead. A single container-like structure, a dilapidated house, and a large brick building could be seen. Not the safest structures, but they had no choice at this point. The zombie horde would be passing through here in just a few minutes. They needed to conceal themselves inside. So Aiden led his group into the largest brick building. Upon entering, they realized it was a stable. However, the horses had clearly vacated long ago, leaving only some piles of hay behind. ¡°This should suffice.¡± Aiden spoke as he closed the door. If they remained quietly here for a while, the zombie horde would simply pass them by. Just as Aiden¡¯s group was feeling reassured, it was then that Arian, having sensed something, opened her mouth. ¡°Wait a moment. There are people heading this way.¡± ¡°You mean... humans?¡± ¡°Yes, humans.¡± Arian pointed in a particular direction. The opposite way from where Aiden¡¯s group had approached. ¡°How many?¡± ¡°Six.¡± It seemed they had also noticed the zombie horde and were rushing towards this building to evade it. ¡°What should we do?¡± Arian asked. While encountering people was a positive, the situation wasn¡¯t ideal. At this rate, they would have to directly face those people without any preparation. Aiden contemplated briefly before speaking. ¡°If they enter here, it would be better to accept them.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°They likely won¡¯t be able to fight either way.¡± The zombie horde had already approached quite close. Even if those people turned out to be plunderers or Eaters, firing guns here would be impossible. Doing so would only attract all the zombies outside straight towards them. A surefire way for everyone to meet their demise. So Aiden decided to first accept them inside, then observe their response. ¡°...Understood. If anything happens, I¡¯ll deal with it.¡± As Arian spoke those chilling words, the sound of multiple footsteps could be heard approaching. That noise, rushing towards the stable Aiden was in, soon reached the entrance. And just like that, the door was opened by someone. ¡°Eh...!¡± The one who opened it was a man appearing to be in his 30s. However, he simply froze at the entrance, not taking another step. Upon discovering Aiden¡¯s group already inside the stable, he was stunned into inaction by the surprise. Then, another man following behind shoved him aside in annoyance. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you going in? What¡¯s in-¡° But he too soon noticed Aiden¡¯s group and couldn¡¯t conceal his consternation. They had clearly never expected anyone to be present here. As he flustered and reached for the rifle slung across his back... Aiden spoke in a low voice. ¡°It¡¯s alright, come inside. We need to evade the zombies.¡± At Aiden¡¯s voice suggesting they avoid outright hostility, the man¡¯s hand moving towards his rifle paused. He had grasped Aiden¡¯s intention of not antagonizing each other unnecessarily. Even so, the wanderers didn¡¯t easily enter. Out of suspicion. An understandable suspicion that couldn¡¯t be faulted. With that strange distrust in their gazes directed at Aiden... However, their distrust didn¡¯t last long. ¡°Keeeeeh...¡± ¡°Kiiiie...¡± The cries of zombies had already approached perilously close. No longer able to waste time, the wanderers forcibly suppressed the doubts surfacing in their minds and rushed into the stable. And closed the door behind them. ¡°Phew...¡± One of the wanderers let out a relieved sigh. But that was the only sound they made. ¡°Kiee...¡± Soon after, the distinct sound of decaying corpses dragging their feet past the building could be clearly heard. Hundreds of footsteps scraped against the ground, separated only by the thin door. Amidst that, the wanderers didn¡¯t properly exhale, didn¡¯t easily raise a finger. If the zombies detected their presence, even for an instant, it would mean certain death. ¡°...¡± All that could be heard from every direction were the footsteps and growls of the corpses. In that nightmarish tension, the wanderers observed Aiden¡¯s group, while Aiden¡¯s group observed the wanderers. As Arian had said, there were six wanderers. The most noticeable were a Caucasian man and woman in their 40s, and a teenage girl in her mid-teens. Based on their demeanor, they seemed to be a couple with their daughter. Next to them were an Indian man and woman in their 30s. And finally, there was also a black man appearing to be in his 20s. Meanwhile, the wanderers were regarding Aiden¡¯s group with great suspicion. It wasn¡¯t a strange reaction. Above all else, Aiden was wearing a bulletproof helmet covering even his face, completely concealing his appearance. Then there was Arian accompanying him. If Aiden exuded an overtly suspicious aura, Arian was an existence that inexplicably provoked a sense of disquiet in people. Outwardly an ordinary person, but with those crimson eyes and pallid complexion. And that underlying aura of eeriness that instilled an inexplicable dread in humans. However, the reason the wanderers didn¡¯t outright show hostility towards them was due to Sadie¡¯s presence. Seeing the unknown child clinging closely behind Arian, it was clear she heavily depended on her companions. No matter how suspicious those people seemed, the fact that they were properly caring for a child instilled a minimum level of trust. And soon, the zombie horde passed by the vicinity of that small factory building. As the sound of their footsteps gradually faded until disappearing completely... The Indian man and woman among the wanderers began whispering to each other. ¡°It¡¯s quiet?¡± ¡°Does that mean... it¡¯s over?¡± ¡°How should I know?¡± ¡°Instead of just talking, why don¡¯t you go check?¡± Prompted by the woman, the man grumbled as he approached the stable door. Holding a club in one hand, he cautiously opened that door a crack. Fortunately, there were no corpses suddenly bursting through. ¡°...¡± He opened the door and surveyed the surroundings. Then, he boldly stepped outside before soon returning with a relieved expression. ¡°They¡¯re gone. Looks like they¡¯ve all passed through.¡± At those words, sighs of relief escaped from the wanderers. With the external threat now gone, their awareness naturally shifted towards the interior of the stable. It was right after that when they refocused their attention on Aiden¡¯s group. ¡°...¡± A strange silence lingered between the two groups for a moment. It was the wanderers¡¯ side that first spoke up. ¡°Umm... well, thanks for that, I suppose.¡± The oldest among the wanderers, the Caucasian man in his 40s, addressed those words to Aiden. After Aiden nodded, the man flashed a slight smile as he continued. ¡°Name¡¯s Carter Young. What about you?¡± His tone carried a vaguely casual air. Pondering that impression, Aiden introduced himself as usual. ¡°Aiden Lee, a junk dealer.¡± Chapter 133 After the introductions, each group first shared their names. As Aiden had expected, the couple in their 40s and the teenage girl were parents and daughter. The names of Carter and Naomi Young, and their daughter Audrey. Additionally, the man and woman in their 30s were siblings, with the surname Clark ¨C Adam and Sedy. The remaining man was named Eli Rodriguez. ¡°By the way, if you¡¯re a junk dealer... I suppose you¡¯re not affiliated with any gangs or survivor groups.¡± At Carter¡¯s words, Aiden nodded. Carter then continued speaking with a somewhat relieved expression. ¡°Same goes for us. We¡¯re all just wanderers. The group we used to belong to completely fell apart.¡± Whether he was naturally talkative or not, Carter naturally began recounting their past. According to him, excluding Eli, they had all been part of the same survivor group. But that place had been overrun by zombies, leading them to become wanderers. ¡°Eli joined us about a month ago. Apparently, his gang was also wiped out-¡° ¡°Dear!¡± Naomi, who had been silently observing, elbowed her husband in the side. He had said something unnecessary. In response, Carter flashed a wry smile. ¡°Ah, my bad, this wasn¡¯t the time. Anyway, where were you folks headed?¡± ¡°Ballinger.¡± Aiden promptly answered Carter¡¯s question. There was no need to conceal it. It was the name of a small town only about 4 kilometers from here. ¡°What a coincidence. We were headed that way too.¡± ¡°I see. Any particular reason?¡± ¡°What reason would wanderers have? We¡¯re just going there to survive.¡± Aiden had asked in case there might be a survivor group there, but it didn¡¯t seem to be the case. If so, Aiden couldn¡¯t simply let them go. They were a precious source of blood he had encountered after several days. Of course, he didn¡¯t intend to forcibly take their blood, but he needed to steer the situation towards a trade. The question was, how to broach that topic? As Aiden inwardly contemplated his words, Carter unexpectedly made a proposal. ¡°Well, since we¡¯ve met like this, why don¡¯t we travel together to the town? No need for us to be at odds, right?¡± Aiden didn¡¯t immediately respond to those words. Needless to say, for Aiden who had been wondering how to negotiate a trade with them, it was an attractive proposal. However, he also harbored suspicions. For wanderers who had just met to so easily suggest traveling together... It wasn¡¯t a proposal that could be made without at least a minimum level of caution. Which was why... ¡°Carter?¡± One of the wanderers, Sedy, looked at Carter with a perplexed expression. ¡°Who gave you the authority to say that?¡± ¡°Why not? It¡¯s a good opportunity. Didn¡¯t you see those zombies earlier? Numbers are important in times like these.¡± ¡°Even so, you should have at least consulted with us-¡° As Sedy voiced her objection, Carter dismissively began persuading his companions. The gist of his argument was that they should band together in preparation for any threats they might face in the town. It wasn¡¯t an incorrect assertion. However, it was also a commonly known fact. The real issue was the matter of trust between the two sides. ¡°But how can we trust those people?¡± And that doubt was directly voiced by Sedy. While her volume was slightly lowered, it was still audible enough for Aiden to hear. ¡°It¡¯s fine. They let us evade the zombies, didn¡¯t they? Besides, they only have two kids with them. We should be helping each other in times like these.¡± To that, Carter spoke as if it were only natural. At his somewhat disingenuous demeanor, Sedy let out a derisive chuckle. However, from that, Aiden could discern Carter¡¯s true intentions. Carter was looking down on Aiden¡¯s group. When viewed from the outside, Arian appeared to be around the same age as Carter¡¯s daughter, while Sadie was even younger. So it wasn¡¯t strange for him to judge that their actual combat strength only amounted to Aiden himself. In contrast, the wanderers had five adults. Which meant the likelihood of Aiden¡¯s group causing any trouble was low. And even if they did, Carter believed he could easily subdue them. Carter harbored that level of confidence. ¡°Do as you please, then.¡± Whether she had grasped Carter¡¯s intentions or not... Sedy, who had initially raised objections about Carter¡¯s actions, swiftly backed down. No other dissenting opinions followed. Carter turned his gaze back towards Aiden. ¡°Well, here we are neglecting the most important person. So... junk dealer, will you join us?¡± ¡°...¡± In response to Carter¡¯s proposal, Aiden silently observed him from within his helmet. While implying that acting together would be mutually beneficial as he persuaded his companions, Carter subtly passed the decision-making to Aiden without overtly coercing him. He came across like a sly salesman. Of course, since Aiden had no reason to refuse from the outset, he decided to proceed as Carter intended. ¡°...Very well. We¡¯ll travel together.¡± ¡°Good, wise choice. I was feeling uneasy about what might be waiting in even a small town like that.¡± Carter chuckled as he spoke. Soon after, Aiden¡¯s group and Carter¡¯s group cautiously exited the small farmstead. The zombie horde that had previously swept through here was already disappearing beyond the opposite horizon. And so, the combined group walked along the road. Westward, towards Ballinger. Since it was the opposite direction from where Aiden had left his vehicle, Arian quietly asked him: ¡°What about the car?¡± Her voice was low enough not to be overheard by the others. She had realized Aiden was intentionally concealing the vehicle¡¯s existence. ¡°There¡¯s no need to reveal it. Opportunity makes thieves, as they say.¡± That was Aiden¡¯s response. In any case, it was a distance they could reach the town on foot within an hour. So rather than unnecessarily exposing the vehicle¡¯s presence, it would be better to retrieve it on their way out after concluding their business with Carter¡¯s group. There was no guarantee those people wouldn¡¯t covet the vehicle if they knew about it. ¡°So what¡¯s next? Are you really going to move together with those people?¡± ¡°For now, my plan is to go to the town with them. After that, we¡¯ll conduct our own separate search and gather supplies.¡± For Aiden¡¯s group, finding supplies in an empty town wouldn¡¯t be particularly difficult. Compared to the ordinary humans in Carter¡¯s group, Aiden¡¯s group had far more advantageous conditions for scavenging. However, Arian had one lingering concern. ¡°Are you sure? What if they try to take our findings by force?¡± ¡°That won¡¯t be an issue.¡± To that, Aiden gave a simple response. Of course, if Aiden¡¯s group tried to monopolize all the supplies they found, conflict was highly likely to arise. However, Aiden intended to use those supplies as trade goods. ¡°If we offer blood in exchange, they won¡¯t refuse. They¡¯ll see it as a fair deal with no losses on their side.¡± Naturally, they might still harbor some suspicions, but it wouldn¡¯t be a major problem. The alternative to rejecting the trade would be a life-or-death battle. Anyone who had survived this long would surely know which choice was wiser. And so, with Carter¡¯s group leading and Aiden¡¯s group following behind, they headed towards Ballinger together. Fortunately, no zombie hordes like the previous one reappeared. Approximately an hour later... The scenery of the town gradually came into view before the group. ¡°...We¡¯ve arrived.¡± Aiden spoke those words as a small river appeared ahead. The Elm River, marking Ballinger¡¯s boundary. The Interstate 67 they had been walking along spanned that river via a bridge, passing straight through the town. Truly the main road of this town. Which was why the major shopping districts and public buildings were arranged along this Interstate 67 within the town. For scavenging purposes, it would naturally be advantageous to secure those shopping areas first. Perhaps realizing that... After passing through an abandoned factory and a deserted gas station, at the point where the shopping district properly began... It was there that Carter¡¯s group, who had been leading, called out to Aiden¡¯s group. ¡°Then let¡¯s divide the areas from here. It will be more efficient than searching the same places.¡± Carter spoke those words with a hint of wariness in his gaze. Aiden felt he could see right through Carter¡¯s intentions. Had this been his plan from the start? Anyone would choose the shopping district as the prime scavenging area, so Carter wanted to firmly establish that here. However, Aiden didn¡¯t insist on claiming the shopping district. ¡°We¡¯ll concede the shopping district.¡± ¡°Hm? Really?¡± Carter blinked, surprised that Aiden readily yielded without any argument. Aiden pointed towards the road where the shopping district stretched out. ¡°There are quite a few zombies. It would be too dangerous for us.¡± As he said, there were indeed some zombies roaming that road. While their numbers were only around twenty at most, not enough to be considered dangerous... After hearing Aiden¡¯s words, Carter nodded in understanding. If Aiden and Arian were ordinary people, it would be a reasonable enough judgment. ¡°I suppose you¡¯re right.¡± ¡°Then we¡¯ll head to the residential area in the north. If you have no other business, we¡¯ll move on ahead.¡± As Aiden willingly withdrew, Carter smiled faintly and nodded. Aiden¡¯s group separated from Carter¡¯s and walked towards the quiet residential neighborhood. They soon passed the railroad tracks separating the shopping district from the residential area. The first thing they saw was a warehouse building with a damaged shutter door. From the outside, the visibly empty interior didn¡¯t seem worth entering. Observing that warehouse, Arian spoke up. ¡°I wonder what¡¯s left in the residential area?¡± It was a place lined with lush street trees along the road. Behind those trees stood aged brown houses, one even displaying a tattered American flag. Gazing at those houses, Aiden responded. ¡°Hard to say, but we shouldn¡¯t expect any major gains.¡± ¡°Then... was it pointless to concede the shopping district?¡± ¡°No, there likely wouldn¡¯t have been much there either.¡± Aiden¡¯s reason for immediately abandoning the shopping district wasn¡¯t solely to avoid friction with Carter¡¯s group. Ever since they had crossed the Elm River, there had been signs like tire tracks on the road and scattered debris that seemed crushed underfoot. Clear indications that other wanderers had previously passed through this town. ¡°It didn¡¯t seem recent, but there were definitely traces of other wanderers having been here before. So those shopping areas have likely already been picked over multiple times.¡± Aiden judged that there wouldn¡¯t be many supplies remaining in this town itself. Which was why they would search the residential areas that people rarely ventured into first. To thoroughly gather whatever meager leftovers might still be found there. ¡°I suppose you¡¯re right...¡± Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Arian let out a brief sigh. Essentially, today¡¯s scavenging wouldn¡¯t be easy. As they approached one of the houses, Arian issued a warning: ¡°There are zombies inside. One on the first floor, two on the second.¡± ¡°Got it. Then...¡± Aiden retrieved his hatchet. However, before he could open the door, a quiet presence caught his eye ¨C Sadie, who had been silently holding Arian¡¯s hand this entire time. Ever since earlier, she had been intently listening to the adults¡¯ conversation, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at Aiden. Recently, Aiden had taught Sadie how to use the crossbow. After that, with Aiden¡¯s permission, she had frequently been hunting zombies. Since the crossbow didn¡¯t produce noise like a gunshot, it was suitable for the small-scale combat encountered during scavenging activities. Of course, that wasn¡¯t the only reason Sadie had taken an active role. Sadie seemed to derive great satisfaction from her accomplishments. As if she had finally found her own role to fulfill. Witnessing Sadie¡¯s joy, Aiden felt a mixture of admiration and pity. In the end, it was proof that Sadie felt insecure about her standing. However, considering the contents of her late mother¡¯s will... Seeking her own role within the team itself wasn¡¯t a bad thing, so Aiden could only observe for now. ¡°Sadie, would you like to try?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± When Aiden posed that question, Sadie responded as if she had been waiting for it. Aiden nodded and quietly opened the door to the residential street. Then, he followed behind Sadie in a protective stance as she stepped into the dust-filled room. * * * Some time later... ¡°Found it!¡± Arian forcefully lifted something she had discovered while searching one of the houses. It was a can of spinach, smaller than her palm. A rather meager find, but it was the only harvest she had obtained today. During that time, Aiden had found three bottles of liquor and some gasoline. Sadie had achieved the feat of finding a large bag of sugar from a small donut shop. So for Arian, who possessed senses surpassing ordinary humans, a mere can of spinach couldn¡¯t be considered a satisfactory result. ¡°You know, I¡¯ve always thought... you really don¡¯t have a knack for scavenging.¡± Observing Arian, Aiden spoke those words. If it seemed strange, it truly was. She could sense people and zombies hundreds of meters away, yet she couldn¡¯t locate a can just ten meters away without upending layers of dust. ¡°My vampire senses, you see, originally developed to detect people. And I was the one who found the gasoline, wasn¡¯t I?¡± When Aiden voiced that doubt, Arian responded accordingly. As she said, while Arian could reasonably discern chemical odors like gasoline or gunpowder, she didn¡¯t react as strongly to canned goods or sugar. Perhaps it was akin to how sharks in the ocean could smell blood from kilometers away but lacked that level of sensitivity to other scents. Pondering that plausible analogy, Aiden nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°Anyway, let¡¯s call it a day here. We¡¯ll head back now.¡± Aiden spoke as he organized today¡¯s collected supplies. While not particularly substantial, it was enough to offer in exchange for blood from Carter¡¯s group. Additionally, the time was nearing sunset. They should start looking for a hideout to spend the night. But at that moment- Bang! A single gunshot resounded from the distance, casually disrupting Aiden¡¯s plans. ¡°This is...¡± Immediately, his companions¡¯ gazes converged on Aiden, who frowned deeply before letting out a sigh. The direction of the gunshot was the shopping district. It was highly likely that some incident had befallen Carter¡¯s group. ¡°We need to hurry.¡± While Aiden had no particular obligation to ensure their safety, he couldn¡¯t simply disregard them since he needed their blood. They promptly headed towards the shopping district where Carter¡¯s group had been scavenging. Chapter 134 The shopping district of Ballinger that Aiden¡¯s group entered emanated a solemn atmosphere distinct from those in major cities. Centered around a wide six-lane road for a small town, two-story buildings lined up in a row. Additionally, the architectural styles of those buildings appeared quite dated. Some even seemed to be remnants from the Western era. ¡°Over here.¡± In one part of that shopping district, Arian pointed towards a particular building. A bright brown brick structure. From the lettering on the remaining glass windows, it seemed to have originally been a law firm¡¯s office. Not a space where many supplies would likely remain. However, there were definitely people inside. ¡°Two of those people from earlier are in there.¡± Arian spoke those words. Rather than immediately tracking the source of the gunshot, Aiden¡¯s group had first pursued potential witnesses in the surrounding area. Which was why, without much hesitation, Aiden entered that building. ¡°Here they are! We¡¯re here!¡± From inside, someone panicked and raised their gun. It was Adam Clark. Momentarily freezing at that unexpected reaction, Aiden¡¯s movement gave Sedy, Adam¡¯s older sister beside him, an opportunity to forcibly lower her brother¡¯s weapon. ¡°Calm down. It¡¯s just that junk dealer from before.¡± Only after hearing those words did Adam properly face Aiden. Then, letting out a sigh, he lowered his gun. ¡°What the... it was you guys?¡± ¡°I heard gunshots. What happened?¡± At Aiden¡¯s question, Adam and Sedy¡¯s expressions stiffened. It was Sedy who first spoke up. ¡°A mutant appeared.¡± Aiden let out a brief sigh. While he had anticipated something might occur, the fact that a mutant had emerged in this virtually empty small town with barely any zombies was an especially unfortunate case. Among the few possibilities he had considered, it was one of the worst outcomes. Sedy continued speaking. ¡°We managed to escape, but... I don¡¯t know about the others.¡± ¡°Location?¡± ¡°If you go two blocks down following the road, there¡¯s a bank. That¡¯s the last place I saw them.¡± Aiden stepped out of the entrance and briefly glanced in that direction. The mutant itself wasn¡¯t immediately visible. ¡°This place isn¡¯t safe either. We should retreat quickly.¡± Adam then urged the group to evacuate. However, Aiden simply posed another question. ¡°Were you able to identify the mutant?¡± ¡°A Hider. Damn it, we were being careful but got caught completely off guard.¡± ¡°A Hider?¡± It was a mutant Aiden¡¯s group had never encountered before. At that, Sedy frowned slightly. ¡°Why that reaction? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve never heard of it?¡± Aiden shook his head. With a sigh, Sedy proceeded to explain. ¡°It¡¯s a type often seen in desert regions. Indistinguishable from ordinary zombies at first glance, but far stronger and faster in comparison.¡± ¡°Stronger, you say. Like Rhinos or Brutals?¡± ¡°Those are monsters that can smash through concrete walls. Not quite that level. More like... slightly above a Bigfoot, I¡¯d say.¡± Hmm¨C Aiden let out a contemplative hum. It was information about an unanticipated new mutant. Valuable information, yet in their urgent situation, Sedy didn¡¯t even demand compensation for sharing it. So Aiden simply committed the details to memory, ensuring he didn¡¯t miss anything. In the meantime, Adam¡¯s voice could be heard. ¡°Sis, is now really the time for that? Let¡¯s just go already. That thing could come back any moment.¡± Having vented his complaints at Sedy, Adam once again urged the group to retreat. This time, not only Sedy but Aiden as well decided to heed his suggestion. There was no reason to directly confront a mutant they knew little about. ¡°Do we have a place to retreat to?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a rendezvous point we agreed to regroup at in the rear. A temporary hideout for tonight. We can go there.¡± Aiden nodded. It was at that very moment, as they prepared to exit the abandoned law office... ...that someone¡¯s shout could be heard from outside. ¡°Hey! Is anyone here?¡± It was Carter¡¯s voice. When Aiden looked out, Carter was yelling in the middle of the road just one block away. Upon witnessing that, Adam¡¯s face contorted with disbelief. ¡°Has that old man lost his mind? Why is he doing that?¡± ¡°Adam! Eli! Anyone, come out!¡± However, Carter paid no heed and even called out the names of his companions. Unable to tolerate it any longer, Sedy waved her hand from outside the building. Spotting Sedy, Carter rushed towards the building Aiden¡¯s group was in. ¡°What are you doing right now?¡± As Carter approached, Sedy confronted him with a sharp tone. But Carter didn¡¯t react to her words. Instead, with a far more serious expression, he pleaded for their assistance. ¡°Help me, please. I need help.¡± ¡°Why? What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°That mutant! My wife and daughter are trapped because of it!¡± At those words, Adam and Sedy¡¯s expressions hardened. Carter had been scavenging the bank along with his wife and daughter when the mutant suddenly appeared. As a result, only Carter was forced outside the building, while the other two became trapped inside with the mutant. ¡°So we need to lure that thing out first. I have a plan, so please help me-¡° ¡°We can¡¯t.¡± However, Sedy bluntly rejected his request. Her unhesitating response caused even Arian to widen her eyes in surprise. ¡°Don¡¯t you understand? Against ordinary zombies, maybe. But a mutant? You¡¯re basically asking us to go die instead.¡± Carter¡¯s mouth hung open, unable to utter another word at that cold reaction. But before he could speak further, it was Adam, Sedy¡¯s younger brother, who raised his voice this time. ¡°She¡¯s not wrong. Two months... no, was it three months ago? Surely you haven¡¯t forgotten what happened then?¡± At those words, Carter¡¯s face contorted deeply. Adam glanced at Aiden¡¯s group, as if performing for an audience, before calmly adding an explanation. ¡°There were these Miller brothers in our original group, you see. In a situation just like this, they became trapped. And we simply abandoned them and fled elsewhere.¡± ¡°....¡± ¡°You were the first one to insist we leave those people behind, Carter. Weren¡¯t you?¡± It seemed a similar incident had occurred in the past. A common episode among wanderers with loose comradeship. Only this time, Carter was the tragic protagonist, unable to make the same ruthless judgment as before. ¡°But, but... this time we can save them! I have a plan, so-¡° ¡°Either way, we¡¯re not going.¡± Sedy¡¯s resolute refusal caused a resentful glint to appear in Carter¡¯s eyes. However, he soon suppressed that emotion and turned towards Aiden instead. ¡°Junk dealer, please help me.¡± From within his helmet, Aiden quietly observed Carter. He paid no heed to the decisions Carter had made in the past. To Aiden, Carter was simply an ordinary client. So without any particular emotion, he continued speaking. ¡°What compensation will you offer me?¡± ¡°Anything. You can take whatever I have-¡° Aiden shook his head. Such vague promises of ¡®anything¡¯ held no meaning. Specific items and quantities were important. ¡°How many bullets and explosives do you have?¡± Carter opened the backpack slung across his back. From within, he produced three sticks of dynamite, two grenades, and several dozen rounds of rifle and pistol ammunition ¨C a considerable amount for a single wanderer. Which was why... ¡°Why are you carrying so much?¡± The nearby Adam opened his eyes wide as he asked that question. However, Carter ignored him and addressed Aiden instead. ¡°I¡¯ll give you all of this. So please... save my family, I beg you...¡± Carter lowered his head. Considering the compensation for taking down a single mutant, as well as the severity of the situation, it was somewhat lacking. Even so, Aiden accepted all the explosives but only half the ammunition. ¡°The rest, I¡¯ll take in blood.¡± ¡°Blood?¡± ¡°A blood donation.¡± For a moment, Carter looked perplexed, but he soon nodded vigorously, all doubts dispelled. Aiden glanced towards his companions. ¡°Arian, I¡¯ll leave Sadie in your care. It would be better for you to retreat with them.¡± Aiden gestured towards Sedy and Adam, indicating they should evacuate to the wanderers¡¯ hideout while he went to the bank alone. ¡°But... isn¡¯t it too late for that?¡± Arian responded. She was observing the sunset-tinged sky. In just an hour or so, the sun would fully set. It was cutting it too close to confront a mutant. However, Aiden spoke in a calm voice. ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry. Then, I¡¯ll be off.¡± Aiden immediately exited the building. He even stopped Carter from following, as the presence of others would only hinder him. However, Carter didn¡¯t completely withdraw either, taking a position in a nearby building with a view of the bank where his family was trapped. As for the rest, Sedy and Adam promptly headed towards the rear temporary base. Following Aiden¡¯s advice, Arian and Sadie followed behind them. ¡°...¡± Arian briefly looked back, watching Aiden as he approached the bank where the mutant was located. Her gaze carried a hint of concern. * * * ¡°...¡± Inside an office of the long-abandoned bank building... There, Naomi huddled under a dirty desk, embracing her daughter Audrey. Bang! Meanwhile, shattering sounds continued to echo from somewhere within the bank. The mutant, the Hider, was smashing through any doors obstructing its path. But that wasn¡¯t all. From various parts of the bank, the cries of undead corpses resounded like an intercom announcement. Zombies that had flocked towards the gunshots fired at the mutant. ¡°It¡¯ll be okay. It¡¯ll be okay.¡± Naomi gently muttered those words as she stroked her daughter¡¯s hair. The injury on her arm throbbed with pain. Which was why... Her tone made it unclear whether she was reassuring her daughter or herself. Meanwhile, the 15-year-old Audrey, cradled in her mother¡¯s embrace, was desperately holding back her sobs. Bang! And once again, the sound of shattering echoed forth. Closer than the previous noise. The Hider was undoubtedly searching for them. As soon as this mother and daughter had sensed the mutant¡¯s presence, they had hidden in this corner of the bank. However, the mutant, more intelligent than ordinary zombies, couldn¡¯t be evaded so easily. It had realized there were humans hiding somewhere within this bank. So even now, it was slowly approaching, smashing through every door in its path to find them. The only solace was that this bank, for a small town, was quite large in scale. Meaning there were many offices for the mutant to check. Bang! But ultimately, all of that was merely delaying the inevitable. That slowly nearing sound felt like a countdown, indicating the time remaining until death. Bang! Eventually, that noise reached right beside them. Audrey¡¯s trembling form, embraced within Naomi¡¯s arms, was vividly conveyed. Amidst the sounds echoing through the bank, the cries of other zombies could also be heard from beyond the walls. And finally, the Hider¡¯s footsteps could be heard just outside the door. It had relentlessly tracked them down to this very office where mother and daughter were hiding. In response, Naomi released the arm she had wrapped around her daughter. Instead, she raised the pistol in her other hand, aiming it towards the door. ¡°Mom...¡± Audrey gazed at Naomi. However, Naomi only gritted her teeth, her focus solely on the door. She knew a mere pistol would be ineffective against the Hider. But she couldn¡¯t simply remain passive either. If she had been alone, Naomi might have just surrendered and accepted death. The same would likely hold true if her husband had been with her as well. However, she was together with her daughter. Considering Audrey, who hadn¡¯t even become an adult yet, Naomi couldn¡¯t bring herself to simply die. So she would grasp at that one slim chance, no matter how minuscule. Naomi steeled her resolve at that moment. Bang! A deafening gunshot resounded throughout the spacious bank building. It wasn¡¯t from Naomi¡¯s gun. She hadn¡¯t pulled the trigger yet. That sound had come from... the bank¡¯s entrance area. ¡°Geeeeeh!¡± Immediately, the Hider standing right outside their door reacted. The mutant, which had been about to smash through, finally detected that crucial clue and hastily retreated from the door, its raucous footsteps fading into the distance. Following that, the growls of the other corpses that had filled the surrounding area also receded like an ebbing tide. ¡°Could it be...¡± Naomi didn¡¯t miss the implication. Someone had intentionally fired that gunshot to lure the zombies away, rescuing them. Had it been her husband who had taken action? She couldn¡¯t be certain of that. However, Naomi did know what she needed to do immediately. ¡°Audrey! Move!¡± She urged her daughter, who was still dazed by the unexpected turn of events. While Audrey seemed unsure of what to do, Naomi wasn¡¯t. Naomi cautiously approached the door. After confirming no further signs of movement, she slowly opened it. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Ah...!¡± Beyond was an empty corridor. A sigh of relief escaped her lips. However, there was no time to hesitate. She swiftly exited the corridor with her daughter in tow. And finally emerged from the entrance they had originally entered through. ¡°...¡± With a blank expression, Naomi breathed in the outside air. Their escape had been so straightforward, as if the earlier tension and terror had been a lie. Then where had the zombies and mutant that had previously filled this bank gone? ¡°Mom, over there...¡± The answer came from Audrey. She pointed towards the police station near the bank building. Over ten zombies and the mutant were gathered there. They were frantically pounding on the barred windows and closed front door, trying to force their way inside. Bang! Rat-tat-tat! And on the second floor rooftop, a figure was firing upon those zombies. Donning a bulletproof helmet and white coat, their attire was bizarre. ¡°That person...¡± It was undoubtedly the junk dealer named Aiden Lee. Naomi sensed that he was the one who had rescued them. However, Aiden¡¯s own situation didn¡¯t seem favorable. The Hider could be seen smashing through the police station¡¯s front door that had been closed. Led by the mutant, the zombies began pouring into the building¡¯s interior. It would only be a matter of time before they overwhelmed the rooftop where Aiden was positioned. At that sight, Naomi briefly contemplated her options. If she fired her gun from here, the zombies might become disoriented by the sounds coming from two different directions. And perhaps that could create an opportunity for the junk dealer to escape. But... ¡°...¡± She soon looked down at Audrey, who was gripping her hand tightly. ¡°Mom...?¡± At Naomi¡¯s serious expression, her daughter called out in concern. However, Naomi simply shook her head. A gesture indicating it was alright. ¡°...Let¡¯s go.¡± Naomi averted her gaze from the police station. And they swiftly departed that area, almost fleeing. After walking some distance, they soon reunited with Naomi¡¯s husband, Carter. ¡°Honey! Audrey!¡± Tears of joy streamed down Carter¡¯s face as he saw his wife and daughter return safely. Even amidst that, gunshots could still be heard from behind them. The sun was also slowly setting. ¡°Hurry, this way!¡± Chapter 135 In an abandoned grain silo near the town¡¯s entrance, far enough from where the mutant had been discovered... That was the hideout currently occupied by Carter¡¯s group, Arian, and Sadie. ¡°...¡± However, there was hardly any conversation between them. It wasn¡¯t a situation conducive to casual chatting. The Young family, having just narrowly escaped with their lives, sat numbly on the floor, barely relieved of their tension. The Clark siblings, who had initially avoided them, averted their gazes, hesitant to speak first. Meanwhile, Eli, the only one from Carter¡¯s group who had acted independently and returned to this hideout earliest, carefully chose his words as he observed them, likely able to roughly guess what had transpired. ¡°Let¡¯s rest for today, Sadie.¡± So the only one uttering words in this place was Arian, speaking softly. Sadie was gazing vacantly at the silo¡¯s closed door. Aiden still hadn¡¯t returned. ¡°But... when night falls...¡± Unable to complete her words, Sadie¡¯s eyes clouded with gloom. The sun had already nearly set. Only the moonlight seeping through holes in the silo¡¯s ceiling provided any visibility within, everything indistinct in the dim illumination. Night, the most perilous time, had arrived. Which was why Sadie couldn¡¯t dispel her ominous premonition. It was on a night just like this pitch-black darkness when she had once lost her mother and close older sister. ¡°It¡¯ll be alright. That guy probably has some way, doesn¡¯t he?¡± Arian comforted Sadie, patting her shoulder reassuringly. It wasn¡¯t an unfounded statement. From the start, Aiden had recognized that time would be limited in his battle against the mutant. Considering his mentality of always anticipating the worst-case scenario, he had likely expected this situation as well. ¡°And Aiden is... you know.¡± Arian added those words with a wry smile. While it sounded like a jest, in circumstances like these, the fact that he was already a zombie was an immense relief. As long as he dealt with the mutant clinging to him, ordinary zombies wouldn¡¯t pose a threat. His survival chances at night far surpassed those of ordinary people. ¡°...¡± Whether accepting Arian¡¯s reassurance or not, Sadie gave a small nod. After comforting Sadie that way, Arian turned her gaze towards the Young family ¨C Carter, Naomi, and Audrey ¨C who had just returned, still catching their breath. Arian had something she needed to tell them. ¡°Hey, you people over there.¡± Her tone, clearly colder than when speaking to Sadie, was directed at them. ¡°Surely you know what happened to Aiden, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Ah... well...¡± At Arian¡¯s question, Carter carefully chose his words. Carter had been hiding in the adjacent block until just before Aiden entered the bank. However, he hadn¡¯t witnessed Aiden¡¯s battle to the end. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon seeing the mutant and zombies pouring out of the bank, fear had taken over, prompting him to flee midway. He had only regained his senses belatedly and reunited with his family on the way back. So the only ones who truly knew were Naomi and Audrey. As Carter¡¯s response faltered, Naomi spoke up instead. ¡°That junk dealer was... at the police station.¡± While Naomi¡¯s tone was somewhat hesitant, she provided a detailed account of Aiden rescuing them and what had happened afterwards. Hearing that, Arian nodded curtly. ¡°So you saw that and still left Aiden behind?¡± ¡°I... had no choice. I needed to protect my daughter.¡± Naomi spoke those words resolutely, causing Arian¡¯s brow to furrow slightly. While her brazen attitude was unpleasant, Arian couldn¡¯t really refute it. As Arian briefly fell silent, she suddenly recalled words Aiden had once spoken. One type of person to be wary of in this world was parents with children. More so than lone individuals, parents could make selfish or extreme choices under the pretext of protecting their offspring. However, both then and now, Arian didn¡¯t consider it inherently wrong. She was similar in that regard. For Sadie¡¯s sake, Arian would do anything as well. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± So Arian didn¡¯t condemn the apologetic Naomi for lowering her head. She simply clicked her tongue before swiftly changing the subject. ¡°Fine. Then give me your compensation instead.¡± ¡°Compensation?¡± ¡°Your blood.¡± Arian retrieved the blood collection kit she had brought. She extended it towards the Young family. ¡°It¡¯s the payment Aiden agreed to receive for rescuing you.¡± As if questioning its veracity, Naomi looked towards her husband. In response, Carter let out a brief sigh before asking in return. ¡°Do we really have to do that?¡± ¡°What¡¯s with that reaction? Trying to back out now?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s just suspicious. Taking people¡¯s blood, what¡¯s that for?¡± Carter raised an objection. However, before Arian could respond... ¡°Dad, please...!¡± ...Audrey, who had grasped the situation, glared at Carter as she spoke those words. At his daughter¡¯s exasperated reaction, Carter belatedly nodded. ¡°Ah, I got it. We¡¯ll do it, alright.¡± And so, the Young family each took a blood collection kit. Next, Arian approached the nearby Clark siblings. ¡°What¡¯s this about? We never asked that guy to rescue those people.¡± In response, Adam spoke up. Arian was already aware of that. It had only been Carter who had proposed the request to Aiden. ¡°I know. I came to make a trade.¡± Arian presented two cans of food. Fist-sized cans of corn, enough for their evening meal. ¡°Donate some blood, and I¡¯ll give one can each to you.¡± It was just about evening mealtime. The siblings exchanged glances. Their decision came swiftly. ¡°If that¡¯s what it¡¯s for.¡± ¡°Sure, I¡¯m fine with it. Reminds me of the old days when they gave candy for blood donations.¡± The Clark siblings readily accepted Arian¡¯s trade offer. And so, Arian collected blood from Carter, Audrey, and the Clark siblings. For some reason, Naomi simply stared vacantly while holding the syringe, but she didn¡¯t seem to be refusing the blood draw, so Arian decided to wait a bit longer for her. In the meantime, the others began their meal. It was just canned goods, but precious sustenance nonetheless. And Arian turned her gaze towards Eli, who was sitting alone in a corner, having finished eating first. ¡°How about you? Care to donate some blood? I could give you bullets or water in return.¡± ¡°I¡¯m good.¡± Contrary to expectations, Eli bluntly rejected Arian¡¯s offer to trade. Arian¡¯s eyebrow raised slightly at that. It wasn¡¯t just about the blood itself. Even without Eli¡¯s, the blood collected from the others would suffice for several days. However, Arian found his outright refusal of this advantageous trade suspicious. Any reasonable person would view it as a beneficial deal, so why refuse? It was then that Arian¡¯s gaze happened to drift towards Eli¡¯s side. ¡°You... got injured, didn¡¯t you?¡± There was a distinct bloodstain. Arian had been aware of Eli¡¯s injury from the start, but the dim lighting of the silo had concealed it from everyone else¡¯s notice. Which was why... ¡°Injured? Eli?¡± ...Adam was the first to react sharply. Following that, everyone¡¯s attention shifted towards Eli. Realizing their gazes harbored suspicion, Eli shook his head in displeasure. ¡°What? It¡¯s not like that.¡± ¡°Then show us the wound.¡± Frowning at Adam¡¯s insistence, Eli hesitated briefly before letting out a deep sigh. He then obediently lifted his shirt to expose his side. ¡°Got cut by some glass while climbing through a window.¡± As he had said, there was only a long gash, as if sliced by something. Fortunately, it didn¡¯t seem to have penetrated deep enough to damage his internal organs, but it was still a fairly deep wound that continued bleeding. However, upon seeing it, the others turned their gazes away in relief. As long as it wasn¡¯t a zombie bite, they didn¡¯t seem to care about the details. At that, Eli calmly bandaged the wound with a cloth, showing no disappointment. ¡°...¡± Arian quietly observed Eli with an expressionless gaze. The others didn¡¯t seem to have noticed, but just above Eli¡¯s injury, Arian had spotted something else on his side. A small burn scar in the shape of an arrow emblem. The same symbol of the Eaters she had witnessed a few days prior. Did that mean... Eli was an Eater? Just as Arian¡¯s thoughts became complicated by that possibility... ¡°Mom?¡± Audrey¡¯s voice suddenly rang out. While not particularly loud, for some reason it pierced the ears of everyone present with stark clarity. And following Audrey¡¯s line of sight, their gazes shifted towards Naomi. ¡°...¡± Naomi, who still hadn¡¯t provided her blood, had her head lowered stiffly. One hand gripping the syringe was trembling violently. Eventually, Naomi couldn¡¯t maintain her grip and dropped the syringe. The plastic syringe fell to the floor with a light clatter. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Her husband, Carter, asked that question. However, Naomi didn¡¯t respond, only taking a step backwards. ¡°Ah...!¡± And it was in that moment that Arian realized it. At some point, Naomi¡¯s scent had changed. The aroma of an ordinary human tinged with the faint stench of rotten blood. ¡°Be careful.¡± Sensing this, Arian observed Naomi intently. The clothes Naomi and Audrey had been wearing when they took shelter in the bank were partially spattered with zombie blood. Which was why Arian hadn¡¯t immediately noticed it either. That one of them had likely been bitten by a zombie. ¡°You were bitten by a zombie, weren¡¯t you?¡± At Arian¡¯s words, the others reacted with shock. Immediately, the nearby Carter shouted at her. ¡°What the hell are you saying all of a sudden!¡± ¡°Her right shoulder.¡± Arian precisely indicated Naomi¡¯s injury location. On her shoulder was some lace-like decoration, so from the outside, only a slight tear was visible. It didn¡¯t outwardly appear to be a zombie bite. ¡°Just for that much...!¡± Which was why Carter raised his voice even louder. As if trying to calm him, Sedy spoke up. ¡°Let¡¯s just check, shall we?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that difficult, is it?¡± Sedy gestured towards Eli as she said that, causing Carter¡¯s face to contort. However, it had only been moments earlier when Eli had been subjected to similar suspicion and provided proof. Carter lacked justification to refuse now. So he reached towards his wife¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous. A bite, my ass...¡± As he began shifting Naomi¡¯s clothing aside, Carter¡¯s eyes widened. On her bony shoulder, a distinct bluish bite mark was clearly visible. Carter lost his words and took a step back. ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding... you really were bitten!¡± Witnessing that, Sedy cried out in shock, prompting the others to react simultaneously. Among them, Adam had already drawn his pistol. ¡°Kill her! Do it quickly!¡± ¡°W-Wait a minute! Just wait!¡± The Clark siblings shouted for Naomi to be killed immediately. Carter tried to stop them, while Audrey let out a scream. The previously quiet silo instantly descended into chaos. It was Arian who intervened amidst that pandemonium. ¡°Quiet down. Do you want to attract more zombies here?¡± Her chillingly ominous tone snapped everyone back to their senses. The momentary clamor of voices fell silent. It was Eli who broke that silence. ¡°So... what are we going to do now?¡± He was asking Carter that question. Unable to decide one way or the other, Carter simply looked at his wife. ¡°Honey...¡± ¡°...¡± However, the zombie-bitten Naomi kept her head lowered, not uttering a word. No one could tell if that silence stemmed from shame or was an early sign of her transformation. ¡°Dad, no...¡± Audrey shook her head. Carter pulled her into a protective embrace. It was then that Naomi raised her head. Tears were brimming in her eyes. Fortunately, she didn¡¯t seem to have lost her sanity yet. ¡°I¡¯m sor-¡° Just as Naomi was about to say something... A gunshot suddenly rang out. Simultaneously, a red hole appeared in Naomi¡¯s forehead. Shlick! Blood sprayed from the back of her shattered skull. A beat later, Naomi¡¯s body crumpled backwards like a sack of rotten meat collapsing. ¡°Aahh!¡± Audrey¡¯s piercing scream followed. ¡°What the hell did you do!¡± Witnessing that, Carter erupted in outrage. The one who had fired the shot was Sedy. Carter tried to draw his own gun towards Sedy. ¡°Calm down!¡± Eli and Adam restrained Carter, pinning his arms with their full bodies. Held by the two men, Carter struggled futilely. ¡°Why did you do that!¡± ¡°Get a grip. I merely did what you should have.¡± In response to Carter¡¯s question, Sedy coldly replied. Although Carter hurled insults at her, Sedy didn¡¯t even register them. Rather, as if finding Carter¡¯s behavior repulsive, she continued speaking. ¡°Damn it. You¡¯ve had no problem killing the other infected until now, haven¡¯t you? Saying they¡¯d just turn into zombies anyway. Saying it couldn¡¯t be helped if we wanted to survive. And now you¡¯re going to make me the asshole instead?¡± Carter bit his lip hard. As Sedy said, in situations like this, Carter had always calmly eliminated such threats. That was how he had survived. For the sake of his family. Which was why Carter could only glare at Sedy with a resentful gaze. ¡°She¡¯s not wrong, you know.¡± Even Eli sided with Sedy. At that, Carter contorted his face as far as it could go before roughly shrugging off the arms restraining him from Adam and Eli. ¡°Mom...!¡± Amidst that tense atmosphere, someone¡¯s sobs could be heard. It was Audrey. She was sprawled over her mother¡¯s corpse, weeping. ¡°I... didn¡¯t even get to say goodbye...¡± At Audrey¡¯s mournful murmurs, even Sedy had no words to offer. With a brief sigh, Sedy put away the gun she had been holding. Seeing his daughter¡¯s grief, the anger filling Carter¡¯s mind gradually shifted to sorrow. He soon sat beside Audrey and began tending to Naomi¡¯s pitiful remains. ¡°...¡± Observing those people, Arian impassively checked their surroundings for any signs of disturbance. Fortunately, perhaps due to their location on the town¡¯s outskirts... No zombies seemed to have reacted to the earlier gunshot. Meanwhile, Sadie was cradled in Arian¡¯s embrace. A faint tremor could be felt from the child. The events that had just unfolded were likely quite shocking for Sadie. Gazing at her, Arian¡¯s eyes carried a hint of pity. And so, night deepened amidst that gruesome situation. Aiden still hadn¡¯t returned. Chapter 136 The next morning, around daybreak when the color of the black sky visible through the factory¡¯s perforated ceiling began to change... Arian gazed at Sadie, who had just barely fallen asleep. In the end, Sadie hadn¡¯t been able to sleep at all the previous night. Because of Naomi¡¯s death. What had kept Sadie awake wasn¡¯t simply the fact that someone had died. It was the conflict and hostility that had erupted among the wanderers during that process. That was what had frightened Sadie. The child had barely grown accustomed to battles against zombies, but not yet to conflicts between people. So Arian inwardly blamed herself. If she had been a bit more attentive, she could have prevented Sadie from witnessing such a scene. ¡°...¡± Arian stroked the sleeping Sadie¡¯s hair, using the faint glow of dawn instead of the fading moonlight to survey the other people. Audrey had fallen asleep from exhaustion beside her mother¡¯s corpse, after crying. Carter simply gazed vacantly at the mother and daughter pair. His face, having stayed awake all night, was utterly devoid of vitality. He had acted so selfishly, yet did he truly cherish his family? The Clark siblings were lying in the opposite corner. Adam seemed to have fallen asleep a few hours ago, but Sedy, who had shot Naomi, was still tossing and turning restlessly. As for Eli, he was leaning against a wall with his eyes closed. Arian briefly glared at him, the one bearing the Eaters¡¯ emblem on his body, before averting her gaze. Eli¡¯s presence among this wanderer group was nothing if not highly suspicious. Which was why Arian had even suspected if this entire wanderer group might be Eaters. However, if that were truly the case, they likely wouldn¡¯t have left Arian and Sadie unharmed until now. Additionally, considering the previous night¡¯s events, the branded Eli had actually been rather docile. Even amidst that chaos, he hadn¡¯t exhibited any particularly strange behavior. So Arian had completely abandoned her earlier intention to confront Eli. She no longer had the will to do so. ¡°Phew...¡± For some reason, feeling fatigued, Arian let out a deep sigh. She hadn¡¯t really exerted herself the previous day, yet she felt an unusual weariness despite being a vampire who didn¡¯t require sleep. It was just as Arian slightly shook her head that... ¡°Hmm...?¡± ...Her gaze suddenly turned towards the factory¡¯s entrance. The sound of footsteps had reached her ears. Exceptionally familiar footsteps. Which was why... ...The corners of Arian¡¯s mouth, which hadn¡¯t curved upwards since entering this hideout, slightly lifted. The presence she had been waiting for had finally arrived. ¡°He¡¯s back now.¡± Arian muttered those words softly. So quietly that they were almost inaudible. However, her voice still roused someone from their slumber. ¡°...¡± Sadie, who had just barely fallen asleep, raised her head slightly. The child rose quietly, her gaze naturally turning towards the door, as if expecting it. Her eyes carried a glimmer of anticipation. A gaze that momentarily seemed to forget even her fatigue. And then... Knock knock. Someone¡¯s knocking resounded against the metal door. ¡°...¡± But no one moved to open it. Carter, who had regained some awareness, simply stared at the door with a blank expression. Sedy, having been startled awake, hurriedly searched for her gun as she stood up. And the others didn¡¯t even open their eyes. So it was Arian who took action. She disengaged the factory door¡¯s lock and opened it. Creeeeak- Then, the chilly morning air poured in along with the newly rising sunlight. The man standing before the open doorway, silhouetted against the light, was the expected individual. ¡°I¡¯m back.¡± Aiden spoke those words calmly. At his usual unfazed demeanor, Arian let out a wry smile. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re back.¡± Sadie rushed over and clung to one of Aiden¡¯s legs. In any other situation, she would have greeted him calmly first. It was a truly childlike action, and Arian didn¡¯t dislike it. ¡°That... junk dealer? You were alive?¡± Sady, her face showing fatigue, glared at the entrance as she spoke. Soon after, she examined Aiden¡¯s appearance. While his helmet was intact, the white coat he wore over it was torn in various places, immediately catching her eye. So she snapped at Aiden in an accusatory tone. ¡°Wait. If you¡¯re coming in, prove you¡¯re not infected.¡± S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In response, Aiden silently surveyed the interior of the hideout. Naomi¡¯s corpse soon came into view. After briefly observing it, Aiden shook his head. ¡°No need. We¡¯ll be leaving with my companions right away.¡± Aiden turned his gaze towards Arian. ¡°Did you receive the compensation?¡± Arian nodded. ¡°Then we have no further business here. We¡¯ll be departing.¡± Aiden led his group outside the abandoned silo. No one tried to stop them. And just like that, without a single word of farewell, the door closed once more. ¡°This way.¡± ¡°Where are you going?¡± As Aiden headed towards the town¡¯s interior, Arian asked him that question. ¡°A post office building nearby. It¡¯s still early morning. It¡¯s too dangerous to travel right now. We¡¯ll stay there for a few hours before moving on.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s that dangerous, you should have just come in the morning.¡± ¡°I would have, if nothing had happened. But... I heard gunshots last evening.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°What happened?¡± In response, Arian provided Aiden with a detailed account of everything that had occurred, from when they had entered the old grain silo until after Naomi¡¯s death that night. ¡°...That¡¯s what happened. It was an unpleasant night.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Aiden responded with a sigh-like answer. While he had roughly grasped the situation upon seeing Naomi¡¯s corpse, it was still a regrettable outcome. As they conversed, Aiden¡¯s group reached the post office. Inside the modest interior, some chairs had been abandoned. Arranging them like beds, they had Sadie lie down there. Reassured, the child immediately fell back asleep. After briefly observing the sleeping Sadie, Arian spoke up. ¡°By the way, were you alright yesterday? If you had planned to stay elsewhere all night, you should have told me.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t intend for it to turn out like this. But that mutant proved more troublesome than expected.¡± Aiden recounted the previous evening¡¯s battle. The Hider¡¯s physical abilities hadn¡¯t been particularly exceptional, as the prior information had suggested. To the extent that Aiden alone, with just a regular rifle, would have sufficed to deal with it. However, the creature had fully lived up to its ¡®Hider¡¯ name. ¡°It knew how to utilize its unremarkable appearance. Not only feigning to be an ordinary zombie before ambushing, but it would also hide among the zombies whenever the situation became unfavorable. Crude deceptions didn¡¯t work on it. A specimen with higher intelligence than other mutants.¡± What had hampered Aiden wasn¡¯t the Hider¡¯s special abilities, but its intelligence. It clearly possessed a level of judgement distinct from mere frenzied corpses. ¡°So there are mutants like that too. Geez, none of them are easy to handle.¡± Hearing that, Arian clicked her tongue as she spoke. Then, as if suddenly remembering, she opened her mouth again. ¡°Ah, about that man named Eli...¡± ¡°What about him?¡± ¡°His body had the Eaters¡¯ emblem branded on it.¡± Arian relayed the relevant details and her speculation to Aiden. After listening, Aiden let out a contemplative hum before eventually speaking. ¡°I should meet him once.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°It¡¯s an opportunity to learn about the Eaters.¡± Currently, all Aiden had were unfounded rumors. He didn¡¯t properly know anything ¨C their habits, bases, or anything else. So if there was even a shred of information available, it could serve as a clue to avoid future dangers. ¡°But will he readily share it with you?¡± Arian posed that question. ¡°He probably will.¡± To that, Aiden simply gave that response. The method to persuade the lone potential Eater among the wanderer group wasn¡¯t particularly complex. * * * Some time later... Aiden revisited the dilapidated grain silo. Perhaps due to the full morning arrival, most of Carter¡¯s group was already awake. ¡°Junk dealer? I heard you were leaving earlier... why did you come back here?¡± Adam, loitering near the entrance, asked Aiden that question upon seeing him. His gaze carried suspicion and wariness. However, Aiden¡¯s attention was focused on the man standing behind Adam instead. ¡°I have a proposal for Eli.¡± ¡°A proposal?¡± Adam turned towards Eli. Eli approached with a slightly furrowed brow. ¡°What¡¯s this about?¡± ¡°I want to purchase some information. The compensation is this.¡± What Aiden revealed were clean bandages and disinfectant. Recalling Arian¡¯s mention of Eli sustaining a fairly deep injury, he had brought a portion of the supplies they possessed. Upon seeing them, Eli¡¯s expression brightened. He had been worried about having to rely on dirty rags for his wound, after all. ¡°Information, you say...?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll explain separately.¡± Aiden gestured towards a small abandoned office beside the silo as he spoke. Eli followed Aiden¡¯s lead. However, the moment they entered that office, Aiden immediately broached the main topic. ¡°Apparently, there¡¯s the Eaters¡¯ emblem near that injury you sustained yesterday.¡± Eli¡¯s face contorted instantly. ¡°Are you... trying to threaten me?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not it. I can roughly guess you¡¯ve quit those activities.¡± The previous day, Aiden had heard from Carter that Eli had only joined them a month ago. To have acted as an ordinary wanderer within their group for that long implied he was no longer associating with fanatics like the Eaters. ¡°But it¡¯s still not something your companions need to know.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°So I¡¯m proposing a trade. I need information about the Eaters.¡± Aiden extended the bandages and disinfectant as he spoke. If Eli accepted, not only would he provide those supplies, but Aiden would also keep quiet about him in front of the others. Eli tightly sealed his lips, deep in thought, but he had no other choice. ¡°...Alright, ask what you want. But I don¡¯t know that much either. This emblem... I was just tricked into getting it by those bastards.¡± So in the end, he grudgingly accepted Aiden¡¯s proposal. Aiden swiftly continued his questioning. ¡°First, where is their base located?¡± ¡°A base? I don¡¯t really know about that. Those guys are spread out across the western United States.¡± It was a reasonable enough answer. When Aiden silently observed him, sensing the gaze within the helmet, Eli opened his mouth again. ¡°I really don¡¯t know. They mainly stay in mountainous regions. They¡¯ve learned how to survive in the mountains like some tribe. Making spears by whittling wood, digging traps, even firing poisoned darts and such. So if you encounter them in the mountains, they¡¯re incredibly troublesome.¡± Understanding, Aiden nodded. The Eaters he had witnessed at the radio tower did seem to align with those details. ¡°And speaking of bases... I¡¯ve heard their origin point is in Arizona. Well, it is a mountainous state, so it makes sense. In any case, you should be careful when passing through there. The Eaters are likely quite numerous in that area.¡± If they were heading westward from here towards LA, Arizona would be an adjacent state they would cross through after New Mexico. Conveniently located right along their path, as it were. Inwardly clicking his tongue at that inconvenient location, Aiden proceeded with his next question. ¡°Then what about their numbers?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Those guys aren¡¯t like a single organized gang. Most are scattered like a network. As far as I know, there are hardly any groups exceeding a hundred members.¡± ¡°So don¡¯t they engage in conflicts with each other? How are they managed?¡± Aiden spoke those words, sounding incredulous. In response, Eli let out a mocking chuckle. ¡°Nothing like that. Those lunatics have a predator-prey relationship among themselves, too.¡± ¡°Hmm...¡± Aiden briefly let out a contemplative hum. It was a somewhat different response than he had expected. The cultists he had encountered in Pittsburgh had been quite sophisticated in their organizational structure, at least. Did fanatics truly lack any connection, even in their specifics? As Aiden pondered that thought, Eli spoke up again. ¡°Were you planning to head west?¡± ¡°...That was the intention.¡± ¡°Ah, so you¡¯re also trying to reach LA.¡± Eli wore an arrogant expression, as if he had grasped the situation. ¡°Many people tried to cross that desert and mountain range after hearing the radio broadcasts. And almost all of them either died or became Eaters.¡± ¡°Are you saying it¡¯s dangerous?¡± ¡°Of course. It¡¯s not like there are no zombies there. In fact, the ones that spilled out from the cities are trapped in the mountains, valleys, and caves, swarming about. And when winter comes, the Eaters become even more active. If it were me... I¡¯d just wander around Texas instead.¡± After hearing his words, Aiden silently glared into the distance. It wasn¡¯t mere hearsay. Advice with substantial grounds behind it. So Aiden committed it to memory before moving on to his next question. ¡°Then what do they call themselves?¡± In response to that inquiry, Eli let out a brief sigh. As if forcibly recalling something he wished not to remember. ¡°Surviving is not a Sin. That¡¯s the doctrine they value most. Taking the first two S¡¯s, they call themselves the 2S.¡± After that, Aiden posed a few more minor questions. And once he had heard all those answers... ¡°That will be enough.¡± ...He finally concluded his trade with Eli. After providing the promised supplies as agreed, Aiden immediately returned to Arian and Sadie. By then, the time was already between morning and noon. Having rested for a few hours, Sadie¡¯s complexion was far better than at daybreak. Aiden¡¯s group promptly departed from Ballinger. Retracing their path, they retrieved the vehicle they had concealed alongside the road. Fortunately, the vehicle was unharmed. There were no signs of tampering, and the meager supplies they had left behind remained untouched. ¡°Then let¡¯s head out.¡± The vehicle carrying Aiden¡¯s group rattled as it drove along the road. Their destination was northwest, towards a city called Lubbock. Chapter 137 ¡°We should stay here for today.¡± Several days after leaving Ballinger... Upon arriving in a town called Snyder, about 160 kilometers away, Aiden muttered those words. Snyder was a small town that had barely reached a population of 10,000 even three years ago, located precisely halfway between Ballinger and their next destination, Lubbock. ¡°Here? What¡¯s here?¡± As the vehicle exited the highway encircling the town and headed into the city interior, Arian asked that question. It was still broad daylight. Even with their subpar vehicle, if they persisted, there would be enough time to reach the next small town. However, Aiden¡¯s decision to establish a temporary base earlier than usual stemmed from a simple reason. ¡°We¡¯re out of gas. We need to refuel in this town.¡± Not only incapable of maintaining decent speeds, but also prone to overheating and engine failures, this vehicle¡¯s fuel efficiency was naturally poor as well. So the gasoline consumption had exceeded Aiden¡¯s expectations, eventually depleting their supply entirely. ¡°Is Lubbock, or wherever, still far away?¡± ¡°It would seem so.¡± Arian let out a brief sigh. The reason Aiden¡¯s group had set Lubbock as their destination was due to the information purchased from Eli. According to him, starting from Lubbock and heading north along Interstate Highway 27, there were survivor groups in Abernathy, Tulia, and the larger city of Amarillo. Although that information was from two years ago when Eli had been active in the area, it was the only reference Aiden¡¯s group had to work with. Meanwhile, the other small towns they had passed through were desolate to an extreme degree. Not completely devoid of life, but any inhabitants were merely unruly plunderers with whom conversation was impossible. And this town seemed to be similar in that regard. The area Aiden¡¯s group had entered was a residential district. However, its appearance differed from the numerous other residential areas they had traversed. Perhaps due to the encroaching desert, the roads were coated in thick dust. Beside them stood wooden utility poles that leaned precariously, their installation date indiscernible. The few power lines that had once been strung across them now lay scattered on the ground, severed. Above all, the completely unmaintained wooden structures seemed exceptionally aged. What few buildings remained stood sparsely separated, dilapidated fences crumbling between them. Was this... a backdrop befitting the Old West? With just a bit of maintenance, it could easily pass for a scene from a Western movie. ¡°This area seems to be completely deserted.¡± S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Observing Snyder¡¯s desolate streets, Arian spoke those words. The residences untouched for so long had turned a sickly yellow hue from the incessant sandstorms. There were no zombies present either. Only the endless road seemed to beckon them to depart under that clear autumn sky. Screeeech- As they traveled along that road, Aiden parked the vehicle beside an abandoned motel near a church. A single-story building with a red roof, stretching in a long C-shape. ¡°Wow... I¡¯ve only seen places like this in dramas before.¡± Remarking on the motel¡¯s appearance, Arian spoke up. It was the archetypal ¡®inconspicuous rural motel¡¯ frequently used as a backdrop for drama protagonists constantly on the run. Even Sadie, with her lack of media exposure, showed keen interest in the unfamiliar building structure as she looked around curiously. ¡°We¡¯ll use this as our temporary shelter.¡± Those were Aiden¡¯s words regarding that motel. While dilapidated, the building itself was solidly constructed with bricks. Above all, it had numerous available rooms, which could prove greatly useful if the need arose. ¡°Alright. Then we should clean the inside first.¡± At Arian¡¯s suggestion of cleaning, Aiden quietly raised his weapon. ¡°Are there zombies?¡± ¡°Not many. Around 10 or so? And they¡¯re scattered across different rooms, so it shouldn¡¯t be difficult.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s deal with them swiftly.¡± For a brief moment, Aiden¡¯s group eliminated the zombies lurking around the motel building. Not just Aiden and Arian, but Sadie also utilized her crossbow to take down the corpses. Dispatching the scattered zombies was a simple task. Afterwards, Aiden searched the motel office and procured a few room keys. Unlocking a suitable room, they unloaded their belongings to set up a temporary residence. ¡°It¡¯s been roughly cleaned up.¡± Having even finished properly tidying the room, Arian smiled with satisfaction. With that, securing their shelter for the day was complete. Now was the time to venture out and search for gasoline. ¡°You mentioned finding fuel?¡± ¡°Yeah. There¡¯s a gas station nearby. But... actually finding gas at the station itself will be difficult. Anyone looking for fuel would have the same idea, so we should check other locations as well.¡± Aiden¡¯s group exited the motel. They walked along the main road that bisected Snyder from east to west. While Arian¡¯s senses detected some zombie presences in the vicinity, their numbers weren¡¯t high. ¡°Over there.¡± As they followed that road, an abandoned gas station soon came into view, just as Aiden had said. A small-scale station with only two faded blue-logo pumps remaining. The pumps themselves were intact. Apart from being coated in dust, there were no signs of damage or disconnection. Observing them, Arian tilted her head doubtfully. ¡°I wonder if these pumps would still work?¡± ¡°Unlikely.¡± ¡°Then how do we extract the gas?¡± In response to Arian¡¯s question, Aiden pointed towards the ground. ¡°We¡¯ll need to directly access the underground tank. It¡¯s probably located below.¡± ¡°Underground?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll locate the tank and its entrance. In the meantime, you two should search over there.¡± Aiden gestured towards a building near the gas station. As was common for American gas stations, there was a convenience store structure adjacent to it. ¡°Understood. But be careful. I¡¯m smelling the scent of rotten corpses nearby.¡± Leaving that warning, Arian entered the convenience store with Sadie. After witnessing Arian swiftly dispatching the zombies inside while Sadie finished them off with her crossbow, Aiden turned his attention elsewhere. He carefully examined the gas station¡¯s ground area. While unsure of the exact location, the tank¡¯s entrance would undoubtedly be aboveground. And just as Aiden had expected, he soon discovered what appeared to be the fuel tank¡¯s manhole-like entrance in a corner beside the gas station. Two of them, to be precise. However, it seemed someone had already passed through, as they were both open. ¡°...¡± Aiden turned on his flashlight and peered inside. The first tank was nearly empty. There was some liquid reaching about ankle height, but... unfortunately, it was merely rainwater that had seeped in through the open manhole, not gasoline. And in the second tank- ¡°Kieeeee!¡± Along with waist-deep liquid, there were three zombies submerged. Witnessing that, Aiden frowned deeply. This tank had contained a considerable amount of gasoline, but even disregarding those zombies, it had already been contaminated by the rainwater, rendering it unusable. ¡°...Can¡¯t be helped.¡± Aiden clicked his tongue and stood up. The other two had just exited the convenience store at that moment. ¡°Did you find anything left?¡± ¡°No, it was completely cleared out. Nothing at all.¡± Arian responded with a sigh. Well, considering the state of the underground fuel tanks, it was no surprise the aboveground convenience store had been stripped bare. ¡°We¡¯ll check elsewhere.¡± And so, Aiden¡¯s group set out again. However, even after walking along the main road and searching the shopping district, the surrounding area remained desolate. Buildings taller than two stories were nearly nonexistent, and most structures visible appeared to be nondescript offices or warehouses. While there were a few places that seemed to have once been restaurants, their interiors indicated they had closed down even before the zombie outbreak. Any stores that remained relatively intact had clearly been looted long ago. ¡°Hmm...¡± The scavenging proving more challenging than expected, Aiden let out a contemplative hum. He had anticipated that at least some supplies might remain in this sparsely populated small town, but an unexpected number of people seemed to have passed through. In the midst of that, something finally caught Aiden¡¯s eye. It was... an auto repair shop. ¡°Let¡¯s stop by there for a moment.¡± Not just a space for repairing vehicles, but it also appeared to sell automotive supplies and products. ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯ll find gas here?¡± Arian voiced that thought. Of course, she was correct. However, gasoline itself wasn¡¯t what Aiden was searching for. ¡°Instead, we might find a way to obtain gas.¡± What Aiden soon discovered there were thin rubber hoses, a hand pump, and appropriately sized fuel canisters. ¡°With just these, we could siphon gas from vehicles.¡± As he said, those were tools used to extract gasoline in reverse through a vehicle¡¯s fuel inlet. Observing them, Arian nodded, while Sadie also studied them with keen focus. For Sadie, even such trivial items could become valuable knowledge that might aid them one day. ¡°So we¡¯ll be able to get gas right away? There are plenty of vehicles around here, after all.¡± At Arian¡¯s words, Aiden shook his head. However, it wouldn¡¯t be that simple. ¡°Not just any vehicle will do. Ones that have been abandoned for too long will have degraded gasoline. It needs to be a vehicle that someone used and discarded more recently, not since three years ago.¡± It was a rather strict condition. Arian frowned slightly. ¡°Will we be able to find a vehicle like that?¡± ¡°The likelihood is high. This is a repair shop, after all.¡± Aiden stated that flatly. It was a place people would have frequented in the past to acquire parts or tools for repairing faulty vehicles. And if the repairs failed, they would have simply abandoned those vehicles here, which was precisely what Aiden intended to look for. Seemingly a plausible explanation, Arian nodded. ¡°Alright. Then I¡¯ll search for such a vehicle too. What should I look out for?¡± ¡°First, check the tires. For vehicles that have been parked in the same spot for an extended period, the weight causes the tire bottoms to become compressed. So-¡° Aiden provided Arian and Sadie with a few indicators to identify recently abandoned vehicles. Afterwards, Arian and Sadie took the right side of the repair shop, while Aiden handled the left, beginning their search for suitable vehicles. Scattered around the repair shop premises, including the road, were dozens of abandoned vehicles. Most had been discarded during the initial zombie outbreak three years ago. Likely vehicles that had been left at the repair shop in that condition and never retrieved. Of course, there were also some exceptions. Among the vehicles abandoned on the road, some bore clear signs of being attacked by zombies, like heavily cracked windshields. ¡°Kieee...!¡± There were even cases where zombies were still trapped within, bound by the driver¡¯s seatbelt. Aiden approached those vehicles one by one, meticulously assessing their condition. ¡°This one...¡± After inspecting nearly twenty vehicles, he finally discovered one that seemed promising. Checking the instrument panel, it still contained a considerable amount of gasoline. Aiden opened the fuel inlet and immediately began siphoning out the gas. The gasoline trickled through the hose, gradually filling the container. While its color had slightly discolored, it didn¡¯t appear to be severely degraded. Fortunately, it still seemed usable. ¡°This should suffice.¡± Once he had finished extracting all the gasoline from that vehicle, Aiden spoke those words while observing the partially filled canister. Even for their fuel-inefficient vehicle, this amount would be more than enough to reach Lubbock with plenty to spare. Although they had wandered a bit, the objective of today¡¯s scavenging had been achieved. It was just as Aiden was coiling up the hose that... ¡°Hmm...?¡± The sound of approaching footsteps caused him to turn his head. There, Arian and Sadie were hurrying towards him. Had they also found a suitable vehicle on their side? However, upon closer inspection, their expressions seemed somewhat tense. Just as Aiden was about to ask Arian the reason for their urgency as she approached, Arian blurted out that response before he could inquire: ¡°Aiden! We found a person!¡± An unexpected result. He hadn¡¯t anticipated encountering anyone in this desolate area. ¡°A person?¡± ¡°Yeah. Over there in that building. Do you see it?¡± Aiden nodded. In the direction Arian was pointing, there stood a white container structure. At first glance, it resembled a large warehouse, but the vehicles lined up around it suggested it wasn¡¯t merely a storage facility. ¡°That place is...¡± ¡°A truck repair shop. So we went to check, just in case.¡± Arian provided that supplementary explanation. Aiden nodded as he continued his questioning. ¡°How many people are there?¡± ¡°Just one.¡± ¡°Only one, huh...¡± Aiden¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. That large warehouse had its main entrance wide open. Somewhat dubious as a proper base location. For there to be a solitary survivor in such a place... Perhaps that person was also moving about for scavenging purposes? Various possibilities surfaced in Aiden¡¯s mind. In the midst of that, Arian spoke up again. ¡°But... that person seems to be injured.¡± ¡°How so?¡± ¡°Their breathing is unstable. I can also smell blood, faintly. And when I observed for a bit, they didn¡¯t move from that spot at all.¡± Hearing that, Aiden briefly contemplated their next course of action. In truth, there wasn¡¯t any particular reason to contact someone right away. Even after leaving Ballinger, Aiden had engaged in battles with marauders and managed to secure enough blood. However, if the other person was alone and injured, there was reason to make contact, not just for the blood. The main reason for avoiding contact with people was the inherent risk during the first encounter. With someone like that, the risk was significantly lower. So if the conversation went well, he could obtain useful information with a little help. If not and the person acted uncooperatively, he could simply leave them behind. For Aiden, it was a situation with no significant loss. ¡°Then I guess we should have a chat.¡± With that, Aiden spoke. He put on his helmet and walked towards the building Arian had mentioned. Chapter 138 The interior of the dilapidated truck repair shop Aiden had entered was cluttered. A couple of large truck cabs without their trailers were left abandoned. The floor was strewn with discarded tires, tools, and other debris in disarray. ¡°Ughh...¡± In one corner of that cluttered repair shop was the person Arian had mentioned. An Indian man appearing to be in his 30s. He was hunched over, head lowered as he emitted groans of pain. Aiden first checked the man¡¯s armaments. A pistol holstered at his waist immediately caught his eye. No other weapons were immediately visible. Additionally, the blood staining the area around his legs suggested he had sustained an injury there. Likely due to the pain from that injury, the man still hadn¡¯t noticed Aiden¡¯s intrusion. ¡°...¡± After confirming this, Aiden first hid his body behind the truck. If the opponent was injured and had limited mobility, there was no need to act hastily. So he judged that it would be better to try starting with a conversation slowly first. ¡°Is someone there?¡± At Aiden¡¯s voice, the man was startled and lifted his head. The man hurriedly took out a pistol from its holster. And he aimed it in the direction the voice came from. The muzzle shook unsteadily. ¡°Wh... who¡¯s there?¡± ¡°Just a passing junk dealer.¡± Aiden answered calmly. But the man¡¯s expression distorted as if in dismay. In this world with too many marauders, he couldn¡¯t simply take Aiden¡¯s words at face value. The man alternated aiming his pistol at a few spots where Aiden might emerge, as if ready to shoot him as soon as he showed himself. To him, Aiden spoke again. ¡°Looks like you¡¯re injured. And immobile too.¡± At the following words, the man gritted his teeth. It was Aiden declaring he already knew the man¡¯s weakness. However, it wasn¡¯t just words to threaten the man. Because even knowing that, he was still attempting conversation like this, implying as much. It was only then the man lowered his guard slightly and continued speaking. ¡°Wh...what do you want from me?¡± ¡°If I had to say... business.¡± ¡°Business?¡± ¡°As I said, I¡¯m a junk dealer. I simply approached someone who looked in need of a request. If not needed, then please let me leave.¡± Aiden¡¯s words were sincere. If the man refused his involvement here, that would be the end of it. There was no reason for Aiden to forcibly detain him. ¡°Damn it...!¡± In contrast, the man frowned deeply, lost in thought. Ordinarily, it would have been an offer not worth considering. The words of a self-proclaimed junk dealer he didn¡¯t even know weren¡¯t worth believing. But his current situation was different. He looked down at his broken leg. Having been trapped in this run-down repair shop for over 30 hours, his body was as cold as a corpse, but his leg burned as if on fire. It was an injury sustained while being chased by zombies. He had failed his landing after jumping from a rooftop to fend them off. Moreover, after that, he had forcibly moved on his broken leg to flee here. He had managed to shake off the zombies somehow, but his injured condition had only worsened. In that state, without even a sip of water, he had endured groaning here alone. That¡¯s why the man was in desperate need of help. Even if it was from a stranger whose name he didn¡¯t know, it wasn¡¯t a time to be picky. ¡°Not needed?¡± Aiden¡¯s question came to him again. The man grabbed his leg and answered Aiden as if he had given up. ¡°No, it¡¯s needed. So please help me right away, junk dealer.¡± ¡°Then get rid of the gun first.¡± Aiden firmly demanded he disarm. For a moment, hesitation flickered in the man¡¯s eyes, but he soon placed the pistol he was holding on the floor. If this junk dealer left anyway, his fate was to die here. Whether he died here or got shot by a marauder, it was all the same. No, in his current state, it might be better to get shot by a marauder than wither away here. So he slid the pistol towards the direction the voice came from. With a drurr sound, the pistol slid across the floor until it reached Aiden. Aiden retrieved it, and finally revealed himself in front of the man. ¡°I¡¯m Aiden Lee.¡± Resolve filled the eyes of the man who saw Aiden. His appearance, with a bulletproof helmet pressed down to his head, looked extremely suspicious. But Aiden didn¡¯t point the muzzle of the pistol he held at him. As Aiden approached him with steady steps, the man stated his name. ¡°...Nabin Kanna.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you. So what¡¯s the request?¡± Nabin¡¯s lips twitched. He had a few reliable companions, if not many. So the most important request he had to make was naturally to have Aiden take him to them. But Nabin still didn¡¯t fully trust Aiden yet. If Aiden happened to be a marauder, simply conveying such a request would endanger his companions. So he decided to observe the situation a bit longer. Besides, there was something he needed right away too. ¡°For now... can you give me some water?¡± Having gone a long period without hydration on top of his injury, his thirst had reached its peak. At his request, Aiden nodded and looked behind him. Then, a girl came over from the wide open space. It was Arian. ¡°Here.¡± Arian approached and handed him a water bottle. Although Nabin was wary of her, he couldn¡¯t refuse the water she offered. He gulped it down, instantly draining the small plastic bottle. In the meantime, as if paying for the bottled water, he saw Aiden removing bullets from his pistol, but he didn¡¯t mind that. ¡°Phew...¡± Having quenched the excruciating thirst, Nabin let out a deep sigh. Now he felt like he might live. With him like that, Aiden and Arian had a conversation. ¡°Did the story end well?¡± ¡°You could say that. How¡¯s the surrounding area?¡± ¡°A few zombies a bit further away, but otherwise quiet.¡± ¡°Sadie?¡± ¡°Outside. But... it seems she can come in now.¡± Arian said that after glancing over Nabin. Soon, she brought Sadie inside. Nabin was taken aback by the unexpected presence of the child. ¡°A child? Why is she here?¡± ¡°She¡¯s with me.¡± Aiden said it like it was obvious. At those words, Nabin let out a faint sigh. The last time he had seen a child that age was two years ago. And that was just the sight of them sick and dying without being able to eat or rest. ¡°More importantly, is one bottle of water enough?¡± Handing back the empty pistol without any bullets, Aiden asked. Nabin hesitated with his words. He looked over Aiden¡¯s group once more. He didn¡¯t have the skill to read a person¡¯s heart just by seeing their face, but- This unique group composition seemed unlikely to be marauders. Having finally gained some conviction, he slowly continued speaking. ¡°No, there¡¯s one more request. Take me to where my companions are.¡± ¡°Companions?¡± ¡°Yeah, they¡¯re in this city. Not too far away.¡± ¡°And the compensation?¡± ¡°That... I don¡¯t have any on me right now, but my companions will provide it. Really.¡± In the end, it was essentially an IOU, but Aiden calmly nodded. Such requests were all too common. ¡°How many companions in total?¡± ¡°Including me... three.¡± A number too small to even be called a survivor group. But that¡¯s why it was hard to think it was a lie. After all, this empty city couldn¡¯t even sustain groups of dozens. ¡°I see. But to do that, we¡¯ll need to take care of that leg first.¡± ¡°My leg? What do you want to do with my leg?¡± Nabin looked at Aiden with suspicious eyes, as if telling him not to do anything unnecessary. Aiden brought the ID tag hanging from his neck up to his eyes. Seeing it, Nabin¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You were a doctor? Why didn¡¯t you say so earlier!¡± ¡°I am saying it now, aren¡¯t I? More importantly, can you show me your leg?¡± Groaning, Nabin rolled up the pant leg of his broken leg. The swollen injury area was exposed. ¡°Bear with it for a bit.¡± Aiden pressed on the leg, trying to locate the bone¡¯s position. Each time, Nabin let out groans, but Aiden only frowned deeper. It was because the protruding fractured bone was so obvious that he could locate it by hand without even needing an X-ray. ¡°You recklessly moved around even after the bone broke.¡± ¡°I had no choice. Those damned zombies were chasing me.¡± ¡°The bone is dislocated. If left like this, you won¡¯t be able to walk properly for life.¡± At those words, Nabin¡¯s face turned serious. ¡°What should we do?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have to realign the bone. After that, just wait for it to heal.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying... it¡¯ll all be over once you reset it?¡± Nabin said it as if unnecessarily alarmed. But it truly wasn¡¯t that simple, as his words implied. ¡°The broken bone is trying to pierce through the skin. I¡¯ll have to push it back into its original position from the outside. In other words... put simply, it¡¯s going to hurt like hell.¡± Having finally grasped the situation, Nabin¡¯s expression stiffened. If just pressing on the injury a few times was this painful, pushing the bone inside to realign it to its original position? Just the explanation was agonizing to hear. But... he couldn¡¯t not do it either. According to Aiden, if the dislocated bone hardened like this, he would never be able to walk again. And in this world, being unable to walk was practically no different from being dead. ¡°...Do it.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°If not, I¡¯m done for, so do it.¡± Aiden briefly nodded in acknowledgment of Nabin¡¯s resolve. ¡°Then I¡¯ll tie your arms down for a bit.¡± Using nearby rags and such, Aiden firmly tied Nabin¡¯s two arms to a vehicle lift. Nabin muttered discontentedly. ¡°Is this really necessary?¡± ¡°It¡¯s so you don¡¯t move and cause the bone to go in the wrong way.¡± Saying that, he even put a gag in Nabin¡¯s mouth before looking back at Arian. ¡°Arian. Make sure he can¡¯t move.¡± At those words, Arian grabbed hold of Nabin¡¯s uninjured leg. Nabin had thought a teenage girl wouldn¡¯t be able to properly restrain even one of his legs, but when he experimentally tried to move it, it didn¡¯t budge abnormally. ¡°Then I¡¯ll begin.¡± Aiden spoke in an excessively flat tone. With the gag in his mouth, Nabin nodded tensely. Aiden pushed down on Nabin¡¯s fractured bone with all his might. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A scream befitting a human, like the roar of a zombie, resounded inside the old repair shop. * * * Some time later. ¡°Hah... heuk...¡± Makeshift splints made of rags and wood planks picked up nearby were attached to Nabin¡¯s leg as he panted heavily. Next to him was also an improvised crutch made by tying together discarded umbrellas and such. All items Aiden had quickly put together here. So they wouldn¡¯t last long, but were sufficient for the time being to reach his companions. ¡°Enough resting, let¡¯s move.¡± Aiden urged Nabin on. Having literally gone through hell just moments ago, Nabin carefully stood up. Whether due to the splint or the realigned bone, while his leg still throbbed with pain, it was undoubtedly easier to move than before. Nabin took a few steps leaning on the crutch. Slow, but at least he could move on his own to some extent. ¡°Can you feel your toes?¡± At Aiden¡¯s question, Nabin nodded. ¡°Fortunately, it doesn¡¯t seem the nerves were damaged. You¡¯re lucky.¡± ¡°What if they were damaged?¡± ¡°In the worst case, even with the bone reset, you might not have been able to walk.¡± ¡°...¡± As if asking why he was only saying this now, Nabin glared at Aiden. But Aiden nonchalantly changed the subject. ¡°More importantly, where are your companions? We just need to go to your base, right?¡± ¡°Yeah. Go a bit north from here.¡± At the vague answer, Aiden had him take the lead. And he really did head north. An unremarkable residential area with the same scenery Aiden had passed through. But Nabin passed right through those houses. Then an empty space appeared. A place like a void within the city, stretching endlessly with only a road and utility poles ¨C whether to call it a forest or wasteland was uncertain. Not a single building could be seen. After following that path for a bit, a railroad intersecting the road came into view. Was there something beyond this? But contrary to Aiden¡¯s expectations, instead of the road, Nabin began moving along the railroad tracks. The railroad tracks led deep into the wasteland area. ¡°Your companions are here?¡± Aiden questioned Nabin with some doubt. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s not really a place you¡¯d expect anything. Not like we¡¯re pitching tents on the railroad tracks either.¡± Nabin gave a wry smile, as if understanding his thoughts. ¡°But it¡¯s a railroad track. So what would be on it?¡± Nabin pointed at the stretching railroad tracks. There, parked brazenly in the middle, was a stopped freight train. Chapter 139 ¡°Zaid! Linda!¡± As the freight train drew closer, Nabin called out those names. His pace, previously sluggish due to the crutch, quickened slightly. As Nabin took the lead, Aiden turned his head towards Arian behind him. ¡°Are there really people inside?¡± ¡°Yeah. Two people on that train. He doesn¡¯t seem to have lied about that.¡± Not only the presence of his companions, but their number as well matched Nabin¡¯s statements. Then were they truly residing in this abandoned train as their base? Amid those thoughts, someone peeked their head out from the train. ¡°Nabin?¡± It was a Southeast Asian woman. Her age seemed similar to Nabin¡¯s, but she had a curiously frail demeanor. Upon spotting Nabin, that woman covered her mouth in surprise. ¡°Nabin, you¡¯re back!¡± She hurriedly disembarked from the freight train and rushed over to him. ¡°Where have you been? We thought you were dead.¡± ¡°So did I. I thought I was a goner too.¡± Having barely reunited with his companion, Nabin spoke those words with a brightened expression. ¡°But why is your leg like that? What in the world happened to you...¡± The woman began examining Nabin¡¯s injury, specifically the crutch and splint he was using, only then noticing Aiden¡¯s group behind him. ¡°Nabin, who are those people?¡± The appearance of strangers seemed to surprise her somewhat, but rather than reaching for a weapon, she awaited Nabin¡¯s explanation first. The perceptive woman had likely grasped the situation to some degree based on Nabin¡¯s condition. ¡°Ah, well...¡± ¡°Nabin? Is that Nabin who¡¯s back?¡± However, before Nabin could respond, another companion emerged from the train. A Middle Eastern man in his 40s. For some reason, his face and hands were stained with what appeared to be black grease, yet he smiled broadly upon seeing Nabin. ¡°Nabin!¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s me. I¡¯m back!¡± Nabin called out to him as well. The man rushed over and grasped Nabin¡¯s shoulders, some grease rubbing off onto Nabin in the process, but neither seemed to care as they shared their joyous reunion. ¡°Ah, my apologies.¡± Finally regaining his senses, Nabin recounted the recent events to his companions. How he had encountered zombies during his scavenging activities, sustaining an injury that left him trapped at the truck repair shop, and so on. ¡°You made it all the way over there? And here I was, searching the opposite side of the town these past few days!¡± The woman spoke those words with a sigh. She added that they had suspended their scavenging efforts for two days to search for Nabin, even failing to locate his corpse and resigning themselves to the worst. Scratching the back of his head, Nabin flashed a wry smile. ¡°Yeah, I did stray quite far from our original location. Anyway, it was these people who found me. A junk dealer, and the ones who treated my injury and brought me here.¡± At those words, the wariness in their gazes towards Aiden¡¯s group visibly diminished. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They then offered words of gratitude before introducing themselves directly. The man¡¯s name was Zaid Karem. The woman was Linda Green. ¡°So, about that... I now need to compensate these people. It was a request, you see. I didn¡¯t have anything on me, so I promised to pay later. My apologies.¡± Nabin spoke those words with an embarrassed tone towards his companions. However, Linda shook her head, and Zaid patted Nabin¡¯s shoulder reassuringly. ¡°I¡¯m just glad you¡¯re alive. More importantly...¡± Zaid¡¯s gaze turned towards Aiden. His eyes, now slightly more serious than before, seemed to scrutinize Aiden carefully. ¡°What sort of compensation would you prefer? I¡¯d hate to be stingy in a situation like this, but our circumstances aren¡¯t exactly abundant either...¡± It was an oft-heard line when receiving delayed compensation for a request. However, Aiden didn¡¯t simply dismiss it as an excuse. Considering their situation here in Snyder, it was likely an earnest statement of their precarious position. The available resources remaining in this town were undoubtedly scarce, and the environment hardly conducive to resupplying. A small town with a population barely reaching 10,000 even three years ago. Apart from a few mid-sized stores and a motel along the main road, it was essentially just rows of residential buildings unlikely to yield anything of value. ¡°Do you have any ammunition?¡± So Aiden inquired about weapons instead. In response, Zaid shook his head with a brief sigh. ¡°No, we don¡¯t have...¡± ¡°What about explosives?¡± ¡°None.¡± Hmm- Aiden let out a contemplative hum. When he subsequently asked about gasoline or medicine, the responses were similar. Just as Aiden was resigning himself to accepting only their blood as compensation, Zaid made an unexpected proposal. ¡°What about food supplies instead?¡± He offered to provide food and water as compensation, if Aiden was amenable to it. Of course, Aiden was willing to accept those as payment. The simple reason he hadn¡¯t asked about them first was this: For survivors dwelling in a town like this, those were the resources most likely to be depleted compared to others. Food and water weren¡¯t supplies that any survivor group could conserve based on their principles or inclinations. To the extent that, for those eking out an existence in such a small town, it was far more common to have ammunition remaining than excess food stockpiles. ¡°...Not a bad offer.¡± Which was why, even as Aiden accepted Zaid¡¯s proposal, he harbored a slight suspicion. However, rather than voicing it overtly, Aiden waited for Zaid to continue. ¡°Then how much would be appropriate...¡± Afterwards, Aiden engaged in negotiations with Zaid. The result was an agreed compensation of some food and water supplies, along with the blood of the two companions excluding the injured Nabin. ¡°Here you are.¡± Immediately after concluding their negotiations, Zaid handed over the promised compensation to Aiden. An unopened bottle of purified water and a few canned goods. In exchange, Aiden provided them with the blood collection kits. ¡°This is the last of them.¡± In the midst of that exchange, Arian whispered those words to him. Had they already depleted their entire stock of syringes? Making a mental note to replenish them, Aiden spoke up again. ¡°Do you know how to use these? If not, we could assist.¡± ¡°No need. We can manage.¡± Zaid took the syringes and retreated into the train. In the meantime, Aiden meticulously examined the food supplies Zaid had handed over. ¡°...¡± They were cans containing corn, tuna, and potatoes respectively. While the contents varied, their condition was exceptionally good for abandoned items. No dents or signs of rust whatsoever. Of course, their surfaces did bear clear scratch marks of some kind. However, upon closer inspection, those seemed to have been inflicted very recently. As if someone had purposefully marred the otherwise pristine canned goods. Additionally, while the contents differed, all the cans were from the same manufacturer. ¡°Could it be...¡± Considering that possibility, Aiden alternated his gaze between the canned goods and the freight train that served as their base. He had wondered why those three would choose to establish a base in this barren small town, let alone on an abandoned railway line devoid of anything useful. But now, he felt he might have grasped the reason. Perhaps the cargo this train had been carrying... was none other than these very canned goods. ¡°...¡± Of course, whether that was the truth or not, it wasn¡¯t Aiden¡¯s concern. Even if they were living amidst a veritable mountain of canned provisions, Aiden had no intention of taking them by force. That would be the act of a plunderer, not a junk dealer. Instead, a different thought had occurred to Aiden. If they truly possessed abundant food stockpiles with a surplus of specific supplies, it meant they had the leeway to hire a junk dealer for requests. ¡°Here you are.¡± In the meantime, Zaid had returned and handed over bottles containing their blood. He still wore an expression of bewilderment regarding why Aiden had requested this, but Aiden accepted it without a word. ¡°Alright. That concludes our business.¡± Aiden announced the completion of their first request. Zaid nodded in agreement. However, Aiden then added something he hadn¡¯t originally planned. ¡°By any chance, do you have another request for me?¡± It was nearly a rhetorical question, closer to a statement of certainty. Out of their small group of just three people, one had sustained a broken leg. He would likely be immobile for at least a month, so the remaining two would undoubtedly struggle to handle everything on their own during that period. Which was why... Zaid briefly hesitated before finally opening his mouth. ¡°...We do have one, actually.¡± ¡°What are the details?¡± ¡°Well... it involves finding certain components...¡± The request Zaid presented was an unexpected one. He required several components, including a large steel spring, all matching precise specifications. ¡°...You¡¯re looking for something like that?¡± ¡°Yes. These are standard parts for American diesel locomotives.¡± Zaid explained that if they followed this railway line, they would reach a makeshift station. In the vicinity of that station were various companies and warehouses dealing with train-related components. ¡°We should be able to find these parts there. It might sound simple, but in truth, that area has quite a few zombies, which prevented us from approaching. Would you be capable of handling it?¡± ¡°Zombies, you say... are there any mutants among them?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure. But it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if there were.¡± ¡°Hmm...¡± Aiden let out a brief contemplative hum. It was certainly a request worth accepting. While locomotive components wouldn¡¯t be easy to transport, the act of locating them shouldn¡¯t pose much difficulty for Aiden¡¯s group. However, Zaid¡¯s underlying intention for seeking out such items nagged at Aiden¡¯s mind. ¡°You seem curious about why we¡¯re looking for these.¡± Picking up on Aiden¡¯s perceptive gaze, Zaid spoke up. He raised his hand, gesturing towards the halted freight train. ¡°We intend to repair this train.¡± ¡°Repair it?¡± ¡°Yes. I was originally an engineer employed by a railroad company. And the rest of my friends here also worked for the same company.¡± They were a type of survivor group that had solidified after being trapped at their workplace by the zombie outbreak, their original workforce numbers dwindling over three years to just the three of them now. And their goal was the reactivation of this very train stationed here. ¡°So you truly intend to get this train operational again?¡± ¡°It¡¯s possible. Fortunately, the engine itself is undamaged.¡± Zaid spoke those words with conviction. To such a statement from a trained technician, Aiden could only nod in acknowledgment. ¡°Of course, there are other areas that need work, but we can handle those ourselves. The crucial components are these brake parts, which are currently in a state of complete disrepair and require replacement.¡± ¡°...I see.¡± ¡°So if you could procure these parts for us, we¡¯ll purchase them at an agreed price. The exact prices would be...¡± Zaid then quoted the price for each component in terms of quantities of canned goods. It was by no means a low figure. If Aiden could obtain all of them, it would suffice as their food supply for quite some time. However, Zaid wasn¡¯t being overly generous either. Rather, his proposal essentially ensured no loss on his side. The method of purchasing the retrieved items meant there was effectively no failure compensation. If Aiden was unable to locate the parts after battling through the zombies, he alone would bear that risk without gaining anything in return. ¡°Hmm...¡± Which was why Aiden briefly contemplated the offer. While there was certainly potential for loss, combat against zombies was a comparatively lighter burden for Aiden¡¯s group compared to an ordinary junk dealer. Additionally, they currently had a surplus of blood supplies. Meaning Arian could be deployed if necessary. So any battle to secure the industrial area occupied by zombies would likely conclude within a day or two at most. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll accept it.¡± Therefore, Aiden nodded in agreement. Considering the potential gains, investing that amount of time wasn¡¯t a loss. ¡°Excellent.¡± And so, the next request was confirmed, concluding Aiden¡¯s discussion with Zaid for the time being. Aiden glanced up at the sky. A considerable amount of time had already passed. ¡°We¡¯ll retrieve those components first, then talk again later.¡± With those words, Aiden¡¯s group parted ways with Zaid, Linda, and Nabin. They returned to their temporary shelter on the outskirts of Snyder. * * * The next day... ¡°Is this the place that Zaid mentioned?¡± Upon arriving at the small industrial district located at Snyder¡¯s northernmost edge, Arian surveyed their surroundings. With the railway line running through the center, long and low buildings were arranged on either side. Interspersed among them were various pieces of heavy machinery like cranes and bulldozers, symbolic of an industrial area. ¡°It would seem so. And there are quite a few zombies present, just as he said.¡± Moreover, within those factory grounds were zombies clad in faded work uniforms. Perhaps they had unfortunately been workers struck by the zombie outbreak while on duty. Sadie¡¯s mournful gaze lingered briefly on them as she gripped her crossbow. ¡°But... which of these places has the components we need?¡± Arian gestured towards a few factories as she posed that question. At a glance, there appeared to be over 20 factory or warehouse buildings in this area alone. However, Zaid hadn¡¯t specified which particular structure contained what they sought. ¡°Hard to say. We might need to check them all.¡± ¡°All of them?¡± ¡°Well, we can narrow it down to some extent by their names.¡± Aiden pointed towards a nearby factory¡¯s signboard. It bore the name and logo of a once-famous telecommunications company. Hardly a business that would deal in train parts. ¡°Ah, you mean filter them that way?¡± Seeming to understand Aiden¡¯s approach, Arian nodded in agreement. ¡°Then what about that one over there?¡± Arian indicated a factory across from them. The rusted signboard displayed the name ¡®E&T Auto Tech¡¯ ¨C an ambiguous moniker that didn¡¯t immediately clarify their operations. ¡°That one... we should probably check it out.¡± Aiden began heading in that direction. ¡°Kieeeee...¡± At his approach, a zombie standing at the entrance slowly turned its head, alerted by the movement. Chapter 140 Some time later... ¡°...It¡¯s over.¡± After striking down the last remaining zombie with his axe, Aiden muttered those words. Around the not-so-large factory were strewn roughly twenty corpses. Not a particularly threatening number for Aiden¡¯s group. However, the density of zombies was clearly higher compared to other areas of this small town. Briefly puzzled by that fact, Aiden surveyed his surroundings. ¡°Are there more of them inside?¡± Arian shook her head. Aiden then climbed through the factory¡¯s broken windows and entered the interior. Nameless machines were still arranged along the production lines. On the side were plastic tubs filled with circuit boards and components ¨C either finished products or raw materials for the manufacturing process. Thin pipes and wires were tangled in disarray across the ceiling. In this zombie-infested world where such a place held no relevance for survival... The factory scenery seemed to have simply accumulated dust and rust over three years, appearing nearly perfectly preserved apart from that. No signs of any significant damage. ¡°The inside is more complex than I expected.¡± Observing that, Arian remarked. As she said, the intact factory interior exuded a starkly different atmosphere compared to residential buildings filled with mere debris and clutter. The machinery along the production lines stood as tall as an adult, with unidentifiable components and the tubs they were stored in strewn haphazardly amidst desks and chairs formerly used by employees. However, Aiden¡¯s group didn¡¯t need to thoroughly search this factory¡¯s interior. The specifications of the components they sought ¨C suspension springs as thick as a human wrist, and support beams over two meters long to mount them ¨C clearly differed from the ordinary machine parts visible here, most no larger than a palm¡¯s width. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem to be this one.¡± After briefly surveying the interior, Aiden quickly reached that conclusion. Arian and Sadie had no objections. They promptly exited the factory. While they had gained nothing, numerous buildings still remained in this industrial area. ¡°Let¡¯s try over there next.¡± Arian indicated their next target, and Aiden¡¯s group repeated nearly the same process as before. And so they spent the entire day traversing nearly every factory in the vicinity. By the time the number of zombies they had hunted approached triple digits, and they had searched over 20 factory buildings... ¡°What, not this one either?¡± Beneath the reddened evening sky, Arian voiced her dissatisfaction. The morning had already progressed into evening. Yet the components required for their request remained elusive, not a single one located. ¡°Are you sure they¡¯re here?¡± ¡°Well, they might not be. That¡¯s what we came to verify, after all.¡± However, Aiden calmly accepted Arian¡¯s displeasure. He had been half-prepared for this possibility when accepting the request. Recalling Zaid¡¯s words, he hadn¡¯t directly confirmed the components¡¯ presence here himself. ¡°...¡± Nevertheless, the repeated labor throughout the day had undoubtedly been exhausting. Aiden silently glanced towards Sadie, who had been following behind. The tension of traversing this industrial area for such an extended period had clearly taken a toll on the child, evident fatigue showing. Despite their lack of success, it might be time to prepare for their return. Amid those thoughts, Aiden arrived at a massive warehouse at the edge of the industrial district. ¡°Let¡¯s call it a day here and head back.¡± Aiden spoke those words as he observed that warehouse. Distinctly larger than the other factories they had visited. Yet despite its size, hardly any zombies were visibly present. However, that wasn¡¯t particularly unusual either. After Aiden¡¯s group had engaged in numerous battles across this relatively confined industrial area, the zombies had likely sensed the commotion and converged on those locations by evening. Thanks to that, all that remained was to search the interior of this warehouse. ¡°Yeah... okay.¡± Arian responded with a sigh-like answer, and Sadie gave a small nod. Aiden then located the warehouse¡¯s entrance. Conveniently, there was an open space connected to the road near the left end. A truck with its trailer still attached had crashed into the wall, likely from some previous accident. Beside it were several tall shelving units that seemed to have been struck and toppled over. Aiden¡¯s group entered through that disorderly scene. Inside, various debris was piled in layers along the walls. Aiden began inspecting each shelving unit one by one. However, most contained only useless scrap metal components, their purpose indiscernible. None were large enough to be used on a train either. Was this another fruitless search? ¡°Hmm...?¡± Just as Aiden was contemplating that while venturing slightly deeper inside... he suddenly noticed the size of the components arranged on the shelves increasing significantly from around the warehouse¡¯s midpoint. And not long after entering that area... ¡°Ah? Wait, isn¡¯t that...! The spring we were looking for?¡± Arian pointed towards a corner near one of the walls. There, almost like a backdrop, were three of the large suspension springs they had been searching for, standing upright on the floor. Apart from some surface rust, their condition seemed largely uncompromised. Aiden approached and retrieved a tape measure. It was an item Zaid had provided after accepting this request, meant for verifying the precise specifications. Aiden soon used it to confirm the dimensions, nodding satisfactorily. ¡°It matches the specifications Zaid mentioned. We¡¯ve found one, at least.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fortunate. It wasn¡¯t a complete waste of effort.¡± Finally locating a glimmer of hope, Arian flashed a slight smile. However, Aiden didn¡¯t settle for just that, surveying their surroundings instead. Zaid had requested a total of four components from Aiden¡¯s group. Various train-related parts were strewn about this warehouse, almost like exhibits in a museum. ¡°Let¡¯s thoroughly search the area.¡± For a while, Aiden¡¯s group scoured the warehouse interior. They couldn¡¯t immediately locate any other components. However, in one of the offices attached to the warehouse, Sadie discovered another clue. ¡°I found this.¡± What Sadie had found was a map of the warehouse premises. Mounted on one of the office walls. It displayed not only the warehouse¡¯s layout but also the approximate locations where certain items were stored. And according to that map, this warehouse had a ground floor and two basement levels. It seemed a large quantity of train-related components were stored not just aboveground but also on the second basement floor. ¡°The basement, huh...¡± Aiden searched the map for a way to access those lower levels. The first thing he noticed was a freight elevator in the center, but it was obviously unusable without power. Apart from that, there was a staircase near the entrance area. The very path they had passed through earlier. Aiden tilted his head quizzically. ¡°I don¡¯t recall seeing any stairs though...¡± As he muttered those words, Aiden soon remembered the truck that had crashed into the wall near the entrance. Perhaps that had obstructed the passage leading to the staircase. Aiden immediately returned to the entrance and surveyed that area closely. Sure enough, beyond the wreckage of the toppled shelving units, he spotted a doorframe. Aiden¡¯s group cleared away the obstructing debris. Finally revealing the door leading to that passage. Creeeeak- Aiden opened that door. Beyond it, just as shown on the map, was a staircase leading downwards. Aiden¡¯s group promptly descended, but they couldn¡¯t proceed far before halting. ¡°This is...¡± The basement level was partially flooded with water. Its depth was roughly at Aiden¡¯s ankle height. Not deep enough to significantly impede movement. However, the issue was that Aiden needed to reach the second basement floor. In underground warehouses, height differences were sometimes intentionally created between lower levels to prevent the bottommost area from instantly flooding if water seeped in. So while the first basement only had ankle-deep water, it didn¡¯t necessarily mean the second basement was completely submerged. But given this level, there was a high likelihood of deeper flooding on the lower floor. ¡°You two should remain up here.¡± Therefore, Aiden said those words to Sadie and Arian. While Arian would be fine, bringing Sadie any further would be too risky. Not just the water level itself, but wading through potentially contaminated water in their current reality without proper medicine would be reckless. However, the one who objected was none other than Sadie herself. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I¡¯ll stay here alone.¡± Sadie didn¡¯t insist on accompanying them. She merely stated that Arian didn¡¯t need to remain behind on her account. ¡°Solo actions are too dangerous for you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be fine just waiting quietly in that office we found earlier.¡± At a loss for a counter-argument against Sadie¡¯s words, Aiden briefly fell silent. They had already eliminated all the zombies in this immediate vicinity long ago. So as Sadie said, if she simply remained inside the warehouse office, it wouldn¡¯t be particularly hazardous. The reason Aiden had wanted Arian to stay with her was merely as a precaution. In case there were any unforeseen threats he was unaware of. ¡°I¡¯ll be okay.¡± However, Sadie insisted it wasn¡¯t necessary. She even showed her crossbow, implying she could handle a stray zombie or two on her own if needed. ¡°...Understood. We¡¯ll do that, then.¡± After a moment¡¯s contemplation, Aiden acquiesced to her request. If it was Sadie herself making that judgement, Aiden would respect her choice. ¡°...¡± While Arian gazed at Sadie with lingering concern, her thoughts aligned with Aiden¡¯s. And so, leaving Sadie in the office at the warehouse¡¯s edge, Arian and Aiden descended to the basement levels. Flick! In the underground warehouse devoid of sunlight, Aiden activated his flashlight. The overall structure didn¡¯t differ greatly from the ground floor. If there was any difference, it was- ¡°Kiiiee...!¡± That this area was teeming with zombies that had been trapped below ever since the passage to the surface had become blocked. Shlick! Shlick! Aiden and Arian advanced, cutting down those zombies obstructing their path. While Arian showed no particular interest in them, Aiden closely examined the zombies¡¯ attire. Although they had clearly been abandoned for a long time, not a single one wore the same uniform. There were even zombies who appeared to have been teenagers, as well as elderly corpses. In other words, these weren¡¯t zombies trapped here since the initial outbreak. Then... had this place once been a refuge for survivors? ¡°...¡± Pondering that possibility, Aiden inspected the items on the first basement level. As expected, nothing he sought was present here. Soon, they reached the staircase leading to the second basement floor. That was when they truly encountered the flooded area. ¡°This is...¡± Arian frowned slightly upon seeing it. On this second basement level, the water reached up to Aiden¡¯s chest height. If Arian entered, only her face would barely remain above the surface. ¡°Will you be alright?¡± ¡°It¡¯s unpleasant, but I¡¯ll manage. But what about you... will that rifle be okay?¡± Arian gestured towards the rifle slung across Aiden¡¯s back, questioning its condition. Aiden nodded. ¡°Firearms don¡¯t get damaged just from being submerged for a bit. But I should probably give it a thorough cleaning when we return.¡± Saying that, Aiden stepped into the entrance of the second basement level. The elevated water level hindered his movement. While he already had the rifle in hand, maintaining a stable firing stance would be difficult. Coupled with the lack of visibility without his flashlight illuminating the area directly ahead, engaging in combat under these conditions would undoubtedly be precarious. ¡°Are there any hostiles down here?¡± Which was why Aiden posed that question. Raising her eyebrows slightly, Arian opened her mouth to respond. ¡°Well... I¡¯m not sure. There might be something, but...¡± It was an ambiguous answer. So Aiden looked at Arian, prompting her for a clearer explanation. However, even for Arian, this environment was less than ideal. ¡°I can¡¯t tell for certain. The water is interfering with scents and other signs of presence.¡± Understanding, Aiden nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°We¡¯ll need to exercise caution.¡± He steeled his resolve with those calm words. Of course, for ordinary zombies, this water level would merely be an obstacle rather than a true hindrance. Those corpses who had forgotten how to even swim would simply flail about and topple over upon spotting prey. However, Aiden hadn¡¯t forgotten the existence of the Alligator Beast he had witnessed in a Dallas lake ¨C a mutant. Mutants sometimes underwent changes, almost akin to evolution, adapting to their specific environments. In pitch-black darkness, mutants that could pierce through the shadows would emerge. In areas where numerous zombies competed for prey, mutants with the strength to overpower their own kind would appear. So if a mutant had manifested here, it would undoubtedly have become a zombie capable of overcoming this aquatic environment. ¡°...¡± Aiden calmly surveyed his surroundings with vigilance. Not a single ordinary zombie was visible anywhere. Despite the previous basement level being densely packed to the point the confined space could barely contain them, it was as if they had vanished entirely after descending just one floor. Wasn¡¯t that proclamation enough that a cannibalistic mutant lurked here? Aiden¡¯s suspicions gradually solidified into certainty. ¡°Let¡¯s proceed for now.¡± Even so, Aiden stepped forward into that submerged area. The danger was an evident fact. However, this was a time when he needed to confront that risk. After taking just a few steps into the water... ¡°-?!¡± ...Aiden sensed an unsettling feeling around his leg. As if something long had brushed against it in that instant. Chomp! In a split second, razor-sharp fangs clamped down, savagely tearing into Aiden¡¯s leg. Feeling a large chunk of rotten flesh being ripped from his thigh, Aiden unleashed a barrage of gunfire in that direction. Chapter 141 Rat-tat-tat! The deafening gunshots reverberated through the once-quiet underground warehouse, the muzzle flashes briefly illuminating the darkness. Aiden¡¯s reflexive barrage of gunfire. However, the speed of whatever lurked beneath the water surpassed that. Whether or not it had been struck by the bullets- The creature that had savagely torn into Aiden¡¯s leg vanished in an instant. ¡°What, what is it? Are you alright?¡± In response to Arian¡¯s words, Aiden nodded. True, a large chunk of rotten flesh had been ripped from his thigh. But to the zombie Aiden, it was merely a portion of decayed meat severed from him. Fortunately, since no muscle had been damaged, it didn¡¯t immediately impede his mobility. ¡°More importantly, be careful. It will likely target you next.¡± Aiden spoke those words as he illuminated the water¡¯s surface with his flashlight. No matter how cannibalistic zombies might be towards their own kind, they undoubtedly preferred human prey above all else. So once it had recognized Aiden as a zombie, the creature would likely prioritize the other living target first. However, no matter how much Aiden swept his flashlight across the surface, he couldn¡¯t discern its depths. Additionally, from Aiden¡¯s current position, even if the creature became visible, his means of attack would be limited. Bullets fired into water lost nearly all their propulsive force after just two meters or so. Which meant that even in barely over a meter of water like this, any bullets that managed to penetrate would have significantly diminished destructive power compared to their original velocity. In other words, shooting the creature might not provide enough force to penetrate its skull. ¡°Well? Why don¡¯t you come out and see?¡± Despite Aiden¡¯s concerns, Arian responded with self-assured nonchalance. Then, her eyes began glowing crimson. An eerily flickering red light, akin to a predator¡¯s eyes deep within a cave, flashed ominously. ¡°What are you planning?¡± ¡°To sweep away the water, of course. I¡¯ll handle it. You just shoot whenever it appears.¡± Saying that, Arian raised her machete overhead as if about to strike. While Aiden couldn¡¯t discern her specific intentions, he didn¡¯t dismiss her words lightly. He trusted that she had some method in mind. Aiden swapped out his rifle¡¯s magazine and gripped it firmly, ready to open fire at any moment. ¡°...¡± For a brief, silent moment, there was stillness. The lurking mutant had seemingly vanished, the water¡¯s surface showing no disturbance whatsoever. A tranquility that could almost convince one the depths were empty. However, it was at that very instant... Just as Aiden had sensed something brushing against his leg, Arian undoubtedly felt that same sensation as well. With a reaction speed far surpassing Aiden¡¯s, she swung down the machete she had been gripping. Swooooosh! It was then that Aiden finally understood Arian¡¯s earlier words. She hadn¡¯t intended to use any special method to disperse the water. Her approach was simply brute, overwhelming force. That machete, imbued with tremendous might and speed, cleaved through the water¡¯s surface. In an instant, the water seemed to explode outwards as if swept aside by a blast, briefly exposing the mutant that had been clinging to the floor beneath. ¡°-!¡± Due to that, Aiden¡¯s flashlight illuminated the creature¡¯s appearance in vivid detail, if only for a fleeting moment. Its eyes, nose, and ears were melted into an indistinguishable mass. Only its mouth remained, grotesquely enlarged and stretched into an elongated gash. A hideously disfigured visage worse than moss-covered rock. Additionally, its fingers had extended into long, slender protrusions. ¡°Guaaagh-¡° However, there was no opportunity to observe the mutant at length. The momentarily parted wall of water immediately began collapsing inward once more, the creature turning its head to retreat back into the depths. But Aiden, who had been waiting precisely for that chance, didn¡¯t let it slip away. His finger had already cycled the bolt and deeply depressed the trigger. Like a biblical miracle, several bullets streaked through the gap between the parted waters. Shlick! In the next instant, the water disrupted by Arian¡¯s strike reverted to its original state. The briefly exposed floor vanished beneath that opaque liquid wave, only the murky reddish-brown surface returning to Aiden¡¯s field of view. However, Aiden had definitely witnessed it in that preceding moment. His bullets piercing through the mutant¡¯s head. As expected, not long after, something unfamiliar soon floated up to the surface. The corpse of the very mutant that had attacked Aiden and Arian. After briefly observing it, Aiden began dragging that body towards the staircase. * * * ¡°Hmm...¡± Gazing at the mutant called a Sinker, now resting on the stairs, Aiden let out a contemplative hum. Perhaps due to the peculiar environment it had been trapped in... Compared to other mutants, this one exhibited an exceptionally aberrant form. An appearance forcibly combining human and deep-sea creatures. Of course, even for Aiden, this was a mutant he had never encountered before. Hence the name Sinker he had bestowed upon it. Literally meaning ¡®one who sinks¡¯ in direct translation. While in baseball it referred to a drastically dropping breaking ball, and in fishing it meant a weight used to submerge bait... Aiden felt it was an apt name, precisely because of those familiar associations. ¡°...¡± Aiden meticulously examined the Sinker¡¯s corpse. Searching for any clues that might aid him if they encountered another in the future. The results were reasonably satisfactory. First, this Sinker mutant seemed to detect its prey through those elongated, slender fingers. Well, in such a dimly lit underground warehouse, submerged within murky waters, human senses of sight, hearing, and smell would be virtually useless. So it likely relied solely on touch to perceive its surroundings. Additionally, its primary means of attack appeared to be that grotesquely enlarged maw, with little other muscular development present. Implying that while formidable in this aquatic environment, confronting it on dry land wouldn¡¯t be particularly challenging. As Aiden was analyzing the Sinker¡¯s various characteristics, the sound of approaching footsteps reached him from behind. ¡°Still examining that thing?¡± It was Arian, who had just ascended from the second basement level. While Aiden had been observing the Sinker¡¯s corpse, he had tasked Arian with retrieving the components. Having confirmed no further hostiles remained and already knowing the components¡¯ location, he had left that duty to her. ¡°Did you find the parts?¡± Aiden raised his head. Arian wore a confident smile. ¡°Of course.¡± Arian brought over the components she had gathered and placed them on the floor. Their number totaled three. Including the one they had located aboveground, they had obtained all the components Zaid had requested. ¡°Were they all down here?¡± In truth, after witnessing the flooded second basement level, Aiden had thought it fortunate if they could recover even a single component. After all, such steel parts would inevitably become rusted and damaged beyond use when submerged in water for extended periods. However, it seemed luck had favored Aiden¡¯s group this time. ¡°We got lucky. There were far more than expected.¡± Within this warehouse, each component had been stacked from floor to ceiling in dense arrays. So Arian explained that they had simply retrieved the ones situated above the water line. ¡°Transporting them will be quite a task.¡± Aiden spoke those words as he observed the components. The smallest was still the size of an adult¡¯s forearm, made of solid steel. While Arian and Aiden could carry two each, it wouldn¡¯t be an easy feat for ordinary people to even move one. ¡°Then let¡¯s head back.¡± With the components located, there was no longer any need to remain in this underground warehouse. Aiden, who had been examining the Sinker, rose to his feet. * * * The next day. ¡°So you managed to retrieve all of these?¡± Observing Aiden¡¯s group, who had brought the large components thoroughly wrapped up, Zaid spoke those words. While he had entrusted them with the request, he hadn¡¯t dared expect they would procure everything so swiftly within a single day. ¡°Will we be able to receive the compensation, then?¡± Seeing Zaid¡¯s astonished expression, Aiden posed that question. Just in case the payment hadn¡¯t been prepared yet. However, it didn¡¯t seem to be an issue, as Zaid nodded affirmatively. ¡°Of course. In fact, the timing is fortuitous, as another task was nearing completion.¡± Zaid¡¯s appearance was still thoroughly smeared with grease and metal shavings. Behind him, Linda could be seen moving something, while Nabin sat by a wheel, fiddling with components. Repairing the train, as he had mentioned before. Now that Aiden observed it, the freight train they were residing in looked different from their previous encounter. The diesel locomotive engine and the rear cargo compartments had been cleanly separated. ¡°Is the repair work progressing well?¡± Confirming that scene, Aiden inquired. In response, Zaid answered with a faint smile. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s nearly complete now.¡± ¡°Faster than I expected.¡± ¡°Well, it has been over two months since we started working on this train here.¡± Had it really been that long? Their lifestyle aboard this freight train had certainly seemed well-established. Aiden had expected it to be perhaps a week or two at most. A substantial investment of time, even for ordinary survivors without any other obligations. So Aiden asked him a question. ¡°Do you consider this train worth such an investment?¡± ¡°Absolutely.¡± Zaid responded with a face brimming with conviction. ¡°This rail line passes through Lubbock and Albuquerque before extending even further westward. As long as the train and tracks remain intact, we could potentially reach LA or even head north to Wyoming.¡± Both LA and Wyoming were locations thousands of kilometers away from their current position. Of course, Aiden was aware that rail networks spanned across the entire United States. However, there was no guarantee that all those routes remained unobstructed to this day. ¡°There are undoubtedly sections where the tracks have been severed.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. So we¡¯ll need to stop periodically to repair the rails or clear obstacles along the way. But isn¡¯t it the same for regular vehicles?¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°In comparison, a train is a far more robust mode of transportation. Even if an entire zombie horde blocks our path, this locomotive won¡¯t even flinch.¡± Aiden nodded in acknowledgment. Zaid made a fair point. The power and sheer mass of a diesel locomotive was incomparable to any ordinary vehicle. As long as the rails remained intact, it could plow through tens of thousands of zombies without issue. In other words, Zaid had invested two months¡¯ time into securing a safer means of travel. While it might seem like an extravagance to Aiden, for Zaid¡¯s group of non-zombies, it could be a worthwhile endeavor. ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Of course, without the components you brought, we wouldn¡¯t have been able to depart even now. When we first stopped here, it seems the brakes had been damaged from an emergency stop.¡± ¡°How long until the repairs are complete?¡± ¡°No more than three days at most. After that, the train will finally be operational.¡± It was a remarkably swift timeline. As Aiden briefly observed the train during that exchange, Zaid made an unexpected proposal. ¡°If you¡¯re amenable, would you consider joining us?¡± ¡°Joining you?¡± ¡°Yes. Once the train starts moving, there will be far more work required compared to now.¡± At those words, Aiden let out a wry smile within his helmet. He could roughly surmise Zaid¡¯s thoughts. As Zaid had said, once their train journey began, they would face significantly more threats compared to being holed up in this small town. Yet with only three people, one of them injured, the prospect of traveling even aboard a train was unsettling for them. So the fact that a seemingly capable junk dealer was present must have seemed fortuitous. From Aiden¡¯s perspective, the proposal wasn¡¯t entirely unfavorable either. Traveling by train would undoubtedly be a better choice compared to the junker vehicle they currently used. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, all those considerations presumed Aiden wasn¡¯t a zombie. He was already aware that, as a zombie, it would be difficult to accompany any group of survivors long-term. So Aiden shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Zaid let out a brief, disappointed sigh. At that opportune moment, Linda arrived carrying an abundance of food and water supplies. The compensation for this latest request. ¡°I suppose this is where we part ways, then.¡± At Zaid¡¯s words implying their parting, Aiden nodded in acknowledgment. Zaid extended his hand towards Aiden. ¡°I wish you a safe journey, in that case.¡± ¡°...And to you as well.¡± Aiden grasped Zaid¡¯s hand in response. After receiving the compensation for their request, Aiden¡¯s group bid farewell to Zaid, Nabin, and Linda. Leaving behind those three survivors conducting the train¡¯s final repairs, Aiden¡¯s group departed from the small town of Snyder. Their next destination was Lubbock. A city that had once been home to a population of 200,000. Chapter 142 ¡°Hmm...¡± The location where Aiden parked his vehicle was in the eastern outskirts of Lubbock. Still within the city limits, but the surrounding area consisted solely of roads and vacant lots. Quite a remote spot, with even the nearest residential neighborhood considerably far away. There stood the Lubbock Fire Department station. A sturdy building constructed from bright orange bricks, which Aiden had chosen as their temporary shelter for today. ¡°It seems suitable.¡± After exiting the vehicle and surveying the nearby area, Aiden muttered those words. The desolate, wide-open view was easily taken in at a glance. While a few zombies could be seen wandering in the distance, they were sufficiently far away. There were no other apparent threats. ¡°It¡¯s quiet inside the building too. We should be able to enter directly.¡± Arian followed up with those words. Aiden gestured towards the building. ¡°Then I¡¯ll verify it personally.¡± The fire station¡¯s entrance, as well as the garage doors for the fire trucks, were firmly shut. As they searched for an alternative entry point, fortunately, they found an open window. ¡°I¡¯ll go in!¡± Sadie climbed through that small window into the building¡¯s interior. She soon made her way to the entrance and opened it for them. Once they had entered the fire station... ¡°The inside doesn¡¯t seem too bad.¡± After inspecting it, Aiden spoke those words. There were some traces indicating someone had briefly passed through long ago. However, the rest area where the firefighters would have relaxed remained surprisingly tidy. Aiden¡¯s group immediately set about preparing to use this as their temporary shelter. They relocated some belongings from their vehicle and cleaned the area they intended to occupy. Additionally, they checked every nook and cranny of the fire station, just in case. ¡°Let¡¯s rest here for today.¡± After completing that series of tasks, Aiden informed the other two. However, despite those words, Arian questioned him as she observed him gathering his weapons. ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°I need to search for any survivor groups.¡± The reason they had come to Lubbock was due to information suggesting there was a survivor group located at the city¡¯s central university. According to Aiden, their supposed base was situated within that large campus. Although the information was outdated, a minimum level of verification was necessary. ¡°Aren¡¯t you taking anyone with you?¡± ¡°It would be inefficient. Today, I¡¯ll only be scouting. We still don¡¯t know if there are actually people living here.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°And there are also supplies I need to find. With its larger population, there are bound to be more zombies present. So it will be advantageous for me to move alone.¡± Aiden hadn¡¯t forgotten that they had depleted their stock of syringes for blood collection. The obvious place to obtain more would be a hospital, but venturing into one in Lubbock meant being prepared to encounter zombies. Which was when Aiden suddenly turned his gaze towards Sadie. ¡°Sadie, have you been taking your medicine regularly?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°How much is left?¡± Sadie retrieved a pill bottle from her bag. After checking the remaining quantity, Aiden nodded. ¡°Once you¡¯ve finished this, you won¡¯t need to take the medicine anymore.¡± Ever since first meeting Aiden over half a year ago, Sadie had been consuming this tuberculosis medication. However, that would end with this final bottle. Once she consumed its contents, Aiden could finally declare her cured. At the prospect of being freed from that small burden, Sadie beamed a radiant smile. ¡°Then I¡¯ll be back before sunset.¡± Bidding farewell to his companions, Aiden departed from the fire station. He first unfolded a map to confirm his route before setting off. Advancing along a narrow path, with a desolate vacant lot on one side and dilapidated houses on the other. Proceeding that way, a small bus soon came into view. A white bus bearing the name of some church, parked forlornly beside a small monument indicating this had once been a church site. Beyond that was a chain-link fence enclosing a somber brown building. While curious about its purpose, Aiden disregarded it for the time being due to his current objective. And so, he proceeded onto Idalou Road, the route leading into the city center. Despite the surroundings still consisting of only low-rise shops and vacant lots, devoid of any metropolitan ambiance. An environment no different from the small town of Snyder they had recently passed through. Yet Aiden steadily advanced. He soon crossed a small river leading to a lake and passed an unnamed circular theater that must have once been lively. It was then that a familiar railway line came into view. Could this be the same route Zaid had mentioned passing through Lubbock? ¡°...¡± Out of lingering uncertainty, Aiden climbed onto the tracks and surveyed their path stretching into the distance. Fortunately, no significant obstructions were visible. If Zaid truly did repair that locomotive and set it in motion, at the very least, it would be able to traverse through this city unimpeded. After crossing the railway, Aiden also passed through an industrial district with dozens of factories and company buildings. Eventually, he reached a complicated intersection of roads. Beyond that point, the downtown area of Lubbock finally came into view. ¡°Hmm...¡± Aiden surveyed his surroundings with a keen gaze. Zombies could be seen scattered about like weeds. However, their numbers weren¡¯t particularly high. Additionally, Lubbock¡¯s downtown wasn¡¯t as densely developed as a major metropolis. While high-rise buildings were visible in the distance, their quantity was distinctly fewer and spacing was sparser. A downtown area, yet exuding a considerably more modest atmosphere. For some reason, the four-lane roads were paved not with asphalt but red bricks instead. Combined with the serene white buildings, it created a unique ambiance for the city. Had it not been for the abandoned vehicles and decaying corpses littering the area, it would have presented a rather pleasant scenery. Aiden continued westward. Passing numerous government buildings, restaurants with shattered windows, and an exceptionally ostentatious hotel structure. Eventually, a vast stretch of residential apartment complexes came into view. A sign that his destination was drawing near. Beyond those lay a university that had once accommodated over 40,000 students. Those apartment complexes had served as dormitories for the campus. ¡°...Is this it?¡± Finally, Aiden reached the main entrance to that university campus. A circular monument bearing the institution¡¯s emblem was clearly visible. However, as Aiden surveyed the surrounding area, a hint of disappointment flickered across his gaze. The barricades that should have obstructed the road leading into the interior... Their scale had been considerable. Enough for Aiden to immediately discern that the survivor group residing here must have numbered in the thousands, at minimum. Yet now, those barricades lay shattered and collapsed. Moreover, the traces of that destruction didn¡¯t seem recent, from just a day or two prior. At the very least, it appeared to have occurred over a year ago... or even longer. Meaning the survivor group that had been here had fallen apart long in the past, for some reason. ¡°...¡± Even so, Aiden proceeded past those collapsed barricades and entered the campus interior. Beyond the equestrian statue, a circular garden-like space opened up. What must have once been a beautifully manicured lawn was now littered with debris ¨C wood planks previously used for barricades, tattered tents, and all manner of refuse. Presenting an utterly disheveled appearance. ¡°Kieeeee...¡± Furthermore, zombies could also be seen roaming about. Their numbers were quite substantial. Markedly denser compared to the areas Aiden had passed through earlier. While remaining wary of those zombies, Aiden searched for his intended destination. The university buildings were sprawled across a vast area centered around that circular space. Their sheer number, spanning such an extensive campus befitting the student population, was almost daunting to individually investigate. However, Aiden headed towards the building that appeared to have suffered the most severe damage. Judging that if combat had occurred within the survivor base, the most intense fighting would have taken place at the most crucial location. It was a two-story building south of the circular space, separated by a parking lot. A retro design with a red roof. However, the entrance that should have been pristine white was heavily damaged, as if struck by an explosion. Click! Aiden cautiously gripped his rifle and entered that building. Rather than typical university lecture halls, the interior resembled a shopping district. It seemed to have previously housed establishments like a bank and bookstore. Proceeding down the corridor, where scattered zombies stood here and there, Aiden¡¯s gaze was drawn to a particular room. At first glance, it appeared to be some kind of office. However, while the windows had been boarded up with wooden planks, those boards had been forcibly ripped away. Additionally, if combat had indeed occurred, several human skeletons littered the floor. ¡°...Excuse me.¡± Aiden stepped into that office. Atop the desk the skeletal remains seemed to be facing were a few faded sheets of paper scattered about. One of them caught Aiden¡¯s eye. It was a map of Lubbock. But not an ordinary one. Annotated with someone¡¯s handwriting, it depicted the distribution of zombies within Lubbock, the territories of various gangs, and marked key locations. Although most of that information was likely outdated and useless... There didn¡¯t seem to be any active gangs remaining here, after all. However, some notations piqued Aiden¡¯s wariness. ¡°Two Rhinos, one Brutal, three Hedgehogs...¡± It detailed the presence of specific mutants inhabiting certain areas. An excessive number of mutants for a single city. Perhaps the group residing here had ultimately fallen while battling against such mutants. While past information, no one knew where those mutants might have relocated. That uncertainty fueled Aiden¡¯s sense of impending crisis. Averting his gaze from the map, Aiden turned towards one of the walls. On the yellowed surface was scrawled a fading message: ¡®Don¡¯t abandon hope.¡¯ ¡°There¡¯s nothing to salvage here.¡± Aiden muttered those words with a brief sigh. The survivor group that had resided here seemed to have collapsed long ago. He had come here hoping to perhaps recover any supplies they might have left behind, just in case. However, based on the traces left on this map, the possibility of dangerous mutants still lurking somewhere within this university campus was high. So thoroughly scouring the interior would be too risky. Having reached that judgement, Aiden promptly exited the university grounds. Retracing his path back to the entrance, he decided to head southwest this time. His destination was the hospital district. An area officially designated as the ¡®Medical District.¡¯ It contained one major hospital, three moderate-sized comprehensive hospitals, and over ten smaller clinics. ¡°First and foremost...¡± Among those medical facilities, the most accessible location to find syringes would undoubtedly be the major hospital. However, after recognizing the potential presence of mutants, Aiden deliberately chose one of the smaller comprehensive hospitals as his target instead. A large high-rise hospital with underground facilities would provide too ideal an environment for mutants to inhabit, so he aimed to avoid that risk. Soon, Aiden entered one such specialized hospital. A single four-story building constructed from light brown bricks, fully dedicated to medical purposes. ¡°Hmm...?¡± As Aiden approached the entrance, he tilted his head upon discovering barricades here as well. Traces of a survivor group¡¯s presence remained at this location too. Moreover, those traces appeared somewhat more recent compared to the university. Perhaps the group that had resided at the campus had eventually abandoned that base and relocated here. ¡°...¡± However, for Aiden, this wasn¡¯t necessarily good news. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. While critical supplies like syringes were unlikely to have been thoroughly looted by survivors, they could have been carelessly discarded simply to clear space. Pondering that possibility caused Aiden to quicken his pace through the hospital corridors. Afterwards, he meticulously searched every area where syringes might have been stored. ¡°...Fortunately.¡± As a result, he managed to secure a considerable quantity of syringes. Although most other medications had vanished, it seemed the survivors who had occupied this place hadn¡¯t bothered with the syringes. After gathering the necessary supplies, as Aiden rose to leave- ¡°That¡¯s...¡± His gaze was drawn to the words written above the door he had entered through. ¡®Don¡¯t abandon hope.¡¯ The same message he had witnessed at the university earlier. Regarding it with a pensive gaze, Aiden soon retrieved his map. While unintentional, he had ended up tracing the trail left by the group that had resided at the university. Moreover, that trail had now shifted to a more recent timeframe ¨C sometime between a year and six months ago. If his conjecture was correct, then perhaps they were still residing somewhere within this city. That thought occurred to Aiden. So he unfolded the map and searched for locations that could serve as a suitable base for survivors. Soon, a few candidate sites were selected. Primarily areas that had previously contained large supermarkets, numbering five in total scattered across different parts of the city. From there, Aiden further narrowed down the candidates. Prioritizing drawbacks over advantages, focusing on places suitable for a group fleeing from mutants and zombies after their base had been overrun. That left only one remaining location. A large shopping district in the southwestern outskirts, the opposite direction from Aiden¡¯s current temporary shelter. That shopping district was sufficiently distant from here, containing department stores, supermarkets, and major retail outlets ¨C ensuring an abundance of available supplies. Additionally, the surrounding vast parking lots provided unobstructed lines of sight. To the south lay a lakeside park, reducing the number of directions requiring vigilance. An ideal location for evading the relentless zombie threat. Having made that determination, Aiden decided to verify that large shopping district as his final destination. Confirming the route he needed to take, Aiden folded up the map. He exited the hospital through the door bearing that message about hope. Chapter 143 ¡°...Is this it?¡± After walking along the road for quite a while, Aiden gazed at the large gray building that had come into view. Its height was at most two or three stories. However, with a parking lot surrounding it on all sides and its elongated horizontal structure, it exhibited the typical appearance of a major retail outlet. The faded blue logo emblazoned on the building¡¯s front belonged to a once-famous supermarket chain. A clear indication that he hadn¡¯t strayed from his intended path. Quite a few zombies could be seen near that supermarket area. Dozens of them scattered across the parking lot alone. Which caused Aiden¡¯s inner sense of tension to heighten. While it was rare for mutants to roam exposed parking lots in broad daylight without any cover... ...Aiden, who had recently confronted a mutant Hider with the same appearance as an ordinary zombie, couldn¡¯t easily let his guard down. ¡°...¡± He cautiously approached the supermarket building. Compared to its size, the entrance was rather narrow. Behind the shattered glass doors, someone¡¯s efforts to barricade the entrance by reinforcing it with steel plates were clearly visible. Aiden entered through that opening. However, a large overturned product display immediately obstructed his path ahead. Beyond that, the interior appeared dimly disheveled for some inexplicable reason. Flick! Aiden activated his flashlight. He then pushed aside the fallen display to clear a path forward. ¡°Kii...¡± One of the zombies lingering near the entrance briefly glanced at Aiden, like a nosy neighborhood resident. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ignoring it, Aiden squeezed his body through the gap beside the display. Revealing the chaotic scene within that had been concealed from the sunlight. ¡°This is...¡± Observing that, Aiden furrowed his brow slightly. What he had discovered were numerous corpses. Among them were human remains as well as those of zombies. And standing amidst them nonchalantly was a living corpse. A zombie, its rifle limply hanging from one hand, gazed at Aiden. Its body, in the midst of advanced decomposition, suggested it had turned no more than three days ago. Aiden silently drew his longsword. He approached the zombie and thrust the blade through its jaw in an embracing motion. Thunk- Without even a chance to utter a groan, the zombie collapsed. Yet the other zombies surrounding them showed no reaction whatsoever. Aiden then proceeded to systematically eliminate the remaining ten or so zombies within the supermarket interior. ¡°Ki...¡± After dispatching the final one, he surveyed the interior once more. Apart from the corpses, there were also some supplies left behind by the survivor group that had clearly been present here. Scattered on the floor were unused ammunition, while the shelving units lining the walls still contained canned goods, liquor, and cigarettes. However, Aiden temporarily postponed recovering those items. He had judged that there was still a possibility of survivors remaining here. ¡°Is anyone here?¡± Aiden raised his voice. Hoping for a response from any potential survivors. But the only reply was the distant wails of zombies. Aiden then retrieved a steel crowbar lying on the floor. He proceeded to check every room branching off from the supermarket interior, one by one. Whether restrooms or staff offices, if a door was present, he opened it. If locked, he forced it open using the crowbar. In one storage room... ...Located at the end of an employee corridor extending from the main area... ¡°If anyone is inside, answer me.¡± ...Aiden pounded on the locked door. Receiving no response, he once again used the crowbar to forcibly pry it open. Creak! The door opened with a distorted groan as the lock was wrenched apart. At that moment, Aiden was struck by an intense smell of blood. And then... ¡°Tsk...!¡± ...Aiden clicked his tongue at the sight within. Inside that storage room were fewer than ten individuals. However, they were all already deceased. Moreover, the cause of death was... suicide. Every one of them had gunshot wounds to the head, with no signs of resistance. Having become trapped by zombies and judging escape impossible, they had chosen to take their own lives here. ¡°...¡± Gazing at their motionless forms, Aiden let out a brief sigh. More than anything, the truly regrettable aspect was that their deaths had occurred less than a day ago. The estimated time of death was at most the previous night to early this morning. If only they hadn¡¯t committed suicide, there was a chance Aiden could have encountered living survivors. Calmly suppressing that sense of pity, Aiden surveyed the area around the deceased. Beside an unknown woman lay a small notebook. Aiden opened it to examine its contents. It contained a brief memoir recorded by that woman. Detailing how a once-thousand-strong survivor group originating from the university had dwindled to hundreds due to zombie attacks. How those hundreds had further diminished to mere dozens while at the hospital. Until their final demise here, in this supermarket. And on the notebook¡¯s cover, that now-familiar phrase was visible: ¡®Don¡¯t abandon hope.¡¯ Unlike when he had first seen it, those tiny scrawled words now seemed utterly hollow to Aiden¡¯s eyes. ¡°...¡± Aiden returned the notebook beside the woman and closed the storage room door. There were no survivors remaining in Lubbock. Having recognized that, Aiden gathered the few supplies he had noticed on his way in before returning to the temporary shelter where his companions awaited. * * * Three days after departing Lubbock... Traveling northward along Interstate Highway 27, Aiden¡¯s group had just entered the area of Tulia. Originally home to just over 4,000 residents, Tulia was a town too small to even be called a city. Within the entire town, the only places that might yield any useful supplies were a few restaurants and a modest grocery store ¨C it didn¡¯t even have a hotel, with just a single motel located on the outskirts. Even so, the reason Aiden¡¯s group had come here was because it lay along their route towards Amarillo. There had also been information suggesting a small survivor group had once existed here. However, Aiden hardly expected to actually find any survivors remaining in this place. From Lubbock to Abernathy, then Plainview... Those three cities had hosted survivor bases along this highway route until two years ago, yet not a single one remained intact by the time they had arrived. So the notion of a group persisting in a far smaller town like this was simply inconceivable. Aiden drove their vehicle into the interior of Tulia. The scenery that met his eyes was... precisely as expected. ¡°As I thought, huh?¡± Aiden spoke those words as he observed the deserted town. Their vehicle was currently passing through Tulia¡¯s central district. The shopping area, sparsely dotted with a few stores, was likely the most valuable location in this town. However, even here, signs of human presence ¨C let alone zombies ¨C were scarce. ¡°Hmph... what a mess this place is too.¡± From the backseat, Arian let out a disgruntled remark. For Aiden¡¯s group, it was a rather troubling situation. Nearly a week had passed since leaving Snyder, yet they hadn¡¯t encountered a single person during that time. Their stockpile of blood had long since been depleted, and the time Arian and Aiden could endure was quickly running out. ¡°Will we be able to reach the next town before nightfall?¡± In response to Arian¡¯s question, Aiden replied that it was impossible. The current time was around 3 PM, not particularly late. However, the issue was their vehicle. This junker, which could break down at any moment, had already reached the limits of its overheating engine. To cool it down, they would need to stop for at least 30 minutes, potentially up to an hour. Coupled with their inability to maintain high speeds, reaching the next town several dozen kilometers away before sunset was clearly unfeasible. Arian, already aware of this, had merely asked out of fragile hope. At Aiden¡¯s definitive response, she let out a long sigh. ¡°...I suppose there¡¯s no choice.¡± Arian¡¯s dejected words prompted Sadie to gently grasp her hand, as if trying to offer clumsy reassurance. In response, Arian flashed the child a bright smile. ¡°...¡± Observing that exchange, Aiden inwardly acknowledged a faint sense of unease. As a zombie, he couldn¡¯t truly comprehend the nature of Arian¡¯s thirst for blood. However, witnessing her uncharacteristic restlessness despite typically avoiding overt displays in front of Sadie, Aiden could well imagine the severity of that craving. Yet despite that, there was little Aiden could do. All that remained was to invest what little time they had left in searching this small town, harboring even a shred of hopeful expectation. ¡°Let¡¯s find a hideout first, then immediately search the town.¡± ¡°Well... I don¡¯t really expect anyone to be here, though.¡± ¡°We have the time remaining anyway. No harm in trying.¡± Unable to refute Aiden¡¯s words, Arian nodded in reluctant agreement. Soon, they arrived at a hospital. The kind of modest facility one would expect to find in such a small town. However, its white brick walls were sufficiently sturdy, and the surrounding area was devoid of zombies, seeming quiet and secure. Judging it a safe enough location, Aiden parked their vehicle there, establishing it as their temporary shelter for the day. ¡°Where are you heading?¡± After roughly preparing their temporary hideout, Arian spoke up as she exited. Aiden gestured towards a signboard in front of the hospital. ¡°It seems there¡¯s a school and a church to the north. Let¡¯s check that area first.¡± And so, Aiden¡¯s group proceeded northward along the road. Passing by the wide streets, wooden utility poles, and desolate, arid front yards... The residential neighborhood they first encountered didn¡¯t differ much from any other western town¡¯s appearance. Continuing along that path, they soon spotted the school. Emblazoned in large letters on the brown structure that had once been a high school was the name ¡®Tulia.¡¯ However, there were no signs of people present. Only a few desiccated zombies could be seen wandering the parched athletic field, devoid of even weeds. ¡°Hmm...¡± Shortly after, the church came into view as well. The northern edge of the town, a mere few hundred meters away. Unsurprising, given Tulia¡¯s minuscule size. With only vast fields stretching out ahead, Aiden altered their course to the side instead. And so, the three of them trudged along the outskirts, circumnavigating the town in a circuitous path. During that time, they discovered a small park and a camping area, passing by a sizeable warehouse district and an abandoned gas station. Yet nowhere did they encounter any human presence. Perhaps he had naively hoped, but was this outcome inevitable after all? It was just as Aiden had that thought- ¡°Ah...?¡± Arian turned her head towards the residential area¡¯s edge, where nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Her gaze was fixed upon a certain warehouse structure. Its color was a rusty red ¨C not its original hue, but rather the result of the iron construction succumbing to corrosion over time. That warehouse also seemed to be part of an enclosed farmstead, connected to the town solely by a narrow road and standing in isolated desolation amidst the wasteland. Hardly a place one would expect to find supplies, let alone people. However, Arian¡¯s gaze lingered there for quite some time. ¡°Do you sense something?¡± Which prompted Aiden to inquire. Arian tilted her head slightly before responding. ¡°A person... there is.¡± ¡°A person? In a place like that?¡± Aiden repeated those words in disbelief. As if understanding his skepticism, Arian furrowed her brow ever so slightly. ¡°I know, it sounds strange to me too. That¡¯s why I wondered if I was just imagining it.¡± ¡°You imagining things?¡± ¡°Why not? It could happen.¡± Perhaps akin to a starving person experiencing hallucinations of food. Comprehending that analogy, Aiden nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°I see. Then we¡¯ll just have to verify it.¡± He retrieved his rifle and headed towards the farm¡¯s entrance gate. The meter-high gate, fenced in a perimeter, was locked from the inside, but scaling it wouldn¡¯t be difficult. However, instead of climbing over, Aiden opted to observe the farm¡¯s interior first. If there truly were people present, they would undoubtedly be armed, necessitating a cautious approach. ¡°I¡¯ll approach from the front, near that collapsed silo.¡± Aiden gestured towards it, indicating a sturdy source of cover positioned diagonally from the warehouse. Arian nodded in understanding. ¡°Then I¡¯ll circle around to the rear.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll stay over there.¡± Sadie then pointed towards a nearby house. A location devoid of zombies, concealed behind a large tree, providing a safe vantage point even if the warehouse occupants opened fire. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s move out immediately.¡± At Aiden¡¯s words, Arian began circling widely along the farm¡¯s perimeter, while Sadie took shelter inside the house. With the three of them having dispersed, Aiden calmly vaulted over the entrance gate. It was at that very moment- Bang! A sudden gunshot rang out from the warehouse¡¯s direction, the bullet whizzing past Aiden¡¯s side. In response, Aiden immediately dropped into a crouched stance. He then dashed towards the collapsed silo, its wall crumbled to provide cover. Ping! Even during that brief movement, the gunfire targeting Aiden didn¡¯t cease. Ricocheting bullets grazed perilously close after striking the ground and rocks around him. However, amid those critical moments, Aiden felt a sense of relief rather than panic. This gunfire served as proof that Arian¡¯s perception hadn¡¯t been a mere delusion. ¡°I¡¯m a junk dealer! I wish to trade with you!¡± Taking cover behind the collapsed silo, Aiden attempted to initiate a dialogue with the warehouse¡¯s occupants. However, his voice only elicited indistinct murmurs from within. No matter how many times he repeated himself, there was no coherent response. As that frustrating situation persisted for a while... Arian had somehow circled around and ascended onto the warehouse¡¯s roof during that time. ¡°...¡± From there, she silently gestured to Aiden. An indication that she intended to proceed with entry. ¡°No need to kill them. Can you subdue them instead?¡± Aiden spoke in a hushed tone. While too far for ordinary humans to overhear, Arian, having perceived his words, nodded affirmatively. The warehouse occupants had only opened fire on Aiden in self-defense. Unlike plunderers or fanatics, there was no need to outright take their lives without cause. Enveloping her machete in a crimson aura, Arian soundlessly made her way towards the warehouse¡¯s rear entrance. The moment her figure vanished from the rooftop... Bang! Accompanied by a thunderous impact, the two-meter-tall door was blasted inwards. Screams of panic erupted from within as the warehouse¡¯s occupants were thrown into disarray by the sudden rear assault. Arian didn¡¯t let that opportunity slip away. In an instant, she entered the warehouse, passing between the people like a gust of wind. ¡°What the-?!¡± One of the men let out that exclamation. The rifle he had been gripping was now somehow in Arian¡¯s grasp. The speed and force with which she had disarmed him was scarcely believable, as if she had merely blinked and his gun had vanished. ¡°It¡¯s over.¡± In the blink of an eye, Arian, having seized all their firearms, spoke those words. Aiden approached the warehouse¡¯s main entrance. The door had been opened by Arian. She threw all the guns the people were holding out of the warehouse. The ones inside the warehouse were... two men and one woman. Three people in total. ¡°Damn...!¡± Their faces were pale as dead. Well, they thought they would die without being able to move since they were standing in front of an unknown wanderer with all the weapons taken away in such an absurd way. But Aiden, standing in front of them, shamelessly spoke once again: ¡°I¡¯m Aiden Lee. A junk dealer. As I said, I¡¯d like to trade with you.¡± The man closest to him furrowed his brow slightly at his words. Chapter 144 Some time later... ¡°Seriously? Are you really junk dealers?¡± After Aiden had finished explaining the situation, Mateo Jensen, one of the three people in the warehouse, asked him that question. Aiden calmly nodded in affirmation. ¡°Then how did you know to come here?¡± ¡°I simply followed the traces of movement I detected.¡± Aiden nonchalantly lied. He couldn¡¯t reveal that they had found this place due to Arian¡¯s perceptive abilities. ¡°What the hell...¡± On the other hand, hearing that response, Mateo seemed to heave a sigh of relief. Observing Mateo¡¯s reaction, Aiden narrowed his eyes beneath his helmet. It was a somewhat unusual response for an ordinary wanderer. Even in a situation where Aiden¡¯s group hadn¡¯t definitively confirmed whether they were plunderers or not, why would he exhibit such relief? Harboring that doubt, Aiden continued speaking. ¡°So what are you, then? Wanderers?¡± ¡°Well... I suppose you could call us that.¡± Mateo nodded vaguely in response. His companions wore similar expressions. At that, Aiden swept his gaze across the warehouse¡¯s interior they had been hiding within. It wasn¡¯t a particularly large space. Only a few meters wide and barely over ten meters long, offering no room to conceal substantial belongings. However, nowhere within that warehouse were the sorts of supplies ordinary wanderers would always carry with them. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s the case, though.¡± At Aiden¡¯s words, Mateo¡¯s face tensed slightly. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Wanderers don¡¯t simply travel with just weapons like this.¡± Even if they had depleted their food supplies, the necessities for a nomadic lifestyle were far too numerous to list individually. Yet there was a limit to what could be transported solely by human labor. Additionally, considering the need to occasionally flee from zombies, ordinary wanderers would pragmatically carry only the bare essentials. However, these individuals lacked even those. ¡°We just stored our other supplies elsewhere.¡± ¡°You¡¯re already hiding out in such a remote location, yet you claim to have stored your belongings separately somewhere else?¡± Aiden calmly pointed out the flaws in Mateo¡¯s feeble excuse. Seemingly at a loss for a better response, Mateo let out a dismissive click of his tongue. ¡°So, what are you trying to say, then?¡± Aiden briefly pondered Mateo¡¯s true identity. However, he didn¡¯t immediately arrive at a conclusion. They didn¡¯t seem like typical wanderers, yet their chosen hideout was far too obscure for a gang¡¯s scouting party. So instead, Aiden opted to directly inquire from them. ¡°If possible, I¡¯d like to purchase some information from you.¡± Aiden revealed his objective of searching for a survivor group. In response, Mateo and his companions exchanged glances with each other. ¡°And what will you offer in return?¡± ¡°Food and water supplies.¡± Aiden retrieved some canned goods and bottled water from their belongings. Having set out initially to locate survivors, they had prepared a modest quantity of trade items. Moreover, judging by their apparent condition, these individuals likely lacked even a day¡¯s worth of food supplies. Which was why Aiden intended to offer them food provisions in exchange. Requesting their blood from the outset might have raised unnecessary suspicion. And the result was a successful negotiation. ¡°...Alright.¡± Upon seeing the offered food, Mateo and his companions, their eyes gleaming, didn¡¯t hesitate long before accepting the deal. Aiden first inquired about their true identities. Whether they were genuinely wanderers or members of some gang. The conclusion was that they belonged to neither category. ¡°There¡¯s an organization called the Amarillo Liberation Front in Amarillo, you see. We... used to be part of that group. But three days ago, we deserted and came here.¡± They had been members of the Amarillo Liberation Front but had since abandoned that affiliation and defected from the organization. However, their current circumstances suggested they hadn¡¯t adequately prepared for their departure. Aiden followed up with another question. ¡°Were you expelled, then?¡± ¡°Expelled? No, we fled. Those bastards were trying to kill us.¡± Mateo spoke those words through gritted teeth. It was Arian, not Aiden, who posed the next inquiry. ¡°What did you do for them to want that?¡± ¡°It... wasn¡¯t anything bad, so don¡¯t look at me like that.¡± In response to Mateo¡¯s plea, Arian shrugged and averted her gaze. However, her lingering crimson eyes, still exuding an eerie sensation, caused Mateo to continue glancing apprehensively in her direction. ¡°Arian, could you stay with Sadie while I handle the rest?¡± At Aiden¡¯s suggestion, Arian nodded and exited the warehouse. It was only then that Mateo¡¯s lips parted once more. ¡°We had gone out on a scouting mission. And we found some water supplies in the city. But... there seemed to be an issue with it. A few of our comrades fell ill after drinking it. It was some kind of infectious disease.¡± They had brought back contaminated water, it seemed. A common occurrence in this world lacking proper testing equipment, where food and water were precious commodities. For an ordinary organization, it might have ended with a mere reprimand. However, the Liberation Front they had been part of didn¡¯t stop there. ¡°So we were put on trial by the Liberation Front over it. And the result was... execution.¡± ¡°Execution? For something like that, they wanted to kill you?¡± Aiden questioned that incredulously. In response, Mateo let out a derisive snort. ¡°Yeah. The great Liberation Front¡¯s regulations state that anyone who spreads disease within the organization is to be executed. So we simply fled before they could carry out that sentence.¡± Aiden studied the man¡¯s expression. There were no signs of deception. And if that was the reason, it made sense why they had urgently deserted with barely a few days¡¯ worth of supplies. It was a reasonably coherent account. ¡°What kind of place is this Liberation Front?¡± ¡°A complete shithole. The rules are cruel and inflexible, the superiors are more deranged than gang bosses, and they¡¯ve even assigned military ranks like private and sergeant, playing dress-up as some kind of army. Ha! Not a single one of them was ever an actual soldier!¡± Mateo¡¯s agitated voice rose in volume. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, he soon regained his composure with a sigh before adding a cautionary remark. ¡°If you¡¯re thinking of going there, be especially wary of their leader. Some asshole called Colonel Nelson. A complete nutjob. He¡¯s the one who started this delusional military role-play, making up all those regulations himself.¡± Aiden silently listened as Mateo vented that stream of negative information. While needing to filter out potential biases... The fact that they had clashed with and fled from that organization meant their words couldn¡¯t be entirely baseless. ¡°Oh, and for people who desert like us, they call us ¡®deserters¡¯ and have a dedicated execution squad to deal with deserters. We initially thought you were part of that squad.¡± However, even accounting for that, the Amarillo Liberation Front didn¡¯t seem to be an ordinary group. Maintaining a specialized unit solely for hunting down and eliminating defectors. It wasn¡¯t exactly good news for Aiden, who intended to establish trade relations with them. An obstinate organization that had forsaken even rational choices would undoubtedly prove exceedingly troublesome for a junk dealer like Aiden to deal with. ¡°Alright. That¡¯s enough information.¡± After receiving additional answers to a few more questions, Aiden spoke those words. Overall, the information had proven quite useful. Satisfied, Aiden handed over the promised food supplies to Mateo and his companions. One bottle of clean water and two cans of preserved food. Finally able to alleviate their hunger, they failed to conceal their joyful expressions despite feigning nonchalance. However, realistically speaking, those meager provisions were insufficient for three people. There was one can short compared to their number. Which was when, just as that underlying tension arose between them... ¡°And... there¡¯s one more thing I need.¡± ...Aiden once again presented them with canned goods and syringes. ¡°Would you be willing to donate some blood?¡± Aiden¡¯s subsequent proposal struck Mateo¡¯s group as highly suspicious. Why would he want to extract their blood? However, such doubts paled in comparison to the allure of the food provisions before them. ¡°...Alright.¡± In the end, they couldn¡¯t refuse. Aiden gave a simple nod of acknowledgment. * * * Several days later... Aiden¡¯s group had finally approached Amarillo, located at the northern terminus of Interstate Highway 27. ¡°We¡¯re about to arrive.¡± Observing an old, paint-flaked signboard indicating their proximity to Amarillo, Aiden spoke those words. For now, their view consisted solely of a flat prairie. Once utilized as farmland but abandoned for years, the fields had transitioned from a lush green befitting spring to a desolate brown hue more suited to autumn. Such plains stretched towards the horizon on either side of the road. After proceeding some distance along that road, buildings gradually began appearing one by one. Additionally, conspicuous metal signs lined the sides of the road. Emblazoned upon them in vivid detail was a shield-like emblem. The insignia of the Amarillo Liberation Front, which Aiden¡¯s group was already familiar with. ¡°That Liberation Front, was it? Doesn¡¯t sound like a very good place.¡± Observing those emblems, Arian remarked. According to Mateo¡¯s testimony, the Liberation Front was an organization of around a thousand members. A moderate size compared to the survivor groups Aiden had previously encountered. However, within this region, they were a formidable force unmatched by any similar-sized factions. Yet Aiden¡¯s group harbored little optimism about the prospect of making contact with this Liberation Front. ¡°Hard to say. We can¡¯t take that man¡¯s words at face value. But... they likely weren¡¯t entirely baseless, either.¡± Strictly enforcing rules to control the populace was one thing. However, they had heard that the punishments ¨C flogging, exile, or execution ¨C were excessively harsh even by rational standards, and the frequency of such punishments was disturbingly high. If those claims were true... they were hardly an organization Aiden wished to encounter. Even so, Aiden had come here due to a lack of alternative options. ¡°And yet you still intend to approach them?¡± ¡°We have no choice. Somehow, we need to establish contact and trade with them.¡± The information Aiden had obtained from Mateo wasn¡¯t limited to Amarillo alone. As a former scouting party member for the Liberation Front, he was naturally aware of other survivor groups in the vicinity as well. However, the results were discouraging. The only confirmed existing group was located hundreds of kilometers west of Amarillo, in Albuquerque. Within this immediate region, no other groups comparable to Amarillo¡¯s size remained. Which meant Aiden¡¯s group needed to make contact with the Liberation Front by any means necessary. To engage in trade through requests, preparing for the next leg of their long journey from this location. ¡°We¡¯re about to enter the city proper.¡± The scenery, previously consisting solely of unbroken plains, abruptly transformed. Residential neighborhoods appeared along both sides of the road, followed by abandoned shops in the immediate vicinity. However, there were still no signs of Liberation Front sentries or barricades. Amarillo had once been home to a population nearing 200,000 civilians. So it was impossible for the mere thousand-strong Liberation Front to fully control the entire city area. Meaning the territory under their administration was likely limited to parts of the downtown district alone. Conversely, that implied the rest of the city had been left abandoned, yet as Arian surveyed their surroundings, she made an unexpected remark. ¡°Though... there don¡¯t seem to be that many zombies around, do there?¡± ¡°Well, this road serves as a major route leading out of the city for them as well. They probably conduct periodic clean-up operations.¡± After entering the city that way, Aiden¡¯s group proceeded into a side street before parking their vehicle in front of a small church. While there were a few zombies in the vicinity, they swiftly dealt with them. ¡°We¡¯ll use this as a temporary shelter and conceal the vehicle here for now.¡± The location where Aiden had stopped was quite far from the downtown district. From there, Aiden¡¯s group gathered only the bare minimum of trade supplies before proceeding on foot towards the city center. It was an uneasy decision, risking potential theft with an active survivor group nearby, but they couldn¡¯t bring their vehicle any further either. There was also the possibility that this group truly was as dangerous as Mateo had claimed, which couldn¡¯t be ruled out. ¡°...¡± And so, they began walking towards Amarillo¡¯s downtown area. Passing through residential neighborhoods far more extensive and densely populated compared to the small towns they had traversed thus far. While there were quite a few zombies within, Arian¡¯s presence allowed them to minimize combat encounters along the way. Afterwards, they crossed through a small park area. In the center of that park, a Big Foot mutant was crouched, surrounded by the remains of something it had presumably devoured. Aiden¡¯s group gave that creature a wide berth as they maneuvered around it. ¡°...This is an unsettling place.¡± Observing that scene, Arian protectively embraced Sadie with one arm. Despite their relatively close proximity to the Liberation Front¡¯s base in the downtown area, the brazen presence of such a mutant was disconcerting. Soon, they arrived near the downtown district that served as the Liberation Front¡¯s headquarters. Just a few dozen meters ahead lay the position of their sentry outpost. However, even before they could approach that vicinity, someone¡¯s shout rang out. ¡°Drop your weapons and put your hands up!¡± That bellowed order wasn¡¯t directed at Aiden¡¯s group, however. Aiden, who had been leading, concealed himself behind a building and peered towards the source of that voice. There, he saw a barricade completely blocking the road, guarded by sentries, with a few individuals standing before them. It seemed some other arrivals had reached the Liberation Front before Aiden¡¯s group. ¡°What... what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Drop your weapons, now!¡± The sentry barked those words harshly, prompting the three individuals to gaze at the Liberation Front¡¯s guards in bewildered confusion at the sudden demand to disarm. During that exchange, Aiden studied the appearance of those arrivals. Carrying large bags and rifles... Wanderers... no, perhaps fellow junk dealers like Aiden. ¡°This is no way to-¡° Just as one of the junk dealers tried to protest, those words were cut off by an abrupt sound. Bang! A gunshot unexpectedly rang out, its thunderous echo causing everyone ¨C the junk dealers as well as Aiden¡¯s group ¨C to freeze in shock. Undoubtedly the work of the sentry, though fortunately the bullet hadn¡¯t struck anyone, with the barrel clearly aimed towards the junk dealers. An overt threat, if not an intentionally missed shot. ¡°Drop your weapons. Now.¡± The sentry followed up with that growl, as if indicating there would be no further warnings. In response, the junk dealers, their faces etched with dismay, had no choice but to comply with those instructions. And so, having been forcibly disarmed, the junk dealers were taken away like prisoners by the sentries. ¡°Have you encountered a group like them before?¡± Watching that scene unfold, Arian posed that question. Inquiring whether Aiden had previous experience with an organization exhibiting such overt hostility. In response, Aiden nodded. ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°So? What happened back then?¡± ¡°...Combat was narrowly avoided.¡± Upon hearing Aiden¡¯s subsequent reply, Arian¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°Was the situation so intolerable for you?¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t about tolerating it or not. People like them always insist on seeing what¡¯s under my helmet, you see.¡± As if understanding his implication, Arian nodded in acknowledgment. For Aiden to approach them directly would be far too perilous. Which left only one viable option. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go instead.¡± At those words, Aiden fixed Arian with an intense gaze. Chapter 145 Some time later, in front of the Liberation Front¡¯s barricade... Arian, who had entered the Liberation Front¡¯s base separately from her companions, emerged from behind that gate while heaving a deep sigh. It had been no more than an hour since she had parted ways with the group. Yet within that brief period, Arian¡¯s face was etched with evident fatigue. ¡°My gun.¡± Arian extended her hand towards the sentry stationed at the barricade. In response, the sentry returned the pistol they had confiscated from her before allowing her entry. After receiving it, Arian walked along the road ahead before veering into a narrow alleyway. There stood an abandoned small business district. The prearranged rendezvous point where she was supposed to rejoin her companions ¨C a former Italian restaurant. ¡°I¡¯m back.¡± Accompanied by her weary voice, Arian rejoined her comrades. The seated Sadie welcomed her return. Even Aiden, who had been standing as still as a statue, reacted to her presence. ¡°You¡¯re unharmed, I see. How did it go?¡± ¡°Just as you predicted.¡± Arian let out a wry smile. ¡°Overall, they¡¯re oppressive and authoritarian. If you had entered directly, it really would have ended badly.¡± Arian shook her head emphatically. She had made solo contact with them while posing as a junk dealer, aiming to verify the information about the Liberation Front. An endeavor Aiden couldn¡¯t undertake himself this time, unlike their usual approach. However, the process had proven more exhausting than she had anticipated. Precisely because they were the kind of organization the intelligence had suggested. ¡°After confiscating my weapons, they even went so far as to shackle me in restraints.¡± At Arian¡¯s words, Aiden let out a contemplative hum. Even accounting for their wariness towards outsiders, such actions exceeded reasonable precautions. ¡°And yet, the area for receiving junk dealer requests is located inside their base compound. If they¡¯re so afraid of outsiders that they resort to shackling them, why bother establishing it within in the first place?¡± ¡°That¡¯s because their intent isn¡¯t safety-related.¡± Aiden provided that calm explanation. It was a tactic some gangs had employed in the past. Deliberately conducting request negotiations inside their compounds, using it as a pretext to disarm the junk dealers. Leaving the junk dealers in a position where they had to discuss the request details and compensation smack in the middle of the enemy¡¯s territory, without any weapons. Naturally, during that process, the junk dealers would be under immense pressure. In other words, a ploy to gain a more advantageous position for negotiations. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s not a commonly used method. Most junk dealers would simply cut off dealings if subjected to such treatment. But... it¡¯s not so easy to do that here.¡± Apart from the Amarillo Liberation Front, there were hardly any other survivor groups in this vicinity, even on a small scale. So the junk dealers lacked alternative factions to trade with, preventing them from easily severing ties with the Liberation Front, who exploited that very fact. ¡°More importantly, were you able to receive any requests?¡± In response to Aiden¡¯s inquiry, Arian shook her head. ¡°Apparently, we need to pass some kind of test first.¡± ¡°A test?¡± ¡°They showed me a map and told me to capture the mutant marked on it.¡± Aiden¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. ¡°So the condition for granting trade rights is hunting down a designated mutant?¡± ¡°Something like that, it seems.¡± sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Tsk¨C Aiden clicked his tongue in response. It was an outrageous condition. Hunting mutants was undoubtedly one of the most difficult requests a junk dealer could undertake. While the compensation was commensurately high for such requests, using it as a mere test was unacceptable. ¡°Did they at least specify what kind of mutant it was, and how many were present?¡± ¡°No, they only provided the location.¡± Which meant the associated risks of that mutant hunt couldn¡¯t even be assessed. For all they knew, it could be something as dangerous as a Brutal making an appearance. Additionally, by not specifying a particular mutant, there was ample room for them to reject any captured specimen as ¡®not the desired target,¡¯ no matter the effort expended. ¡°...More troublesome than expected.¡± Aiden muttered those words in a low voice. While trade with them was a necessity, meekly undertaking a mutant hunt as an offering was out of the question. So Aiden posed another question, seeking additional clues. ¡°Did you uncover anything else?¡± ¡°Anything else? Ah, yes... it seems Mateo¡¯s words about the epidemic were true.¡± Mateo had mentioned unleashing an infectious disease within the Liberation Front due to contaminated water he had procured. Prompting Aiden to urge her to continue. ¡°I sensed a number of people lying in poor condition inside one of the buildings. Their physical states didn¡¯t seem favorable at all.¡± That unexpected information caused Aiden¡¯s consciousness to flare with realization. Perhaps this could serve as a clue to overcome their current predicament. After briefly pondering, Aiden soon spoke up. ¡°...I should try speaking with them directly.¡± ¡°You? How?¡± ¡°As much as I¡¯d rather not, I¡¯ll have to make use of this.¡± Aiden indicated the medical ID hung around his neck. Since an epidemic was spreading, he intended to leverage his identity as a doctor to establish trade with them. Of course, even Aiden couldn¡¯t be certain whether it would work or not. But he had no other viable options remaining. ¡°Then let¡¯s give it a try.¡± Aiden exited the restaurant building once more and approached the Liberation Front¡¯s barricade. However, even before they could reach that vicinity... ¡°Damn it all...!¡± ¡°What the hell is this place?¡± They witnessed someone being driven away from there while cursing profanities. It was... the trio of junk dealers who had entered ahead of Arian. ¡°Did they just get forced out?¡± ¡°Those people put up quite a struggle when the guards tried to shackle them. Looks like they ended up being expelled in the end.¡± Observing them, Arian spoke those words. It seemed they had caused some sort of disturbance inside. However, that didn¡¯t necessarily mean the junk dealers were in the wrong. The Liberation Front¡¯s demands had simply been unreasonable to begin with. Being disarmed, shackled, and dragged into their compound... Unless one possessed Arian¡¯s ability to easily escape such a situation, it was an intolerable condition for most. ¡°Hey, give our guns back!¡± Meanwhile, those junk dealers demanded the return of their confiscated weapons from the sentries. But the guards, without uttering a word, simply aimed their gun barrels towards them instead. Faced with that blatant threat, the junk dealers could only contort their expressions in dismay before retreating. ¡°Damn bastards...¡± Soon, the junk dealers moved away from the barricade, gritting their teeth in frustration. Observing that entire scene unfold, Arian spoke up. ¡°Do you think conversation will go well?¡± ¡°...¡± In response to that question, even Aiden couldn¡¯t envision an optimistic outcome. So, as he briefly glared at the Liberation Front¡¯s barricade... ¡°Wait a moment.¡± ...Arian, having sensed something, gestured for Aiden¡¯s attention. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Someone from the Liberation Front just approached those junk dealers we saw earlier.¡± Arian pointed towards the direction the expelled junk dealers had headed. Across the road leading away from the Liberation Front¡¯s compound. Was it possible they intended to attack the junk dealers? However, Arian shook her head at that suspicion. ¡°It was only one person who followed them.¡± A lone man had exited the Liberation Front and quietly trailed behind the junk dealers. Once they had moved a sufficient distance from the barricade, he proceeded to call out to them, requesting a conversation. And his intent was... ¡°He says he has a request to offer them.¡± It was a rather promising development for Aiden¡¯s group. That man was attempting to solicit the junk dealers with a request. However, the junk dealers, having just been forcibly expelled by the Liberation Front, naturally refused his offer. ¡°...An opportunity, it seems.¡± Those were the muttered words Aiden spoke after receiving that relayed conversation from Arian. It was precisely the kind of unanticipated opportunity they needed. While the specifics of the request were unknown, at the very least, they could attempt to engage in a proper dialogue. ¡°Let¡¯s make contact for now.¡± ¡°Got it. This way.¡± Arian guided Aiden towards the location of that man. A white male in his early thirties, standing there after the junk dealers had departed, an air of dejection about him. ¡°He was one of the sentries.¡± Aiden remarked upon confirming the man¡¯s features. For some reason, his despondent expression was unmistakably one Aiden had witnessed at the Liberation Front¡¯s entrance just earlier. Aiden motioned for his companions to hang back before approaching the man alone. ¡°Excuse me.¡± ¡°What do you want?¡± Reacting sharply to Aiden¡¯s sudden appearance, the man drew his pistol, its black muzzle aimed squarely at him. In response, Aiden raised both hands, indicating he had no intentions of fighting, before speaking. ¡°I overheard you mentioning something about seeking a junk dealer?¡± ¡°What did you say...?¡± The man¡¯s eyebrows twitched at Aiden¡¯s brazen statement. His suspicion hadn¡¯t fully dissipated yet. Understandably so. For a complete stranger to claim overhearing their prior conversation was indeed a dubious assertion. So how could Aiden convince him? It was just as Aiden was contemplating that while preparing to speak again- ¡°Hold on, are you... a doctor?¡± That the man¡¯s expression brightened as he studied Aiden¡¯s appearance more closely. His gaze had fixated upon the medical ID hanging from Aiden¡¯s neck. ¡°Aiden Lee, I was once a doctor. Now I¡¯m a junk dealer.¡± Aiden spoke those words in an emotionless tone. Upon hearing that, the man¡¯s demeanor briefly brightened. However, he soon continued while gesturing with his gun. ¡°Then... why didn¡¯t you enter the Liberation Front, and instead came to find me?¡± ¡°One of my companions went there earlier. But the conditions for receiving requests were too stringent.¡± ¡°A companion? Who?¡± ¡°A woman with black hair and red eyes. Do you remember her?¡± At Aiden¡¯s words, the man let out a derisive chuckle. The striking, yet eerily unsettling, impression that girl had made was clearly etched into his mind. ¡°I figured there was something odd about her, so she did have companions.¡± ¡°More importantly, it seems you require a doctor?¡± ¡°...Yeah.¡± Finally ready to engage in conversation, the man lowered his gun. He then led Aiden to a nearby pharmacy. After further ensuring no one else was in the vicinity, he reluctantly opened his mouth. ¡°Let me make this clear first ¨C this is a personal request. Don¡¯t breathe a word of it to the Liberation Front, understood?¡± The man repeatedly emphasized the same point to Aiden several times. It seemed this personal request was an act in violation of their regulations. Despite recognizing that, Aiden simply nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°Understood. But... what is your name?¡± ¡°...Parker Hemington.¡± ¡°Alright. So what do you need?¡± ¡°Medicine. A cure for the epidemic spreading within the Liberation Front. That¡¯s what I need.¡± Parker spoke those words with evident desperation. Aiden briefly studied his complexion but didn¡¯t detect any signs of illness. Perhaps it was Parker¡¯s family or friends whose condition was poor. So Aiden continued his questioning. ¡°Do you know the name of the disease?¡± ¡°Typhoid fever...? Something like that, I heard.¡± ¡°Typhoid fever? Are you certain about that?¡± ¡°It should be. We even have a doctor on our side. That was their diagnosis.¡± Aiden nodded at Parker¡¯s words. Typhoid fever was a waterborne infectious disease. Which aligned to some degree with Mateo¡¯s testimony about unleashing an epidemic by delivering contaminated water to the Liberation Front. Additionally, typhoid fever could be adequately treated with quinolone antibiotics alone. Meaning the situation could potentially improve significantly if only the necessary medicine was available. So Aiden asked him a question. ¡°You mentioned having a doctor. Wouldn¡¯t they know what specific medication is needed?¡± ¡°Yeah, like knowing matters when we don¡¯t have any medicine.¡± Parker¡¯s expression turned grim. He gestured towards the rank insignia on his right arm. ¡°Do you know what this is?¡± ¡°A sergeant¡¯s rank insignia.¡± ¡°Exactly. In the Liberation Front, medicine is distributed starting from the highest ranks. By the time it reaches lowly guards like me, it¡¯ll be too late.¡± Aiden nodded his head. It was a common reason that didn¡¯t need further explanation. ¡°So that¡¯s why you made a separate request. I understand the situation. Then what exactly do I need to do? Should I search the western hospital district?¡± ¡°Not there. It must have already been thoroughly looted. So... do you have a map?¡± Aiden nodded and took out a map of Amarillo. He had already found it while searching the small towns on the way here. Parker pointed to an unexpected place on the map that Aiden hadn¡¯t anticipated. It was a leisure district, far from not only the city center but also the hospital. It was an area barely outside the boundary of Amarillo, with a movie theater, water park, amusement park, etc. A place where things completely unrelated to medicine were gathered. ¡°Why would there be medicine here?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a bit of a long story... The large western hospital and that area you were going to originally was the stronghold of a gang. They monopolized the medicine in Amarillo and traded with us.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°But there was a problem in the middle, and as a result, about six months ago, there was a war with the Liberation Front. The gang, pushed back in that fight, immediately moved their base to this leisure district, taking all their supplies.¡± So that¡¯s how the medicine ended up here. Aiden continued with the next question. ¡°So is the gang here now?¡± ¡°No, they¡¯re gone now. They were eaten by zombies.¡± For Aiden, it was rather fortunate. Fighting zombies was better than dealing with a gang. But that wasn¡¯t the only problem. ¡°But that¡¯s not the end of it. Our Liberation Front tried to recapture those supplies after the gang was destroyed. Because we lacked medicine. And... we failed three times.¡± ¡°Sounds quite dangerous.¡± ¡°It was. But it¡¯s okay now. The number of zombies has decreased considerably through those attempts.¡± Perhaps worried that Aiden might back out, Parker quickly added. Aiden tilted his head. ¡°Decreased? Is there any basis for that?¡± ¡°Of course. The Liberation Front¡¯s fourth search party is currently there. There¡¯s a slight gain. The small amount of medicine currently circulating in the Liberation Front all comes from there.¡± ¡°Hmm...¡± ¡°So we have a chance too. We just need to swipe a can of medicine while the search party and zombies are fighting. You know what I mean?¡± Parker spoke as if it was nothing, but it wasn¡¯t as easy as he said. It meant having to avoid the eyes of both the zombies and the Liberation Front¡¯s search party simultaneously. However, on the contrary, it wasn¡¯t a task difficult enough to refuse. So Aiden immediately moved on to the next topic. ¡°Then what will you give me as compensation?¡± ¡°Everything I have. You see these?¡± Parker pointed to the gun and ammo belt he was carrying. There were spare magazines and two grenades attached to it. ¡°Whether it¡¯s the ammunition or the grenades I¡¯m carrying, if you just bring the medicine, I¡¯ll give it all to you.¡± It was a reasonably good deal for simply exchanging a can of medicine, but considering the situation of having to face the Liberation Front¡¯s search party, the compensation was woefully insufficient. Moreover, simple weapons weren¡¯t what Aiden wanted at the moment. Aiden shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s not enough. It may be just one can of medicine to retrieve, but it¡¯s a task that requires moving while avoiding zombies and people.¡± ¡°Not enough? Then... what more should I give you?¡± ¡°I want to formally trade with the Liberation Front. Is there no way?¡± Aiden needed to secure not only blood and gasoline but also various other items through continuous trade with them, not just this one time. Above all, the most urgent thing was vehicle maintenance. At the very least, he wanted to show the vehicle of Aiden¡¯s group to a vehicle technician and check what the problem was and whether repair was possible. But Parker slightly frowned as if it was a difficult request. ¡°Can¡¯t you just receive goods? That¡¯s not easy for me either. It¡¯s the Liberation Front¡¯s rule to only give trading rights to junk dealers who have passed the test. I can¡¯t break that.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯d like to at least take that test within a reasonable level.¡± Parker scratched his head and let out a short sigh. With a furrowed brow, he barely nodded after a long deliberation. ¡°I should be able to do that much. The officer in charge owes me a debt. Of course, it won¡¯t be simple.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s add that as additional compensation.¡± Parker nodded as if agreeing. Having finished the important negotiation, Aiden discussed a few more details and returned to his companions. Chapter 146 The next day. Aiden was heading to Tower Square, a leisure district adjacent to Amarillo that Parker had mentioned. Aiden was alone in the car. He judged that it would be better to act alone, as he may need to move stealthily to avoid not only people but also zombies. Guuuuu- With a strange engine sound like an old bear sleep-talking, the car carrying Aiden stopped at Tower Square. He had arrived at the north side of Tower Square. Behind him was a large movie theater. The name of the theater was prominently displayed in green letters on a black background, covering one side of the building. There were also wide parking lots and abandoned vehicles scattered around it. However, that wasn¡¯t the direction Aiden needed to go, so he just checked for any risk factors and turned his gaze the other way. Across from the movie theater was a shopping street. It had the form of identical 5-story buildings stretching long on both sides, with a wide square in the middle. It was clearly a place intentionally created by some company or organization. No zombies were seen on top of that. But the streets were just as destroyed. Broken windows and collapsed walls could be seen here and there, and the sidewalk blocks that should have been clean were also hideously torn up. Also, most of the benches in the middle square were broken, and it was difficult to find intact street trees as they were snapped. It was a sight that was hard to create with just one or two battles. It seemed that it wasn¡¯t a lie that the liberation group had sent search parties here three times. Just as Aiden was about to take a step with that thought in mind... ¡°...!¡± At the sudden gunshots, Aiden hurriedly hid behind the vehicle in front. But the shooting continued. It seemed to be heard intermittently, but several types of gunshots also burst out in succession. Still, no bullets came and hit this way. The shooting wasn¡¯t directed at Aiden. Only after that assurance did Aiden carefully move his feet again. ¡°...He said the fourth search party was here.¡± Aiden muttered like that and threw a glance in the direction of the gunshots. The distance of the gunshots was somewhat far. Judging by the location, the battlefield was probably the water park beyond the shopping street where Aiden had to go. If the search party of the liberation group also came to find medicine, it was an inevitable encounter unless they were annihilated. Aiden¡¯s pace quickened a bit. He soon found a sign at the end of the shopping street. It was from a famous restaurant brand. According to the information obtained in advance, the water park, the destination, was right near here. So Aiden clung to the building and looked beyond it. Then, as informed, the water park building came into view. A huge building, incomparable in both height and width to the stores. It had more than 8 floors, and perhaps because of the high floor height, its total height was more than double that of the 5-story store building. In front of it were corpses that were either zombies or humans. Among them, the remains of particularly huge mutated variants could also be seen. Bigfoot, Hedgehog, and several Stingers. Three kinds of mutants were scattered here. As if hinting at the fierce battle with them, the devastated landscape was a bonus. But no people were seen anywhere. It seemed they were all deployed in the battle inside the building without any room to be wary of outside intruders. Inside that building, gunshots and explosions kept erupting. Now that the distance was closer, in addition to that, even the shrieks of zombies could be heard. And in the midst of that... ¡°Kiaaaaa!¡± A rending scream that seemed to shake the skull was added. This noise, which was enough to slightly crumple even Aiden¡¯s expression inside the helmet, was definitely from a variant called a Siren. Its scream gathers zombies and mutants, and makes nearby people faint. Inside a building, its power becomes even more fatal, so it is an extremely tricky mutant if the location is unknown. Perhaps because of that. The growls of the zombies, which had been overwhelmed by the gunshots, pierced the sky. In contrast, the gunshots from the humans stopped for a moment, and only someone¡¯s screams were heard occasionally. ¡°Aaargh!¡± Then, a person who had been staggering on the broken glass wall of the third floor while covering his ears fell. Unfortunately landing on a sharply cut roadside tree, he was pierced through the chest and died instantly. ¡°...¡± Aiden, who had been watching such a sight, ran to the entrance without delay. The battle was in the midst of a catastrophe. Now was the chance for Aiden. He entered the entrance. What greeted him was a wide lobby. Fortunately, there were only ordinary zombies gathered by the noise. No mutants were seen. So Aiden raised the face cover of his helmet and made his way through the zombies. First, Aiden examined the building summary attached to the corner of the lobby. The entrance to the water park and related facilities were on the 1st floor, a shopping mall was on the 2nd and 3rd floors, and guest rooms serving as a resort were from the 4th floor. The swimming pool befitting the name of the water park was spread wide behind the building. ¡°...¡± In this building structure, the place where medicine would be... was indeed the shopping mall located on the 2nd and 3rd floors. The rooms are too small to store supplies. The pool is wide but outdoors, so it is also not suitable for storing goods. So he judged that the shopping mall located in the middle was suitable to serve as a warehouse. But a battle was in full swing there now. No matter how much he takes advantage of the chaos, it¡¯s impossible to search while avoiding bullets flying from all sides, mutants, and human eyes. So Aiden decided to first search the rooms on the 4th floor and above, putting off the shopping mall search. In a gang of a certain scale, it is extremely dangerous to gather and store all supplies in one place. So it was common to have an auxiliary warehouse, and such an auxiliary warehouse was likely to be in the rooms as well. Aiden didn¡¯t need a lot of medicine anyway, so it made sense to aim for that side. Of course, there was a possibility that mutants were hiding in the rooms as well. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But most of them would have been drawn downstairs by the noise. So the risk was incomparably lower than the shopping mall. ¡°Hmm...¡± Aiden found his way up. There was a central staircase in the middle of the building leading to the shopping mall, but it was too open to use. Then the next best choice was the emergency stairs located at both ends of the building. Gunshots, screams, and explosions were still noisy upstairs. Aiden ran through the inside of the building, taking advantage of the noise. The ordinary zombies that would have reacted to Aiden¡¯s noisy movement if the surroundings were quiet, were unable to come to their senses due to the sounds bursting from all sides. He soon reached the emergency stairs. Inside, some zombies were trapped, banging on the walls and doors as if they were going to break them, not caring that their hands and heads were injured. Aiden pushed past them and went upstairs. And just as he reached the 3rd floor... ¡°-!¡± An unexpected being appeared in front of Aiden¡¯s eyes. A monster about the size of an ordinary zombie, but with a mouth torn to its ears. It was a Siren. The two who suddenly faced each other in the narrow stairwell glared at each other for a very short moment. ¡°Kee-.¡± Soon the Siren¡¯s large mouth moved. It opened wide as if it was about to scream right away, and... Twack! Aiden thrust his sword into that open mouth. There was no need to think deeply. The Siren¡¯s cry could harm Aiden, even if not as much as humans. The creature, pierced from the back of its neck to its brain, collapsed on the spot as if it were crumbling. The zombies who witnessed this immediately rushed at Aiden. But the ones coming up the stairs one after another in the narrow staircase were no match for him. ¡°Kiih...!¡± Zombies stabbed by the sword and with their heads smashed by the ax handle toppled over the stairs. The total number was eight. It was an unexpected battle, but it wasn¡¯t all bad for Aiden since he was able to take care of one troublesome mutant. Having cleared the stairwell, Aiden finally entered the room on the 4th floor. As he expected, the 4th floor was quite deserted. In addition to the emergency stairs, there was a central staircase connecting the 3rd and 4th floors, so most of the zombies seemed to have gone downstairs through it. Aiden immediately began searching the rooms. There were about thirty rooms on one floor. Also, most of the room doors were open. Aiden opened and checked those rooms one by one. Among them, there were rooms with zombies inside, and rooms full of useless wooden boxes. Finally, at the end of the 4th floor, he found a room. There were some medicines inside. ¡°This is...¡± Aiden roughly examined the medicines in the room. It wasn¡¯t the antibiotics he was looking for. However, upon confirming this, Aiden quickly realized something. ¡°They only collected narcotic painkillers.¡± Perhaps there was someone with expertise among the gang that was here. The medicines were quite systematically separated. It was very fortunate for Aiden. If the drugs had been mixed up haphazardly, it would have taken quite a lot of time whenever he found a room where medicines were stored. Having confirmed this, Aiden sped up his search of the rooms. He checked the inside of the rooms with open doors, and if there were medicines, he just scanned the types. There were also occasionally locked rooms, but he didn¡¯t bother trying to open them. Aiden moved quickly. After less than 30 minutes of searching through the 4th, 5th, and 6th floors, Aiden finally found the medicine he was looking for. In one of the middle rooms on the 6th floor, quinolone antibiotics were piled up in bundles. Aiden took an appropriate amount and left the room. He quickly went down the emergency stairs and soon passed through the 3rd floor section where the shopping mall was. Before long, the types of gunshots had significantly decreased. Not only that, but the groans of the zombies had also diminished. Perhaps the battle had reached its final stages. With that thought, Aiden was about to go down the stairs. ¡°Aah!¡± ¡°Jace!¡± Someone¡¯s scream was heard right next to him. Beyond the tightly closed emergency stairwell door. It seemed that a battle was taking place on the other side. ¡°...¡± Aiden stopped for a moment and focused on the sound. He didn¡¯t know how many members of the search party were originally deployed here, but it seemed that there were only three left now. On the other hand, the zombie they were fighting... was just one. But it seemed to be a mutant. Bang! Was the identity of it... a Wielder? Every time it struck the building with something heavy, the flowing impact was conveyed not only by sound but also by touch. At this, Aiden¡¯s mind worked busily. If the Liberation Front search party could defeat the zombie, there was no room for Aiden to intervene. But if it was the opposite, the story would be different. Wasn¡¯t Aiden in a situation where he needed an internal contact point to deal with the Liberation Front? To do this, it would be enough to help them defeat the mutant, or at least allow the few soldiers to escape. Of course, given the nature of the Liberation Front, there was also a chance that it wouldn¡¯t go as Aiden thought, but you never know until you try. Aiden quietly lowered the face cover of his helmet. ¡°...¡± Aiden carefully opened the emergency stairwell door slightly and looked outside. Then, a large Wielder appeared on the wide open shopping mall corridor. Also, zombies and people were dead here and there in such corridors and stores. ¡°Damn it...!¡± Two people were visible behind the Wielder. A man holding a pistol was aiming the muzzle at the Wielder. And the woman holding a rifle was looking at her gun with a defeated expression. Judging from her appearance, it seems that the rifle bullets had all run out. ¡°Graaah!¡± The Wielder moved towards them. The creature, grasping the ankle of a nearby fallen mannequin, rushed at the man while holding it high. The man pulled the trigger of the pistol in his hand. The pistol spewed fire several times, but it couldn¡¯t stop the Wielder¡¯s charge. ¡°Tsk...!¡± Seeing this, Aiden clicked his tongue and rushed out of the emergency stairs. Aiden sensed that the situation wasn¡¯t good. With just an ordinary pistol, it would be impossible to pierce the Wielder¡¯s skull. And as expected. Squelch! With an unpleasant noise, the mannequin swung by the Wielder exploded, scattering fragments in all directions. The man who had been underneath was nowhere to be seen. Only the red stain on the broken marble floor of the shopping mall deepened. Seeing her companion turned into a handful of blood, the woman¡¯s expression distorted. ¡°Grrr...!¡± Meanwhile, the Wielder fumbled around, looking for a weapon to replace the broken mannequin. Soon, the creature grasped a new weapon. A weapon with a piece of broken concrete attached to the end of a thick rebar. As if it quite liked it, the Wielder immediately looked at the woman. The woman gritted her teeth and stepped back, but the brief time the creature took to change weapons was a variable. Tatatat! From behind the Wielder, a storm of 5.56mm bullets tore at its back. Even a Wielder couldn¡¯t help but stagger at the threatening attack. It immediately turned its gaze. Then, Aiden came into the creature¡¯s view. He was holding a rifle in one hand and a pistol in the other. ¡°Graaah!¡± Even in front of that, the Wielder charged without hesitation. The magazine of the rifle was already empty. And the pistol was no threat to the Wielder. The faint reason remaining in the monster judged so. But Aiden¡¯s pistol was by no means the same as the one the man had. Instead of a small muzzle that wouldn¡¯t even be visible properly, a huge muzzle like a deep trap squarely aimed at the Wielder. And from inside it- Bang! With a roar, a bullet from an elephant gun, incomparable to ordinary pistol bullets and said to silence even elephants, shot out and pounced on the Wielder. Its head, small compared to its body, completely caved in, and the Wielder¡¯s huge body fell backwards. Chapter 147 ¡°...¡± Aiden briefly glared at the fallen Wielder. Just in case it showed any signs of movement. However, the Wielder¡¯s brain had clearly been obliterated, and after confirming that, Aiden shifted his gaze towards the woman beyond it. She was an African American woman in her mid-twenties. After witnessing the gruesome remains of the man who had just been killed by the Wielder, she had tightly shut her eyes, overwhelmed by the grisliness of the scene. Aiden stepped over the Wielder¡¯s corpse and approached her. ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°Yes... I¡¯m okay...¡± As she looked towards Aiden, her expression gradually morphed into one of bewilderment. She had likely initially assumed he was one of her companions before realizing that wasn¡¯t the case. ¡°...Who are you, exactly?¡± The woman mechanically aimed the rifle she was holding towards Aiden. Aware that her weapon¡¯s magazine was empty, Aiden casually continued speaking. ¡°I¡¯m just a passing junk dealer.¡± ¡°...¡± The woman¡¯s gaze still regarded Aiden with evident distrust. In response, Aiden let out a brief sigh before attempting to converse with her. * * * Some time later... After finally lowering Keira Jones¡¯ guard, a member of the Liberation Front, Aiden was listening to her recount the events that had transpired here. ¡°...That¡¯s how it happened.¡± At the end of her explanation, Aiden nodded. The Liberation Front had dispatched a scouting party numbering over a hundred individuals to this location. While not an excessive amount, for an organization with a total strength barely exceeding a thousand, it was a substantial investment. ¡°My condolences. The losses seem quite severe.¡± Aiden spoke those words as he surveyed their surroundings. While no dedicated lighting sources were present, the interior of this shopping mall with its glass walls provided ample illumination, revealing a harrowing scene. Not a single surface was untouched by blood splatters, nor a floor unstained by scattered viscera. A poignant depiction of the ferocious battle between zombies and humans that had unfolded here. Moreover, this building now remained deathly silent. According to Keira, she was the sole survivor among over a hundred people the Liberation Front had committed here. An immense hemorrhage for their organization. No matter what supplies they might have secured, such combat losses were likely a far greater detriment. ¡°It¡¯s all... because of that person.¡± In response, Keira gritted her teeth and muttered those words as if reciting a curse. Perhaps referring to a comrade whose actions had contributed to this failure. Unable to follow the abrupt shift in topic, Aiden simply waited for her to continue. ¡°That bastard Nelson is the one to blame for this...!¡± However, unexpectedly, the target of Keira¡¯s cursing was none other than the leader of her own Liberation Front. As Wielder¡¯s bodily fluids spattered across his helmet¡¯s visor, Aiden wiped it clean with his sleeve before speaking up. ¡°Seems you harbor a lot of resentment towards your organization.¡± ¡°Resentment? Ha...¡± Aiden probed gently, but Keira merely let out a deep sigh, showing no inclination to elaborate further. Perhaps judging Aiden, an outsider, as someone she shouldn¡¯t divulge such matters to. In that case, Aiden inwardly attempted to deduce the reasons behind Keira¡¯s discontent himself. For a frontline combatant like her to criticize the command would typically stem from one of two causes: Either inadequate supplies or doubts about the operation itself. In other words, a belief that the overall unit management was mishandled. However, judging by the scattered weapons and Keira¡¯s own armaments, supply issues didn¡¯t seem to be a factor. Additionally, having been deployed from their base just a few hours away, shortages of food or water were equally unlikely. Which left only one possible answer. ¡°Could it be that the operation was reckless from the start?¡± Aiden posed that question as he surveyed the gruesome corpses strewn about. While he didn¡¯t know exactly what the Liberation Front had sought here, the outcome had ultimately been the mutual annihilation of both their scouting party and the zombies. One could argue they had achieved victory by securing whatever supplies remained. However, by any measure, the losses far outweighed the gains from such a Pyrrhic victory. His speculation seemed to hit the mark, as Keira immediately reacted to Aiden¡¯s words. ¡°Of course! That bastard sent us here despite knowing there were mutants lurking!¡± The previously tight-lipped Keira immediately responded. And once her floodgates had opened, her words continued to pour forth unabated. ¡°This was a place they had already failed to secure three times prior. The command undoubtedly knew full well how dangerous it was. We shouldn¡¯t have come here. But that idiot James insisted on it for some self-serving bullshit about ¡®doing it for others.¡¯ I warned against it, but that fool...¡± Her harsh rant trailed off as Keira trudged over to the spot where the man she had mentioned lay dead, his remains a gory mess. She then slumped down in front of his corpse. In that somber atmosphere, Keira¡¯s gaze wavered with emotion. After briefly observing her, Aiden spoke up in a level tone. ¡°But weren¡¯t you in need of medicine? I heard there was a disease spreading within the Liberation Front.¡± ¡°...You seem to know quite a lot for just a passing junk dealer.¡± Keira muttered those words in a dejected manner. ¡°Yes, that was the pretext. That we needed to secure this place to obtain medicine for the outbreak. But it was all a lie.¡± ¡°A lie, you say?¡± ¡°A fabrication. Just look at the timing. After the third scouting party was annihilated and suspicions started arising, suddenly there¡¯s a disease outbreak. Does that really seem like a coincidence?¡± As she spoke, Keira rummaged through the tattered remnants of James¡¯ clothing. Eventually, she found something within ¨C likely a pendant belonging to her deceased comrade, salvaging his personal effects. ¡°Then why is Nelson so obsessed with this place? A leader wouldn¡¯t intentionally sacrifice their own people without reason.¡± ¡°What reason could there be? Obviously, it¡¯s so he can survive on his own.¡± Keira spat out those words. She rose from her crouched position and proceeded to check the remains of another fallen comrade. ¡°I¡¯ve heard rumors that Nelson is suffering from some kind of illness.¡± ¡°An illness?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know the exact details. The only doctor in the Liberation Front is his personal physician, and that guy is a complete quack.¡± ¡°So the Liberation Front lacks the necessary medicine to treat his condition...¡± Aiden trailed off, allowing Keira to infer the rest. In response, she merely offered a derisive snort. ¡°...Are you certain about that?¡± ¡°If I was certain, I would have confronted Nelson instead of coming here.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°I have my suspicions, but no concrete evidence. Nothing to pin on him. That¡¯s the problem. If I had voiced these accusations within the Liberation Front, his supporters would have likely tried to kill me.¡± Keira¡¯s tone was self-deprecating. Mere baseless ramblings voiced before an utter stranger of a junk dealer, devoid of any credibility. However, Aiden didn¡¯t entirely dismiss her conjectures as groundless. As she had stated, there had been three prior failed attempts here. No matter how desperately they needed medical supplies, sacrificing such manpower would have been an excessive investment for any survivor group. And this latest attempt was no exception. The previous failures should have provided them with a reasonable estimate of the zombie presence they would encounter here. Yet they had forcibly deployed a force doomed to mutual annihilation, clearly not for the Liberation Front¡¯s benefit, but driven by some other motive to secure this location¡¯s supplies. ¡°Are you a lieutenant?¡± Aiden inquired, indicating the rank insignia on Keira¡¯s arm. While not a particularly high rank in a conventional military, the Liberation Front¡¯s highest rank was merely that of colonel. So Keira¡¯s position was the third-highest, implying her status wasn¡¯t insignificant. ¡°A lieutenant? What a joke. Four years ago, I was just a violin player. What kind of lieutenant does that make me?¡± Although Keira dismissed it, her rank still held meaning for Aiden. ¡°There¡¯s a favor I¡¯d like to ask.¡± At Aiden¡¯s direct statement, Keira¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly. However, soon recalling his profession as a junk dealer, she opened her mouth with a wry smile. ¡°Right, you said you were a junk dealer. You want payment, is that it?¡± ¡°You catch on quickly.¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t really have much to offer...¡± ¡°I want to formally trade with the Liberation Front. As a junk dealer, I¡¯d like you to enable me to receive requests from your organization.¡± Having voiced his request, Aiden looked Keira squarely in the eye. Of course, this was something he had also asked of Parker, the original client for this request. However, the chances of this request being accepted were undoubtedly higher coming from Keira. The difference between a sergeant¡¯s and a lieutenant¡¯s rank, a sentry and a combatant¡¯s respective roles ¨C within the Liberation Front hierarchy, their standings were incomparable. So to increase his chances of success, Aiden had made this request of Keira instead. Even if it meant forfeiting Parker¡¯s offered compensation, it wasn¡¯t a significant enough loss to be concerned about. ¡°...¡± Meanwhile, Keira seemed to deeply contemplate Aiden¡¯s request, silently salvaging her fallen comrades¡¯ personal effects. After retrieving a few more items, she finally opened her mouth with a sigh. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to them about it. But I don¡¯t recommend getting involved with that bastard.¡± ¡°I have no choice. I¡¯m a junk dealer, after all.¡± As a junk dealer, his livelihood depended on accepting requests.Regardless of personal preferences, he had to trade with the Liberation Front and their leader, Nelson. Seeming to understand his rationale, Keira simply nodded. ¡°Alright, then... do you also need an escort?¡± Aiden added that he intended to depart from this place. ¡°I would appreciate it.¡± Keira¡¯s response was inevitable. Having expended all her ammunition and lost her comrades, she had no other viable option. And so, they exited the water park premises. Heading back towards the Liberation Front¡¯s base once more. ¡°Ah, right. It might take a day or two for the results. But... where are you currently staying? I¡¯ll need to inform you of the outcome.¡± In response to Keira¡¯s question, Aiden briefly contemplated. While it was only a temporary shelter, he was hesitant to reveal the location where he and his companions were residing. However, Amarillo ultimately fell under the Liberation Front¡¯s territory. Any attempt at concealment would be futile, as they could easily locate it if they truly wished. ¡°A small church south of your base. There¡¯s a park nearby.¡± ¡°Ah, I know the place. Alright, I¡¯ll let you know once I have permission.¡± And so, Aiden and Keira promised to reunite once matters had been settled. * * * The next morning, at Aiden¡¯s group¡¯s temporary base... ¡°Someone¡¯s approaching.¡± Not long after sunrise, Arian spoke up with a sharp tone. Aiden, who had been maintaining his firearms, immediately reacted. ¡°People?¡± ¡°Yes. Quite a few of them. Around a dozen, approaching from the north.¡± Aiden¡¯s brow furrowed as he retrieved his helmet. The north was the direction of the Liberation Front¡¯s base. Could these be forces dispatched from there? It wasn¡¯t an impossibility. Just the previous day, he had informed Keira, a Liberation Front member, of this location. However, even if that were the case, this visit raised numerous perplexing questions regarding their intent. Yet Aiden didn¡¯t have time to ponder it at length. Not bothering to conceal their movements, they swiftly arrived near the church. ¡°Combat might break out. For now, Arian, protect Sadie.¡± Unable to discern their objectives, Aiden assumed the worst-case scenario, instructing his two companions to withdraw from the entrance. With a grim expression, Arian moved with Sadie towards the rear of the modest church building. ¡°...¡± Aiden positioned himself beside the door, raising his pistol as if anticipating someone to burst through at any moment. As he maintained that tense vigil- Tak tak- The sound of approaching footsteps grew increasingly closer. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Those footsteps soon halted right in front of the small church door. Then, a knock resounded. ¡°Is anyone present?¡± Contrary to Aiden¡¯s expectations, it was a cordial approach rather than an outright assault. However, he didn¡¯t let his guard down, simply allowing his voice to pass through from behind the door. ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°I am Lieutenant Harris of the Liberation Front.¡± The individual on the other side readily introduced himself without hesitation. This Harris, standing upright behind the wooden door, displayed an unusual lack of caution. As if the prospect of bullets ripping through and raining upon him hadn¡¯t even crossed his mind. However, the words that followed from Harris were even more unexpected than Aiden could have imagined. ¡°Colonel Nelson has come to commend you for yesterday¡¯s events.¡± ¡°What...?¡± Finding those words nearly impossible to believe, Aiden peered through a small window beside the door. There, he indeed witnessed an individual wearing a colonel¡¯s peaked cap among an armed escort party. And standing before them with an uneasy expression was none other than Keira. Aiden couldn¡¯t begin to comprehend how the situation had escalated to this point. The only certainty was that they didn¡¯t seem to have any hostile intentions. Of the dozen or so individuals present, most were clustered together, solely dedicated to providing security for the colonel figure. Their demeanor didn¡¯t resemble preparations for an assault on the church premises. So Aiden cautiously opened the door. Upon doing so, Harris naturally stepped back, allowing the colonel to step forward from his protective escort. A man of Northeast Asian descent in his 40s, with an unpleasantly oily demeanor. ¡°Are you the junk dealer known as Aiden Lee?¡± He inquired. Maintaining a wary stance, Aiden nodded in affirmation. Chapter 148 ¡°So it is.¡± The man standing before Aiden nodded his head in an exaggerated manner. He then extended his hand towards Aiden. ¡°I am Colonel Nelson.¡± An offer to shake hands, it seemed. Aiden lightly grasped Nelson¡¯s hand. However, observing Aiden¡¯s hand, Nelson¡¯s brow furrowed as he expressed displeasure. ¡°What an ill-mannered fellow.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t even show your face to someone requesting a greeting, keeping those gloves on instead.¡± Nelson chided Aiden with an arrogant tone and attitude. Having heard such remarks numerous times before, Aiden simply provided a straightforward response. ¡°It¡¯s for personal reasons.¡± Aiden offered no further explanation. Which seemed to cause Nelson¡¯s expression to gradually stiffen. Unable to tolerate it any longer, one of the soldiers behind Nelson spoke up. ¡°A junk dealer meeting the colonel is required to show their face. That¡¯s the rule.¡± ¡°A rule? That would be the Liberation Front¡¯s rule. And I¡¯m not part of the Liberation Front.¡± Aiden stated that matter-of-factly. However, his response only seemed to further solidify the tense atmosphere between Nelson and his soldiers. Nelson raised his eyebrows in an affronted manner, and the soldiers appeared ready to draw their weapons at any moment. The only one caught in the middle with an uncertain expression was Keira, who Aiden had saved just the previous day. It was Nelson himself who broke through that charged atmosphere. ¡°Enough. He¡¯s not wrong. This outsider isn¡¯t part of our unit, after all.¡± He spoke those words in a tone mimicking a magnanimous commander. Only after Nelson¡¯s statement did his soldiers¡¯ aggressive stances subside. He then nonchalantly continued his line of questioning. ¡°Do you have any companions?¡± In response to that inquiry, Aiden briefly pondered before nodding affirmatively. There was no point in concealing that fact from the individuals who had tracked them down here. Aiden gestured with his gaze towards the area behind him. There sat Arian and Sadie on the church pews. ¡°Are those two all you have?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. But why are you asking?¡± ¡°Then allow me to intrude for a moment.¡± At Colonel Nelson¡¯s signal, the ten soldiers accompanying him and Keira attempted to enter Aiden¡¯s group¡¯s temporary shelter. ¡°Would you step aside?¡± Nelson spoke those words to Aiden, who was obstructing the entrance. Rather than physical action, Aiden responded verbally first. ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡± ¡°There¡¯s something I need to verify. Rest assured, I won¡¯t do anything to harm you or your companions. As long as you don¡¯t interfere, that is.¡± Beneath his helmet, Aiden¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. To abruptly force their way into someone else¡¯s shelter without any prior notice... It was an exceedingly discourteous demand. However, Aiden ultimately stepped aside to allow them entry. If they truly intended to attack Aiden¡¯s group, it would be more advantageous to confront them inside rather than outside the building. Yet the actions they exhibited immediately afterwards vastly diverged from Aiden¡¯s expectations. Nelson¡¯s subordinates began searching through the modest church that served as their temporary shelter. Keira¡¯s expression became one of utter bewilderment as well. Clearly, she hadn¡¯t anticipated this situation either. ¡°Colonel, you can¡¯t possibly mean to-¡° ¡°Silence.¡± Nelson curtly cut off Keira¡¯s words with a dismissive wave of his hand. Addressing the dumbfounded Keira, who had lost her words while staring at Nelson, he added a single remark. ¡°There won¡¯t be any issues if this junk dealer has done nothing wrong, will there?¡± ¡°Wrong, you say? What do you mean by that?¡± This time, it was Aiden who posed the question. Without averting his gaze from his subordinates conducting the search, Nelson continued speaking. ¡°I¡¯ve heard the stories. That you¡¯re supposedly a doctor?¡± ¡°I merely reported the possibility.¡± Keira hurriedly interjected. It wasn¡¯t surprising that she had discerned Aiden¡¯s former profession as a physician. During their previous encounter, Aiden hadn¡¯t concealed his white coat or hospital ID from Keira. ¡°So I¡¯m asking you directly now. Well, junk dealer? Are you truly a doctor?¡± ¡°...I was, once.¡± ¡°And therein lies your error.¡± At Nelson¡¯s incomprehensible statement, Aiden fixed him with a stern gaze. Nelson continued in a lowered tone. ¡°The leisure district you were present in yesterday belongs to the Liberation Front. Naturally, any medical supplies found there are our property as well. And if you¡¯re a doctor, you would surely covet such supplies, wouldn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°...¡± It was then that Aiden realized the reason behind their abrupt intrusion this morning. While Nelson¡¯s words were undoubtedly biased, they weren¡¯t entirely without basis. Even if the Liberation Front had failed to fully reclaim that area... They had sacrificed personnel across four separate scouting attempts solely to secure that location¡¯s resources, finally managing to eliminate the zombies occupying it. From the Liberation Front¡¯s perspective, the sudden appearance of an outsider like Aiden was akin to ants swarming over a carefully prepared feast. ¡°We¡¯ve come to reclaim what is rightfully ours. Do you have anything else to say?¡± Nelson maintained his arrogant demeanor as he posed that question to Aiden. Aiden remained silent. He had plenty of retorts, but saw no need to voice them at this juncture. His innocence would soon be proven regardless. ¡°The search is complete.¡± Shortly after, the soldiers who had thoroughly inspected their shelter approached, carrying items they had discovered. Those were the medical supplies in Aiden¡¯s group¡¯s possession. Upon seeing them, Nelson¡¯s expression slightly contorted with displeasure. ¡°Is this everything?¡± ¡°Yes. We¡¯ve searched multiple times, and this is all there is.¡± What the soldiers had brought consisted solely of syringes for blood collection, bandages, disinfectants, and a modest quantity of antibiotics and painkillers. Of those items, the syringes for blood collection comprised the largest portion but held little inherent value. While the bandages and disinfectants were valuable resources, their worth paled in comparison to other medical supplies. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The antibiotics and painkillers were the most valuable, but their quantities were limited. ¡°Not much, is there?¡± As if disappointed by the unexpected outcome, Nelson let out a derisive chuckle. However, he swiftly continued speaking. ¡°But it remains an act of theft, regardless of the amount. The quantity is irrelevant.¡± Nelson gestured towards the medicine bottles. The antibiotics and painkillers were undoubtedly the ones Aiden had retrieved from the water park building the previous day. Even so, Aiden shook his head at Nelson¡¯s accusation. ¡°Calling it theft is a stretch.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°It¡¯s legitimate compensation.¡± Averting his gaze from Nelson¡¯s scrutinizing stare, Aiden indicated the woman standing nearby with a troubled expression ¨C Keira. ¡°If you had listened to this woman¡¯s report, you would know that I saved the life of one of your subordinates. And I did so by taking down a Wielder mutant, no less.¡± ¡°So what of it?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a junk dealer. If I perform a task, I deserve compensation. Or are you implying that woman¡¯s life held no value whatsoever?¡± Nelson¡¯s eyebrows twitched slightly. While he likely desired to vehemently deny Aiden¡¯s words through sheer obstinacy... Keira, the very person involved, was present here alongside the other soldiers. In a situation where morale was already wavering due to the significant casualties they had suffered the previous day... He saw no need to further invite controversy over a single outsider. More importantly, it seemed Aiden hadn¡¯t tampered with the items Nelson was most concerned about. So, with a brief sigh, Nelson chose to concede ground. ¡°...Very well. If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll grant you that concession. As you said, the lives of our unit members are paramount.¡± Nelson spoke those words with a solemn tone, as if acknowledging Aiden¡¯s perspective. However, coming from the commander who had willingly led over a hundred individuals to mutual annihilation with zombies just the day before... His demeanor struck Aiden as utterly hypocritical. ¡°Then I suppose there¡¯s nothing more to see here. Let¡¯s depart.¡± Nelson addressed his subordinates as he turned to leave. However, it was at that moment Aiden verbally called out to halt him. ¡°Wait a moment.¡± ¡°What is it now?¡± ¡°There was something else I was supposed to receive. The right to trade with the Liberation Front.¡± Hmm¨C Nelson let out a contemplative hum. But without much further deliberation, he granted Aiden¡¯s request with an air of indifference. ¡°Very well. I¡¯ll permit it. Lieutenant Harris?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll process it immediately.¡± ¡°Then I suppose that settles the matter?¡± At Nelson¡¯s words, Aiden calmly nodded in affirmation. It was only then that Nelson, along with the soldiers who had accompanied him, finally exited the church premises in a disorderly rush. In that interim, Keira, who had been fidgeting anxiously throughout, approached Aiden. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I truly didn¡¯t expect things to turn out like this.¡± Keira spoke those words to Aiden in a small voice. However, she had no need to apologize. As a member of the Liberation Front, reporting information about Aiden was simply her duty. ¡°No, it¡¯s alright. In the end, the situation resolved favorably.¡± At Aiden¡¯s reassurance, Keira lowered her head once more before departing with the soldiers. * * * Later that afternoon... Aiden was meeting with Parker, the individual who had initially requested his services from the Liberation Front. ¡°So this is the medicine?¡± Parker inquired as he examined the bottle of antibiotics Aiden had provided. ¡°That¡¯s correct. However, be aware that the treatment won¡¯t be instantaneous. It will likely take around three days before the fever starts subsiding, and about a week to return to a normal body temperature. Even after that, the medication will need to be continued for some time.¡± ¡°Oh, I see? Understood.¡± Receiving the unexpectedly thoughtful supplementary explanation atypical of an ordinary junk dealer, Parker simply nodded his head. He was newly realizing that Aiden had indeed been a doctor. ¡°Next is your compensation.¡± ¡°Sure, take whatever you want.¡± Parker offered the entire ammunition belt he had been wearing. It contained spare rifle magazines and a few grenades. Observing it, Aiden couldn¡¯t help but inquire out of lingering uncertainty. ¡°Is it really alright for you to hand over these kinds of items? As a sentry, weren¡¯t they issued to you by the Liberation Front?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. Those bastards refuse to give out even basic medicine if your rank is too low, no matter how hard you work. This is practically my wages. And if I claim I encountered zombies during patrols, they won¡¯t have any grounds to object.¡± Parker dismissed it with a casual wave of his hand, asserting he would take responsibility. Since his words rang true, Aiden collected an appropriate portion as compensation before returning the ammunition belt. ¡°Speaking of which, what about the rest? You already received the trading rights, didn¡¯t you?¡± Recalling the additional promised compensation, Parker posed that question. In truth, Aiden hadn¡¯t deemed anything else particularly suitable as an alternative. So Aiden carefully presented him with a syringe instead. ¡°Would you be willing to donate some blood?¡± ¡°My blood? Why?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t disclose the reason.¡± Aiden¡¯s firm statement caused Parker to regard him with a brief suspicious gaze. However, he soon seemed to dismiss that doubt, shrugging his shoulders as he responded. ¡°I see? Well, alright then. If that¡¯s sufficient...¡± Aiden then skillfully drew Parker¡¯s blood. Perhaps due to recognizing Aiden as a former doctor, Parker calmly observed the process before speaking up in a friendly manner. ¡°If this ends up curing my wife, I¡¯ll have her donate blood too.¡± ¡°I appreciate it.¡± Whether it was merely an empty platitude or a sincere gesture, Aiden simply accepted it with those words. And so, Parker¡¯s request had been fully resolved. Seemingly eager to administer the medicine to his wife as soon as possible, Parker hurriedly departed from their meeting location, while Aiden watched his retreating back before turning away. * * * Ten days later... During that period, Aiden¡¯s group had been accepting and fulfilling requests from the Liberation Front while preparing for their long journey ahead. However, the compensation provided by the Liberation Front was bizarrely meager. Despite Aiden and Arian actively completing two requests per day on average, it was barely sufficient to replenish their depleted supplies. Even so, Aiden¡¯s group had fortunately managed to complete their journey preparations to a reasonable extent. And today marked the final stage of those preparations. ¡°Hmph...¡± The Liberation Front¡¯s technician, who had inspected Aiden¡¯s vehicle, let out a brief sigh. An aging Native American man well into his 60s, gradually approaching elderly status. He rolled his shoulders as he turned to address Aiden. ¡°You really found yourself quite the vehicle here. This thing is incredibly old, you know.¡± ¡°Old, you say? How old exactly?¡± Aiden inquired. While he had sensed the vehicle¡¯s design exuded a distinctly classic aesthetic, he hadn¡¯t known its precise age. ¡°This model came out right around the time I first moved to Texas... so yeah, it¡¯s probably around 40 years old. Whoever owned it before must have really taken care of this thing.¡± ¡°...¡± The technician¡¯s response exceeded even Aiden¡¯s expectations. 40 years old, practically an antique. ¡°So will you be able to repair it?¡± ¡°Nah, not unless we completely replace the engine. You said it keeps overheating and stalling, right? Well, this model has some fundamental design flaws with the engine that cause those issues.¡± Aiden let out a contemplative hum. Vehicle repairs had been his top priority, but it seemed there was no viable solution. As if offering consolation, the technician continued speaking. ¡°That said, if we replace some consumables like the engine oil and coolant, we might be able to reduce the frequency of those overheating incidents. It¡¯s the best we can do, so shall we give it a try?¡± Aiden nodded in agreement. While unsatisfactory, it appeared he would have to settle for that level of repair. Acquiring an entirely new vehicle was hardly a simple task, after all. Wooooooong! After completing the vehicle maintenance, Aiden climbed into the driver¡¯s seat and started the engine. Indeed, the engine sound seemed to have improved compared to its previous condition, if only slightly. ¡°Well, take care out there.¡± Bidding farewell to the technician, Aiden drove the vehicle out from the Liberation Front¡¯s base premises. Having navigated the arduous procedures to exit once more, he returned to the church serving as their temporary shelter, where his companions awaited. ¡°I suppose it¡¯s time we departed from here as well.¡± Aiden muttered those words as he stepped out of the vehicle upon arriving at the church. By now, they had essentially concluded their business in Amarillo. Whooooosh- A gust of wind blew in at that opportune moment. The wind¡¯s chill had transitioned from merely cool to outright cold. The autumn, which had approached the cusp of summer not long ago, had swiftly advanced towards winter. Should their next destination be westward, as expected...? Just as Aiden had contemplated discussing that with his companions- Bang! The sound of distant gunfire reached his ears. There was no need for Aiden to be on heightened alert ¨C the source was quite far away. So he simply gazed in the direction from which the gunshots had emanated. It was... the area where the Liberation Front¡¯s base was located, the very place Aiden had departed from earlier. And for some reason, that gunfire didn¡¯t cease after a single shot. Chapter 149 ¡°What is that sound?¡± As soon as Aiden returned to their temporary base, Arian posed that question. Undoubtedly referring to the ongoing gunfire still ringing out. However, Aiden was equally unaware of its origin. ¡°I don¡¯t know. It started right after I left the Liberation Front¡¯s base. Until then, I sensed no signs of any disturbance.¡± ¡°I see...? Then it might not be anything serious?¡± ¡°Hard to say. But... I don¡¯t have a good feeling about this.¡± Aiden spoke those words as he unconsciously gathered his previously discarded weapons at their shelter. Over the past few days of fulfilling requests, the Liberation Front Aiden had observed didn¡¯t seem like a particularly stable organization. They were plagued by chronic resource shortages. To the extent that they had neglected to deal with the mutants lurking around their base perimeter. Yet in that state, they had committed substantial resources and personnel to the leisure district in pursuit of medical supplies. As a result, internal discontent had recently erupted within the Liberation Front ¨C to the point that it had even reached Aiden, an outsider. Even so, until recently, the Liberation Front had managed to suppress such dissent through their characteristic rigid discipline. ¡°The noise is escalating steadily.¡± An edge of unease tinged Arian¡¯s voice. While the church they were residing in was separate from the Liberation Front¡¯s base, it wasn¡¯t excessively distant either. Certainly not far enough to be entirely safe if an all-out conflict had truly erupted there, even from stray gunfire. Fidgeting with his pistol, Aiden contemplated their options. Should he attempt to scout the situation first? However, merely attempting reconnaissance would carry significant risk from the outset. ¡°Hmm...¡± Aiden peered through the church¡¯s window towards the sky. It was late morning, just before noon. A bit late to still be considered morning, but ample time remained before their intended departure. ¡°Were you planning to leave?¡± Seeming to discern Aiden¡¯s thoughts, Arian inquired. Aiden nodded in affirmation. ¡°We¡¯ve concluded our business here, in any case.¡± Even before this incident, Aiden had been considering departing Amarillo either tomorrow or within the next three days at the latest. While an immediate departure hadn¡¯t been part of his original plans, they were nonetheless prepared for it. Although it meant an accelerated timetable, there were no foreseeable drawbacks or complications. So rather than risking a potentially hazardous reconnaissance, outright avoiding any unnecessary danger might be the wiser choice. ¡°What do you think?¡± After explaining his perspective, Aiden posed the question to his companions. Neither Arian nor Sadie raised any objections. They promptly began packing up their temporary lodgings. Gathering the bedrolls they had placed in a corner, loading the modest food supplies they had previously readied into the vehicle. Meanwhile, Aiden maintained his weapons and unfolded a map, identifying a safe route to exit the city in advance. ¡°I¡¯m finished over here.¡± ¡°Me too!¡± It was just as they had completed those departure preparations... ¡°Aiden!¡± That Arian¡¯s urgent voice pierced Aiden¡¯s ears, just as he was about to board their vehicle. It meant someone was approaching their location. ¡°How many?¡± ¡°...A lot. Dozens. No, the number keeps increasing.¡± At those words, Aiden¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. It was a larger contingent than expected, and their intentions were unclear. Yet he couldn¡¯t simply drive the vehicle to deter them either. Above all else, their vehicle¡¯s speed wasn¡¯t particularly rapid, and the road ahead was a straight line. If they harbored hostile intentions towards Aiden¡¯s group, they would be directly exposed to their line of fire. ¡°Let¡¯s head inside for now.¡± So Aiden concealed the vehicle behind the building before entering the church once more with his companions. Soon after, the individuals Arian had sensed approaching revealed themselves. As expected, they were members of the Liberation Front. Armed troops carrying various firearms and weapons. Moreover, their number seemed to exceed several dozen, potentially even reaching hundreds. The narrow road in front of the church was densely packed with people. ¡°...¡± Fortunately, however, they didn¡¯t seem to notice the church where Aiden¡¯s group was hiding. Those hundreds of soldiers didn¡¯t approach the vehicle parked behind the church either, simply marching silently along the road. There were no signs that they were searching for anyone specifically. As if Aiden¡¯s group held no significance whatsoever. Among that contingent, Aiden spotted a familiar face ¨C Keira. However, Keira merely glanced towards the church before immediately averting her gaze, continuing onwards. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± Arian whispered those words as she observed the scene. Aiden shook his head. He couldn¡¯t easily discern the situation unfolding or their current destination either. It was at that moment when one individual abruptly broke away from the crowd, approaching the church. An unfamiliar woman. Having reached the church¡¯s main entrance, she ultimately knocked on that door. ¡°Mr. Aiden Lee?¡± She called out Aiden¡¯s name. However, Aiden didn¡¯t respond, still unable to gauge their intentions. But the woman didn¡¯t give up there. She insisted that she meant no harm to Aiden, merely wishing to deliver something to him. ¡°Do you remember a man named Parker Hemington?¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°I¡¯m his wife, Anna Hemington.¡± The woman revealed her identity. During that exchange, Aiden had been observing the numerous soldiers passing by behind her. However, they merely glanced in this direction curiously, showing no signs of heightened alertness or hostile intent. In an attempt to test them, Aiden cautiously opened the door. ¡°What is it?¡± Aiden addressed Anna with that query. If Parker Hemington referred to the man who had requested antibiotics to treat his wife¡¯s typhoid fever... then Aiden couldn¡¯t easily discern why his wife, Anna, would seek him out here. Unexpectedly, Anna extended an item towards Aiden. ¡°Here, take this. It¡¯s the compensation my husband couldn¡¯t provide you.¡± It was a bottle containing blood. It was then that Aiden vaguely recalled the promise Parker had made in passing. That if his wife were cured, he would willingly offer her blood to Aiden as well. A statement Aiden had forgotten, having received no further contact afterwards. ¡°...Thank you.¡± Aiden cautiously accepted the bottle. Even then, the soldiers marching directly in front of the church showed no interest in their interaction whatsoever. Their piercing gazes remained fixated ahead, exuding a menacing aura yet devoid of any curiosity towards Aiden¡¯s group. Having finally confirmed their lack of hostile intent towards him, Aiden momentarily lowered his guard as he continued his line of questioning. ¡°Where is Parker, then?¡± ¡°He... is dead.¡± Anna¡¯s unexpected response caused Aiden¡¯s words to catch in his throat. She lowered her head dejectedly. ¡°It was all because of me.¡± Anna then recounted the events that had befallen Parker. Parker had obtained the medicine through his transaction with Aiden. He immediately administered the antibiotics to Anna, allowing her to recover from her sickbed before long. However, Anna¡¯s unusually rapid recovery from the disease plaguing the Liberation Front aroused the suspicions of their commanding officers. Among the many individuals afflicted with severe symptoms, Anna¡¯s recovery stood out as anomalous. It was during that period of heightened scrutiny towards Anna that she made a fateful mistake. ¡°There was a small amount of the antibiotic you provided remaining. So I tried to share it with one of my friends...¡± However, in the process, Anna¡¯s possession of those antibiotics was discovered by the Liberation Front. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As a result, Parker was interrogated about how he had obtained them. Ultimately, the fact that he had traded with an external junk dealer using the Liberation Front¡¯s supplies was exposed. ¡°But if that were the case... shouldn¡¯t there have been repercussions for me as well?¡± Aiden inquired. If his transaction with Parker had been uncovered, he should have faced retaliation from the Liberation Front as the other party involved ¨C yet there had been no such incident. In response, Anna continued her explanation. ¡°He didn¡¯t mention your name. Instead, he claimed it was another junk dealer who had already left the city.¡± ¡°Why would he do that?¡± ¡°Because you saved my life. My condition was dire, you see. If you hadn¡¯t accepted that request, I would have surely perished.¡± Aiden was rendered speechless. He had never imagined Parker would have protected him for such a reason. ¡°And... he knew it wouldn¡¯t have mattered what he said.¡± ¡°It wouldn¡¯t have mattered?¡± ¡°Parker was executed for that incident. Three days ago.¡± While trading with a junk dealer alone might have been excusable... The deciding factor was his unauthorized appropriation of the Liberation Front¡¯s supplies. It amounted to embezzlement. Even so, execution was an excessively harsh punishment, but the Liberation Front¡¯s regulations were merciless. ¡°My condolences. I never imagined things would escalate to that extent...¡± Upon hearing that, Aiden spoke in a low voice. While he couldn¡¯t be held responsible for Parker¡¯s death, his unintentional involvement was undeniable. However, Anna shook her head, as if indicating Aiden had no need to apologize. Aiden silently listened as she continued, eventually raising his gaze. There were the soldiers passing by in front of the church. ¡°Then what about them?¡± ¡°All of them are people similar to me. Those who could no longer endure the tyranny of that organization.¡± Anna spoke those words with a somber, resolute gaze. Aiden didn¡¯t inquire about the specific actions they had taken at their base, nor where they were currently heading. The answer was self-evident. ¡°In any case, thank you for accepting it. I felt uneasy about the debt my husband had left unpaid. Well, then...¡± With a melancholic expression, Anna lowered her head and turned away. By then, the soldiers¡¯ procession seemed to be nearing its end. Anna joined their rear flank, walking along the road until they disappeared from sight. ¡°Let¡¯s get moving too.¡± It was after the soldiers had passed that Aiden spoke those words. A faint urgency tinged his voice, as if intuiting the tempestuous winds soon to engulf this place ¨C or perhaps already beginning to stir. In response, Arian gave a simple nod of acknowledgment before they boarded their vehicle. The aging sedan, having barely undergone maintenance, rumbled as it advanced. Passing through a small residential area and shopping district, they soon emerged onto a broad road flanked by a park. Interstate Highway 40, leading westward out of Amarillo. Boooom! By then, the sounds emanating from within the city had escalated beyond mere gunfire into outright explosions. Flames billowed in the distance as plumes of smoke rose like clouds into the sky. Woooooong! Aiden increased their vehicle¡¯s speed. While not particularly rapid, he deemed it better to put as much distance between them and the city as swiftly as possible. And so, they managed to depart from Amarillo. The further they traveled from the city, the more the unsettling noises diminished. However, the black smoke towering into the sky remained disconcertingly visible on the horizon for an unnaturally prolonged duration. * * * Several days later... Aiden¡¯s group was still heading westward. Having already traversed over 200 kilometers of road. They had since left the state of Texas, entering New Mexico and now heading towards the new major city of Albuquerque. However, the surrounding landscape ¨C the distinct ochre-colored soil, the sparsely scattered utility poles, the brown-tinged weeds... not a single aspect seemed to have changed. ¡°...How desolate.¡± Gazing out at that scenery through the window, Arian muttered those words. As if the monotonous vista were merely a copied and pasted photograph, devoid of any appeal. Moreover, there were hardly any signs of human presence in this area either. Just as they had observed around Amarillo, the absence of people was so pronounced that it surpassed even the northeastern city of Pittsburgh, from which most residents had reportedly evacuated. ¡°Why are there so few people around here?¡± It was a question Arian had eventually posed to Aiden regarding that peculiarity. Of course, Aiden didn¡¯t know the precise reason either, as this was his first time venturing to this region as well. However, he could offer one conjecture. ¡°Probably because of LA.¡± The distance from Amarillo, where they had departed, to LA was approximately 1,700 kilometers. An immense range that no ordinary survivor could confidently traverse. If one already possessed a stable refuge, there would be no incentive to undertake such a perilous journey. However, for wanderers, plunderers, or junk dealers like Aiden who lacked a permanent haven, that distance could represent a glimmer of hope. If they could penetrate just two states ¨C New Mexico and Arizona ¨C they would reach California, where LA was located. The once seemingly distant LA had now entered their realistic scope. ¡°...¡± Which meant, while they hadn¡¯t encountered any dangers like marauders, it wasn¡¯t an entirely favorable situation for Aiden¡¯s group, who required a continuous blood supply. It was fortunate that Arian had at least replenished their reserves sufficiently in Amarillo, anticipating this eventuality. In any case, for several days now, Aiden¡¯s group had been traveling uninterrupted, steadily cruising along the roads in their sluggish vehicle. A peaceful, yet increasingly tedious, journey. Even Sadie, who typically avoided letting her guard down, was nodding off intermittently due to the prolonged monotony. After briefly observing the drowsy Sadie, Arian turned her gaze towards Aiden. ¡°So how far are we going today?¡± ¡°A place called Santa Rosa.¡± One of the small towns situated between Amarillo and Albuquerque. While unlikely to offer anything noteworthy, Arian seemed relieved it could at least be considered a town. As they traversed this desert region, the distances between populated areas had gradually increased ¨C the previous night, they had resorted to sheltering within a roadside warehouse. ¡°Ah, is that it over there?¡± Arian pointed ahead along the seemingly endless stretch of road. At the far end of that barren horizon, an aged signboard jutted out, heralding the small town as Aiden¡¯s group approached. Chapter 150 ¡°This should suffice.¡± Aiden parked their vehicle in front of a motel situated north of Santa Rosa. The Sunset Motel. A motel bearing a commonplace name that could likely be found hundreds of times across the United States ¨C this would serve as their temporary shelter for the day. ¡°I¡¯ll scout the town interior. I¡¯m leaving the perimeter securement to you two.¡± There was approximately an hour remaining until sunset. A timeframe that was far from generous for reconnoitering this small town. Therefore, Aiden divided the tasks accordingly with his companions ¨C he would arm himself and venture into the town¡¯s interior alone. ¡°...¡± The road Aiden entered was named Route 66. A four-lane thoroughfare that couldn¡¯t be considered particularly wide. However, it served as Santa Rosa¡¯s main street, with various government buildings and shops lining its path. Not long after departing from the Sunset Motel, Aiden discovered a restaurant. A single-story building with ochre-colored walls resembling sculpted clay. Instead of a conventional sign, the restaurant¡¯s name was painted in red across its facade. While an unfamiliar architectural style compared to his former home of Pittsburgh, that wasn¡¯t what had caught Aiden¡¯s attention. It was the sight within that restaurant- A lone zombie lying sprawled across one of the tables. ¡°Over there...¡± Upon noticing it, Aiden immediately approached the restaurant¡¯s interior. For a zombie to be present in such a location... It implied one of two possibilities: Either there were survivors in this town or mutants were lurking nearby. To determine the correct answer, Aiden brazenly peered through the wide-open glass windows, surveying the interior. The restaurant featured a standard layout ¨C a counter on one side, tables and chairs for two or four people arranged across the main dining area. Moreover, there didn¡¯t seem to be any apparent dangers inside. Not a single mutant, let alone an ordinary zombie, was visible. Aiden entered through the open entrance. The faint scent of an abandoned building wafted into his nostrils ¨C that distinctive musty odor. ¡°...¡± Aiden examined the zombie sprawled across the table. Upon closer inspection, its leg appeared to be broken. He crouched down for a more detailed assessment, but the precise cause of that injury eluded him. Whether it had been crushed by something or received an impact... Even as a former doctor, deciphering the traces left on a decomposing, non-human body was an impossible task. Eventually, Aiden abandoned that analysis and shifted his gaze elsewhere. Next, he observed the zombie¡¯s hands. Its fingers were also broken, but such fractures and severed digits were common occurrences for zombies who lacked any self-preservation instincts. There didn¡¯t seem to be any notable clues to discern from its hands either. Having reached that conclusion, Aiden proceeded to inspect the zombie¡¯s head. Its skull appeared outwardly intact. Aiden had expected to find some form of fracture or damage. However, upon direct examination, that wasn¡¯t the case. The zombie¡¯s skull remained uncompromised. ¡°Hmm...?¡± Puzzled by this unexpected finding, Aiden tilted his head slightly. For a zombie to cease functioning, its brain should have been destroyed ¨C yet its skull was perfectly intact. A nagging suspicion prompted Aiden to check the zombie¡¯s jaw area. And there, as he had anticipated, distinct markings were clearly visible ¨C the entry point of a blade. The telltale signs of Aiden¡¯s favored technique: thrusting a longsword upwards from beneath the jaw to bypass the skull and pierce the brain directly. A method that avoided excessive force capable of shattering the skull while providing the utmost stealth if approached quietly. However, it required considerable skill and physical strength to execute properly... which the individual who had dispatched this zombie seemed to possess, based on the evidence. ¡°Did a survivor pass through here?¡± It was the only logical conclusion ¨C this zombie had undoubtedly been killed by a human. Aiden swiftly examined the surrounding area for any additional traces. While he couldn¡¯t easily discern how long this zombie had been abandoned here... judging by the accumulated dust, it had likely been over a week at the very least. Flick! Aiden retrieved his flashlight and inspected the floor. Reasoning that if someone had entered this dust-laden establishment, their footprints would undoubtedly remain. And his deduction proved accurate. Near Aiden¡¯s current position, faint footprints of a similar size to his own were visible. Moreover, those footprints belonged to a single set. Meaning only one adult had entered here. ¡°Hmm...¡± Unmistakable evidence of human presence. However, it didn¡¯t necessarily confirm the existence of survivors in this town. It could have simply been the traces left behind by a passing wanderer. Therefore, Aiden exited the restaurant while keeping that possibility in mind. But shortly after... ¡°...There¡¯s another one.¡± Aiden muttered those words upon entering a tavern while continuing his town reconnaissance. Within the various establishments ¨C Mexican restaurants, grocery stores, and more ¨C lining Route 66... Smilar traces could be found scattered throughout, ranging from relatively fresh to disturbingly aged. And the footprint sizes all appeared to belong to the same individual. In other words, all the traces spanning over a month¡¯s time across this town seemed to have been left by a solitary person. Naturally, Aiden arrived at a reasonable conclusion: There was a lone survivor residing in this town. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°...¡± Should he attempt to make contact, then? Aiden briefly pondered that prospect. The potential benefits were undoubtedly substantial ¨C the opportunity to replenish their blood supply, for one. However, those surviving in such isolated locations often shared a particular characteristic: An extreme aversion towards outsiders. Struggling to endure alone in this zombie-infested world was an undeniably arduous endeavor. Yet for those who had chosen that path, there were bound to be compelling reasons behind their solitude. Even so, Aiden¡¯s group couldn¡¯t afford the luxury of avoiding such individuals out of caution. In these western deserts, where human presence seemed to have evaporated like a mirage, Aiden couldn¡¯t simply disregard this rare crimson oasis they had chanced upon. ¡°The most likely place for them to reside would be...¡± So Aiden began searching for locations a survivor might inhabit, initially considering government buildings and banks. While excessively spacious for a single individual, their robust construction made them ideal for fortifying into a personal stronghold ¨C far sturdier than ordinary residential dwellings. Therefore, Aiden headed to the town¡¯s city hall first. A three-story structure built from brown bricks. However, the entrance leading inside was wide open, with zombies visible through the shattered windows. ¡°Kieeeee...¡± Clearly not a place a survivor would inhabit. Even so, Aiden ventured into the interior. His objective was to locate a detailed map of this small town. Which he promptly found in an easily accessible area. A massive wall-mounted map of Santa Rosa, too large to be conveniently removed, occupied the center of the city hall¡¯s lobby. ¡°...¡± Aiden studied that map intently. In addition to the locations of various government buildings, it clearly marked the positions of banks and other key sites with meticulous detail befitting its considerable size. However, since he couldn¡¯t take it with him, Aiden simply committed the information to memory before exiting. He continued his search through the other government facilities. Next was the post office directly across the street. However, the modest post office building seemed to have been the site of an accident ¨C a vehicle had crashed through the front, with over half its chassis embedded within the structure. Not an environment conducive to finding survivors or useful supplies. Aiden promptly shifted his attention elsewhere. He subsequently inspected the courthouse, library, and two separate bank buildings, but they were mere dilapidated ruins devoid of any noteworthy findings. ¡°...Not here either, it seems.¡± The final location Aiden visited was the police station. Yet the situation there was similar. Beyond the shattered entrance, likely breached by some impact, only dim shadows and corpses were visible within the darkened interior. Clicking his tongue in frustration, Aiden raised his gaze towards the sky. The deep hues of dusk had already painted the heavens in crimson, heralding the imminent arrival of nightfall. Regrettable, but this might be his limit for today. Aiden decided to return to their temporary shelter. ¡°Over there...¡± However, in the process of leaving, Aiden happened to pass through a small shopping district. Amidst the row of buildings, both large and small, lining that street, one particular structure caught Aiden¡¯s eye. It was a modest pawnshop. ¡°A pawnshop, huh...¡± Aiden scrutinized that building more closely. Its walls, constructed from smooth white stone, appeared sturdy enough to withstand any attempts by zombies to breach them. Moreover, unlike the other structures, the windows and entrance were reinforced with exterior steel bars, leaving no gaps or openings. Arguably more fortified than even the bank he had inspected earlier. Additionally, the interior visible through those windows was conspicuously dark. The windows had been covered with opaque black curtains. And yet, this pawnshop blended seamlessly amidst the surrounding abandoned shops. While no apparent entry points into the interior were visible, its exterior appeared indistinguishable from the other deserted buildings in the area. No barricades or signs of human activity whatsoever. As if intentionally camouflaged to avoid drawing attention, untouched by human intervention. It was from that peculiar pawnshop that Aiden sensed... something, prompting him to approach it cautiously. As he neared, a long object suddenly protruded from the window obscured by those black curtains. The barrel of an extended rifle. ¡°Leave.¡± A curt warning followed, spoken in a low masculine voice. Aiden raised both hands, signaling his lack of hostile intent. ¡°I¡¯m a junk dealer, so-¡° ¡°Not needed.¡± The unidentified man curtly cut off Aiden¡¯s words in a harsh tone. Just as Aiden had suspected, it seemed. The man refused to engage in any dialogue or trade with Aiden whatsoever. If persuasion was required... ¡°...¡± After a brief glance towards the sky, Aiden slowly retreated. Whatever method of persuasion might be necessary, now wasn¡¯t the time nor place to attempt it. Nightfall was already imminent. There was insufficient time remaining to pursue any further actions. So Aiden obediently withdrew for the time being. There was no need to be hasty. He had already identified the man¡¯s hiding place. All that remained was to make another attempt the following day. And so, Aiden departed from the street where the pawnshop was located. Until he had completely exited that area, the rifle barrel continued tracking Aiden¡¯s movements from within the pawnshop¡¯s interior. * * * The next day... ¡°So you intend to approach him directly?¡± After hearing Aiden¡¯s account of the survivor present in this town, Arian posed that question. Aiden nodded in affirmation. ¡°But you said he refused to even speak with you. Isn¡¯t that too risky?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a risk we¡¯ll have to take. We can¡¯t afford to carelessly squander even a single person¡¯s worth of blood at this juncture.¡± Arian let out a small sigh. She couldn¡¯t refute that aspect. Ever since crossing into the western regions, the preciousness of their blood supply had become acutely apparent to her as well. ¡°Then we should accompany you.¡± ¡°You two...?¡± Aiden had intended to attempt contact with the survivor alone once more today. Since it involved a single individual, he had judged that multiple people might only raise the survivor¡¯s guard unnecessarily. However, Arian raised a different perspective on the matter. ¡°You never know. You mentioned finding that person¡¯s hideout yesterday. If they¡¯re truly meticulous, they might have a secondary base or traps set up, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s...¡± Aiden let out a contemplative hum in response to Arian¡¯s observation. Based on the traces of zombie hunting activity, the survivor residing here was clearly no amateur. Moreover, their choice of hiding spot and the manner in which it was camouflaged from the exterior suggested an exceptionally cautious disposition. Arian¡¯s speculation was a reasonable assumption to consider. ¡°...You may have a point.¡± Ultimately, Aiden accepted Arian¡¯s proposal. If the survivor had indeed prepared any traps, her assistance would be invaluable in detecting them. Even if they had simply relocated their base, Arian¡¯s aid would be crucial in locating the new position. And so, Aiden, Arian, and Sadie headed towards the small shopping district where the pawnshop was situated. ¡°Over there.¡± At the end of that street, Aiden indicated the building housing the pawnshop. Upon noticing it, Arian raised an eyebrow slightly. ¡°It¡¯s vacant?¡± She testified that not only the pawnshop¡¯s interior but the entire shopping district was devoid of any human presence. Had they truly relocated their base already? Or had they simply ventured out for a morning scouting excursion? To ascertain the situation, Aiden approached the pawnshop¡¯s entrance. He grasped the door handle and pulled. The door slid open with ease, far too effortlessly. ¡°...They really fled.¡± The interior was already empty, devoid of any traces ¨C as if it had been unoccupied from the very beginning. ¡°Now what?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll have to search for them. But they likely haven¡¯t ventured outside the town limits.¡± ¡°If we¡¯re searching, where should we begin?¡± Even with Arian¡¯s abilities, indiscriminately scouring the entire town would be inefficient. At worst, they risked passing each other without ever making contact. Therefore, Aiden attempted to deduce the most probable locations where this man might reside. ¡°At this hour, the chances are high that he¡¯s out scouting.¡± ¡°Should we start with the shopping district or along the main roads, then?¡± ¡°No, this is someone who has been residing in this town for more than just a day or two. Those areas would have been the first places he thoroughly scavenged.¡± ¡°The residential areas, then?¡± Aiden nodded, but Arian¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. ¡°But the residential districts cover too vast an area.¡± As was common for small towns, Santa Rosa¡¯s layout radiated outwards from the central shopping district, with residential neighborhoods spreading in all directions. Searching those areas would essentially amount to scouring the entire town. ¡°They are expansive. However, even within residential districts, there are locations more conducive for scouting.¡± ¡°Is that so? They¡¯re all just regular houses, aren¡¯t they?¡± ¡°Not necessarily. What about apartments?¡± Aiden pointed out. Of course, the apartments in this small town wouldn¡¯t be high-rise complexes like those found in major cities. However, they were still communal residential buildings capable of housing over ten families within a single structure. Which made them far more efficient for resource gathering compared to thoroughly checking each individual house. ¡°I suppose that¡¯s true. But do you know where any apartments are located?¡± ¡°I do.¡± Aiden recalled the map he had seen at the city hall the previous day. The few apartment complexes within this small town had been marked as points of interest, so their approximate locations remained in his memory. ¡°Let¡¯s focus our search on those apartment buildings first. Does that sound reasonable?¡± His companions nodded in agreement. With their plan decided, Aiden¡¯s group departed from the small shopping district, heading eastward towards the lake area where the apartments were situated. Chapter 151 At a high school situated south of Santa Rosa. On a shallow hill overlooking that school stood an apartment complex providing a panoramic view of the entire town. While only three stories tall, the building¡¯s interior lacked both elevators and staircases. The sole means of accessing the upper floors were three external stairways leading from the main entrance into the apartment corridors ¨C a peculiar structural design. Even so, with the capacity to accommodate 20 households per floor across all three levels, a total of 60 units, this apartment complex couldn¡¯t be easily overlooked by survivors seeking resources. ¡°Hmph...¡± Currently hiding on the external stairwell of this apartment, a man let out a tense sigh. Taylor Evans, a Latino male in his mid-30s and a former military serviceman. He briefly examined the steel pipe gripped in his hand. This pipe, aside from some superficial rust, had been in decent condition before entering this apartment complex. However, it was now stained with thick, murky reddish-brown smears of blood and slightly bent in the middle section. The result of his narrow victory against the two zombies he had encountered on the first floor. Observing this, Taylor furrowed his brow slightly. The bloodstains were of little concern. But the bent pipe was problematic. Each time he used such a deformed pipe to strike the zombies, the curvature would only worsen until it became entirely unusable. Whether due to poor material quality or excessive force on his part... this weapon wouldn¡¯t last much longer, it seemed. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Naturally, Taylor took stock of his remaining armaments. Shook- He cautiously brought the backpack slung over his shoulders to the front. The first items protruding from the bag¡¯s opening were a shovel and a wrench. Unlike the hollow steel pipe, the wrench was undoubtedly a sturdy, solid implement forged entirely from metal. While somewhat shorter in length, its weight and durability were incomparable to the pipe. Additionally, the shovel Taylor possessed wasn¡¯t an ordinary one but military-grade equipment. From the handle to the shaft, it was constructed entirely of metal and could be folded for easy portability ¨C a reliable melee weapon. The bag also contained various miscellaneous items. Bricks for throwing, firecrackers and an old emergency whistle to divert zombie attention, and even carefully stored molotov cocktails. Finally, the chest rig Taylor was wearing had two longswords and an automatic pistol holstered, though firearms were considered an absolute last resort for a lone survivor like himself. ¡°...¡± After examining his gear, Taylor retrieved the wrench. He slid it into one of the pouches on his rig for easy access whenever needed. With his preparations complete, Taylor cautiously peered up the stairwell. The external staircase from the first floor led directly onto the second-floor corridor. Only two zombies were visible in that corridor at present. One near the staircase entrance, the other at the far left end. Fortunately, the zombie at the far end had its back turned, unmoving. Like zombies that had gone without stimuli for prolonged periods, it remained motionless ¨C almost appearing deceased. If that were the case, a stealthy approach from behind to eliminate it would suffice. However, the nearby zombie posed a problem. ¡°Kiiie...¡± Having likely heard the earlier commotion from the first floor, that zombie was rapidly swiveling its head, letting out low groans as if sensing the presence of potential prey. In such an alert state, a silent assassination attempt would immediately draw its attention, prompting an attack. Which left only one viable option: a frontal assault. Not a particularly difficult feat. Even if the noise alerted the zombie at the far end, Taylor was confident he could swiftly incapacitate at least one of them. But there was one aspect he needed to consider first ¨C the open apartment door directly across from where the zombies were situated. While most doors were closed, that one gaped open invitingly. If there happened to be any zombies inside, the exterior sounds could prompt them to emerge as well. ¡°Tsk...¡± Feeling a sense of unease, Taylor clicked his tongue briefly. With just one additional zombie, the timing would become precarious. Two at most would be his limit. Three or more, and combat would be downright untenable. However, Taylor had no way to confirm how many zombies might be lurking within that apartment unit. To initiate an attack without verifying that would be an obvious gamble. Rationally, he should have abandoned this apartment complex and withdrawn. But the thought of leaving felt too regrettable. The only supplies he had managed to secure from the first floor were a mere canister of salt. Retreating now would render the risk he had taken to evade the zombies and reach this place utterly fruitless. Yet that wasn¡¯t his sole reason for hesitating. There was something else he needed to obtain here, if possible. Although he couldn¡¯t be certain it existed within this apartment, he desperately wished to acquire it as swiftly as he could. Taylor¡¯s gaze sharpened with resolve. As a final precaution, he surveyed their potential exit route once more. If three or more zombies emerged from within the apartment, an immediate retreat would be unavoidable. Fortunately, a school was located nearby. Having already secured the surrounding area, fleeing in that direction wouldn¡¯t pose significant difficulties. ¡°...Alright.¡± Readjusting his grip on the steel pipe, Taylor steeled his resolve. Drawing a deep breath to heighten his focus, he observed the zombie in the corridor. At the precise moment its head turned in the opposite direction- Thwack! Taylor surged upwards from his crouched position on the stairwell, advancing rapidly. Immediately after, the zombie reacted to the sound. It had barely swiveled its head towards Taylor. Crunch! But a swift, forceful impact resounded as Taylor¡¯s improvised weapon struck its skull. That sickening sensation of blunt force shattering bone and pulverizing the decayed organs within reverberated through his hands. Fortunately, his preemptive strike had scored a direct hit. ¡°Kiieeee...¡± The zombie collapsed lifelessly, its head caved in. But this was merely the beginning. ¡°Kiiiiiee!¡± The zombie at the far end had finally noticed the commotion, letting out a piercing shriek as it charged towards Taylor. The thunderous stomps of its bare feet against the concrete floor rapidly drawing nearer. However, Taylor remained unmoving. Rather than the approaching zombie, his peripheral vision was fixed on the open apartment door across the corridor. Soon after, the number of zombies that emerged from that doorway was... two. ¡°...!¡± That was still within his manageable threshold. Having made that assessment, Taylor darted towards the incoming zombie first. His intention was to eliminate one side before being surrounded from both fronts ¨C the worst-case scenario. ¡°Kieeaaaaa!¡± As if welcoming Taylor¡¯s advance, the zombie thrust its arms forward as it closed the distance between them. In the blink of an eye, they had entered close-quarters range, prompting Taylor to swing his pipe downwards with immense force. Crunch! The sickening sound of shattering bones resonated once more. However, at that moment, Taylor¡¯s expression contorted with dismay. Rather than the zombie¡¯s skull, the pipe had pulverized its extended arms instead. Whether an unconscious self-preservation instinct or mere coincidence... the zombie¡¯s limbs had inadvertently shielded its head from the strike. ¡°Uaaagh!¡± Accompanied by that piercing shriek from the now severely diminished distance, the zombie gnashed its teeth as it lunged to tear into Taylor¡¯s throat. Taylor¡¯s subsequent judgment was swift. Whump! He delivered a powerful kick to the zombie¡¯s torso, creating some separation between them. Then, discarding the bent pipe with a forceful throw, he drew the wrench from his rig instead. Crunch! This time, the heavy implement successfully caved in the zombie¡¯s skull. A tense exhalation escaped Taylor¡¯s lips, his heart pounding rapidly in the aftermath of that frenzied skirmish. However, he had no opportunity to catch his breath. The two zombies that had emerged from the apartment were already closing in right behind him. And shortly after... ¡°Huff... huff...¡± A breathless Taylor leaned against the stairwell railing for a momentary respite, gasping for air. Around him lay four fallen zombies in total. Even for a former military man, neutralizing that many with melee weapons alone was an impressive feat. Yet there was no one present to commend his achievement. So Taylor remained silent, simply focusing on recovering his strength while monitoring for any further movements nearby. A few zombies from the upper floors and within the apartment seemed to have reacted to the commotion, but none appeared capable of reaching this area. After that brief rest, Taylor entered through the open apartment door he had noticed earlier. The interior, devoid of sunlight, was shrouded in thick layers of dust and darkness. Immediately beside the entrance, atop a shoe cabinet, Taylor spotted a framed photograph. Within that palm-sized frame was the image of a couple ¨C their physiques resembling the two zombies he had just dispatched. ¡°...¡± Taylor regarded that photograph with a detached gaze before proceeding further into the apartment unit. The second floor mirrored an identical layout to the first. A small living room occupied the central area, with a kitchen and bathroom on one side while a bedroom and smaller room were situated on the opposite end. Taylor¡¯s first destination was the kitchen. Fortunately, there were no unwelcome undead guests silently lurking within. He searched the sink area and cupboards, eventually retrieving a single unopened can of preserved food ¨C a meager discovery. Next was the living room. Aside from the TV stand and some storage cabinets, nothing particularly noteworthy caught his attention. The bathroom yielded only a spare roll of unused toilet paper. The door to the small room was locked. So Taylor decided to inspect the bedroom last. The bedroom entrance was sealed by a sturdy wooden door. As a precaution, Taylor knocked on that door a few times. Not because he expected any human presence, of course. But if there were any zombies inside, they would undoubtedly react to those sounds. ¡°...¡± However, no response came from within. Cautiously turning the doorknob, Taylor flung the door open wide in one swift motion. The scene that greeted him within that bedroom was far different from his expectations. ¡°It¡¯s collapsed, hasn¡¯t it...?¡± From the exterior, the building had appeared intact, but that clearly wasn¡¯t the case inside. The bedroom ceiling had caved in entirely, as if torn apart by some tremendous force. The original bed and furnishings were crushed beneath the weight of that collapsed ceiling, reduced to splintered debris. Such devastation made locating any useful supplies within seem highly improbable. However, the angled descent of the caved-in ceiling created a sloping path leading up towards the third floor. Naturally, Taylor¡¯s gaze followed that upward trajectory in search of potential threats. No apparent dangers could be discerned from this vantage point. Carefully, he ascended that precarious slope into the third floor¡¯s interior. Whatever had transpired here, the damage was catastrophic. The wall in the direction where the bedroom door should have been had crumbled entirely, its remnants strewn about haphazardly. As Taylor surveyed that devastated scene, his attention was drawn by a sudden noise from outside the bedroom. ¡°Kiiiiik!¡± Reacting swiftly to that nearby zombie groan, he glared sharply in its direction. There, trapped beneath the collapsed wall debris on the bedroom floor, was a zombie. Its lower body appeared to be pinned under a thick slab of concrete, rendering it immobile. As a result, despite noticing Taylor¡¯s presence, the zombie could only let out shrill cries ¨C unable to approach him even an inch. Hardly a credible threat, by any measure. And yet, upon witnessing that scene, Taylor¡¯s brow furrowed deeply in discomfort. For the zombie¡¯s unnaturally small frame was distinctly child-sized. Barely even a teenager, if that. Which was why Taylor found himself momentarily hesitating to immediately bring his wrench down upon that helpless creature. ¡°Kieee!¡± In response, the zombie seemed to thrash about even more violently, its anguished shrieks intensifying in volume. A disturbing, pitiful spectacle. Unable to bear witnessing its tormented state any longer, Taylor finally took action. Crunch! The heavy metal implement in his grasp struck that diminutive skull with a sickening impact. However, was it due to his restraint that the blow lacked sufficient force? The zombie didn¡¯t instantly fall silent. The wrench had merely caved in its skull slightly, not delivering a fatal strike. With a contorted expression of distress, Taylor raised the wrench once more, raining another forceful blow upon that small, fragile head. It was only then that the creature¡¯s cries finally ceased. ¡°Goddammit...¡± Taylor muttered a curse under his breath. The rancid blood and crushed remnants of that child-sized skull staining the wrench¡¯s end seemed to weigh heavily upon him. For the past three years, he had terminated countless zombies in order to survive. Yet situations like this still evaded his ability to become fully desensitized. He let out a weary sigh, feeling utterly drained ¨C despite his physical movements being relatively minimal compared to the earlier combat encounter. A profound sense of fatigue washed over him, as if he had repeated that frenzied skirmish all over again. However, Taylor soon shook his head, refocusing his bearings. For the sake of the daughter still awaiting his return at their shelter, he couldn¡¯t afford to linger here any longer. Leaving that devastated bedroom behind, Taylor emerged into the living room area. Much like the bedroom, it too had suffered catastrophic damage. As if a gas explosion had torn through the interior, the shattered windows merely hinted at the ruination within ¨C shattered concrete, exposed rebar, and a severely compromised ceiling structure on the verge of total collapse. Any further exploration would be too hazardous. Having reached that conclusion, Taylor began retreating back towards the exit. Yet, during that withdrawal... ¡°Ah...?¡± The small room adjacent to the bedroom caught his attention. Through the gap where the wall separating the living room and that small room had collapsed, he spotted something he had been seeking. It was a plush doll depicting a once-popular white cat character. ¡°...¡± Upon making that discovery, Taylor¡¯s eyes widened in realization. Of course, a mere toy held no practical value for survival. However, Taylor had personal reasons for seeking such an item. His daughter, who awaited his return at their shelter, hadn¡¯t smiled in what felt like an eternity. A once lively, talkative child had become almost entirely muted ever since her mother¡¯s passing and their entrapment within this small town¡¯s confines. Pondering how to rekindle her spirits, Taylor had recalled her favorite cartoon character. And noticed that the plush doll she had always carried was now missing, likely lost during their perilous journey to this town. So he had hoped to find her a new doll as a gift, praying it might help restore her smile. Which was why Taylor couldn¡¯t simply ignore that doll visible through the ruined wall. However, there wasn¡¯t an immediately accessible entrance leading into that small room. The wall had collapsed, and the doorway was obstructed by debris that had cascaded down from the caved-in ceiling above. The gap Taylor was peering through had originally been the door¡¯s intended location. ¡°...¡± After briefly contemplating his options, Taylor decided to gradually clear away the rubble centered around that small gap in the floor. The doll wasn¡¯t situated too far beyond that opening. If he could create enough space to extend his upper body through, it should be within reach. So he carefully worked at widening that gap, anticipating that he could eventually create an opening large enough for a person to squeeze through. And Taylor¡¯s expectations proved accurate. After an extended struggle against the accumulated debris, he managed to carve out a sizable space before him. Crawling inwards, Taylor¡¯s upper body breached that small room¡¯s interior, and his hand soon grasped the plush doll he had spotted. While slightly soiled and coated in dust, its soft texture remained intact. A faint smile spread across Taylor¡¯s lips. At that moment. Bang! Something hit the wall facing outward. Now he noticed there was a zombie at the window in the corridor leading from the small room. It was staring at Taylor with a crazed look. As if exposing his theft, it frantically pounded on the closed glass window and wall. ¡°-!¡± Seeing this, Taylor sensed danger. He desperately tried to squeeze through the gap to escape, but. Before he could fully extract his body, what he had been worrying about happened. Rumble! Above the hole he was pushing his body through, the precariously balanced debris collapsed first. Taylor¡¯s vision was engulfed in darkness. Chapter 152 Some time later. Accompanied by a rough coughing fit, Taylor regained consciousness. For some inexplicable reason, his surroundings were shrouded in darkness, and a dull ache resonated throughout his entire body. It was then that he suddenly recalled the preceding situation ¨C the zombie striking the wall and the debris that had buried him. He was likely still trapped beneath that rubble. ¡°Damn it...!¡± Cursing under his breath, Taylor thrashed about in an attempt to free himself. But it wasn¡¯t an easy task. The primary issue was one of his arms that had been outstretched towards the plush doll. ¡°Ugh...!¡± No matter how forcefully Taylor tried to withdraw that arm, the only sensation he felt was agonizing pain. As if it had become lodged between the grinding gears of some massive machine, refusing to budge even an inch. So he decided to prioritize regaining his vision first. Fortunately, the volume of debris that had cascaded upon him didn¡¯t seem excessive. Grunting with effort, Taylor desperately maneuvered his legs, managing to dislodge the beams that had been pinning his lower body at an angle. Then, using his remaining free arm, he lifted away whatever object had been crushing down upon his head. Thankfully, it wasn¡¯t excessively heavy. Thump! A wooden piece of furniture toppled over to his opposite side. The decorative cabinet that had likely struck his head, rendering him unconscious when it collapsed along with the falling debris. With that obstruction removed, Taylor¡¯s sight gradually returned. The sunlight filtering in through the window was blinding at first. Squinting heavily, he peered out that window to assess the sky¡¯s position. Strangely, there were no longer any traces of the zombie that had been present earlier. Based on the sun¡¯s position in the clear heavens, Taylor¡¯s expression contorted with dismay. ¡°An entire day... has passed?¡± He had entered this apartment during the afternoon hours. Yet the current time was already morning. While the absence of dehydration symptoms suggested it hadn¡¯t been over two days... Taylor had nonetheless been unconscious for an unexpectedly prolonged duration. His face stiffened with distress at that realization. Having spent an entire night within this apartment meant his young daughter had been left alone at their shelter throughout that period. ¡°...Stay calm.¡± Taylor muttered those words through measured breaths. Losing his composure now would only further delay his return. Next, he assessed his physical condition. While exhibiting some mild symptoms of a concussion, he didn¡¯t appear to have sustained any severe injuries. His limbs remained sensate, with no apparent bone fractures. However, the primary issue remained his right arm, wedged between the collapsed wall debris. From just above the elbow downwards, it was pinned tightly between two concrete slabs. The rubble overhead was too substantial to simply clear away from his prone position. So Taylor took a deep breath and strained with all his might, attempting to forcibly extract that trapped arm. ¡°Ggggghaaah...!¡± But it was no simple feat. Despite exerting enough force to tear the flesh from his arm, the elbow joint remained stubbornly lodged in place. All he achieved was searing agony. ¡°Huuff... huuff...¡± For several hours, Taylor grappled futilely against that immobilized limb. He tried wrenching it with enough force to snap the bone, even attempting to chip away at the concrete using one of his swords. But no matter his efforts, all that resulted were lacerations oozing blood and unrelenting pain. Even as the afternoon hours waned, the situation remained unaltered. ¡°Damn it...!¡± Realizing the futility of his actions thus far, Taylor grit his teeth. He contemplated one final, extreme measure that had occurred to him. A scenario he had witnessed portrayed in a movie once before. It involved a man whose arm had become similarly trapped between boulders in a remote canyon. Unable to free himself, he had ultimately resorted to severing his own limb as a means of escape. Taylor¡¯s current predicament mirrored that very situation. Using the longsword at his disposal, amputating his arm was certainly a viable option. However, the subsequent implications were far more problematic. In the movie, severing his arm had allowed the protagonist to eventually reach a city, a home, and access medical aid to treat his self-inflicted wound. But in this world, none of those assurances existed. Even if Taylor managed to sever his arm and return to their shelter, there was nowhere he could seek proper treatment. He risked succumbing to blood loss or infection instead. And if he miraculously survived, he would be forced to engage in combat against the undead with only one arm from the very next day onwards. ¡°...¡± And yet, despite all those grave considerations, Taylor slowly raised his longsword. Even if every rational perspective discouraged such a desperate act, he couldn¡¯t simply surrender. Because if he perished here, the consequence wouldn¡¯t be limited to his own demise. His young daughter, obliviously awaiting his return at their shelter, would share the same fate. So he had to return to her, no matter what ¨C even if it meant sacrificing one of his own limbs. It was at that pivotal moment when: ¡°...Ah... hello?¡± An indistinct voice suddenly reached Taylor¡¯s ears, startling him. Was it merely an auditory hallucination brought about by his precarious state? However, that voice soon became more distinct. ¡°Here on the third floor. I¡¯m certain of it.¡± It was unmistakably a woman¡¯s voice. Taylor¡¯s heart pounded rapidly in his chest. Ordinarily, the sound of human voices would have been a signal for extreme caution. These regions harbored not just marauders but cannibalistic tribes that preyed upon other survivors. Which was why, for his own safety and especially his daughter¡¯s, Taylor had assiduously avoided any contact with such individuals. But in his current, desperate circumstances, he had no choice but to take that risk. Even if they turned out to be cannibals, his fate would be no different if he remained trapped here. Acutely aware of the gamble he was taking, Taylor raised his voice to announce his presence loudly. He could sense someone approaching from outside after hearing his call. Soon, visible through the shattered window, appeared... ¡°Look, there he is.¡± A man with his head concealed by a helmet, accompanied by a young girl whose beauty was tinged with an unsettling aura. * * * Some time later. With Aiden and Arian¡¯s assistance, Taylor had been extricated from the rubble and was now coughing heavily as he steadied himself on the floor. ¡°Are you alright?¡± In response to Aiden¡¯s inquiry, Taylor nodded somewhat awkwardly. ¡°Thank you. I mean it.¡± He then turned his gaze towards Aiden and Arian, addressing them directly. From Taylor¡¯s perspective, this was an unexpected turn of events. Of course, he had requested their aid, but he hadn¡¯t anticipated they would so readily agree and help free him from that predicament. Above all else, the supernatural strength Arian had displayed by effortlessly lifting those concrete slabs with one hand was enough to leave Taylor awestruck. However... ¡°...Why?¡± When Arian fixated him with a scrutinizing gaze, as if demanding an explanation, Taylor simply shook his head dismissively. That wasn¡¯t his primary concern at the moment. Taylor turned his attention towards Aiden instead. ¡°You said you were a junk dealer?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± ¡°What kind of compensation do you want?¡± Taylor posed that inquiry. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He recognized Aiden¡¯s voice ¨C the man who had discovered his hideout in this sparsely populated Santa Rosa not long ago. Additionally, Taylor was well-acquainted with the characteristics of junk dealers: Individuals who fulfilled requests from survivors in exchange for compensation, particularly sensitive about the latter aspect. So Taylor had been expecting Aiden to prioritize discussing payment first and foremost. However, Aiden¡¯s response deviated from his expectations. ¡°We can discuss that later.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a more pressing matter at hand.¡± Of course, Aiden¡¯s words rang true. Taylor himself was equally eager to return to his shelter where his daughter awaited, if not more so. Yet the way Aiden spoke, as if fully aware of Taylor¡¯s circumstances, filled him with a peculiar sense of unease. ¡°What do you mean by that...¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t your daughter waiting for you?¡± At those following words, Taylor¡¯s expression froze. He hadn¡¯t mentioned anything about having a daughter, so how could these individuals possibly know of her existence? ¡°Just who are you people-?¡± Naturally, Taylor¡¯s imagination began drifting towards unfavorable speculations. But as if cutting off that train of thought, Aiden addressed Taylor by name. ¡°Taylor Evans.¡± Taylor was certain he hadn¡¯t revealed his name to them either. In the brief moment his words failed him, Aiden continued speaking. ¡°The request we received from Luna yesterday was to find you.¡± Rendered speechless by that completely unanticipated statement, Taylor could only gape wordlessly. It was to him that Aiden recounted the events that had transpired while he had been unconscious. * * * The previous day, while searching for Taylor, Aiden¡¯s group had coincidentally discovered his daughter Luna¡¯s hiding place first. It was a commercial building near the lake on the town¡¯s eastern side. A location Aiden would have been unable to detect on his own, made possible only through Arian¡¯s presence. But Arian¡¯s abilities didn¡¯t end there. Upon approaching that shelter, she had discerned that its occupant wasn¡¯t an adult male, but rather some kind of child. With that crucial information, Aiden could swiftly deduce that the survivors concealed within this town were a father-daughter pair. Instead of further pursuit, Aiden had judged it wiser to await Taylor¡¯s return in that vicinity. There was no need to risk their paths diverging needlessly. And initiating dialogue from the other party¡¯s base location would be more conducive for establishing trade negotiations. However, Taylor hadn¡¯t returned that day. There was no reason for him to spend a night away from his young daughter within the confines of this small town. So Aiden had sensed that some mishap must have befallen Taylor. Meanwhile, the prolonged absence had caused Luna, still inside the shelter, to begin crying late into the night. Even as a child, she seemed to comprehend the implications of her father¡¯s failure to return on schedule in this unforgiving world. Unable to witness that pitiful sight any longer, Arian had entered the shelter despite Aiden¡¯s protests, accompanied by Sadie. It was then that they had learned the full circumstances from Luna herself. ¡°Could that story... actually be true?¡± As they made their way towards Taylor¡¯s shelter, guided by the details Aiden had recounted... ...Taylor posed that question, an underlying tone of skepticism evident in his voice. Aiden had omitted any mention of Arian¡¯s abilities, resulting in a narrative that lacked coherence in certain aspects. However, he didn¡¯t attempt to fabricate additional falsehoods to bridge those gaps. Doing so might have only invited further misunderstandings. ¡°You¡¯ll see for yourself, won¡¯t you?¡± After all, Taylor could confirm Luna¡¯s safety with his own eyes soon enough. So Aiden simply urged him onwards. And shortly after returning to the shelter: ¡°Dad!¡± Taylor was reunited with his daughter Luna, embracing her tightly while seemingly forgetting about Aiden¡¯s group standing right beside them. * * * That evening. Aiden¡¯s group was still residing at the shelter occupied by Taylor and Luna. ¡°...Is this really enough?¡± Taylor spoke those words with a sheepish gaze, eyeing the vial of blood he had provided. The compensation Aiden had requested was a blood donation, which Taylor had readily agreed to without hesitation. However, even Taylor himself acknowledged that this payment seemed inadequate compared to the deed Aiden¡¯s group had performed for him. Aiden didn¡¯t deny that assessment. ¡°It is a bit lacking, I suppose.¡± ¡°Then...¡± ¡°But you don¡¯t seem to have much else to offer as compensation.¡± At Aiden¡¯s words, Taylor let out an awkward cough. It was an admission that Taylor simply didn¡¯t possess anything else of value to provide. As much as the statement stung, it was the truth. Aside from a couple days¡¯ worth of food rations and some pistol ammunition, Taylor had nothing else to offer. ¡°I really am sorry about this.¡± A look of embarrassment clouded Taylor¡¯s expression as he spoke those words. However, Aiden shook his head dismissively. ¡°We¡¯ll simply put the remaining balance on credit.¡± It was a statement Aiden would never ordinarily make. But he had his reasons for saying so, despite not having received any material compensation. Because their endeavors hadn¡¯t been entirely fruitless. ¡°Kehahahaha! Really?¡± From one corner of the shelter, peals of laughter rang out. It was Luna¡¯s voice. And the one conversing animatedly with her was none other than Sadie. ¡°Yep. I can even use a slingshot now.¡± Sadie spoke those words with a hint of pride, as if boasting to Luna. The expressions and tones Sadie was exhibiting were ones that even Aiden and Arian had never witnessed before. So much so that Arian herself was regarding the scene with widened eyes filled with wonder. Perhaps it was because they so rarely encountered children, let alone had opportunities to interact with them. Yet despite having only met the previous day, Luna and Sadie had already become remarkably close friends. That was the unexpected reward Aiden¡¯s group had gained. Within their company, Sadie had always been a mature child, never throwing tantrums or voicing complaints. While admirable, it also meant she had seldom let her guard down completely. So Aiden found satisfaction in witnessing Sadie acquire a comfortable presence with whom she could converse freely ¨C a friend, in essence. Even if their time together would be fleeting, it allowed Sadie a momentary reprieve to unburden herself, if only briefly. And Taylor seemed to share a similar sentiment. ¡°...¡± Having fretted deeply over his daughter¡¯s inability to smile freely, he now gazed upon her cheerful, animated laughter with a warm, eager expression. As if she had finally regained the joyous demeanor from three years prior, a profound smile unconsciously graced Taylor¡¯s features. After observing the two girls for an extended period, Taylor eventually lowered his gaze, seeming to ponder something deeply. Then, he turned his attention towards Aiden. ¡°Let¡¯s talk for a bit.¡± Taylor gestured towards the staircase leading up to the second floor of the commercial building they were occupying. Apparently, he had something he wished to discuss privately. Aiden gave a nod of acknowledgment. Chapter 153 The second floor of the commercial building Taylor had turned into their shelter. Devoid of any substantial furnishings, only layers of dust had accumulated within that space ¨C featuring a large window providing an outward view of the streets. It was before that window that Taylor stood. While the scenery visible beyond likely consisted of this small town¡¯s utterly unremarkable landscape... under the pale moonlight, only its silhouette was faintly outlined, exuding an inexplicably mystical atmosphere. ¡°What¡¯s this about?¡± Aiden, who had been summoned by Taylor, posed that inquiry. In response, Taylor shrugged nonchalantly as if it were nothing significant. ¡°I thought we could exchange some information. What do you think?¡± ¡°...Not a bad idea.¡± Aiden nodded in agreement. It was certainly something they required as well. For his group, who were constantly on the move towards new areas, information was an invaluable commodity. ¡°Then you can start first. I have quite a few questions myself, it seems.¡± Taylor spoke those words with a wry smile. Aiden didn¡¯t hesitate to proceed with his line of questioning. ¡°Very well. How long have you been residing in this vicinity?¡± ¡°Around half a year or so. Not solely within Santa Rosa, though. I¡¯ve been wandering between the nearby small towns whenever supplies ran low.¡± Half a year, huh. Longer than Aiden had anticipated, but that wasn¡¯t necessarily a drawback. It meant Taylor would have had ample time to familiarize himself with the local conditions. ¡°Then I presume you¡¯re aware of any survivor groups in the surrounding areas.¡± ¡°I am. However, the only ones sizeable enough to be called groups are in Amarillo and Albuquerque ¨C just those two locations. Did you want information on them?¡± ¡°We¡¯re heading towards Albuquerque. I¡¯d like to inquire about the situation there.¡± Albuquerque, a major city located 460 kilometers from Amarillo and 270 kilometers from their current location in Santa Rosa. Aiden had already obtained information about a survivor group existing there during their time in Amarillo. However, he harbored some skepticism regarding the veracity of that group¡¯s continued existence. Apparently, communications with Amarillo¡¯s group had been severed long ago. Upon hearing Aiden¡¯s words, Taylor let out a brief contemplative hum as he stroked his chin. ¡°Albuquerque, huh... I can¡¯t claim to know everything about it. But I¡¯ve heard a few things by chance. Until a few months ago, I¡¯d occasionally encounter their scouting parties.¡± A slight frown creased Taylor¡¯s brow, as if recalling those memories. ¡°However, the situation there didn¡¯t seem particularly favorable. All their scouting parties appeared utterly exhausted and only voiced complaints.¡± ¡°Complaints, you say? Did you happen to learn any specifics?¡± ¡°Specifics... ah, right. They mentioned being at war with some cannibalistic tribes. Which wouldn¡¯t be surprising, considering Albuquerque¡¯s location.¡± Formerly home to over 500,000 residents, the major city of Albuquerque was situated adjacent to the Sandia Mountains, towering over 3,000 meters in height. It seemed Albuquerque had been engaged in prolonged conflicts with cannibalistic tribes occupying those very mountains. ¡°Of course, I can¡¯t vouch for the accuracy since I never directly conversed with them. Those were just snippets I overheard from their scouting parties. And the last time I encountered any of them was over three months ago. I haven¡¯t seen them since.¡± ¡°Do you have any idea about the size of the group based there?¡± ¡°Hard to say for certain. But their scouting parties seemed quite numerous. At the very least, it would be a group consisting of thousands of individuals.¡± That was encouraging news for Aiden. The group in Albuquerque appeared to be even larger than the one they had encountered in Amarillo. Certainly sizeable enough for a junk dealer like himself to establish trade relations. After posing a few more minor inquiries, to which Taylor provided diligent responses, Aiden nodded in a manner suggesting he had heard enough. It was now Taylor¡¯s turn to ask questions. Aiden looked at him expectantly, prompting Taylor to clear his throat before speaking. ¡°Alright, my turn then. Um, this is just out of curiosity, but what¡¯s the deal with that helmet of yours?¡± ¡°I¡¯d prefer not to discuss the helmet. It¡¯s a personal matter.¡± Aiden curtly dismissed the subject. In response, Taylor let out an amused chuckle. ¡°Understood. Then I won¡¯t pry any further. But... you are a doctor, aren¡¯t you?¡± Aiden nodded affirmatively. The yellowish-white coat and ID tag he wore weren¡¯t mere decorations. ¡°Then I have something I¡¯d like to consult you about.¡± His expression turning solemn, as if the prior lightheartedness had been a mere pretense, Taylor proceeded to recount the matter concerning his daughter. How she had recently lost her ability to smile, likely due to the past half-year of their nomadic lifestyle. However, Aiden tilted his head slightly in response. For even at that very moment, the faint sounds of Luna¡¯s laughter could be heard wafting up from the floor below. ¡°That¡¯s the problem. I never expected it to be resolved so easily. Does Luna simply need a friend, then?¡± Taylor spoke those words with a sigh. Ever since meeting Sadie, Luna had seemingly regained her former demeanor as if by magic. However, the reason Taylor had raised this topic with Aiden, despite already being aware of the solution, was undoubtedly because he recognized it as merely a temporary respite. The time Taylor and his daughter could spend in the company of Aiden¡¯s group would be fleeting at best. Today, or perhaps two days if they were fortunate ¨C that would likely be their absolute limit. After that, Aiden¡¯s group would depart from this town, leaving Luna alone once more. It was that eventual reality that Taylor seemed apprehensive about. ¡°I suppose that would be the case. While she has her personal reasons, Luna does seem to be a child particularly sensitive in that regard.¡± ¡°Huuh... then what about your daughter, Sadie, was it? Is she alright?¡± At Taylor¡¯s inquiry, Aiden waved his hand dismissively. ¡°There seems to be a misunderstanding. Sadie isn¡¯t my daughter.¡± ¡°Not your daughter? Then a niece, perhaps?¡± ¡°She¡¯s not a family member at all. Just a child I¡¯ve been temporarily looking after due to a request.¡± ¡°Is that so? That¡¯s... quite surprising.¡± Taylor muttered those words, as if he hadn¡¯t even considered such a possibility. In this unforgiving world, it was hardly a common occurrence for someone to travel accompanied by a child who wasn¡¯t family. An arduous endeavor that Taylor, intimately familiar with those difficulties, seemed to regard with a glimmer of curiosity in his eyes. Noticing that inquisitive gaze, Aiden spoke up to steer the conversation back on track. ¡°Sadie has been managing remarkably well. Fortunately for us.¡± ¡°Is that so...? Then what about Luna? Is there no other solution besides simply providing her with a friend?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know about that. Above all, it¡¯s not my area of expertise.¡± Aiden gestured towards the medical ID tag hanging from his neck. It identified his specialty as surgery. Taylor responded with a wry smile. ¡°But if it¡¯s for the child¡¯s sake... wouldn¡¯t it be better to relocate to a place where she can have friends?¡± ¡°Yes, that would be the ideal solution. I¡¯m well aware of that.¡± Taylor let out a deep sigh before continuing to speak. ¡°You mentioned heading to Albuquerque. Then where will you go after that?¡± ¡°Hard to say for certain. We¡¯ll need to gather more information in Albuquerque before deciding. Since our objective is to locate survivor groups, perhaps Phoenix... or Las Vegas could be potential destinations.¡± All major cities situated to the west of Albuquerque. Upon hearing that, Taylor nodded as if understanding Aiden¡¯s implication. ¡°Westward, huh. So you¡¯re aiming for LA after all? Because of those radio broadcasts?¡± There was no need for Aiden to conceal that evident truth, so he affirmed it. In response, Taylor posed a weighty question in a low voice tinged with solemnity. ¡°Isn¡¯t that far too dangerous? Once you cross into Arizona, all that lies ahead are mountains and deserts. Infested with roaming zombies and cannibals, no less. And yet you truly intend to bring a child that young into such perilous territory?¡± It was almost an accusatory statement, prompting Aiden to meet Taylor¡¯s gaze directly. However, the emotions reflected in those eyes weren¡¯t condemnation directed at Aiden himself. Rather, a profound desperation seemed to emanate from Taylor ¨C a yearning for the genuine answer. ¡°Did something happen before?¡± At Aiden¡¯s words, Taylor briefly fell silent. Then, after a considerable pause, he began recounting a tale from the past. ¡°Until about half a year ago, I too was heading towards LA. I had traveled all the way down from Denver in the north. But... the moment I set foot in New Mexico, I lost my wife. Senselessly torn apart by a swarm of zombies. Despite being a former soldier, there was nothing I could do to stop it.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°After experiencing that, I simply couldn¡¯t bring myself to proceed any further. The road ahead only grew more perilous. And yet, that was the path I had to take with my young daughter in tow. Out of fear, I ended up hiding away while wandering between these small towns instead.¡± Taylor clicked his tongue in self-deprecation at his own cowardice. Soon after, a bitter smile tinged with self-mockery graced his lips. ¡°But today, I realized that simply remaining stationary like this isn¡¯t the answer either.¡± His gaze settled upon the staircase leading down to the floor below. From there, Luna¡¯s laughter could still be faintly heard every so often. ¡°A child capable of smiling like that... and I¡¯ve been stifling my own daughter¡¯s spirit by cowering in fear, confining her to places like this town.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°You told me to provide her with a friend, didn¡¯t you? Then I suppose I¡¯ll have to go to LA as well. But truthfully... is that really the right choice?¡± Taylor posed that anguished question, a palpable sense of exasperation evident in his voice. Having already experienced one failure, he feared a recurrence of that trauma. The doubts he harbored were likely shared by every survivor struggling to persevere in this unforgiving world. Which was why... ¡°I don¡¯t have the answer to that either.¡± Aiden couldn¡¯t provide a definitive response. Perhaps they would encounter fatalities along the way. Or maybe LA wouldn¡¯t be the sanctuary they envisioned. Neither Aiden nor anyone else could decisively answer such an inquiry. The answer could only be determined by their own choices. However, Aiden was acutely aware of the appropriate approach to making decisions in such situations. It was to avoid confirmed misfortune. ¡°The road to LA is long and perilous. No one can predict the outcome for certain. However, there is one thing I can state with confidence.¡± ¡°Confidence?¡± ¡°If you remain as you are, neither you nor your daughter will endure for much longer.¡± Aiden spoke those words with conviction. For a young child, and even Taylor himself, attempting to survive alone was an immensely hazardous endeavor. Had it not been for Aiden¡¯s intervention, Taylor would have undoubtedly perished crushed beneath that apartment debris just the previous day. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Then I suppose there¡¯s only one answer, isn¡¯t there?¡± In response, Taylor muttered those words with a resigned chuckle. Perhaps the answer had been predetermined from the very beginning. Reaching that realization provided him with a semblance of solace. ¡°...There will be a lot of preparations required.¡± Taylor¡¯s gaze settled upon the empty sky beyond the window as he contemplated their forthcoming journey. As he had stated, extensive preparations would indeed be necessary for such a long-distance relocation. Fortunately, they had a vehicle at their disposal. The one Taylor had brought with them all the way from Denver, carefully maintained just in case. However, they lacked sufficient provisions ¨C food, water, fuel, and other essential supplies. A means of acquiring those was... available. But Taylor¡¯s capabilities alone would be insufficient. So he turned his attention back towards Aiden once more. ¡°Junk dealer.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Care to lend me a hand on a little endeavor?¡± After a prolonged pause, Taylor finally proposed that suggestion. In response, Aiden tilted his head slightly. ¡°Let¡¯s hear the details first.¡± * * * The next day. Aiden and Taylor had just crossed the southern outskirts of Santa Rosa. ¡°...This vehicle seems better than I expected.¡± The one Aiden was currently riding in belonged to Taylor. In considerably superior condition compared to Aiden¡¯s group¡¯s own vehicle, it was effortlessly cruising along the road at a relaxed pace. ¡°Of course it would be. This is the one I¡¯ve been using since before the whole world went to hell.¡± Taylor spoke those words with evident pride. So that explained why the interior seemed unusually well-maintained. As Aiden carefully positioned his rifle to avoid inadvertently damaging the vehicle, he opened his mouth to inquire further. ¡°More importantly, where exactly is our destination located?¡± Their current heading was towards a temporary military base situated beyond the small town¡¯s limits. Dozens of kilometers away from Santa Rosa, it had been established during the initial outbreak of the zombie crisis. However, due to its isolated location with minimal human traffic, the likelihood of useful supplies remaining intact was higher. ¡°Follow the river south. We should be... around 30 kilometers away now, I¡¯d estimate.¡± ¡°But are you certain this base actually exists?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. Back when I was in the military, I served as a communications officer, you see. I¡¯ve had radio contact with the personnel who were stationed there. It¡¯s a confirmed location.¡± With a dismissive wave of his hand, Taylor reassured Aiden¡¯s concerns. Despite never having witnessed it firsthand, he seemed well-acquainted with the approximate layout and scale of that military facility. ¡°However, as I mentioned before, I can¡¯t guarantee what might still be present there. There could be zombies occupying it. More importantly, we¡¯ll need to traverse through a mountain range en route, so be wary of potential cannibal encounters.¡± The only passengers in the vehicle at present were Aiden and Taylor themselves. Arian, Sadie, and Luna had remained behind at their shelter in Santa Rosa. Since the distance to the military base was considerable, there was a possibility their reconnaissance might not conclude within a single day. Which made bringing the children along problematic ¨C but leaving them unaccompanied was equally unacceptable. The unavoidable compromise was leaving Arian behind at the shelter with them. Ultimately, it meant Aiden¡¯s group would be deprived of Arian¡¯s formidable capabilities for this endeavor. However, Aiden judged their remaining forces to be sufficient. For Taylor, a former military man himself, seemed to possess considerable combat prowess. From what Aiden had witnessed, Taylor¡¯s overall physical abilities, particularly in combat situations, were exceptionally honed. Which likely explained how he had managed to survive for half a year accompanied solely by his daughter. ¡°Are you feeling alright?¡± ¡°Just a few bruises, but nothing problematic.¡± Taylor spoke those words as he rotated one of his arms. Yet the injuries Aiden had observed covered nearly his entire body in purplish contusions ¨C hardly a trivial matter. Even so, Taylor didn¡¯t seem to exhibit any impairment in maintaining his bearing. ¡°Is that it over there?¡± Aiden pointed towards the road cutting through the mountainous terrain. With a hint of tension evident on his face, Taylor nodded affirmatively. ¡°Yes. This is the cannibals¡¯ territory. Let¡¯s conceal the vehicle nearby and proceed on foot from this point onwards.¡± Aiden nodded in agreement. Soon after, they had hidden their vehicle amid the foliage before beginning their ascent up the mountain¡¯s slope, towards the area where the military base was supposedly located. Chapter 154 ¡°...It¡¯s quieter than I expected.¡± Aiden muttered those words as they ascended the densely forested mountain slope. True to his statement, the cool, shaded woodland exuded an eerie stillness. There didn¡¯t seem to be any traces of the cannibals they had been apprehensive about encountering. ¡°What you can¡¯t see doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s not there.¡± Taylor cautioned that appearances could be deceptive. These cannibals, he explained, were adept at concealing their presence like ghosts, rendering them nearly undetectable to ordinary individuals. It was a warning that resonated deeply with Aiden¡¯s own experiences. During their previous encounter at a radio tower, he had failed to discern the cannibals¡¯ trap until it was too late. They were a new type of adversary Aiden had only faced after venturing into these western regions. As such, he was still unfamiliar with the intricate tactics they employed amid these woodlands. ¡°...¡± Complacency was inadvisable. Aiden maintained a keen state of alertness as they continued their ascent. ¡°Phew...¡± A sigh escaped Taylor¡¯s lips. The forest they were traversing lacked any semblance of a defined path. The uneven, rugged terrain occasionally formed steep inclines, while haphazardly grown trees obstructed their route. A demanding journey, even for two grown men to navigate. However, they couldn¡¯t risk following the visible mountain roads either. There was no telling when or where the cannibals might ambush them. Moreover, the challenges this mountain posed extended beyond its treacherous terrain alone. ¡°Kieeek!¡± From an inexplicable origin... Zombies were roaming these woodlands, far removed from any urban centers. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem to be a substantial cannibalistic presence, at least.¡± Aiden remarked upon witnessing that scene. While human, the cannibals were still susceptible to zombie attacks. Had this been a significant outpost of theirs, the zombies would have undoubtedly been cleared out in advance. ¡°It appears that way. Perhaps only a few of them, if any. But having zombies around isn¡¯t exactly ideal either.¡± Taylor concurred with that assessment. As he spoke, he exchanged his pistol for the military-grade shovel he was carrying. Aiden and Taylor proceeded while actively avoiding the zombies whenever possible. However, the number of undead trapped within this mountain forest proved unexpectedly substantial. Which meant unavoidable encounters did occur on occasion. During those instances, Aiden took the lead, stealthily eliminating the zombies through ambushes. ¡°Keee...!¡± A zombie, its jaw impaled from behind by Aiden¡¯s longsword, crumpled lifelessly to the ground. ¡°...You¡¯re quite skilled, for a junk dealer.¡± Observing that display, Taylor let out an amused chuckle. Even as a former military man, Aiden¡¯s fluid swordsmanship was a technique he likely couldn¡¯t replicate himself. ¡°Textbook perfect form, I¡¯d say.¡± Aiden¡¯s every movement was mechanically precise yet breathtakingly daring. A single misstep could have proven instantly fatal ¨C a razor¡¯s edge between flawless execution and catastrophe. ¡°More are coming.¡± However, Aiden simply acknowledged Taylor¡¯s compliment with a measured tone. His gaze was fixed upon the open warehouse entrance they had encountered. From within, the groans of the undead could be heard echoing outwards. Soon after, the sounds of their relentless footfalls grew increasingly closer. Based on those audible cues alone, it was evident: The shadowy interior of that warehouse harbored a number of zombies several times greater than those they had initially encountered outside. And they were now converging upon this location. ¡°...¡± Despite being a scenario they had anticipated, the tension etched across Taylor¡¯s features intensified noticeably. Soon after, the first grotesque zombie countenance emerged from the warehouse¡¯s gloomy depths. Aiden¡¯s hatchet flew straight towards that horrific visage. * * * ¡°Huff... huff...!¡± Some time later... Having dispatched all 22 zombies, both inside and outside the warehouse, Aiden and Taylor were taking a momentary respite to catch their breaths. ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°Yeah. Huff... haah...¡± Taylor responded while gasping heavily for air. After allowing himself that brief recovery period, he regarded Aiden with a perplexed gaze. ¡°But junk dealer, aren¡¯t you feeling fatigued at all?¡± Taylor was recalling their recent combat encounter. Throughout that skirmish with the zombies, Aiden had moved far more vigorously and erratically compared to Taylor himself. Out of those 22 zombies, Taylor had only accounted for 8 kills. The remaining 14 had been systematically eliminated by Aiden¡¯s efforts alone. Yet despite that, Aiden hadn¡¯t even broken into labored breathing since the battle¡¯s conclusion. Even accounting for potential differences in physical conditioning, Taylor found that difficult to comprehend. He scrutinized Aiden with that skeptical gaze, prompting the following response: ¡°Of course... it was strenuous.¡± Aiden delivered that reply in an utterly nonchalant tone, betraying no visible signs of exertion whatsoever. ¡°That was strenuous for you?¡± ¡°...¡± When Taylor let out an incredulous chuckle at that statement, Aiden fell briefly silent. Then, as if dismissing the matter entirely, he seamlessly changed the subject. ¡°More importantly, let¡¯s inspect the warehouse¡¯s contents.¡± Despite that brazen evasiveness, Taylor could only click his tongue inwardly before rising to his feet without further protest. There was little point in persistently interrogating Aiden about it. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do that.¡± The two, who had been resting near the warehouse entrance, proceeded inside. However, the interior they discovered was largely devoid of any substantial contents. Whether it had originally been empty, or if someone had thoroughly scavenged the area, was unclear. What few remaining supplies were present had been concentrated towards the far end of the warehouse. Several olive-green foldable storage crates were stacked in that location. Yet upon inspecting their contents, Taylor let out a heavy sigh of disappointment. ¡°Damn it... this isn¡¯t the warehouse containing the supplies we were hoping for. Take a look at this.¡± The crate he had opened revealed it was filled with military-grade gas masks. The other crates seemed to contain similar items as well. Replacement filters for those masks, along with antidotes and other equipment intended for chemical warfare preparedness. While these military provisions were present, they were regrettably unrelated to combating the zombie virus. ¡°Unfortunate luck, it seems.¡± Disappointing, but ultimately unavoidable. With that realization, they exited the warehouse and approached another nearby structure instead. An outwardly unremarkable two-story building from its exterior appearance. ¡°...It seems quiet inside, at least.¡± Fortunately, there didn¡¯t appear to be any zombie presence within this particular building. The two cautiously entered through the main entrance. Inside, they found what seemed to be office spaces filled with scattered documents and disorganized paperwork. ¡°Hmm...¡± To Aiden, it didn¡¯t seem like a promising location for any substantial finds. Neither food supplies nor weaponry would be stored in such administrative offices. However, Taylor began sifting through the disarrayed piles of documents in one corner of the room. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Just wait. There should be some information about this base¡¯s inventory documented somewhere around here.¡± Taylor had immediately recognized this as the administrative office that had been utilized by the base¡¯s personnel. Therefore, he deduced that records detailing the supplies stored within should still be present among these scattered files. Aiden also assisted in Taylor¡¯s search efforts. It didn¡¯t take long before... ¡°Found it...!¡± Taylor retrieved a yellowed sheet of A4 paper. Instead of a map, it contained a simple list of text entries: Names like ¡°Warehouse #1¡± and ¡°Warehouse #2¡±, followed by itemized inventories of their respective contents. ¡°But how do we know which warehouse is which?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you notice? The warehouse doors had numbers painted on them.¡± At Taylor¡¯s words, Aiden tried recalling that detail. Now that it was mentioned, he did vaguely remember a black numeric ¡®2¡¯ crudely painted onto one of the warehouse entrances they had passed by earlier. At the time, it had seemed so carelessly scrawled that he hadn¡¯t paid it much heed, dismissing it as mere graffiti. ¡°This was a hastily established base, after all. In those circumstances, they wouldn¡¯t have had time to meticulously label everything.¡± Taylor spoke with a tone of familiarity regarding such expedient military practices. His rationale rang true, so Aiden accepted it without further doubt. ¡°Then which locations should we prioritize?¡± ¡°These two: Warehouses #4 and #7.¡± Those were listed as containing fuel, food, water rations, and other essential provisions they required. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Aiden nodded his head. Chapter 155 Aiden and Taylor navigated through the military base¡¯s interior in search of the designated warehouses. Perhaps due to its hasty construction, or an intentional dispersal of the storage facilities, over ten separate ¡®equipment warehouses¡¯ were scattered haphazardly across the premises instead of being concentrated in a single location. Among those warehouses, situated in front of a road cluttered with disorganized military vehicles... ¡°This is it. Number 7.¡± Taylor indicated a brown brick building. Vastly different in size and appearance compared to the bunker-like Warehouse #2 Aiden had initially encountered. With an unassuming exterior that could have belonged to any residential backyard shed. However, the number ¡®7¡¯ was indeed clearly painted on its entrance door, prompting Aiden to cautiously inspect the interior. ¡°...Seems secure.¡± No ominous shadows lurked within that wide-open doorway. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Due to its modest dimensions, Aiden could visually confirm the warehouse¡¯s safety at a glance before proceeding inside. ¡°So this is supposed to be the fuel storage, you mentioned?¡± Aiden remarked as he surveyed the area. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± While Taylor had affirmed it, the only items present were fuel pumps and empty plastic containers typically used for siphoning gasoline ¨C but no actual fuel reserves could be seen anywhere. ¡°Has it already been scavenged?¡± ¡°No, just wait a moment.¡± In response to Aiden¡¯s murmured speculation, Taylor activated his flashlight and began inspecting the floor. ¡°Found it. See this?¡± What Taylor had discovered was a small hatch embedded into the ground. Just large enough for a single person to pass through, at most. Upon witnessing it, Aiden immediately recognized its purpose. ¡°An underground fuel tank.¡± Bearing a distinct resemblance to those found at abandoned gas stations. The sole difference being that at regular fuel stations, such tank entrances would be located outdoors for convenient access when refilling or siphoning their contents. Which prompted Aiden¡¯s next query: ¡°But why bury it inside a building?¡± ¡°This base was expanded after the zombie outbreak began. Likely to deter potential looting.¡± Hmm¨C Aiden gave a nod of acknowledgment. He then proceeded to utilize the warehouse¡¯s fuel pump to assess the gasoline¡¯s condition. ¡°...The quality seems better than expected.¡± Aiden muttered those words with a hint of pleasant surprise. Even in a cool, sunlight-deprived warehouse, gasoline¡¯s effective shelf life was typically limited to around six months at most. However, the fuel stored here showed no signs of discoloration, appearing to be in pristine condition. When Aiden expressed his puzzlement, Taylor simply shrugged nonchalantly. ¡°This is military-grade stuff. Of course, it would have preservative additives mixed in. Just a small amount can exponentially extend the storage duration.¡± As he spoke, Taylor promptly began siphoning his share of the fuel reserves. Aiden followed suit, filling the available containers with the necessary quantities before exiting the warehouse. ¡°Next is... Number 4, then.¡± Taylor gestured towards another area of the base. Warehouse #4, listed as containing food rations and drinking water, was a large-scale facility like Warehouse #2 they had previously encountered. However, its location was at the easternmost corner ¨C the opposite end from where the western Warehouse #2 had been situated. ¡°Let¡¯s prepare ourselves thoroughly.¡± Taylor¡¯s words implied an expectation that, being a sizable warehouse, they might encounter a substantial zombie presence similar to their previous experience. Not to mention the potential threat of any lingering cannibals or mutants that could be occupying the area. With that in mind, the two steeled their resolve as they approached Warehouse #4. In the warehouse district where three separate buildings were clustered together... an unexpected sight awaited them. ¡°This is...¡± Aiden muttered those words as he surveyed the devastated road, still bearing the visceral aftermath of some cataclysmic battle. The asphalt had been torn asunder, ripped apart like shredded cheese. Mangled military vehicles lay crumpled like discarded cans, while shattered concrete pillars protruded grotesquely from the wreckage. Their intended destination, Warehouse #4, had its entrance caved in ¨C one of its walls violently blown outwards from the inside. ¡°...¡± The sight caused Taylor¡¯s expression to harden noticeably. These weren¡¯t recent traces. At the very least, they had been left several months ago, if not over a year prior. Even so, the sheer scale of that devastation was enough to instill a profound sense of unease within them. For those claw-like gouges couldn¡¯t have been inflicted by any conventional modern weaponry. ¡°Undoubtedly... the work of a mutant.¡± ¡°A mutant? Capable of this level of destruction?¡± Taylor muttered those words with a dazed expression. Aiden shared his apprehension regarding the implications. The traces left behind here suggested a bestial might far surpassing even the most formidable mutants they had previously encountered. In particular, the sheer force required to breach that bunker-like warehouse¡¯s reinforced walls from the interior... likely exceeded the capabilities of even the fearsome Brutal, the strongest mutant Aiden had ever witnessed. ¡°...¡± Beneath his helmet, Aiden¡¯s eyes narrowed contemplatively. Establishing a secure territory and inhabiting it was a remarkably intelligent behavior pattern. Did that mean the entity that had once resided here possessed not only overwhelming physical prowess but a substantial degree of intelligence as well? It was an unsettling prospect, to consider the existence of such a cerebrally evolved being possessing strength beyond even the Brutal¡¯s caliber. ¡°Perhaps the only consolation is that this entity has already departed from this place.¡± Among the scattered bones blanketing the area, virtually none still retained any remnants of flesh or viscera clinging to them. Indicating that whatever monster had once claimed this warehouse as its lair had abandoned it long ago. Aiden thoroughly scrutinized the remaining traces, but could discern no further insights regarding that enigmatic presence. If that was the case, then their investigation had reached its limits here. Refocusing his thoughts on their original objective, Aiden made a pragmatic decision. ¡°There¡¯s no point in further observation here. Let¡¯s search for the food supplies instead.¡± ¡°...In there?¡± Taylor expressed his incredulity at that seemingly nonsensical suggestion. However, Aiden calmly affirmed it. ¡°The building opposite the entrance seems intact. There might still be provisions inside.¡± And true to Aiden¡¯s words, beyond that bone-littered area, deeper within the intact section of the warehouse, they discovered undamaged military rations and drinking water supplies. ¡°This should suffice.¡± Aiden proceeded to gather as much as they could feasibly transport. A substantial haul to supplement the fuel they had already acquired. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to take any?¡± Aiden suddenly turned his attention towards Taylor. With a troubled expression, Taylor had been silently observing Aiden¡¯s actions from afar. Likely finding the notion of scavenging food supplies from what amounted to a mass grave site and former mutant¡¯s lair to be distastefully disconcerting. However, that aversion didn¡¯t persist for long. ¡°Huh... no, I suppose we can¡¯t afford to be so squeamish.¡± After an extended internal deliberation, Taylor soon joined Aiden¡¯s side. Ultimately, the pragmatic necessity outweighed any qualms about the unsavory location ¨C they couldn¡¯t realistically forego such vital provisions. With their required supplies gathered, the two exited while carrying their respective loads. ¡°Let¡¯s head back, then.¡± They promptly returned to their vehicle, loaded the acquired goods, and set off once more towards Santa Rosa. The day was already drawing to a close, dusk rapidly approaching. * * * The next morning. Aiden¡¯s group was making preparations to depart from Santa Rosa, situated near their temporary shelter. ¡°You¡¯re really leaving?¡± The ones bidding them farewell were Taylor and his daughter, Luna. Over the past few days, the young girl had grown quite attached to Sadie, her newfound friend ¨C shedding tears at the prospect of their imminent separation. ¡°Yes.¡± In contrast to Luna¡¯s emotional state, Sadie responded with a solemn demeanor. A maturity far exceeding her tender years. However, even Sadie couldn¡¯t entirely conceal her own melancholic sentiments, evident in her slightly trembling lips and downcast gaze. ¡°Can¡¯t we come together? You¡¯re going to leave anyway, right?¡± Luna posed that question, addressing not Sadie but her own father, Taylor. Yet Taylor shook his head in rejection. Traveling together with Aiden¡¯s group had indeed been an option he had contemplated. Not only would it undoubtedly benefit his daughter... but the previous day¡¯s events had conclusively proven Aiden to be a formidable and knowledgeable individual worthy of reliance. However, the one who had adamantly refused that proposal was Aiden¡¯s group itself. When Taylor had suggested it, Aiden had firmly drawn a line, insisting it wouldn¡¯t be possible ¨C albeit with an apologetic demeanor, as if embarrassed by that stance. The precise reasoning eluded Taylor, preventing him from pressing the matter further. ¡°Why?¡± Meanwhile, Luna furrowed her brow at her father¡¯s response, unable to comprehend the rejection. Lacking any suitable explanation, Taylor could only offer his daughter an awkward, troubled expression in the face of her innocent inquiry. It was into that tense atmosphere that Sadie interjected herself. ¡°Luna.¡± Sadie called out the young girl¡¯s name. Slowly, Luna¡¯s gaze turned towards her. ¡°It¡¯s alright. We¡¯ll be able to meet again.¡± Despite Sadie¡¯s reassuring words, Luna¡¯s dejected eyes remained downcast. ¡°You¡¯re going to LA, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°...Yeah.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll go to LA too. So... I¡¯ll just go there first and wait for you.¡± At those words, tears finally spilled forth from Luna¡¯s eyes. Like the child she was, Luna broke down into audible sobs ¨C prompting Sadie to embrace her consolingly. ¡°...¡± Aiden regarded the two children with a measured gaze, while Taylor¡¯s expression conveyed a sense of apologetic helplessness. Arian, too, seemed to empathize with their shared sorrow, her countenance tinged with melancholy. ¡°Then... I suppose we¡¯ll meet again another time.¡± From inside their vehicle, Aiden bid his farewell to Taylor and Luna. ¡°Yes. Let¡¯s all strive to survive until then.¡± With Taylor¡¯s parting words, their vehicle departed. The aging sedan rumbled down the road, its muffled exhaust fumes trailing behind. Through the rearview mirror, Luna¡¯s waving figure gradually receded into the distance. In an uncharacteristic display, Sadie remained fully turned around in her seat for an extended period, silently watching as Santa Rosa and her friend slowly vanished from sight. * * * Several days later. Aiden¡¯s group was heading towards their next destination: Albuquerque. A major city that had once been home to over 500,000 residents, situated approximately 1,300 kilometers from LA. However, even before reaching Albuquerque, Aiden¡¯s group encountered a significant obstacle. ¡°Aiden.¡± From within their moving vehicle, Arian addressed Aiden in a hushed voice. Aiden promptly brought the car to a halt, turning his attention towards her. ¡°...Again?¡± ¡°Yes, there are people ahead.¡± At her ominous response, Aiden let out a contemplative hum. It meant there were individuals lying in ambush along the road ahead of them. Yet at their current location, Aiden¡¯s group was traversing a mountainous region. The very mountain range that extended across Albuquerque¡¯s eastern outskirts, with no visible man-made structures in the vicinity. Hardly a location where ordinary wanderers would be expected to linger. Which could only indicate one plausible identity for those obstructing their path ¨C cannibals. Furthermore, this was merely the latest in a series of ambushes they had encountered today ¨C the fifth since entering these mountains. To hope their suspicions were unfounded would likely be an exercise in futility at this point. ¡°Even so... I¡¯ll check it out first. If it turns out to be a false alarm, there¡¯s no need for you to reveal yourself. Their numbers seem limited to around four, so I should be able to handle it within my own boundaries.¡± ¡°...Understood. Be careful.¡± With a slightly exasperated expression, Arian exited the vehicle first. Aiden briefly glanced towards the rear seat, where Sadie had taken shelter beneath a bulletproof helmet. ¡°Perhaps I should have heeded Taylor¡¯s advice.¡± Aiden let out a brief sigh as he muttered those words under his breath. When he had mentioned their intention to travel to Albuquerque, Taylor had suggested taking a wide detour around these mountains if possible. Precisely because the roads cutting through them were so severely limited, making them prime targets for cannibal ambushes. Of course, Aiden had been well aware of that potential risk himself. Yet he had still chosen to proceed through this mountain route, confident in their ability to withstand any attacks from those cannibals. In hindsight, Aiden¡¯s judgment had proven accurate ¨C as long as Arian was present, the cannibals¡¯ ambushes posed little genuine threat. The only aspect he had underestimated was the sheer frequency of their attacks across this region. Bang! The sound of gunfire suddenly rang out at that moment. It signified that Arian had made contact with the cannibals, who had refused to engage in dialogue and immediately opened fire instead. In response, Aiden fidgeted with his rifle while surveying their surroundings vigilantly. Prepared to engage any stragglers that might attempt to flee towards their location. ¡°...It¡¯s over.¡± Arian¡¯s return came merely minutes later, her demeanor appearing almost bored ¨C hardly suggesting she had been embroiled in combat. ¡°Sorry for constantly leaving you to handle everything alone.¡± Aiden spoke those words as he observed her approach. In response, Arian let out an amused chuckle before replying. ¡°You usually take care of it all anyway. No need to be so concerned over this much. Truthfully, my physical condition is better than it has been in weeks, thanks to an ample blood supply.¡± Arian gave a nonchalant shrug. She wasn¡¯t lacking in that vital sustenance. The singular advantage this mountainous region had provided, as Aiden himself had acknowledged. ¡°Then let¡¯s depart once more.¡± Aiden¡¯s group resumed their journey. They were now less than 5 kilometers away from Albuquerque¡¯s outskirts. While they had endured a troublesome series of incidents, the arduous mountain passage was finally nearing its conclusion. The road had gradually transitioned from an incline into a descent, with the outskirts of Albuquerque becoming visible in the distance. It was just as Aiden¡¯s group could sense the imminent end of their mountain trek that disaster ultimately struck. Crunch! Something heavy was crushed underfoot, violently jolting their vehicle and forcing it to an abrupt halt. Chapter 156 ¡°What was that?¡± Startled, Arian surveyed their surroundings. However, all she could see were the surrounding trees. There didn¡¯t seem to be any optimal position for a sniper attack from a distance. Aiden briefly remained vigilant before exiting the vehicle to assess the situation. Upon inspecting the tires, his brow furrowed with displeasure. ¡°Damn it...¡± The tire had been completely shredded. The culprit was an improvised spike strip ¨C a metal frame embedded with sharp upright spikes designed to puncture tires. It seemed one such trap had been cleverly concealed amidst the debris littering the road. ¡°What is this, the work of those cannibals?¡± ¡°Hard to say. It could have been set up by a survivor group as well. The cannibals aren¡¯t the only ones capable of utilizing vehicles.¡± ¡°So... what do we do now?¡± Arian posed that bewildered question as she examined the deflated tire. Aiden, too, let out a brief sigh while surveying the damaged wheel. Eventually, he shifted his gaze towards the distant outskirts of Albuquerque, gauging their remaining distance. Not the city itself, but rather a small village within its metropolitan area ¨C the point where artificial structures gradually became visible beyond the forest¡¯s edge. From there, it likely wouldn¡¯t be an excessive distance to the survivor group¡¯s main base. ¡°For now, we have no choice but to proceed like this. We¡¯ll conceal the vehicle at a suitable location, then continue on foot.¡± After a moment¡¯s contemplation, Aiden reached that decision. Of course, forcibly driving on a deflated tire risked completely ruining the wheel. However, abandoning their vehicle laden with essential supplies in the middle of the road would be an even greater folly. It would be wiser to temporarily stash the car inside a nearby structure and seek out a replacement tire later. ¡°It¡¯s a bit concerning, but I suppose we have no other viable option.¡± Arian concurred with Aiden¡¯s assessment. And so, Aiden¡¯s group proceeded by driving their vehicle along the road as cautiously as possible. Soon, the forest gave way to their surroundings. Beyond the steep mountain slopes lay an arid desert landscape blanketed in pale brown rubble. Only sporadic, cactus-like shrubs dotted that barren terrain. Continuing further down that road, buildings gradually came into view. Starting with brick residential structures, followed by an area densely packed with factories and various commercial establishments intermingled haphazardly. Not quite a proper residential district, yet ill-suited to be considered an industrial sector either ¨C an ambiguous amalgamation defying simple categorization. Not an area that appeared particularly promising for resource scavenging. However, that very obscurity likely meant it wouldn¡¯t attract undue attention from passing wanderers either. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was in one such nondescript street corner that Aiden guided their vehicle, concealing it amidst the wrecks of abandoned cars behind some indistinct white structure. In its dilapidated state, their aging sedan blended seamlessly with the surrounding derelict vehicles, virtually indistinguishable from the other discarded wrecks. ¡°We should carry as many supplies as possible.¡± Aiden muttered those words as he exited their temporarily stashed vehicle. Even with such precautions, they couldn¡¯t afford to let their guard down entirely. This was, after all, the outskirts of a major city ¨C and one reportedly housing survivor groups numbering in the thousands, no less. Their presence would undoubtedly attract more prying eyes and chance encounters compared to less populated areas. A mere stroke of misfortune could potentially lead to their cached supplies being discovered and looted by the time they returned. Which was why Aiden opted to directly transport not only their intended trading goods but as many additional provisions as they could feasibly carry. A decision that necessitated both Aiden and Arian shouldering substantial backpacks filled with supplies. ¡°Will you be alright?¡± Aiden posed that question while regarding Arian. The bag she was burdened with seemed excessively large compared to her relatively petite physique. However, Arian simply shrugged it off nonchalantly. ¡°This much is nothing. It just... looks a bit ridiculous, that¡¯s all.¡± More than the weight itself, Arian seemed more self-conscious about her comical appearance ¨C like a mouse lugging an oversized chunk of cheese. If that was her only concern, Aiden saw no need to worry further. He then turned his attention towards Sadie, who was also shouldering a rolled-up sleeping bag nearly as large as herself. While Aiden hadn¡¯t initially intended to burden Sadie with any additional load, it seemed to be at her own insistence. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine too.¡± Sadie spoke those words, having noticed Aiden¡¯s scrutinizing gaze. However, from a pragmatic standpoint, assigning Sadie to carry supplies was inherently inefficient. In any emergency situation requiring a hasty retreat or concealment, that encumbrance would only hinder her mobility and agility. Qualities that Aiden and Arian, unencumbered, could maintain far more readily during potential combat scenarios. Yet Aiden was well aware of Sadie¡¯s motivation for insisting on shouldering a portion of their gear. That child simply desired to find her own contributive role within their small group, however modest. For that reason, Aiden didn¡¯t attempt to dissuade her, giving a nod of acquiescence instead. ¡°Understood. Then let¡¯s go.¡± Aiden¡¯s group set out on foot, following the road¡¯s path. Along the way, they passed by what appeared to be a cemetery. Its perimeter was defined by a long stretch of black wrought-iron fencing, exuding an air of profound desolation ¨C likely the result of prolonged neglect and abandonment. Next, they encountered what seemed to be a church. Its large entrance door had been torn off entirely, while the interior was blanketed in ash resembling the remnants of a substantial bonfire. Signs of some prior conflict, which Aiden regarded with detached indifference as they continued onwards. The closer they drew to Albuquerque¡¯s center, the more frequent and varied the surrounding structures became. Until finally, a sizable building appeared beside the road ¨C some form of museum, by its appearance. And it was there, at the threshold of Albuquerque¡¯s boundaries, that human figures were first spotted. ¡°Up there. They seem to be sentries.¡± Arian indicated the rooftop of that building. Its five-story height indeed provided an advantageous vantage point for monitoring the approaching roads. According to Arian¡¯s perception, over 20 individuals were stationed there. Additionally, a low barricade extended from the museum¡¯s premises, obstructing the road itself. ¡°I¡¯ll take the lead here.¡± Recognizing the situation, Aiden instructed his companions to remain behind him. The survivors of Albuquerque had endured prolonged conflicts with cannibals. As such, there was a possibility they might react with hostility upon their initial encounter. Therefore, Aiden decided to make the first approach alone, allowing his companions to hang back. However, as he neared that barricade, Aiden¡¯s brow furrowed slightly in puzzlement. The sentries observing him from the checkpoint didn¡¯t seem outwardly antagonistic despite their evident wariness. ¡°Halt.¡± One of them addressed Aiden as he approached the barricade. Aiden compliantly raised both hands, adhering to their instructions. They inquired about his profession, his purpose for coming here, and whether he had any companions with him. And then... ¡°Alright, you can enter.¡± They simply permitted him to proceed inside without further issue. A stark contrast to the uncompromising hostility Amarillo had displayed towards outsiders. ¡°This is... rather unexpected.¡± Aiden muttered those words after rejoining his companions, having been granted entry into Albuquerque without any complications. ¡°Yeah, no kidding. Weren¡¯t they supposed to be at war or something? This place seems remarkably intact.¡± Even Arian couldn¡¯t conceal her bewilderment at the situation. From her perspective, Albuquerque appeared far more welcoming towards outsiders compared to the other territories they had traversed in the western regions. ¡°It¡¯s different from what we expected, but it¡¯s not bad for us. Once we go inside, we¡¯ll be able to understand the situation.¡± Aiden¡¯s group continued walking along the road into the city. Although still far from downtown, being a big city, there were houses and large store buildings visible here and there. Among them, Aiden stopped in front of one of these store buildings. It was a large supermarket that was once famous. At the entrance under its huge logo, there was a makeshift barricade made of wooden planks nailed to a steel frame. Moreover, Arian testified that there were about a hundred people scattered throughout the building. Anyone could see it was a base for a small group of survivors. However, Aiden had heard that there was a group of thousands here. Puzzled by this, Aiden decided to approach the place himself. ¡°Huh? Who are you guys?¡± A woman in her 40s guarding the entrance asked in a confrontational tone. She eyed Aiden¡¯s group suspiciously, on guard. But conversely, that was all there was to it. The fact that they didn¡¯t point guns at strangers approaching was something Aiden hadn¡¯t experienced in a very long time. ¡°I have something I¡¯d like to ask, if that¡¯s alright?¡± Aiden asked, handing her a combat ration. The woman looked around a bit before accepting it. ¡°Okay, what do you want to know?¡± ¡°We came from Amarillo in the east. We heard there was a survivor group in Albuquerque.¡± ¡°So?¡± ¡°I heard the scale was... quite large.¡± Aiden said, glancing at the supermarket building behind. No matter how he looked at it, it wasn¡¯t a place where thousands could live. At this, the woman chuckled and nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. Our gang isn¡¯t the only one in this city.¡± ¡°You mean there are other survivor groups?¡± When Aiden asked this, the woman let out a short sigh. ¡°You don¡¯t know the situation here at all, do you? Well, I guess you came here to go to LA too, right?¡± ¡°...Something like that.¡± ¡°I thought so.¡± The woman spoke as if she was used to it. She continued in a casual voice, as if making small talk. ¡°The atmosphere here is a bit different from other cities. Especially in the West. In short, Albuquerque is... a place where numerous survivor groups are in disarray.¡± ¡°Disarray?¡± ¡°There must be dozens of gangs like ours in the city?¡± At the woman¡¯s words, Aiden frowned inside his helmet. The existence of dozens of gangs in the city meant chaos. ¡°Then are they fighting each other?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not it.¡± But the woman immediately denied Aiden¡¯s question. The answer that came out of her mouth next was somewhat outside Aiden¡¯s common sense. ¡°The gangs here are all in a loose alliance. And what¡¯s ruling this Albuquerque is the headquarters of the alliance formed by these gangs.¡± ¡°Alliance... you say?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you understand? It¡¯s just like the United States. We¡¯re the state government, and the alliance headquarters is the central government.¡± It was then that Aiden finally understood the woman¡¯s words. In the end, it meant that several gangs with autonomy were gathering and cooperating with each other. ¡°...That¡¯s unique.¡± Aiden evaluated it as such. It was a form of society he had never seen in any city and couldn¡¯t exist in his common sense. The woman smiled softly as if sympathizing with Aiden¡¯s thoughts. ¡°Right? But there¡¯s a reason for everything. Think about it. How many of the people here do you think were original residents of Albuquerque?¡± ¡°Are you saying most of the survivors are outsiders?¡± ¡°Of course. The people here? They¡¯re all just like you. Idiots gathered from all over America to go to LA. Because of that damn radio broadcast.¡± The woman said, chuckling. Aiden silently waited for her next words. ¡°Thanks to that, there are too many people coming and going in this Albuquerque. It¡¯s not even unusual for an entire gang to come and go as a whole. In the end, it¡¯s too difficult for this city to be neatly united into one organization.¡± ¡°...¡± Aiden let out a short sigh. In the end, this city was a place where wanderers heading to LA gathered. Given that assumption, this unusual composition was somewhat understandable. But there, Aiden raised a fundamental question. ¡°But why are people going to LA staying here?¡± Normally thinking, even if there were many people going to LA, it was strange that such a large group had formed here. As with other western cities, they should just be passing through. To that question, the woman answered as if it was obvious. ¡°Why? They¡¯re all stopped by the wall.¡± ¡°Wall?¡± ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s dangerous beyond here.¡± ¡°What exactly is dangerous?¡± To that question, the woman shook her head. It meant that the answer wasn¡¯t about Albuquerque¡¯s recent situation that could be casually mentioned, but much more valuable information. At this, Aiden decided to just remember it and asked another question. ¡°Then what about the war with the cannibals?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. Until recently, the alliance headquarters tried to recapture the mountains to the east. But they failed in the end, and now it¡¯s in a stalemate.¡± The woman said the war was over. The reason why the scouts going to and from Santa Rosa weren¡¯t visible was because they had lost the mountains in between to the cannibals. Having grasped the general situation, Aiden nodded. And he asked the woman a final question. ¡°I¡¯m a junk dealer. I want to take on requests, where would be the best place to go?¡± ¡°You could just look for gangs like us, but... going to the alliance headquarters would be the easiest. It¡¯s where most requests gather.¡± The woman was kind enough to tell him the location of the alliance headquarters. It was a large area in central Albuquerque. It was an area where various sports-related stadiums, including baseball, soccer, rugby, and others, were gathered. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± Aiden finished his conversation with the member of the gang and returned to his companions. Arian and Sadie, who had been listening to their conversation without missing a word, looked relieved. It was because the situation in Albuquerque wasn¡¯t as bad as they had expected. ¡°That¡¯s a relief. If what that woman said is true, it means this place is open to outsiders too.¡± ¡°It seems so.¡± That part was certainly positive. It meant it would be much easier to carry out requests as a junk dealer. However, Albuquerque¡¯s advantages didn¡¯t end there. ¡°Moreover, this city... seems to possess ample resources.¡± ¡°How can you tell?¡± ¡°Otherwise, such a loose alliance would be unsustainable.¡± If they were grappling with dire shortages of basic necessities, the notion of maintaining any kind of cooperative alliance would be inconceivable. Yet the fact that these gangs weren¡¯t actively warring against each other implied they had managed to secure alternative resources ¨C prioritizing acquisition over conflict as their means of sustenance. In other words, tangible evidence that each faction possessed sufficient provisions to sustain themselves reasonably. ¡°So you¡¯re saying this is actually a promising location?¡± Arian voiced that evaluation regarding their current circumstances. It was an assessment Aiden shared wholeheartedly. Compared to any other city they had encountered in the western regions, Albuquerque exhibited far more positive attributes. However, one particular aspect remained a source of lingering concern for Aiden. ¡°But there is one matter that troubles me.¡± ¡°Ah... you mean that ¡®wall¡¯ they mentioned?¡± Aiden gave a solemn nod of affirmation. There existed some formidable threat potent enough to confine such a substantial survivor population within the confines of this city. After briefly contemplating that issue, Aiden gathered his thoughts before speaking. ¡°For now, let¡¯s proceed to this alliance¡¯s headquarters. It seems prudent for us to temporarily reside here while gathering more comprehensive information.¡± His suggestion met with unanimous agreement from his companions. And so, they set out towards the location designated as the alliance headquarters ¨C Albuquerque¡¯s baseball stadium district. Chapter 157 Sometime later. ¡°This must be it.¡± The location Aiden¡¯s group had arrived at was a temporary tent situated within the baseball stadium grounds. A designated space for facilitating requests and trade negotiations between the alliance headquarters and outside junk dealers. Considerably larger in scale than a mere transaction booth, with a substantial flow of people coming and going through its interior. ¡°It seems there are quite a few other junk dealers here as well.¡± Arian made that observation regarding the scene. To which Aiden gave an acknowledging nod, as if it were only natural. ¡°It would appear so. An environment like this bodes well for our profession.¡± The loose alliance formed between the numerous gangs in the city. And this central alliance headquarters where all their requests and trades were concentrated. Combined with their welcoming disposition towards outsiders. Every aspect was promising news for a junk dealer like Aiden. No longer needing to risk their lives negotiating with each gang individually. And with trade opportunities distributed across multiple factions instead of monopolized, they could expect relatively equitable compensation terms. ¡°Over there, people are gathering.¡± At the central area of the baseball field, a particularly dense crowd had formed. As they approached, Aiden noticed it was centered around a large communal chalkboard. Various requests had been listed upon its surface for open viewing. Aiden scrutinized the board intently. The sheer number of posted requests exceeded his initial expectations. Each one concisely summarizing the core assignment details alongside the offered compensation. Broadly categorized, they could be divided into three main types. The first category consisted of logistical resource exchange requests. The most common type, essentially amounting to simple barter transactions rather than actual contracted assignments. Ordinarily, Aiden wouldn¡¯t have paid them much heed. However, in their current circumstances with their supply transport vehicle temporarily disabled, procuring replacement tires became an immediate priority for his group. Not to mention their recent inability to replenish essential combat supplies like ammunition and grenades. With their impending journey likely growing more perilous, it was an opportune timing to restock and conduct necessary maintenance on their weaponry. ¡°Hmm...¡± Yet as Aiden perused the listed logistical requests, he let out a low sigh of displeasure. Likely due to the prolonged conflicts with the cannibals... the value of Aiden¡¯s group¡¯s current food and water provisions seemed comparatively diminished in this city of Albuquerque. Conversely, weapons, vehicle components, and similar resources commanded substantially higher premiums. Even if they solely sought to exchange for their most pressing necessities, the anticipated expenditure would be considerable ¨C potentially exceeding their immediate tradable assets. It seemed some degree of contracted work to earn additional compensation would be unavoidable during their stay here, regardless. A prospect Aiden had already resigned himself to, albeit hoping to minimize that requisite duration as much as possible. The remaining requests predominantly fell into two other categories ¨C combat-oriented assignments. One subset involved the cannibals directly ¨C primarily seeking retribution or the recovery of fallen comrades¡¯ belongings. ¡°How about these cannibal-related ones?¡± Arian inquired, gesturing towards that section. However, Aiden gave a slight shake of his head in rejection. While engaging the cannibals would undoubtedly present opportunities to replenish their blood supply, an advantage... It wasn¡¯t an urgent necessity at present, allowing them to postpone such requests for the time being. More importantly, neither Aiden nor Arian had fully familiarized themselves with the intricate tactics and potential pitfalls those mountain-dwelling tribes employed. Unlike combating the familiar zombies, they lacked any substantial firsthand experience against such adversaries. Which could render those assignments far more perilous than they might initially appear, especially while accompanying Sadie. Under those circumstances, even Arian couldn¡¯t afford to let her guard down. ¡°For now, let¡¯s focus on zombie extermination requests.¡± Aiden indicated the remaining category listed on the opposite side of the chalkboard. Zombie clearing assignments constituted nearly half of all the posted requests, by far the most numerous type. The reason was evident ¨C during their war with the cannibals, the city¡¯s interior regions had been neglected. Only now were concerted efforts being made to eradicate the undead that had infiltrated those unprotected areas in the interim. Furthermore, rather than a unified governing body, Albuquerque¡¯s situation involved numerous smaller gangs establishing their respective territories throughout the sprawling metropolitan area. As a result, while they collectively dominated a vast region, hazardous pockets infested by the undead still lingered scattered across that expansive domain. The majority of the requests involved clearing out such hazardous zones. ¡°This one seems suitable.¡± Among those zombie extermination listings, one particular request caught Aiden¡¯s eye. It involved hunting down a mutant present within an amusement park located along Albuquerque¡¯s southern boundaries. While the designated operation area wasn¡¯t excessively vast, the compensation offered was substantially higher compared to the other requests in that category. ¡°The compensation is quite generous?¡± Arian¡¯s eyes widened slightly upon noticing the same detail. While itemized as material provisions like ammunition and rations, their estimated cumulative value was nearly two to three times greater than the average requests. Prompting a skeptical response from Arian instead. ¡°Isn¡¯t this suspicious? Could it be some kind of scam?¡± ¡°That possibility certainly exists. But we should at least inquire further to verify the details.¡± Aiden proceeded into the tent¡¯s interior to gather more comprehensive information regarding that particular request. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There, a man greeted Aiden¡¯s group upon their entrance. ¡°That request again? The compensation does seem quite generous. You¡¯re not the first to ask about it today, that¡¯s for sure.¡± The man¡¯s brow furrowed slightly, as if he had fielded similar inquiries numerous times already. ¡°So, what would you like to know?¡± ¡°Precisely what kind of mutant are we dealing with in that location?¡± ¡°No idea.¡± The man responded with a casual shrug. When met with Aiden¡¯s perplexed gaze, he let out a brief sigh before elaborating. ¡°The exact nature of the mutant hasn¡¯t been conclusively identified yet. That¡¯s why the request¡¯s compensation is set so high in the first place.¡± ¡°You mean this is a request to eliminate an unidentified mutant?¡± ¡°Well...¡± Scratching his head, the man seemed reluctant to provide a straightforward answer to Aiden¡¯s inquiry. ¡°Let me start from the beginning. This request originated from one of the gangs situated near that amusement park area. Three days ago, a mutant suddenly emerged and attacked them, inflicting severe casualties upon that group.¡± So the gang had issued this request as a means of exacting vengeance for their fallen comrades while ensuring their own safety ¨C that was the gist of his explanation. Aiden gave an understanding nod in response. ¡°And then?¡± ¡°The problem is that the attack occurred in the dead of night. Most of the eyewitnesses perished, and the few survivors were just cowardly individuals who hid without catching a glimpse of the mutant¡¯s appearance. As a result, there¡¯s no one left who actually saw what it looked like.¡± ¡°But couldn¡¯t they at least make an educated guess based on the traces it left behind?¡± ¡°Of course, you would think so. But therein lies the issue.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°The gang¡¯s fortified perimeter was utterly decimated, with concrete walls confirmed to have been demolished. At the very minimum, we¡¯re dealing with a large-sized mutant here. It could be a Wielder or Hedgehog... but the most likely possibility is a Brutal.¡± At the mention of that fearsome breed, Aiden let out a contemplative hum. So there was indeed a justifiable reason behind the request¡¯s exorbitant compensation. ¡°A Brutal hunt... that would certainly be a formidable assignment.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why, while many junk dealers have inquired about this request, only one has actually accepted it so far. Unless you¡¯re utterly unhinged, it¡¯s not the kind of job you¡¯d want to take on lightly.¡± The man punctuated those words with a mocking chuckle. In response, Aiden gave a slight tilt of his head before posing his next question. ¡°So someone has already accepted this request, then?¡± ¡°Of course. Did you really think they¡¯d entrust the elimination of a Brutal to a single junk dealer alone?¡± It was an understandable precaution, to be sure. Tasking an ordinary junk dealer with solo combat against such a formidable mutant would be an exercise in futility. ¡°Ultimately, this request is intended for recruiting mercenaries. That gang has already suffered near-total casualties, so they¡¯re essentially hiring outside muscle with this bounty... though even then, it¡¯s a foolhardy endeavor. You¡¯d do well to simply abandon any notions of accepting it yourself.¡± ¡°...¡± While the man had advised Aiden to pursue alternative requests, he remained undeterred. For his group, currently facing substantial expenditures, the lucrative compensation offered by this assignment held considerable appeal. Meanwhile, the risk of confronting a Brutal was significantly mitigated by the presence of Aiden and Arian ¨C an advantage most other junk dealers lacked. From their perspective, it could hardly be considered an outright reckless undertaking. ¡°What do you think?¡± After exiting the tent briefly, Aiden posed that question to his companions. ¡°I¡¯m fine with it. Even against a Brutal, I can handle it in my current condition.¡± Arian responded with self-assured confidence. Having consumed ample blood from the cannibals they had encountered along the mountain passage, her combat capabilities were currently at peak levels. Upon receiving Arian¡¯s unequivocal affirmation, Aiden gave a nod of acknowledgment. His own judgment regarding the feasibility of this request had been predicated on Arian¡¯s ability to exert her full powers. ¡°But to deliberately choose the more hazardous option, that¡¯s rather unusual for you. You typically favor the safer approach, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Winter is approaching.¡± Aiden provided that succinct explanation in response to Arian¡¯s inquiry. Autumn was already well underway. If they lingered in this city for an extended period, winter would inevitably arrive before they could reach LA. Even in a comparatively southern location like Albuquerque, winter temperatures would undoubtedly plummet below freezing. Moreover, the remaining portion of their journey would involve traversing mountainous and desert terrain ¨C conditions Aiden wished to avoid compounding with the additional hardship of bitterly cold weather, if at all possible. ¡°Ah... I suppose you have a point there. We should strive to make haste, then.¡± Acknowledging the validity behind Aiden¡¯s reasoning, Arian gave an understanding nod. If that was the motivation behind selecting this higher-risk, higher-reward assignment, it was an understandable choice. ¡°But you mentioned there was another junk dealer who had also accepted this request.¡± ¡°That part is... unavoidable, I suppose. We¡¯ll just have to tolerate their presence.¡± Aiden responded with resignation. Since neither party was the original client, there was little justification for them to pry excessively into each other¡¯s affairs. Aside from being a potential inconvenience, the presence of another junk dealer didn¡¯t constitute a significant obstacle. With that, both Arian and Sadie voiced their agreement as well. Having decided upon the request they would undertake, Aiden¡¯s group returned to the tent once more. * * * The next day. Aiden¡¯s group arrived at the designated amusement park ¨C the location specified for their accepted request. Before the vast entrance plaza... stood the dilapidated ticket booths and gateways that had likely once been vibrantly painted in bright red hues, now faded into an unsightly decrepit state. Overhead, the partially shattered face of some whimsical mascot character dangled listlessly from its frame, lending an eerie, almost staged atmosphere to the entire scene. Disturbing enough to elicit a slight flinch from Sadie as she witnessed it. Aiden idly fingered the pistol at his side while surveying their surroundings cautiously. If there were any other junk dealers who had accepted this request, they would likely be present here as well. ¡°Over there.¡± Arian indicated a rusty bench situated in one corner of the entrance area. Someone was seated upon it, prompting Aiden to approach. ¡°Are you a junk dealer here for this request?¡± The individual turned out to be a middle-aged Caucasian woman. Reclining on the bench with her eyes closed, she only opened them upon hearing Aiden¡¯s voice. ¡°...¡± Rather than responding verbally, the woman appraised Aiden with an evaluating gaze instead. He could sense her scrutinizing every aspect of his armed equipment without exception. ¡°An Elephant¡¯s Gun? Nice piece. Where¡¯d you get your hands on hardware like that?¡± She seemed particularly intrigued by the large-caliber pistol Aiden had brought along. However, Aiden simply met her inquisitive stare with an impassive silence of his own. Recognizing that the helmeted gaze wouldn¡¯t waver, the woman finally answered Aiden¡¯s initial question. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. The request to deal with that mutant in the amusement park ¨C I accepted it too. Honestly, I thought anyone crazy enough to take on that job must be utterly insane... but you seem like a reasonably capable junk dealer, at least.¡± Those words were accompanied by a sardonic curl of her lips. However, aside from this woman, no other individuals were visible in the vicinity. Did that mean they were the only two junk dealers who had taken on this particular request? A scenario where the assignment would likely be deemed infeasible, under normal circumstances. Yet for some reason, this woman didn¡¯t seem inclined to withdraw from the endeavor. Aiden introduced himself in a measured tone. ¡°I¡¯m Aiden Lee. And you are?¡± ¡°Maria Roberts.¡± Maria extended her hand towards him, as if requesting a courteous handshake. Aiden¡¯s gloved hand grasped hers in a firm grip. During that exchange, Maria¡¯s gaze suddenly shifted towards the area behind Aiden. Her brow furrowing as she noticed Sadie and Arian accompanying him. ¡°Wait a minute. Who are those kids?¡± ¡°My companions.¡± At Aiden¡¯s response identifying them as such, Maria¡¯s head tilted momentarily in puzzlement. However, she soon seemed to grasp the implication, her expression hardening perceptibly. ¡°Surely you don¡¯t intend to bring those children along?¡± Inwardly, Aiden let out a resigned sigh at her predictable inquiry. Of course, that had been his very intention. While undeniably hazardous, there were no suitable alternatives in Albuquerque ¨C no refuge where he could leave Sadie behind, nor any appropriate accommodation for her to reside separately. Keeping her by Arian¡¯s side was the most prudent option available. However, convincing an outside junk dealer unaware of their circumstances would be an arduous endeavor. Which was why Aiden opted for an outright dismissal instead of attempting to rationalize his decision. ¡°That¡¯s none of your concern.¡± His curt response elicited an incredulous scoff from Maria. ¡°...I¡¯m rescinding my earlier assessment. You¡¯re not just reasonably capable ¨C you¡¯re outright insane.¡± Maria proceeded to berate Aiden further. Condemning the notion of treating this request as some trivial game, accusing him of intending to use the children as literal human shields, ranting that he must have completely lost his mind. Yet Aiden found himself entirely unperturbed by her vitriolic reactions. From an objective standpoint, they were perfectly understandable sentiments. Had Aiden not witnessed the reality of Arian¡¯s vampiric nature firsthand, he likely would have shared Maria¡¯s perspective without hesitation. ¡°If you have such grievances, then feel free to withdraw. I¡¯m perfectly capable of proceeding alone.¡± Even so, Aiden deliberately feigned offense as he issued that dismissive statement. Inwardly hoping it would prompt Maria to voluntarily abandon the assignment here and now. ¡°...¡± However, while she fell silent, Maria showed no signs of actually withdrawing her participation. It seemed the issue wouldn¡¯t be resolved that easily. ¡°Then let¡¯s proceed.¡± With no other recourse, Aiden began making his way towards the amusement park¡¯s entrance with resolute strides. His companions followed behind, while Maria watched rhem with an exasperated gaze ¨C particularly fixated on Sadie and Arian trailing after Aiden. And so, Aiden¡¯s group, accompanied by Maria, ventured to the amusement park where zombies were hiding. Chapter 158 Upon passing through the amusement park¡¯s entrance, a wide pathway emerged before them. Lining either side were stores that had likely once sold souvenirs and memorabilia. Originally vibrant with coats of bright pink and green paint, yet now faded into a dull gray hue ¨C further marred by various unsightly graffiti scrawled across their surfaces, rendering the entire scene rather grotesque in appearance. ¡°Who exactly would deface places like this?¡± Arian posed that rhetorical question as she observed the crude messages and profanities defacing the store pillars. It was a sentiment Aiden shared regarding her sense of bewilderment. This amusement park was an unsecured area, after all. Furthermore, engaging in such graffiti would have required access to spray paint ¨C a commodity not only difficult to obtain but potentially quite useful if properly utilized. To waste such resources solely for the purpose of senseless vandalism was an incomprehensible notion to Aiden. Proceeding further, they emerged into a vast central plaza. At its core stood the dilapidated remnants of a merry-go-round, similarly reduced to an unsightly wreck. The vividly colored horses had been torn away, now scattered haphazardly across the ground. Even those still attached seemed gruesomely mutilated, with severed heads dangling lifelessly from their frames. ¡°...¡± Aiden surveyed the plaza¡¯s perimeter with a measured gaze. Ahead lay a towering clocktower structure, its rear side backing onto a souvenir shop¡¯s exterior. To either flank were buildings that had likely once housed eateries and concession stands. An area that defied simple categorization as either a residential district or an industrial sector ¨C its intended purpose rendered ambiguous amidst the desolation. ¡°There are quite a few zombies lurking inside those buildings and behind the clocktower.¡± Arian murmured those words in a hushed undertone. Locations that would undoubtedly provide ample concealment for the undead to lay in ambush. However, there was no need to provoke any unnecessary confrontations if they could be circumvented. Minimizing resource expenditure would be the prudent approach, so Aiden intended to proceed stealthily whenever feasible. ¡°Hold on a moment.¡± However, Maria interrupted Aiden¡¯s intentions with those words. Prompting Aiden to turn his attention towards her inquiringly. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s clear out the area here before proceeding any further.¡± ¡°Clear it out?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious there are zombies lingering in this vicinity? We should eliminate them before potentially encountering that mutant.¡± Aiden contemplated Maria¡¯s proposal briefly. Her reasoning was understandable, essentially suggesting they systematically neutralize any potential threats along their path at set intervals rather than risk being caught unawares by the mutant they were hunting. For an ordinary junk dealer, such precautionary sweeps were a common practice during explorations. Yet for Aiden¡¯s group, it wasn¡¯t an absolute necessity. Not only did regular zombies pose a relatively minor threat to Aiden personally... but with Arian¡¯s ability to detect their presences in advance, the risk of being ambushed was negligible. However, he couldn¡¯t openly divulge those particular circumstances. Additionally, Aiden considered it an opportunity to assess Maria¡¯s combat capabilities firsthand. For those reasons, he acquiesced to her proposed strategy. ¡°What did you have in mind?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll need to lure the zombies into this open plaza area first. Then we can engage them from a firing position ¨C perhaps that store over there would suffice?¡± Maria indicated the souvenir shop they had passed through earlier to reach this location. Its second floor featured an open balcony area ideally suited for raining down volleys of suppressive fire onto the plaza below. Securing an elevated vantage point would indeed facilitate their efforts to systematically eliminate any zombies they intentionally drew into the open area. ¡°Of course, the kids would need to hang back.¡± Maria added that stipulation regarding Sadie and Arian. However, Aiden shook his head dismissively in response. ¡°While I agree with your strategy, how we handle our companions is our prerogative to decide.¡± Maria¡¯s expression contorted with displeasure at Aiden¡¯s curt refusal to entertain her input on that matter. Yet she seemed to lack any retort, simply turning away with a huff before proceeding towards the central plaza herself. Sparing one final glance back at Aiden, she called out to him in an exasperated tone. ¡°Well? Aren¡¯t you going to start luring them out?¡± ¡°...Very well.¡± S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Aiden gave a nod of acknowledgment in response. They subsequently established various traps scattered throughout the plaza area in preparation. Improvised snares utilizing tripwires and grenades, as well as pressure-triggered explosive decoys ¨C all intended to draw the zombies¡¯ attentions while dividing their numbers. An exercise Aiden¡¯s group didn¡¯t typically engage in during ordinary circumstances. Seizing it as a rare training opportunity, Aiden involved Sadie in the process as well. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the correct method for setting them up.¡± As they worked, Aiden provided Sadie with hands-on instructions regarding proper trap construction and optimal placement strategies. ¡°Understood. So should I position this one at a higher elevation?¡± ¡°No, the opposite actually. Didn¡¯t I just explain that part?¡± ¡°Ah... sorry.¡± For some reason, Sadie seemed to be struggling to maintain her focus throughout the task. Perhaps the overall unsettling atmosphere of this dilapidated amusement park was weighing upon her mind. Now that Aiden considered it, Sadie had indeed appeared somewhat subdued ever since their arrival at this location. ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Aiden inquired about her uncharacteristic demeanor. However, Sadie simply shook her head dismissively, as if insisting it was nothing significant. Since Aiden didn¡¯t intend to pry further, he simply conveyed his final instructions. ¡°Very well. I believe we¡¯ve set up enough for the time being, so let¡¯s withdraw for now.¡± Having completed their preparatory trap installations, Aiden¡¯s group ascended to their predetermined firing position within the dilapidated store building. Maria was still situated within the plaza area itself. Upon receiving Aiden¡¯s signal, she gave a curt nod in response. Maria then retrieved a concussion grenade from her belongings, hurling it forcefully into the open plaza area. Boooooom! Even with their ears covered, the resounding boom was intense enough to elicit involuntary squints from its sheer volume. Not content with that alone, Maria proceeded to manually activate the various alarm bells and antique clocks they had strategically positioned throughout the plaza¡¯s perimeter. The cacophonous clamor of ringing bells erupted from all directions, reverberating chaotically amidst the lingering explosive thunderclaps. Such a jarring onslaught of disorienting sounds inevitably roused the slumbering undead from their lairs. ¡°Kieeeee!¡± One by one, zombies began emerging from their various concealed positions encircling the central plaza area. Immediately zeroing in on Maria¡¯s conspicuous presence wandering amidst that open space, they charged towards her with feral abandon. Bang! However, Aiden, having preemptively taken up an overwatch position from the second-floor balcony, wasn¡¯t about to permit such reckless advances. His rifle fired in controlled bursts, dropping three zombies before they could even set foot within the plaza¡¯s boundaries. During that interim, Maria had retreated towards the opposite store building adjacent to Aiden¡¯s firing position. Yet even as she did so, she couldn¡¯t help but let out an inward whistle of admiration upon witnessing Aiden¡¯s marksmanship firsthand. ¡°Kiiiie...!¡± ¡°Kaaaah!¡± Meanwhile, the number of zombies becoming visible began multiplying exponentially with each passing moment. Roused by the concussive blasts and clamorous ringing that reverberated throughout the amusement park¡¯s interior, they converged upon the plaza area in droves ¨C drawn towards the sources of those jarring disturbances like moths to a flame. Aiden¡¯s rifle spat torrential volleys of fire, while Maria too engaged them relentlessly from her opposite firing position across the plaza¡¯s expanse. However, their combined firepower simply couldn¡¯t stem the incessant tide of undead reinforcements flooding into the area. Boooom! Ultimately, one of the zombies inadvertently detonated a tripwire snare near the plaza¡¯s entrance, the grenade blast scattering pulverized flesh and viscera in a grisly display. Scores of zombies were obliterated in that single detonation, their remains raining down from the sky. Yet that momentary reprieve was fleeting, as fresh undead forms swiftly filled the resultant void ¨C their ranks swelling forth in an unrelenting deluge. Beneath his helmet, Aiden¡¯s brow furrowed as he reloaded his rifle once more. ¡°Their numbers are more substantial than I expected.¡± ¡°It seems even those lingering deeper within the park¡¯s interior have been roused. We still have our work cut out for us.¡± As Arian had stated, the pathway connecting the plaza to the amusement park¡¯s innermost regions was utterly inundated with zombies emerging from every conceivable direction and crevice. Their sheer numbers easily surpassing triple digits, even at a cursory glance. Regardless of how meticulously they had prepared, it was an onslaught that couldn¡¯t be easily neutralized. ¡°I¡¯ll help too.¡± Sadie, who had been observing the unfolding battle from their rear position, had retrieved her pistol ¨C abandoning the slingshot she typically favored. A pragmatic decision, as stealth was no longer a viable option against such an overwhelming force. Aiden didn¡¯t refuse her offer of support. However, the open second-floor balcony wasn¡¯t an ideal firing platform for Sadie¡¯s diminutive stature. ¡°Arian, take Sadie up to the rooftop.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± With a nod, Arian ascended to the building¡¯s rooftop alongside Sadie. Boooom! In the interim, a second tripwire trap detonated amidst the swelling zombie horde. By now, their incessant waves had breached the plaza¡¯s central area itself. Rata-tat-tat! Aiden unleashed an unrelenting barrage upon those encroaching undead formations. Shredded skulls burst apart with each impacting round, zombies crumpling to the ground like felled wheat stalks amid the reverberating thunderclaps. Within moments, his 30-round magazine had been expended. As he reloaded, Aiden spared a sidelong glance towards Maria¡¯s position across the plaza. Despite the overwhelming circumstances, she maintained a measured cadence ¨C calmly and swiftly neutralizing any zombies that allowed their wits to become addled by the pervasive sounds of gunfire, explosions, and incessant ringing alarms. While not quite on par with Aiden¡¯s level of marksmanship, her shooting proficiency was still notably impressive. ¡°Can you keep this up?¡± Aiden called out to Maria, cognizant that such sustained combat could prove excessively taxing for an ordinary junk dealer to endure. However, Maria responded with a derisive scoff. ¡°Just focus on your own performance!¡± Her tone, while biting, remained composed, seemingly accustomed to such frenzied situations. So much so that she could even spare the mental capacity to monitor Sadie¡¯s actions on the rooftop, an apparent source of consternation for her. ¡°...Not bad.¡± Aiden muttered those words as he resumed firing upon the unrelenting zombie onslaught. Maria did indeed seem exceptionally adept at this particular brand of intense combat scenarios. Perhaps such chaotic skirmishes were her forte, a specialty honed through extensive experience. Booooooom! At last, the third and final tripwire trap detonated in a spectacular fiery blaze, consuming scores of zombies within its ravaging blast radius. With no further contingencies remaining, one might have expected a sense of urgency to set in. Yet Aiden¡¯s group exhibited no such trepidation whatsoever. Thanks to that final detonation culling a substantial fraction of the zombies occupying the plaza itself, their remaining numbers had been severely depleted ¨C no more than a dozen still active within the immediate vicinity. Most of those stragglers, rendered disoriented by the overwhelming auditory onslaught assaulting them from every direction. Aiden, Maria, and Sadie swiftly neutralized those residual undead forces with calculated efficiency. Soon, only the reverberating echoes of the ringing alarms remained, resounding across the now-vacant plaza littered with shredded corpses. * * * Some time later. ¡°Phew...¡± In the aftermath of that frenzied battle, Maria let out a brief sigh as she began recovering any salvageable resources strewn across the plaza area. Having completed his own weapon maintenance during that interim, Aiden approached her with an inquiry. ¡°How much ammunition do you have remaining?¡± Maria¡¯s expression stiffened slightly at that probing question. Among junk dealers, directly inquiring about each other¡¯s inventory was generally considered a taboo of sorts. However, having effectively become collaborators for this shared endeavor, such clarification regarding their remaining combat capabilities was a pragmatic necessity ¨C just in case. ¡°Around half my initial load. And you?¡± ¡°Five magazines left for my rifle.¡± ¡°Not exactly an abundant surplus for either of us.¡± Maria clicked her tongue, acknowledging the stark reality. Despite being situated at the amusement park¡¯s outermost entrance area, their respective ammunition reserves had already been severely depleted. A consequence neither Aiden nor Maria had adequately anticipated ¨C the sheer number of zombies present had vastly exceeded their expectations. Of course, that couldn¡¯t be attributed to any oversight or misjudgment on Maria¡¯s part regarding her decision to engage them preemptively at this location. Attempting to circumvent such a substantial undead presence would have been an even more arduous undertaking. In retrospect, clearing out this area in advance had likely been the more prudent choice. ¡°Even so... we can¡¯t afford to engage in another protracted battle like that.¡± Maria nodded in agreement. Their remaining resources would need to be invested judiciously for the purpose of confronting the elusive mutant they had been tasked with hunting. ¡°From here on, we¡¯ll need to proceed with utmost caution.¡± ¡°...Agreed. Let¡¯s do that.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll take the lead.¡± With their combat readiness restored, Aiden¡¯s group ventured deeper into the amusement park¡¯s interior. Beyond the partially crumbled clocktower structure, the various dilapidated rides and attractions became increasingly visible. Bumper cars rusting amidst overgrown weeds, a miniature chick-shaped train missing one of its hollow eyes. And in the distance, the looming silhouette of a decaying Ferris wheel casting its ominous shadow across the entire scene. It was through this ash-grey desolation that Aiden¡¯s group proceeded with measured strides. During that solemn advance, Arian¡¯s voice suddenly broke the silence. ¡°Sadie. Have you ever been to a place like this before?¡± Arian posed that question to Sadie, who had been notably subdued since their arrival. After a momentary hesitation, Sadie slowly began to respond. ¡°...Yes.¡± ¡°When was that? Who did you go with?¡± As if engaging in casual conversation, Arian continued prompting Sadie with follow-up inquiries. In response, Sadie recounted her memories of visiting an amusement park from her past. In her recollections, it had been a vastly different experience from this dilapidated ruin they currently traversed. A wondrous realm akin to something from a storybook ¨C featuring majestic castles and towering spires, lush gardens brimming with vibrant blooms, animated mascot characters seemingly brought to life. A place that had felt like an entirely separate fantastical realm. ¡°...¡± Listening to that exchange between Sadie and Arian, Aiden felt he could discern the reason behind Sadie¡¯s melancholic demeanor throughout their time here. Perhaps upon being informed they were visiting an amusement park, she had envisioned the idyllic spaces from her cherished childhood memories. Then it was obvious that this ruined amusement park would have been utterly disappointing to her. Far from being cheerful, it was a place that was scary even for adults. ¡°What happened next?¡± ¡°We rode the carousel. There, my mom-¡° Sadie¡¯s story, which started with Arian¡¯s question, went on for quite a while. A faint smile had formed on the child¡¯s lips as she recalled the memories of that time. Seeing this, Aiden felt a little more at ease. It seemed that Arian¡¯s attempt to cheer up Sadie had been successful. However, separately from that, Aiden watched Maria¡¯s reaction from the side. In fact, chatting in a place like this was dangerous in itself. It was a luxury they could afford only because Arian could sense the presence of zombies. So Aiden was worried that Maria might interrupt this conversation at some point, but... ¡°...¡± Contrary to his expectations, Maria showed no sign of doing so. She just seemed to be blankly focusing on Sadie¡¯s story. Perhaps she too had memories associated with an amusement park like this. ¡°Aiden.¡± At that moment, Arian called Aiden¡¯s name. And she nodded towards one of the buildings to the side. It meant there was something there. Aiden nodded and slowly approached. Sadie also stopped talking and raised her crossbow. If anything, it was Maria who seemed confused. ¡°...What is it?¡± ¡°Zombies.¡± Right after Aiden said that, something hiding in the shadow of the building jumped out. ¡°Kiaaaa!¡± The one in front had its skull shattered by Aiden¡¯s axe. And the one behind it... Crack! Its neck was cleanly severed by Arian¡¯s machete. Maria¡¯s eyes widened at the sight. The ones that hadn¡¯t come out earlier were right nearby. ¡°Hey! Wake up!¡± Arian shouted at Maria. Maria belatedly turned her head. A zombie had somehow gotten right behind her. ¡°When...!¡± Perhaps she had been too lost in thought. Maria tried to respond hurriedly. But the zombie¡¯s arm was already gripping her shoulder. ¡°Kuaaa!¡± The zombie gnashed its teeth and thrust its head forward. Maria desperately tried to push the zombie away... but the difference in strength was clear. The corpse, rushing in like a frenzied beast, didn¡¯t budge at Maria¡¯s resistance. At that moment... Whoosh! Something flew towards the zombie with a sound cutting through the air. Soon, the zombie with its head pierced fell backwards. An arrow shot by Sadie was lodged precisely between the fallen zombie¡¯s eyes. ¡°Huff... hah...!¡± Maria, having barely shaken off the zombie, stepped back a few steps, catching her breath. Cold sweat was now visible on her back. It was because she realized that a moment¡¯s carelessness could have led to death. After catching her breath for a moment, Maria looked at Sadie. Looking at Sadie with a somewhat complex expression, she... ¡°Th... thank you...¡± Finally managed to utter words of gratitude. Chapter 159 ¡°Any others?¡± ¡°None. That was the last of them.¡± Upon hearing Arian¡¯s confirmation, Aiden gave a nod. After properly securing the axe he had wielded against the zombies, he turned his attention towards Maria. ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°...Yeah, my apologies for that.¡± Maria responded to Aiden¡¯s inquiry with a somewhat embarrassed expression. As if her brief lapse in awareness had been a significant transgression of sorts. However, Aiden harbored no intentions of admonishing her, so he didn¡¯t pursue the matter further. In the meantime, Sadie had retrieved the arrow she had fired, cleanly extracting it from the zombie¡¯s skull. Fortunately, the arrow remained intact and undamaged. Sadie proceeded to wipe the arrow¡¯s shaft against the zombie¡¯s tattered clothing before replacing it within her quiver once more. ¡°...¡± Witnessing Sadie¡¯s apparently practiced motions, Maria found herself scrutinizing the young girl intently. Not only during that recent plaza skirmish but throughout their time together so far, Sadie had consistently defied Maria¡¯s preconceived notions about her capabilities. A mere girl who couldn¡¯t be older than ten, by any estimate. Naturally, Maria had initially assumed someone of such tender years would be utterly incapable of contributing in any meaningful combat capacity within this hostile environment. Yet that presumption had proven profoundly misguided. Maria recalled her observations during that earlier plaza battle. Just as Aiden had spared occasional sidelong glances towards her position, she too had been surreptitiously monitoring Aiden¡¯s companions situated across the opposite building. Assessing the combat prowess of those whom she would effectively be entrusting to watch her back throughout this endeavor. In that regard, the individual known as Aiden had displayed astounding martial skill ¨C performing well beyond what one might reasonably expect from an ordinary junk dealer. So much so that Maria found it challenging to reconcile his remarkable capabilities with the notion of recklessly endangering children by bringing them to such a perilous locale. However, the one who had truly astounded Maria was the young Sadie herself. From the moment that skirmish had commenced, the child had separated from Aiden¡¯s vicinity, ascending to the rooftop entirely of her own volition. At first, Maria had assumed it was an act of cowardly evasion. Yet Sadie¡¯s hands had gripped a compact pistol, which she proceeded to wield with judicious precision throughout the ensuing battle. For her, that rooftop hadn¡¯t been a place to cower and seek shelter ¨C but rather, an optimal vantage point from which to provide suppressive fire. Undeterred by the cacophony of gunfire, explosive detonations, and anguished undead shrieks reverberating from every direction, Sadie had maintained her composure ¨C steadily squeezing off rounds with a poise that would have eluded most adults amid such overwhelming chaos. That same unflappable demeanor persisted even now, in the aftermath of that zombie¡¯s abrupt appearance. While Maria herself had been momentarily startled, Sadie hadn¡¯t even flinched in response. The sheer abnormality of witnessing a child exhibit such extraordinarily disciplined conduct had left Maria utterly dumbfounded. How could someone so young possess such fortitude? Yet that bewilderment didn¡¯t end there ¨C it intermingled with echoes of Maria¡¯s past experiences, ultimately yielding a sense of profound regret. Perhaps she too had once refrained from imparting the harsh realities of survival to the children in her life, under the pretense of sheltering their innocence. It was at that very moment when Aiden¡¯s grave voice pierced through Maria¡¯s contemplative reverie. ¡°Is there an issue?¡± Had she been staring too intently at Sadie? Shaking her head dismissively, Maria shifted her stance ¨C her pistol gripped with renewed determination, as if casting aside those errant musings. ¡°...¡± The dilapidated scenery of the abandoned amusement park continued to unfurl before them. Soon, a structure resembling the gaping maw of some grotesque dinosaur came into view. The entrance to a rollercoaster ride, its boarding platform visible just beyond that foreboding threshold. Above, precarious rust-laden tracks swayed ominously in the wind. ¡°Over here...¡± Upon noticing something, Aiden made his way towards that boarding platform area with deliberate strides. He scrutinized the rails closely, his brow furrowing with concern. ¡°Did you find something there?¡± Prompted by Aiden¡¯s peculiar demeanor, Maria voiced that inquisitive query. In response, Aiden gave a solemn nod before gesturing towards the specific area that had caught his attention. The rails had been forcibly bent and contorted by some tremendous force, their shapes grotesquely warped and twisted. ¡°Traces left by the mutant. It seems the creature is lurking somewhere in this vicinity.¡± At those words, Maria approached to examine the disturbing evidence firsthand. The mangled metal beams, their thickness exceeding that of an adult human¡¯s wrist, had been rendered into those unnatural angles and contortions. Undoubtedly beyond the physical capabilities of an ordinary person to inflict. Even the inhuman strength possessed by regular zombies would likely prove insufficient to wreak such wanton devastation. Leaving only one plausible culprit ¨C the elusive mutant they had been tasked with eliminating. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°But even if it¡¯s nearby...¡± Maria surveyed their surroundings skeptically. Directly ahead stood an immense Ferris wheel structure. While undeniably colossal in scale, easily spanning several dozen meters in height, its rusted and peeled exterior lent an unsettling aura of dilapidation. Several of the suspended passenger cabins had snapped free, their unmoored frames dangling precariously from their support cables. However, none of the surrounding areas seemed conducive for a mutant to utilize as a lair of any sort. Especially considering the breed most likely responsible ¨C the Brutal ¨C was a nocturnal mutant that would undoubtedly require a sheltered enclosure to avoid direct sunlight exposure. Aside from the Ferris wheel, other nearby attractions like a drop tower ride, a Viking ship swing, and various pendulum rides were similarly unsuitable for that purpose. Yet there was one particular location that had caught Maria¡¯s discerning eye. ¡°It must be over there.¡± She was indicating the entrance to a ride titled ¡®Fairy Train.¡¯ Its signboard, adorned with whimsical depictions of fairies and butterflies, lay torn and battered upon the ground. Just beyond that threshold, the faint silhouette of a diminutive train-shaped vehicle could be discerned, its exterior once intricately decorated with vibrant floral motifs. Unlike the open-air rollercoaster design, this attraction featured an enclosed interior tunnel that the ride vehicles would traverse along an internal track system. Moreover, both the entrance and that subsequent tunnel appeared sufficiently spacious to accommodate the passage of a large creature. ¡°...I suppose you¡¯re right.¡± Aiden concurred with Maria¡¯s deduction regarding the most probable location for the mutant to have established its lair. No other nearby structures seemed as viable a candidate. ¡°Alright then, let¡¯s prepare accordingly.¡± Maria began retrieving an assault rifle from the bag she had been carrying. While an American-made bullpup configuration, the specific weapon itself wasn¡¯t particularly noteworthy. However, the ammunition magazine she proceeded to load into it prompted Aiden¡¯s eyebrows to furrow slightly. Instead of the standard 5.56mm rounds, she had opted for the more potent 7.62mm caliber ¨C sacrificing precision for increased kinetic impact. Furthermore, those cartridges had been augmented with armor-piercing properties to enhance their penetrative capabilities. While lacking the sheer devastation of Aiden¡¯s own .50 caliber rounds in single-shot capacity, Maria¡¯s rifle could still potentially inflict considerable damage against a Brutal through controlled bursts at that elevated caliber and velocity. ¡°Shall we proceed, then?¡± Aiden nodded as he gripped his own formidable sidearm, its chambers loaded with the massive .50 BMG cartridges. With their combat readiness fully prepared, they ventured through the ride¡¯s entrance tunnel. Immediately enveloped in darkness, Aiden and Maria activated their respective flashlights to illuminate their path forward. Fortunately, while the interior tunnel curved gently, it didn¡¯t seem to feature any significant changes in elevation that could impede their progress. ¡°...¡± Guided by the narrow beams of their handheld illumination, Aiden¡¯s group proceeded to traverse that cavernous artificial tunnel. Its walls were adorned with faded, stylized depictions of idyllic flower fields that had likely once appeared vibrant and colorful. While the interior location had spared those murals from excessive physical damage... moisture seepage had caused sections of the paint to run in grotesque streaks, lending the scenic flowerbeds an unsettlingly corrupted appearance. ¡°...!¡± It was amidst that dimly lit passageway that Maria suddenly startled, reflexively raising her rifle in alarm. However, the perceived threat had merely been an oversized bee sculpture suspended from the ceiling ¨C its supporting cord severed, causing the ornament to swing wildly in the air currents. ¡°Tsk...¡± Maria clicked her tongue in vexed annoyance, exhaling a frustrated sigh. Soon after, they emerged into a more open central area. Along both sides of the train¡¯s intended track system stood various sculpted pieces ¨C mushroom houses, miniature tree dwellings, and numerous fairy figurines that would have once appeared to animate as the ride vehicles passed by them in a wondrous diorama. However, the present state of that chamber was markedly different from its initial whimsical conception. ¡°...¡± Instead of an enchanting spectacle, the surrounding area was littered with the shattered remains of those very same decor pieces and ornamental displays. As if some rampaging beast had indiscriminately trampled and ravaged every surface, leaving utter devastation in its wake. An unmistakable indication of the mutant¡¯s presence, its rampage evident in that trail of senseless destruction. ¡°Looks like something was definitely lurking here, alright.¡± Maria muttered those words, her tone now tinged with palpable tension. She had clearly sensed it as well ¨C the mutant¡¯s foul presence permeating this defiled sanctuary. ¡°...Aiden.¡± It was Arian who whispered Aiden¡¯s name in a hushed undertone. With her finger, she indicated the opposite side of that central chamber, towards another diverging tunnel entrance. The mutant was concealed deeper within, lying in ambush beyond that threshold. For a fleeting moment, Aiden contemplated their options. One approach would be to simply charge forward, engaging the creature directly upon encountering it. However, such a frontal assault would undoubtedly entail substantial risk. Was it prudent to undertake such a hazardous confrontation while accompanied by an outside collaborator like Maria? It was amidst those deliberations that Maria proposed an alternative strategy. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better to set up some traps in this area first?¡± ¡°You mean like we did at the entrance, luring the zombies into the open plaza?¡± Maria nodded her head. Indeed, if they could bait the mutant into a prepared killzone utilizing explosive traps, it would facilitate engaging it under relatively controlled conditions compared to a completely unrestrained encounter. ¡°However... I¡¯m not certain these structures can withstand the strain.¡± Aiden remarked while rapping his knuckles against the nearby wooden walls. This entire interior had been constructed as a rudimentary set piece for the ride¡¯s atmospheric experience, not as a permanent fortified structure. Its ramshackle composition was already exhibiting signs of advanced deterioration, the flaking paint and rotted timber suggesting it could potentially collapse under excessive stress. ¡°Of course, we¡¯d only need to set the traps within the opposite tunnel. As long as both tunnels don¡¯t completely cave in, we should still have an escape route available.¡± A reasonable contingency, Aiden had to concede. Therefore, he assented to Maria¡¯s proposed strategy. ¡°Well. I¡¯ll handle setting up the explosive traps. You can provide overwatch from our position here.¡± Aiden nodded his agreement. He had already witnessed a demonstration of Maria¡¯s proficiency in deploying such improvised traps during their earlier encounter, so he had no objections regarding her taking the lead on that aspect of their preparations. ¡°And do you have any spare grenades remaining?¡± Aiden proceeded to hand over the entirety of his remaining grenade supply to Maria. Utilizing those explosives, she then established a series of tripwire traps within the opposite tunnel ¨C just as she had done during their previous engagement against the zombie horde in the open plaza area. A total of three such traps were meticulously positioned throughout that narrow passageway. While an excessive expenditure of precious ordnance against a single mutant, neither Aiden nor Maria seemed to consider it an excessive precaution ¨C especially if their adversary turned out to be a Brutal. ¡°Done. Now fall back.¡± With the traps fully deployed, Maria instructed Aiden¡¯s group to withdraw towards their rear defensive position. The preliminaries were now complete, the stage set for their imminent confrontation. Casting one final glance towards Arian, Aiden conveyed his instructions. ¡°I¡¯m entrusting Sadie¡¯s safety to you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± No matter how capable Sadie might be for her age, actively engaging a mutant exceeded the reasonable boundaries Aiden was willing to expose her to. Therefore, he positioned Arian and Sadie towards the rear while taking up his own firing stance within the entrance tunnel they had traversed ¨C only exposing the muzzle of his weapon towards the central chamber. ¡°Here we go.¡± Upon Maria¡¯s affirmation, Aiden gave a nod. Maria then activated one of the alarm bells they had planted, hurling it forcefully down the opposite tunnel¡¯s length. The ensuing cacophonous clangor reverberated deafeningly throughout the previously still interior. It was immediately after that auditory onslaught when... ¡°Grrroooooh...!¡± A bestial roar echoed forth from the tunnel¡¯s depths, accompanied by the thunderous footfalls of something monstrously massive rapidly approaching. Booooooom! The mutant triggered the first of the remotely positioned explosives. The deafening detonation caused the entire structure to quake violently, dislodging rotted chunks of ceiling directly above Aiden¡¯s position. Yet that didn¡¯t deter the creature¡¯s relentless advance for even an instant. Almost immediately after, the second trap was set off in rapid succession. Ping! Shrapnel ricocheted off some unseen surface, the shrill whine of those high-velocity projectiles embedding themselves into the tunnel wall mere inches from where Aiden had taken cover. It was then that the mutant finally came into view. However, its appearance differed from Aiden¡¯s initial expectations. ¡°A Hedgehog, it seems...?¡± Maria let out those words with an exasperated sigh of realization. The mutant they were confronting wasn¡¯t a Brutal, but rather a Hedgehog ¨C one of those mutant strains that had impaled itself with an array of makeshift metal spikes and rebar fragments to form a crude armored carapace. Against such a creature, their carefully prepared explosive traps were proving significantly less effective. The majority of the shrapnel was simply ricocheting harmlessly off that barbaric, improvised armor plating. Boom! The final trap detonated with a resounding blast. Yet the Hedgehog remained utterly undaunted, charging forth from the tunnel¡¯s interior and emerging into that open central chamber. In response, Aiden took aim directly at the creature¡¯s skull. If conventional explosives were ineffective, then focused high-caliber fire would be their only recourse for neutralizing this particular threat. It was at that precise moment when Aiden¡¯s intentions were disrupted by Arian¡¯s frantic voice calling out from behind him. ¡°Aiden!¡± Before he could even turn to inquire about her urgency, Arian¡¯s warning continued in a breathless rush. ¡°Be careful! To your left-!¡± It was only those words that prompted Aiden¡¯s awareness to shift towards his left flank. The wooden wall he had been bracing himself against throughout this confrontation. An area he had dismissed as inconsequential, especially given the imminent opportunity to ambush the Hedgehog as it emerged from the tunnel. Thwack! However, Aiden trusted Arian¡¯s precognitive senses implicitly. Reacting instantly, he flung himself forward into a roll ¨C away from that assumed place. Right after that. ¡°Graaaah!¡± The wall exploded outward. Breaking through the entire wall of the flimsy structure was... a Brutal. At this, the faces of everyone except Aiden turned pale. Who could have expected that two mutants would be hiding in this narrow tunnel? ¡°Damn it, there were two of them?¡± Maria¡¯s expression contorted as she spotted the Brutal. Now Maria and Aiden, who were preparing for battle, were essentially isolated with the Hedgehog in front and the Brutal behind. She immediately pulled the trigger of her gun to break this formation. The massive recoil shook her body. With a blinding muzzle flash, 7.62mm armor-piercing rounds poured towards the Brutal. ¡°Urrrgh!¡± The Brutal screamed as it was showered with bullets. One of the angry rounds passed through, bursting the Brutal¡¯s right eye, but failed to silence it. Still, it was enough of an attack to make it hesitate for a moment. Maria tried to use this opportunity to run past the Brutal towards where Arian and Sadie were, but... Thud! Thud! Thud! In the meantime, this time the Hedgehog came running from behind. It had reacted to the gunfire Maria unleashed. The creature, like an enraged boar, charged towards Maria. ¡°...!¡± Despite its large frame laden with metal, it moved at an incredible speed. Maria, already running, had no time to dodge. Just as she was about to be caught and crushed by the Hedgehog... ¡°Get back!¡± Aiden¡¯s hand grabbed Maria by the nape and pulled her back. With unexpected strength, he lifted Maria as if she were a doll, and the Hedgehog¡¯s spikes barely grazed her as it passed. Baaang! The Hedgehog ended up ramming into the innocent tunnel wall. It struggled with its spikes stuck in the wall. But despite this comical sight, no one had the luxury to feel relieved. ¡°Oh no...!¡± Aiden¡¯s gaze was directed not at the mutants, but at the ceiling above. The unstable building ceiling shook visibly. Clear signs of imminent collapse. Aiden moved immediately in response. ¡°It¡¯s collapsing. Run!¡± Aiden shouted at Maria and ran backwards. It was in the direction away from Sadie and Arian, but there was no other choice at the moment. Maria followed behind him, and immediately the ceiling came crashing down. Chapter 160 Some time later. ¡°Tsk...¡± Aiden clicked his tongue as he illuminated their dust-choked surroundings with his flashlight. Fortunately, the structural collapse appeared to have halted, at least temporarily. However, the aftermath had left the tunnel entrance Aiden had traversed completely obstructed by the collapsed debris. While they could likely still find an exit by following the ride¡¯s track system... ...Aiden and Maria had become separated from Arian and Sadie in the process. With Arian accompanying her, Sadie¡¯s safety wasn¡¯t an immediate concern. Even so, this unexpected turn of events was far from an ideal development. Meanwhile, the woman Aiden had shielded from the collapsing structure, Maria, was leaning against the wall coughing fitfully amid the thick dusts and particulates. After surveying their surroundings briefly, Aiden approached her with a concerned inquiry. ¡°Are you injured?¡± Whether due to the dust inhibiting her speech or simply dismissing his concern, Maria merely waved her hand dismissively. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Taking a few moments to compose herself and catch her breath, she eventually managed to respond verbally. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. What about the mutant¡¯s whereabouts?¡± ¡°It¡¯s likely still buried beneath that rubble... or perhaps it escaped to another location, same as us.¡± The two mutants they had been confronting mere moments ago, the Brutal and the Hedgehog, were no longer visible within their immediate vicinity. While the Hedgehog had undoubtedly become entombed beneath that cascading collapse after its spines became lodged within the tunnel¡¯s interior walls... the Brutal¡¯s fate remained uncertain, its current location unconfirmed. ¡°Damn it...!¡± Aiden¡¯s words seemed to spark a surge of frustration within Maria, her jaw clenching tightly in response. The intensity of her gaze, glaring into the empty space, revealed an anger of unknown depth. Clearly, the mere notion of their intended quarry potentially eluding them had struck a profound nerve. ¡°For now, we need to get out of here and regroup with our companions.¡± Aiden gestured towards the undamaged section of the tunnel system. With a contorted expression, Maria forced a terse nod. And so Aiden and Maria walked along the quiet track shrouded in darkness. Soon, they came upon another large room. Unlike the previous area decorated like a fairy flower garden, this space was adorned to resemble a witch¡¯s village from a fairy tale. Maria observed the room¡¯s decorations for a moment before speaking. ¡°Thanks for earlier.¡± Aiden¡¯s gaze fixed on her at Maria¡¯s words. That helmet, indifferently turned towards her, flashed as it reflected the flashlight¡¯s beam. ¡°You saved me from the Hedgehog. If it wasn¡¯t for you... I would¡¯ve been skewered to death by those spikes.¡± Maria spoke matter-of-factly. It was simply the truth, without exaggeration. Aiden just nodded, and after a brief pause, he spoke. ¡°May I ask you something?¡± ¡°...Anything you¡¯d like.¡± Maria assumed Aiden wanted information in exchange for saving her life. If that was the case, there was no information she couldn¡¯t share. Though Maria spoke with an air of willingness to answer anything, the question that followed from Aiden was somewhat unexpected. ¡°Why did you accept this request?¡± ¡°Why do you ask?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it too much for you to handle?¡± Coming from someone who brought two kids to a place like this, those weren¡¯t words Maria felt he had the right to say. Though such words rose to the tip of her tongue. Having just had her life saved by Aiden, and earlier by that very child, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to confront him about it. Instead, she let out a deep sigh and continued speaking. ¡°I know someone in the gang that put out this request.¡± Aiden nodded as if urging her to go on. ¡°A woman named Emily. She¡¯s a little over 30, about the age of my daughter.¡± ¡°I heard the gang was attacked by mutants. Did she die then?¡± ¡°That child survived. But... surviving wasn¡¯t really living.¡± The gang that had reportedly suffered heavy losses to the mutants. Part of those losses included the deaths of Emily¡¯s two children and husband. ¡°Emily lost her entire family in a single night. She was going crazy, saying she wanted to die too, so I stopped her and came here instead. To get revenge.¡± ¡°Why are you doing that in her place?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯ve lived a similar life, I just couldn¡¯t leave it be.¡± A bitter smile flashed across Maria¡¯s lips. She stared into the dark tunnel as she continued speaking. ¡°My husband and children all died to zombies two years ago. All I had left was my 10-year-old grandson... but he didn¡¯t even last a year.¡± Maria¡¯s hometown was in Texas. But after the zombie outbreak occurred, that place fell into chaos. Eventually, unable to endure it any longer, her family tried to relocate to Albuquerque. But they failed to cross the mountain range to the east of the city. It was because of the mutants occupying those mountains. ¡°I thought there was nothing more horrific than watching my child being devoured before my eyes. But that wasn¡¯t the case. I never imagined I¡¯d have to strangle my grandson as he slowly turned into a monster in my arms.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Since that day, I tremble with rage whenever I see zombies. Those damn corpses took everything from me. So now I spend my days killing corpses, just waiting for the day I die. That¡¯s why I thought it was right for me to come here instead of Emily.¡± Maria spoke with self-deprecation. There was a reason she had taken on this somewhat reckless request for a junk dealer. After pondering Maria¡¯s words for a moment, Aiden continued his questioning. ¡°Is that why you were watching Sadie so intently?¡± ¡°That child, she¡¯s fascinating. To be honest, she doesn¡¯t resemble my children or grandchild at all. All of my kids were troublemakers.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°But seeing that admirable child made me think. If only I had taught them a little better... would my grandson still be alive?¡± The Sadie that Maria saw was a child who knew how to deal with zombies. Above all, a child who could face their madness up close and still control her fear. She was worlds apart from a certain child of similar age who had burst into tears in front of zombies. However, Aiden denied Maria¡¯s regrets. Not every child could be like Sadie just because they were taught. ¡°Children like Sadie are rare. Even I¡¯ve never seen a child like her before.¡± ¡°Are you bragging about your kid in front of me?¡± ¡°She¡¯s not my child. And a child not being childlike isn¡¯t necessarily a good thing.¡± Aiden spoke with a sigh. Sadie already knew how to control her emotions. While this was certainly a useful skill for survival, it wasn¡¯t something a child should have to learn. Moreover, throughout that process, Sadie never once threw a tantrum. Rather, she sought out tasks she could do to help the group. While all of this was incredibly admirable. In the end, it wasn¡¯t the result of natural maturation as a human being, but rather a deficiency as a child. Understanding this, Maria finally voiced the words she had been holding back. ¡°For someone who understands that so well, you still brought that child all the way here?¡± ¡°Because Sadie wanted to come.¡± ¡°But look how it turned out. Haah, what will you do if that child is discovered by the mutants?¡± Maria pointed out the reality that they were now separated from Sadie. However, Aiden shook his head. ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry. Sadie is with Arian.¡± ¡°Arian? That scary-looking child?¡± Maria spoke, recalling Arian. Arian¡¯s appearance was actually far from what one would call scary. Rather, she had a pretty doll-like face. However, for some reason, her red eyes gave off an eerie aura. Looking back, it was enough to evoke a sense of fear as the first emotion that came to mind. But even so, saying everything was fine because that child was with her was incomprehensible. ¡°What on earth is that child-¡° ¡°Shh.¡± Aiden cut off Maria¡¯s words. It wasn¡¯t just because it was a difficult question to answer. Aiden pointed towards the darkness ahead of the track they were walking on. Sensing the ominous atmosphere, Maria erased her expression and glared ahead. ¡°Grrrr...¡± The low growl of a zombie echoed as if resonating from the depths. They shone their flashlights forward, but couldn¡¯t see anything due to the 90-degree bend in the track. ¡°Of all things... it¡¯s a Brutal.¡± Maria said upon hearing that growl. The voices of different types of mutants can be distinctly different in some cases. Especially Hedgehogs, whose vocal cords are often torn by the metal they¡¯ve embedded in their bodies, producing a deflated, eerie sound. In contrast, Brutals have thick muscles covering even the area around their vocal cords, producing a much lower sound. Although not many people can discern this difference, both individuals here were among those who could recognize it, as well as zombies. ¡°We¡¯ll have to prepare ourselves. We need to break through here.¡± The path behind them was blocked anyway, and the only escape route was the track leading forward. But that sole escape route was now occupied by a Brutal. There was no option other than combat. ¡°Right, this works out well actually. We need to complete the request.¡± Maria raised her rifle with a grim expression. However, a Brutal is a powerful mutant capable of tearing off even tank armor with its bare hands. It¡¯s an extremely dangerous opponent for a head-on confrontation. Aiden checked his own weaponry. All explosives like grenades had already been used up. He had some pistol and rifle ammunition left, but this amount would only irritate a Brutal. Considering its rock-like muscles, it wouldn¡¯t be enough to inflict fatal damage. So the most important weapon was just one large-caliber pistol. But this gun could only be loaded with one round at a time. This meant he would have to shoot carefully, unable to unleash a barrage of bullets. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Having assessed the general situation, Aiden walked forward cautiously. Soon they reached the bend in the track. The Brutal¡¯s sound was much closer now. Probably just around this corner, the Brutal would be within 20 meters. Exchanging a final glance with Maria, Aiden shone his flashlight around the corner. The bright light illuminated the dark tunnel, clearly revealing the Brutal that was there. ¡°Graaah!¡± The Brutal roared as it recognized the light. The right eye area that had been shot by Maria was grotesquely distorted. Both Aiden and Maria expected it to charge straight at them. If they couldn¡¯t stop that initial rush, there would be no future for either of them. So Maria put her finger on the trigger, ready to spray bullets if it made even the slightest move towards them, but the Brutal¡¯s reaction was different from what they expected. ¡°Graaaarh!¡± It approached them while sitting down and flailing its arms. Although it was moving at about the speed of a running person using just its arms, which was astounding, it was much slower than before. As a result, only its roar was loud. ¡°That thing...?¡± ¡°Its legs. Look at its legs.¡± Aiden said. When Maria heard his voice and checked, she saw that one of the Brutal¡¯s legs had been completely severed. Could it have been crushed under the debris? Maria¡¯s eyes widened at this unexpected stroke of luck. While a Brutal¡¯s overwhelming strength that can even shatter concrete is usually the first thing that comes to mind. In actual combat, it was the incredible mobility produced by that strength that was its true threat. It was that speed which allowed it to approach in the blink of an eye without giving tanks or guns time to aim, crushing everything in darkness. However, with one leg missing now, that terrifying mobility was completely lost. The battle they had been prepared to die for just moments ago had become much simpler. ¡°Draw its attention. I¡¯ll finish it off.¡± Maria nodded at Aiden¡¯s words. Ratatat! Maria pulled the trigger deeply, aiming at the Brutal desperately crawling towards them on the floor. A storm of armor-piercing rounds swept over the Brutal. But it had already extended its arm forward like a shield. As if it was well aware of the destructive power that had taken one of its eyes. Thud! Even armor-piercing rounds couldn¡¯t completely penetrate the Brutal¡¯s arm. The bullets that were stopped by its skin, muscle, and bone made a dull sound as they embedded in the rotten flesh. In an instant, the 30-round magazine was exhausted. The Brutal, which had already memorized even the size of the magazine from Maria¡¯s initial volley, finally lowered its arm. Maria retreated to change magazines. But the Brutal crawling with its arms was faster than Maria. It planted its arms on the ground and launched its body forward as if throwing itself. ¡°Huh-¡° Maria let out a hollow laugh as she watched this. The Brutal¡¯s powerful arm strength was creating speed beyond expectations. The Brutal, shot like an arrow through the air. But suddenly, an enormous gun barrel was thrust in front of the Brutal¡¯s face. It was Aiden. The Brutal instinctively tried to defend itself, but. Bang! Just before that, with a thunderous roar as if a bomb had exploded, the pistol spewed fire. Feeling the massive bullet tear through its brain, the Brutal¡¯s consciousness ended there. Chapter 161 ¡°...It¡¯s over.¡± Maria said those words after confirming the fallen Brutal¡¯s corpse. As she said, the right side of the Brutal¡¯s head had been completely blown off. A clear death that didn¡¯t even require a confirmation shot. At this, Maria lowered her gun that had been aimed at it. After glaring at the Brutal for a moment, Maria asked Aiden who was behind her. ¡°By the way... did you aim for that?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I mean your bullet penetrating the Brutal¡¯s eye.¡± Maria pointed at the Brutal¡¯s shattered head. From the remaining traces, it was clear that Aiden¡¯s bullet had penetrated the right eye socket that Maria¡¯s armor-piercing rounds had damaged. Aiden nodded. ¡°Of course. A Brutal¡¯s skull is absurdly hard, and its internal muscle structure is completely different from humans. If I couldn¡¯t utilize the injury you created, there¡¯s a possibility I wouldn¡¯t have been able to silence it with one shot.¡± Aiden answered as if it was obvious, but Maria let out a hollow laugh. That large-caliber pistol Aiden had fired wasn¡¯t known for its accuracy. Until the world became like this, it had almost no practical use. With such a gun, Aiden had precisely aimed for the eye of a mutant flying through the air. Even at close range, it was by no means an easy feat. As she was inwardly marveling at Aiden¡¯s skill. Maria, observing the Brutal¡¯s corpse, soon discovered something strange. ¡°This wound...¡± She pointed at the Brutal¡¯s severed leg. The Brutal¡¯s leg that she had vaguely thought was damaged by being crushed under debris. But looking closely at the cut surface, it was severed incredibly cleanly. ¡°How did it end up like this?¡± Maria muttered, tilting her head in confusion. In fact, her assumption that the leg was severed by being crushed under debris was just a rough guess based on the situation. A Brutal¡¯s leg is sturdy enough to withstand the explosive force of a landmine, so it couldn¡¯t be cut off by mere building debris. Maria had been bothered by this and only now took a closer look, but the reality surpassed her expectations. To think that the tough monster¡¯s leg was cut so sharply. It was something impossible within Maria¡¯s common sense. Could there be another mutant she didn¡¯t know about? As such concerns were making her mind uneasy, Aiden¡¯s voice was heard. ¡°...Let¡¯s get out of here. The exit should be close.¡± He didn¡¯t say anything else even after seeing the severed leg. He just turned around, urging Maria. ¡°Wait...!¡± Maria tried to stop him. But Aiden ignored this and steadily walked on. Maria, looking back and forth between Aiden and the Brutal, had no choice but to follow Aiden and speak. ¡°Wait! There might be something else here.¡± ¡°You mean the Hedgehog?¡± ¡°No, something else. Look at the state of the Brutal. I¡¯ve never seen wounds like this before.¡± Maria said as if frustrated. Aiden let out a short sigh. ¡°That... will be fine. Let¡¯s get out first. Then you¡¯ll understand roughly.¡± Maria glared at Aiden as if asking what he meant. But Aiden didn¡¯t say anything more and just kept walking. So they walked through the tunnel in silence. Soon, light was visible at the end of the tunnel. They had finally reached the exit of the ride¡¯s tunnel. At that exit, two shadows were waiting for Aiden and Maria. It was Arian and Sadie. Fortunately, the two children who had been in the tunnel where the ceiling collapsed and mutants rampaged showed no signs of injury. Moreover, the exit they came out of was directly connected to the platform. Beyond that, the entrance to the tunnel where Aiden¡¯s group had first entered was also visible. Arian and Sadie, who had separated from Aiden, must have retraced their steps and come out through that entrance. ¡°You came quickly? We were just about to go looking for you if you were late.¡± Arian said to Aiden as he emerged from the exit. ¡°Thanks to you, the battle was manageable.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good then.¡± ¡°Sadie, are you alright too?¡± While Aiden was confirming the safety of his companions after reuniting. Maria¡¯s eyes widened as she discovered something near the entrance where Arian and Sadie had come out. It was the corpse of a mutant strewn across the darkness of the tunnel. It was the remains of the Hedgehog that had been with the Brutal when the tunnel collapsed. It seemed that while the Brutal had engaged with Aiden and Maria, they had dealt with the Hedgehog on the other side. In other words, those two children had taken down the Hedgehog. It was hard to imagine, but Maria couldn¡¯t dwell deeply on that point. Her consciousness was forced to focus on an even more shocking sight. ¡°How...!¡± The Hedgehog, that 3-meter-tall boar-like giant, had been bisected from top to bottom. Not only its thick muscles and bones, but even the metal pieces it had embedded in its body were completely cut through. Moreover, the cut surface wasn¡¯t unfamiliar. It was a sharp and clean cross-section, as if cut by a laser. It was exactly the same as how the Brutal¡¯s leg had been cut. Then... ¡°...¡± An incomprehensible assumption filled her mind. It was an impossible thing. However, Aiden¡¯s words and actions added credibility to that assumption. After separating from his companions, he didn¡¯t seem to worry about Sadie¡¯s safety even once. At that moment. As if blocking Maria¡¯s thoughts, Aiden¡¯s voice pierced her mind. ¡°We¡¯ll be heading back now.¡± ¡°What...?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve dealt with the two mutants hiding here. With this, the request is complete. So there¡¯s no reason for us to stay, is there?¡± Maria couldn¡¯t respond to Aiden¡¯s calm words. She only directed a questioning gaze towards Arian. ¡°...¡± Arian then stared intently into Maria¡¯s eyes with indifference. There was no hostility visible anywhere in her expression. But those blood-red eyes added an inexplicable eeriness. ¡°Do you have anything else to say?¡± At Aiden¡¯s question, Maria¡¯s lips quivered but she ultimately shook her head. Just from Aiden and Arian¡¯s attitudes, she could tell. They wouldn¡¯t respond to any of her questions. The group promptly left the amusement park. Time had already progressed to evening. * * * The next day. To receive the reward for the request, Aiden¡¯s group visited the alliance headquarters they had been to before. And there, they were able to meet Maria again. As they had completed the request together, they needed to process the completion procedures together as well. After the request was completed and the reward received. ¡°You¡¯re saying you¡¯ll provide the information?¡± Aiden asked Maria. When Aiden said he would buy information from the alliance headquarters, Maria had brought up that there was no need for that. ¡°That¡¯s right. I might look like an old woman about to retire, but I¡¯m a junk dealer who¡¯s been around this city for over a year. I know plenty of information.¡± Of course, even Aiden had to acknowledge that. Whether they like it or not, junk dealers always have to be sensitive to information, and it¡¯s a profession where they acquire it through various channels. So the accuracy of Maria¡¯s information could potentially be even higher than formally buying it from the alliance headquarters. However, Aiden was curious about her intention in saying this. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°It¡¯s repayment for yesterday.¡± Maria said it was the price for saving her life twice. Aiden shook his head. Cooperating with another junk dealer who had taken the same request was only natural. ¡°I don¡¯t put a price on such actions.¡± ¡°I do. So just accept it when I¡¯m offering. Don¡¯t be difficult when you¡¯re not losing anything.¡± Maria said, waving her hand as if telling him to stop. As it would be silly to keep refusing something being offered, Aiden nodded. ¡°...Alright. Let¡¯s do that.¡± They soon entered an abandoned cafe near the alliance headquarters. Stepping over the broken glass wall and dusting off chairs covered in dust, Maria sat down. Aiden sat across from her while Sadie and Arian took seats at the table right next to them. ¡°Let¡¯s start right away. What information do you want?¡± ¡°First... the situation around here.¡± Aiden asked about survivor groups to the west of Albuquerque. He also revealed their purpose of going to LA. But Maria immediately shook her head. ¡°The answer to that is simple. There aren¡¯t any.¡± ¡°There aren¡¯t?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. From here to LA in the west, there are no survivor groups at all. Especially the state of Arizona is completely empty. It¡¯s a big vacuum in the West.¡± ¡°You mean... even Phoenix?¡± Phoenix, located between Albuquerque and LA, was Arizona¡¯s largest city with a population of 1.5 million. It should have had plenty of remaining resources and people. So Aiden thought there would certainly be survivor groups in Phoenix, but Maria denied his assumption. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s empty now too.¡± ¡°How is that possible?¡± ¡°There are mainly two reasons. First, LA and Phoenix are only about 600km apart. It¡¯s the closest major city to that so-called paradise they keep broadcasting about. Wouldn¡¯t everyone who can walk flock to LA?¡± Aiden could anticipate that much. Still, he thought some people would remain, like in Albuquerque. After all, a 600km journey wasn¡¯t short by any means. As if knowing Aiden¡¯s thoughts, Maria immediately continued. ¡°The second reason is because of mutants. You know that between here and LA, there are mountains, deserts, and cannibals, right?¡± Aiden nodded. He was well aware that the remaining journey wouldn¡¯t be easy. However, Maria added an even more fatal condition to that. ¡°But between them, there¡¯s something more dangerous than all of those combined. Here, we call that mutant ¡®Fear¡¯.¡± ¡°Fear... a simple name.¡± ¡°The name is simple, but the content isn¡¯t. You can think of its appearance as a large Brutal. It¡¯s that strong, but that¡¯s not all. If it was just that, we¡¯d just call it a big Brutal.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°What really makes it troublesome is its intelligence. It¡¯s more intelligent than any zombie I¡¯ve heard of. Enough to build nests and form groups.¡± At the word ¡®nest¡¯, Aiden¡¯s brow furrowed inside his helmet. He recalled the nest made of bones they had found at a military base near Santa Rosa before coming to Albuquerque. Perhaps the mutant that had stayed there had moved west, and was now blocking Aiden¡¯s path. If so, he could roughly guess how high Fear¡¯s intelligence was. But it was the first time he had heard that it formed groups. ¡°What exactly do you mean by groups?¡± ¡°It commands zombies like an army, and drags other mutants around like subordinates. No one knows how it¡¯s possible. You might not believe it... but it¡¯s not nonsense.¡± ¡°...It doesn¡¯t sound like nonsense.¡± Aiden¡¯s group had already encountered a mutant that could control other zombies. The mutant that had brought down Pittsburgh, which Aiden had named Commander. So... does this mean that such characteristics were combined with strength surpassing a Brutal? It was a mutant that seemed incredibly troublesome just to imagine. ¡°You¡¯re saying such a thing is to the west of here?¡± ¡°Yes. Even this Albuquerque used to have some exchange with LA, though infrequently. But after it appeared, that stopped completely. Since it took control of Arizona, no one has passed through there.¡± Hmm- Aiden let out a thoughtful sound. It was a threat he hadn¡¯t anticipated at all. Was this what the gang they met on their first day in Albuquerque was going to talk about? ¡°Is it really that dangerous?¡± ¡°Half a year ago, a gang of over a thousand people tried to go to LA. They set off west with thorough preparations. And... a few weeks later, exactly 3 people returned to Albuquerque.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know if they were crazy, but according to them, the rest of the gang all died. Before even crossing half of Arizona.¡± Hearing Maria¡¯s words, Aiden simply nodded. Seeing his flat reaction, Maria sensed Aiden¡¯s intention. Despite hearing that a gang of a thousand was annihilated, he wasn¡¯t planning to give up. ¡°You still plan to go?¡± Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°We¡¯ve come this far, so we have to.¡± Maria scoffed at his words. She thought he was throwing his life away because he didn¡¯t want to waste the effort of coming this far. ¡°Where did you come from?¡± ¡°Pittsburgh.¡± ¡°...What?¡± But she couldn¡¯t help but be shocked by the answer. Pittsburgh? It was an absurdly long distance, literally crossing the continent. Aiden calmly added: ¡°We didn¡¯t set out to go to LA from the start, but now it¡¯s the only candidate left. We can¡¯t turn back here.¡± Aiden¡¯s gaze briefly turned to his companions. Sadie calmly gazed at Aiden, and Arian nodded vigorously as if it was obvious. ¡°So, assuming we break through that place, what and how much do you think we should prepare?¡± Aiden¡¯s question continued with the implicit agreement of his companions. Maria, looking a bit perplexed, opened her mouth to answer his question. Chapter 162 ¡°Hmm...¡± After the conversation with Maria, in their temporary shelter on the outskirts of the city. There, Aiden let out a short thoughtful sound. It was because the information... no, the advice he had just heard from Maria was bothering him. ¡°If what that woman said is true, we¡¯re in trouble. It means we have to abandon the car, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Arian said with a furrowed brow. As she said, the first thing Maria had suggested after hearing Aiden¡¯s group¡¯s journey plan was to abandon the vehicle. The reason was that the environment west of Albuquerque was simply not conducive to operating a vehicle. ¡°She didn¡¯t seem to be lying. There¡¯s no reason for her to do so. Besides, we¡¯ve experienced it ourselves.¡± Maria had first said that attacks from zombies and cannibals would be frequent. That much was fine. Hadn¡¯t Aiden¡¯s group come all the way to this city by smashing through those very attacks head-on? While somewhat troublesome, it wasn¡¯t a threat severe enough to warrant abandoning the vehicle. However, the real problem came next. It was the fact that traps like steel spikes, which had even stopped Aiden¡¯s group¡¯s vehicle, were spread all over the roads. ¡°Still... couldn¡¯t we avoid them well enough?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure. But what¡¯s clear is that from here on, there are only a few roads we can use. If someone set their mind to it, it wouldn¡¯t be impossible to block all of them.¡± The path ahead from here is mountains and desert. So the terrain accessible by vehicle was limited, and the same went for roads. This meant that if someone wanted to block them, they could completely seal off vehicle passage with little effort. Moreover, roads blocked in this way would become increasingly impassable over time. This was because vehicles stopped by traps or ambushes would become obstacles on the road themselves. However, including the gang of a thousand that had reportedly left half a year ago. It had been a long time since any vehicles that headed west had returned, so it was obvious how many abandoned vehicles would be clogging up the narrow roads. ¡°So should we really abandon the car?¡± Arian looked at Sadie with a gaze full of concern. Aiden was just as worried about abandoning the vehicle as Arian was. Albuquerque is about 1300km away from LA. Needless to say, there was the physical issue of Sadie having to walk that enormous distance. Also, abandoning the vehicle ultimately meant giving up on the supplies they could transport. It meant that despite having to travel such a long distance, they could only carry a few days¡¯ worth of food at most. ¡°...Let¡¯s gather more information for now.¡± Aiden finally answered like that. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t trust Maria, but this was an issue that required even more careful consideration. * * * So Aiden¡¯s group stayed one more day in Albuquerque, focusing on gathering information. Aiden used the supplies he received as rewards to buy information from gangs. Arian also used her abilities to collect secret rumors and such. However, the conclusion... was not much different from Maria¡¯s advice. Not a single gang in Albuquerque viewed positively the idea of taking a car west. ¡°It seems we¡¯ve reached a conclusion.¡± That evening, in front of the group gathered again at their temporary shelter, Aiden spoke. Arian also nodded with an uncomfortable expression. ¡°I went to the western edge of Albuquerque today, and I could see it there too. The road was completely blocked.¡± ¡°All the information I gathered was the same. The disadvantages of operating a vehicle were more apparent than the advantages.¡± ¡°Then...?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll abandon the vehicle.¡± Aiden came to that conclusion. There were no objections. Only a deep sigh escaped from Arian¡¯s lips. ¡°Will it be alright?¡± Arian asked. Her concern was entirely directed towards Sadie. Sadie seemed to know this too, looking slightly dejected. Perhaps she thought she had become a burden to the group. But Aiden¡¯s thoughts were different. The person who would be most troubled by the loss of the car wasn¡¯t Sadie. ¡°Who are you worried about?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°What Sadie needs during the upcoming journey is food. However, in the worst case, Sadie could survive up to a month without food as long as she has water.¡± Arian¡¯s eyes sharpened as if asking if he was really saying he¡¯d starve Sadie for a month. Shaking his head, Aiden continued. ¡°I¡¯m just saying that you and I can¡¯t do that. Isn¡¯t that right?¡± ¡°...¡± At Aiden¡¯s words, Arian understood what he was trying to say. Abandoning the vehicle would ultimately slow down their journey. It meant they might have to camp outdoors in mountains or deserts, perhaps unable to find shelter for quite a long time. In that case, Sadie would be cold and uncomfortable, but that would be the extent of it. Even if they wandered in the mountains for a month, she wouldn¡¯t need to consider her immediate death as long as she had portable water and food. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, it was different for Aiden and Arian. They, who required human blood, couldn¡¯t survive even a month without contact with other people. ¡°But... there will be cannibals, right?¡± ¡°Those guys only stay around Albuquerque. Once we leave New Mexico, we won¡¯t see hide nor hair of them. Arizona is the territory of that dangerous mutant.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re saying there¡¯s no possibility of meeting people at all?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not impossible. I heard there are quite a few people who risk going to LA, even if it¡¯s not us.¡± Although many people were stuck here, not everyone had given up on going to LA. Roughly speaking, about 20% of the people who come to Albuquerque eventually leave for LA again. ¡°But finding such people won¡¯t be easy. Even considering your ability, we¡¯ll have to rely on luck for a significant part.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Still want to go to LA?¡± Aiden asked Arian. While taking Aiden¡¯s words seriously and steeling herself, she answered without hesitation. ¡°Of course we¡¯re going.¡± ¡°Good. Then...¡± Aiden looked at Sadie. Sadie also nodded slightly. ¡°Understood. We¡¯ll leave Albuquerque and head towards Phoenix first. After that, we¡¯ll move on foot to LA. We¡¯ll depart tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°Tomorrow? So soon? Didn¡¯t you say we had a lot to prepare?¡± Arian said, slightly surprised. As she said, when they came to Albuquerque, there were many things they needed to do. However, now that they had decided to abandon the vehicle, those preparations were greatly reduced. ¡°Not anymore.¡± First, there was no need to repair the vehicle. So the supplies that would have gone into repairs were left intact. Also, the additional supplies they were planning to stock up on were no longer necessary. Without the vehicle, they couldn¡¯t transport any more supplies. Rather, now there were even surplus supplies from what had been loaded in the damaged vehicle. All that remained was to dispose of these and sort out the resources they could carry. ¡°I see. Then we should rest well today.¡± And so, Aiden¡¯s group¡¯s journey plan was decided. Aiden nodded impassively. * * * The next day. As planned, Aiden¡¯s group, each carrying their luggage, left the western border of Albuquerque. A small backpack suitable for a child was on Sadie¡¯s back, while a large bag like a fishing bag hung on Aiden¡¯s back. Arian was even pulling a handcart behind her. It was by no means a small amount of luggage for three people, especially considering one was a child. Yet even this was carefully selected by Aiden himself, containing only the absolutely necessary supplies. ¡°Well... this isn¡¯t so bad.¡± Arian said as they slowly left the boundaries of Albuquerque. The autumn breeze was cool. The cityscape still visible nearby, with traces of human presence, was quite nice too. It was just the right environment for a walk. ¡°...¡± But Arian¡¯s appreciation didn¡¯t last long. How long had they walked? After walking along the road for a while, the cityscape had disappeared before they knew it. They had completely left Albuquerque and its metropolitan area. What appeared before Arian then was a desert covered entirely in ocher. Over that desolate desert stretching to the horizon, only the gray concrete road extended forward like a thin line drawn on a canvas. ¡°...¡± Arian looked around at this scenery as if finding it boring. If it was just the desert, she might have liked its unique atmosphere. Unfortunately, there were overturned vehicles scattered here and there around them. Those eyesores were marring the landscape like stains on a painting. Quickly bored, Arian glanced at Sadie. Unlike Arian, the child taking steady steps seemed rather relaxed. She even gave a slight smile when her eyes met Arian¡¯s. Arian returned the smile to Sadie and then spoke to Aiden walking ahead. ¡°How far are we going today?¡± ¡°Well. It¡¯s the first day, so we should go about 40km.¡± The answer came quickly. But hearing Aiden¡¯s words, Arian tilted her head. Usually, he would have mentioned the name of a small town or village that was their destination. ¡°Where is that?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no place name. Just on the road.¡± ¡°What?¡± When Arian asked again, Aiden slightly turned his head to look at her. ¡°Today and tomorrow, we¡¯ll just continue on roads like this. There won¡¯t even be small villages during that time.¡± ¡°...¡± For a moment, Arian was at a loss for words. She had heard it would be like this, but she didn¡¯t expect to be camping out from the very first day. But it was something she had been prepared for anyway. Arian just let out a short sigh and continued her questions. ¡°What about the day after tomorrow?¡± ¡°If nothing happens, we should be able to reach a small town called Grants.¡± ¡°Grants...¡± As Arian murmured the name of their first destination, her eyes suddenly sharpened. Then her gaze turned towards a wrecked car on the road. ¡°It¡¯s a zombie.¡± ¡°Location?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I was getting bored anyway, I¡¯ll handle it.¡± Arian drew the machete attached to her waist. Leaving a faint blood-red trajectory, Arian¡¯s figure sprang forward. * * * Two days later. As planned, Aiden¡¯s group was able to arrive at the small town of Grants in the evening as the sunset began. ¡°This place looks good for today.¡± Aiden¡¯s group set up a temporary shelter in an animal shelter located in the eastern corner of Grants. With only a park and an open field around, it had good visibility, and the building was sufficiently sturdy, made of brick rather than wood. Also, since it wasn¡¯t a place likely to have supplies, it was an advantage that the building¡¯s interior remained intact. Inside the shelter, there was even a soft cot left, probably for the night shift staff. ¡°Good. The inside is clean too.¡± Arian said after checking the building¡¯s interior. She had been worried about possible abandoned animal carcasses, but fortunately, that hadn¡¯t happened. It seemed that even during that chaotic time, the staff had managed to evacuate all the animals somewhere. ¡°Then let¡¯s prepare to rest.¡± Aiden said as he put down his bag inside the shelter. Arian then unpacked some of the luggage, taking out sleeping bags and blankets. Sadie prepared canned food and water for today¡¯s meal. Meanwhile, Aiden counted the bullets used during their recent travel and maintained the weapons. While checking the status of the remaining supplies, he turned to look at Arian. ¡°Arian, do you have enough blood left?¡± ¡°Yeah. Why, do you need some?¡± Arian answered lightly. Thanks to dealing with a group of cannibals yesterday, she wasn¡¯t in a situation where blood was scarce. ¡°That¡¯s not it. If you have enough blood, I want to explore this town tomorrow.¡± ¡°Explore? To find supplies?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. We need to replenish the supplies we¡¯ve used in advance. When blood is scarce, we won¡¯t have time to explore.¡± Arian nodded at Aiden¡¯s words. Indeed, without blood, there wouldn¡¯t even be time to explore. Even if they found a small town like this, they would have to move immediately to find blood first. As Aiden said, it was right to replenish used supplies whenever the opportunity arose. ¡°...Hm?¡± At that moment, Aiden reacted while looking out the window. He had seen some shadow passing at the edge of his vision. But that shadow, which had already disappeared beyond the distant residential area, was no longer visible. Could it have been a zombie? As ominous concerns arose in Aiden¡¯s mind, Arian spoke up. ¡°There¡¯s a dog.¡± ¡°...A dog?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯m sure. It¡¯s not a Beast. Just a regular dog.¡± Arian affirmed. Aiden didn¡¯t doubt her words. It wouldn¡¯t be strange for an abandoned dog to live in a place like this. However, caution was necessary. Even if it wasn¡¯t a Beast, a starving stray dog could be plenty dangerous. ¡°...¡± Aiden decided to remember the dog¡¯s presence and silently watched the direction where it had disappeared. But the dog didn¡¯t show itself again until sunset. Chapter 163 The next day. Aiden¡¯s group set out in the morning for exploration. Grants was such a small city that it was difficult to obtain related information even in Albuquerque. So even Aiden only knew of the city¡¯s existence, without having a single map. ¡°So you don¡¯t know at all what is where?¡± Arian asked after hearing about this situation. To put it bluntly, that was correct. However, there were things that could be known even without a map. ¡°The shopping district will be to the south. In small cities like this, the shopping district forms along the main road connecting to the outside.¡± ¡°Ah... now that you mention it, I saw it yesterday too. There was a supermarket building and a cluster of motels at the southern end.¡± Aiden nodded. The shops along such roads are mostly motels or restaurants. While it¡¯s difficult to expect a lot of supplies, there¡¯s a good chance of finding a few canned goods. It was a decent choice for Aiden, who was looking to replenish the food they had consumed. ¡°Then let¡¯s search the south first. It shouldn¡¯t take too long.¡± Aiden¡¯s group moved to the southern part of the city. From Aiden¡¯s temporary base to the southern end of the city was only about 2km. It wouldn¡¯t take even 30 minutes to get there. Having quickly arrived at the shopping district, Aiden looked around. A street lined with five not-so-large motels, one supermarket, and a few restaurants scattered about. Perhaps because there were no people, zombies were hardly visible either. The autumn morning sunlight peacefully shone down on the quiet road. ¡°...¡± Aiden directly looked at the red-roofed inn closest to them. Some windows were broken, and the door was open. However, apart from that, only traces of time remained, with no particular signs visible. This meant that not many people had passed through here, and the possibility of mutants hiding was also not very high. Judging it to be relatively safe, Aiden began to carry out a full-scale exploration. ¡°You two take care of the motel across the street. I¡¯ll search the supermarket area.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± So Aiden¡¯s group spent the morning searching the shopping district in the southern part of the city. During that time, Sadie and Arian found some bullets and drinking water in a corner of the motel. Aiden forcibly opened a closed warehouse at the back of the supermarket, discovering some canned salmon and ham inside. ¡°This is decent enough.¡± Aiden muttered as he organized the gathered supplies in front of his reassembled companions after finishing the search. It was exactly the outcome they had expected, neither more nor less. ¡°Where do we go next then?¡± Arian said. The time had just passed noon and entered the afternoon. It was too early to return and rest just because they had achieved their goal. ¡°Well... it¡¯s not a very large city, so it wouldn¡¯t be bad to search inside the residential area.¡± It was when Aiden said this. Arian, sensing a faint presence from afar, turned to the side. At the end of her gaze was an animal just crossing the road. ¡°Oh? That dog again.¡± At Arian¡¯s words, the group¡¯s attention turned in that direction. The dog, dozens of meters away, was oblivious to this and had its nose to the ground. ¡°...¡± Sadie¡¯s gaze filled with peculiar interest. On the other hand, Aiden still watched the dog¡¯s movements with an indifferent gaze. Arian, who had been looking at the dog, opened her mouth as if something had occurred to her. ¡°Ah, if we don¡¯t have anywhere to go, how about following it?¡± ¡°The dog, you mean?¡± Aiden asked back in a negative tone. He thought there was nothing to gain from following the dog. But Arian¡¯s thoughts were different. ¡°Maybe there¡¯s someone taking care of it.¡± ¡°Hmm...¡± Aiden let out a thoughtful sound as he considered Arian¡¯s suggestion. It wasn¡¯t an impossible idea. Aiden had worried that the dog might be part of a pack of strays, but. The dog was alone not only today but yesterday as well. Then... since they didn¡¯t have a clear objective anyway, wouldn¡¯t it be fine to track the dog? Having thought that far, Aiden nodded. ¡°Alright. We have nothing to lose.¡± ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll take the lead.¡± Arian approached where the dog was with steady steps, and Aiden and Sadie followed slightly behind. When their distance had narrowed to about 20 meters. ¡°...!¡± The dog raised its head abruptly upon hearing the footsteps. Looking closely, the dog¡¯s breed was a Golden Retriever, and as a large dog, it was quite big. Perhaps it had been someone¡¯s pet in this city. Meanwhile, the Retriever that had spotted Arian stared at her intently, as if observing. Its tail at the back wagged. However, when Arian took a few more steps towards the dog. Swoosh! The Retriever quickly turned and ran towards the residential area. The dog¡¯s figure soon disappeared, hidden by buildings. ¡°Can you track it?¡± ¡°Yeah, no problem.¡± Arian answered as if it was obvious to Aiden¡¯s question. Her senses clearly detected the presence of the dog panting in some house¡¯s yard. ¡°This way.¡± Arian led the group. The street they arrived at following her was a quiet place befitting a small town¡¯s residential area. A yard painted in bright brown like the desert was visible inside an iron fence. Behind such a yard sat a modest, not-so-large house with a simple design. It would have been a quite peaceful scene if not for the garbage and junk piled on top. Aiden¡¯s group walked through this residential area. The distance to the Retriever quickly narrowed. Seeing Arian suddenly appear from around a corner, the dog was startled and ran again. Arian, who was about to leisurely chase the dog, raised her eyebrows slightly as she noticed something. ¡°There are some zombies around here.¡± She said, looking around the residential area. The presence of zombies could be felt inside some buildings. However, their numbers were not many. At most, one or two were wandering in one out of every five houses. ¡°Where?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to fight. We can easily avoid them.¡± Arian said this to Aiden, who was immediately taking a combat stance. They continued to follow the Retriever. The dog just stared intently at Arian¡¯s figure before running away again, so the distance didn¡¯t narrow, but it didn¡¯t matter much. They weren¡¯t tracking to catch the dog anyway. They just wanted to see if there was an owner. ¡°Hmm...?¡± At that moment, Arian, sensing the Retriever¡¯s presence, tilted her head. In this residential area, the Retriever had always moved across roads or between houses. But now the Retriever had just entered some building. Could there be an owner there? Arian approached the building the Retriever had entered. It was an unremarkable one-story house made of red bricks with an olive-colored roof. ¡°The dog is inside there.¡± Arian said, pointing to that place. Aiden fiddled with his helmet and asked. ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem to be.¡± Hmm- Aiden let out a thoughtful sound at the answer. He wasn¡¯t sure if this was the dog¡¯s territory, but it didn¡¯t seem to be a place with an owner. ¡°Let¡¯s go in.¡± The door of the red house was wide open. Arian entered the house with light steps. The Retriever was inside the house. ¡°...¡± Arian and the Retriever faced each other at a much closer distance than before. Again, the Retriever¡¯s tail wagged. Did it like people? Just in case, Arian tried to pat the dog¡¯s head. But before she could take even a few steps closer, the Retriever turned again and went out through the back door. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem to dislike people... why does it keep running away?¡± Arian tilted her head. As she was about to chase the Retriever again, it was quiet behind her. Turning around, she saw Aiden standing still in front of the house¡¯s yard. Arian approached him. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°There¡¯s something like this here.¡± Aiden pointed to a corner of the yard. There was a typical dog house made of gray plastic. Under its roof, a bone-shaped nameplate attached to the space had the name ¡®Louie¡¯ engraved on it, and the floor was covered with old cloth. Also, its size was quite large. Just right for the Retriever they had seen earlier to use. ¡°Could it be that dog¡¯s house?¡± ¡°It might be.¡± Aiden turned away from the dog house. He entered the house. The inside of the house was a mess due to the door being open for a long time. But Aiden carefully observed the inside of the house as if examining it. Soon, something caught his eye. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was a small frame on top of a cupboard. Aiden wiped off the dusty, opaque surface with his clothes. ¡°This is...¡± It was a photo. A picture of the Retriever they had just seen and some unknown old man smiling brightly. Was this house indeed where that dog had lived? Just as such certainty formed in Aiden¡¯s mind. ¡°Woof!¡± A loud bark stimulated Aiden. The Retriever, which had somehow returned to the house, was barking at Aiden. ¡°Grrrr...¡± Moreover, the Retriever was growling, baring its teeth as if about to pounce at any moment. The impression of the dog that had just been cute until now clearly changed. Faced with this clear hostility, Aiden cautiously confronted the Retriever. ¡°It doesn¡¯t like you. Does it know you¡¯re a zombie?¡± Arian, who had approached from behind, said. Indeed, with a dog¡¯s sense of smell, it could probably see through Aiden¡¯s identity no matter how much he covered himself. But even so, the Retriever didn¡¯t attack Aiden. It just barked fiercely, trying to drive Aiden away. ¡°...It¡¯s well-trained.¡± ¡°Trained?¡± ¡°It knows zombies are enemies but doesn¡¯t bite. If it was a dog that immediately attacked zombies, it would have already become a Beast.¡± Aiden, standing in front of it, calmly praised the dog¡¯s behavior. It was a dog-like wisdom for surviving in this world overrun by zombies. ¡°Woof! Woof!¡± However, they couldn¡¯t let the dog keep barking like this forever. Even a dog¡¯s barking is noise. It could attract nearby zombies at any time. So while Aiden was pondering how to make this Retriever quiet. Arian suddenly snapped her fingers and spoke. ¡°Ah, I get it now.¡± ¡°Get what?¡± ¡°You were the problem.¡± Arian pointed her finger at Aiden. Aiden¡¯s brow furrowed slightly at those incomprehensible words. ¡°What do you mean I¡¯m the problem-¡° ¡°That¡¯s enough. You, go over there. A bit far.¡± Arian said, gesturing outside the house. Aiden couldn¡¯t understand her intention in saying this, but he moved outside the house following her words for now. * * * And some time later. Aiden was sitting in front of another house about 20 meters away from the red brick house. What he was watching, leaning against an old white plastic chair under a blue roof, was the sight of Arian, Sadie, and the dog named Louie. ¡°Hmm...¡± Aiden let out a short sigh as he watched his companions playing with the dog, letting out bright laughter. The Retriever they had been chasing, Louie, was a dog that really liked people. Enough to play without hesitation with two girls he had just met. Although one wasn¡¯t a human but a vampire, from the dog¡¯s perspective, it didn¡¯t seem to feel much difference. ¡°Wow! It really caught it!¡± Sadie exclaimed as she watched Louie beautifully snatch the frisbee she had thrown in mid-air. Arian had found the frisbee abandoned in the house and thrown it just in case. Louie caught it skillfully, as if he had often played with it before. Sadie patted Louie as he brought back the frisbee. Louie responded by wagging his tail vigorously. ¡°It must have been three hours already, they¡¯re playing well.¡± Aiden said, looking at the sky. The sun that had been overhead was now significantly tilted to one side. But Aiden wasn¡¯t in a hurry. He didn¡¯t feel like it was a waste of time at all. For both Sadie and Arian, this time to relax was rather precious. Mental stress that doesn¡¯t show on the surface could be a bad variable that even exceeds Aiden¡¯s expectations. Also, Aiden hadn¡¯t wasted his own time during this period. While his companions were with Louie, he had explored this residential area as well as a grocery store a bit further away, and now the fruits of that were beside him. What he found there was, as expected, some food. But today there was something a bit different too. It was dog food cans. The amount of canned food Aiden had brought was quite a lot. These days, food has become so scarce that many people eat even such pet food without discrimination. But those who had last looted this grocery store must have still had the luxury of being picky about food, as cans with dog pictures on them were left on the shelves as they were. Aiden called Arian and handed over those cans. Sadie gave them to Louie, and watched contentedly as the dog ate. Chapter 164 That evening. Having just finished a modest dinner, Aiden¡¯s group was preparing to spend the night in the animal shelter that served as their temporary lodging. Small sleeping bags for Sadie and Arian were spread out, and Aiden, as always, stood by the window that was starting to darken, holding his weapon. A bleak moonlight poured down over the small town covered in darkness. It was pitch black and nothing could be seen, but only the desert-like soil reflected that moonlight, glowing bluish. Aiden quietly watched this scene that looked as if mist was flowing. Nothing was moving. In this landscape that seemed frozen in time. Behind him, he could hear Arian and Sadie chatting softly as they lay in their beds. ¡°Today was fun, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Arian started. Sadie answered in a whisper. The child¡¯s voice was barely audible even to Aiden, but there was almost no sign of fatigue. It seems this midnight chat might go on for a while. ¡°...¡± Of course, making noise in the middle of the night wasn¡¯t a very wise thing to do. After sunset was the time of zombies and mutants, not humans. But Aiden just listened to their conversation. He didn¡¯t want to silence the child reminiscing about a special day for such a trivial reason. If there were any corpses drawn by their voices, he would deal with them himself. Thinking this, Aiden kept his gaze fixed on the darkness outside the window. Meanwhile, the two girls were talking about how smart Louie, the Retriever they had met today, was. Then they exchanged stories about past encounters with dogs, stories related to cats, and then chatted about what animals they would like to keep in the future. ¡°Tomorrow... can we see him again?¡± Suddenly, Sadie asked that. The child added, as if making an excuse, that there was still some dog food left. Arian smiled at Sadie¡¯s child-like excuse and opened her mouth. ¡°Well. What do you think?¡± Arian asked Aiden like that, but in fact, she already had an answer in mind. As far as Arian knew, this timid question was the first whim Sadie had ever expressed. Even if Aiden¡¯s group went to meet Louie tomorrow, there would be no benefit. Sadie probably knew that too. It was just her desire to see the dog flowing out as it was. But because of that, Arian was happy with Sadie¡¯s words. It seemed like the child who always seemed to be watching others¡¯ reactions had finally opened her heart. And Aiden felt the same way. He inwardly gauged the location of Louie¡¯s house. Though it would be a bit of a detour, it wouldn¡¯t significantly affect their journey. ¡°If it¡¯s just to say a final goodbye, I suppose it¡¯s alright.¡± Aiden answered, and Sadie smiled softly inside her sleeping bag. Reassured, the child soon fell asleep. And so, a quiet night passed. * * * The next morning. Having finished their departure preparations, Aiden¡¯s group left the animal shelter where they had spent two nights. Originally, they should have moved straight south from here, but having accepted Sadie¡¯s request, the group decided to visit Louie¡¯s house before leaving Grants. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Louie¡¯s house was in a residential area in the northwest of the city. So Aiden¡¯s group first moved west, delving into the inner part of the city. But during that time. ¡°Huh...?¡± After walking for about 10 minutes along the road stretching straight west. Just as they were about to enter a small residential area, Arian tilted her head looking ahead. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I hear a dog barking from over there.¡± Arian pointed in a direction. It wasn¡¯t the direction where Louie¡¯s house was. But since the only dog in this city was that Retriever, the next question came from Sadie. ¡°Is it Louie?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Arian confirmed. She hadn¡¯t forgotten Louie¡¯s voice that had barked at Aiden just yesterday. ¡°...¡± A shadow fell over Sadie¡¯s face. She too knew all too well what Louie, who liked people so much, would be barking at. ¡°This way.¡± Arian led the group. Worried, Sadie¡¯s steps were quick as she followed. Matching this, Arian also increased her speed. So they traversed the city center. They passed by a tobacco shop in a long building, and then an abandoned laundromat and government office building next to it. Then Aiden and Sadie could also hear Louie¡¯s barking. A cracked cry, as if he had been barking for quite a while. Sadie¡¯s face darkened even more. They continued to pass through intersections, and eventually, the place they arrived at was... a cemetery. A cemetery that occupied barely a block, not even as wide as a small park. ¡°Look over there.¡± Arian pointed beyond the fence surrounding the cemetery. There was Louie barking loudly and zombies wandering around the graves. Fortunately, the zombies weren¡¯t showing aggression towards Louie. It was natural, as ordinary zombies don¡¯t show any special reaction to non-human creatures. The zombies had just been drawn there by the sound of Louie¡¯s barking. In the end, the corpses that couldn¡¯t find prey were wandering around the cemetery, alternating between reacting to Louie¡¯s sound and not. ¡°...¡± Aiden silently glared at the dog and zombies. The zombies¡¯ reaction was understandable. It was nothing special, just as expected. What he couldn¡¯t understand was rather Louie¡¯s side. Louie was a dog trained to run away instead of barking first when he spotted zombies. Even yesterday, Louie had just backed away when he saw Aiden. Louie had only shown hostility towards Aiden when he stepped into his territory. Does that mean... this place is Louie¡¯s territory? But it didn¡¯t seem likely that this cemetery would have any connection to a dog. Could there possibly be his owner¡¯s grave here? However, a dog guarding not its home, but its owner¡¯s grave. It wasn¡¯t a common dog behavior. ¡°Let¡¯s deal with the zombies first.¡± Arian said. For Aiden, it was taking more risk than expected, but having come this far, he had no objections. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll go from the front.¡± Aiden said, pulling out his axe. Arian nodded. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go from behind.¡± ¡°Right, don¡¯t overdo it.¡± Aiden added as if advising. There were about 20 zombies spread out in the cemetery. It was too many to handle easily. So while there was room for Arian to play a role, it was dangerous to consume blood for combat right now. No one could guarantee whether they would meet more people in the future or not. Arian nodded as if she understood this too. Then her figure ran along the fence. Aiden watched Arian¡¯s back for a moment before climbing over the fence. ¡°Sadie, stay behind me.¡± After helping Sadie climb over the fence, Aiden said this. Sadie nodded, tightly gripping her crossbow. ¡°Grrrk...!¡± Immediately, one of the closest zombies spotted them. But before Aiden¡¯s axe could move. Thwack! An arrow silently flew and lodged in the zombie¡¯s forehead. Its knees buckled, and it collapsed to the ground like a puppet with cut strings. ¡°Hmm...¡± Seeing this, Aiden readjusted his grip on the axe. Perhaps worried about Louie, Sadie¡¯s aura was sharper than usual. If so, Aiden couldn¡¯t just stand still either. ¡°Kieek!¡± ¡°Kaaah!¡± Just then, zombies on the opposite side of the cemetery let out horrible screams. Arian, who had said she would go around to the back, had joined the battlefield. The zombies¡¯ attention turned towards the clear sounds of combat, not the dog¡¯s barking. It was a golden opportunity for Aiden. Swoosh! He ran. He swung his axe at the back of the head of the zombie at the forefront. With a crushing sound, the zombie¡¯s head was shattered. The axe blade deeply penetrated the zombie¡¯s skull. Splat! The rotten chunk of flesh fell over onto a gravestone. Belatedly, the zombies reacted and turned their heads. But by then, Aiden¡¯s axe was already striking another one¡¯s neck. ¡°Kiaaah!¡± At this clear violence, the surrounding zombies all let out screams. The corpses rushed towards Aiden. However, some of them fell midway, hit by arrows flying from behind him. Some were swept away by a blood-red wave, their upper and lower bodies splitting apart. As a result, only three reached Aiden. He dealt with them one by one, with machine-like movements. In an instant, the moving corpses became non-moving corpses. Crack! As the third zombie¡¯s head was smashed, it fell face-first to the ground. Aiden immediately looked for the next target, but suddenly there were no more zombies standing in this cemetery. Only Arian was chopping down on the head of a zombie struggling on the ground with her machete a little distance away. Finally, a silence befitting a graveyard descended. ¡°Is it over?¡± ¡°Yeah, this is the last one.¡± Arian answered Aiden¡¯s question, asked just in case. Aiden nodded and shook off the rotten blood on his axe once. Then he looked at the dog that had been barking in the middle of the cemetery. ¡°...Was it guarding this?¡± Next to the Retriever, Louie, who was there, were gravestones. The surnames engraved on three gravestones standing in a row were all the same. Probably belonging to some family. And next to such a family grave, there was the body of someone who couldn¡¯t be buried in the grave. A body already greatly decomposed with bones showing. It had been dead for... about 3 months? But the clothes the body was wearing were familiar to Aiden¡¯s eyes. It was what the old man photographed with Louie was wearing in the picture he saw yesterday. Aiden finally understood the approximate situation. The old man who had been Louie¡¯s owner had probably ended his life at the grave of his family members here. And Louie was guarding his owner¡¯s body. ¡°Fortunately, he¡¯s not injured.¡± Arian said, approaching Louie and checking his condition. A sigh of relief escaped from her. But Louie greeted Arian leisurely, wagging his tail as if he remembered her. ¡°...¡± Sadie finally smiled watching Louie. But she couldn¡¯t go to Louie as she was busy retrieving the arrows she had shot. So Aiden stepped forward. ¡°I¡¯ll retrieve the arrows.¡± ¡°What? But...¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, go ahead. You should say goodbye.¡± A suggestion Sadie would normally refuse on her own. But not this time. Sadie followed Aiden¡¯s words, looking very apologetic. ¡°...Louie.¡± When Sadie called Louie¡¯s name, the dog greeted her happily. Sadie patted Louie a few times and even hugged him tightly, then fumbled in her bag to take out canned food and give it to Louie. Arian and Aiden quietly watched Sadie do this. ¡°Come to think of it... he¡¯s not barking now?¡± Arian said, looking back and forth between Louie and Aiden. As she said, Louie, who had growled even at Aiden¡¯s approach yesterday, was quiet. Perhaps he recognized that Aiden was different from other zombies after the recent battle. However, while he wasn¡¯t hostile, Louie showed no interest in Aiden. ¡°...¡± Aiden looked at Louie for a moment, then shifted his gaze to Sadie. The expression of Sadie, who was staring intently at Louie eating, was somehow complex. As if she was carrying a great worry. But Aiden thought he understood the child¡¯s feelings. Especially just now, Louie had been surrounded by zombies. Although he was fortunately safe this time, there was no guarantee that something like this wouldn¡¯t happen again in the future. So Sadie didn¡¯t want to part with Louie. If possible, she would want to take Louie along on their journey. However, that was something even Aiden couldn¡¯t allow. So how should he explain this? As Aiden was pondering this, Arian¡¯s voice was heard. ¡°Sadie.¡± She called Sadie¡¯s name. Sadie¡¯s gaze, which had been fixed on Louie, shifted to Arian. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°How old do you think Louie is?¡± Sadie¡¯s eyes blinked a few times at the unexpected question. But soon, tilting her head, she voiced her guess. ¡°Um... about five years old?¡± ¡°No, I think Louie is already over 10 years old. In human years, he¡¯d be a grandfather or grandmother dog.¡± Sadie¡¯s eyes widened at the suggestion that he might be older than her. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes. You can roughly tell a dog¡¯s age by looking at its eyes, fur, and body shape.¡± ¡°Ah...¡± ¡°And he probably spent much of that time with his owner.¡± At Arian¡¯s words, Sadie looked at Louie again. Louie, having finished his food, was now sitting next to his owner¡¯s body. So comfortably that he was even yawning widely. ¡°He¡¯s a dog that loves his owner that much. That¡¯s why he tried so hard to guard this place.¡± It was at this point that Aiden realized why Arian was saying these things. She too had read Sadie¡¯s mind and was trying to persuade the child. However, her reason for persuasion was a bit different from what Aiden was thinking. While Aiden was simply feeling burdened by the addition of a dog to their journey, Arian had discerned that Louie was an old dog who just wanted to stay by his owner¡¯s side for what little time he had left. ¡°...¡± Therefore, Sadie had no choice but to accept Arian¡¯s persuasion. What decision was best for Louie was all too clear. Perhaps that¡¯s why. Sadie looked at Louie for a while without saying anything. Then finally, Sadie¡¯s lips moved. But in the end, no voice came out, and she just raised her hand to pat Louie. Louie then opened his mouth and panted as if laughing. Only after seeing Louie like this did Sadie finally open her mouth to say goodbye. ¡°Louie, take care.¡± The dog responded to Sadie¡¯s farewell by wagging his tail gently. Sadie looked at Louie like this for a moment, then suddenly stood up and turned around. ¡°...We can go now.¡± Sadie¡¯s voice trembled slightly as she said this. Aiden just nodded and took the lead. Arian quietly held Sadie¡¯s hand. Soon they left the cemetery. Louie didn¡¯t follow. He just quietly watched Aiden¡¯s group leave, as if seeing them off. For the first and last time, Sadie looked back once. Seeing Louie sleeping by his owner¡¯s side, the child smiled slightly with tears in her eyes. Chapter 165 A few days after leaving Grants. Aiden¡¯s group had finally crossed the border into Arizona and was walking across the vast expanse of desert. Arizona had always had a strong image of being a desert. Perhaps that¡¯s why ¨C the scenery visible to Aiden¡¯s group had been the same for several days now, no matter where they looked. The sight of tumbleweed sprouting sparsely like weeds on the ochre sand, rolling around here and there with the arrival of autumn. It¡¯s similar to the desolate backdrop of a Western movie they had seen once. The only difference from that movie was that instead of cowboys riding horses across the desert, there were living corpses. Crack! One of those zombies had its neck severed by the merciless blade of a machete. The cleanly cut head floats in the air for a moment before falling to the ground with a dull thud. But even so, the decaying head doesn¡¯t die. The severed head opens its mouth wide as if to scream, but with no lungs or vocal cords left, all that comes out is a deflated sound. Soon, an axe handle falls on it this time. The rotten skull shatters spectacularly like a watermelon dropped on summer ground, finally bringing peace to the undying corpse. ¡°Phew...¡± Having taken down a group of zombies encountered in the middle of the desert, Arian let out a short sigh. Her expression showed clear fatigue, unlike usual. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Aiden asked Arian. Even Sadie, retrieving arrows nearby, was looking at Arian with worried eyes. Arian appreciated her companions¡¯ concern but gave a bitter smile. ¡°Yeah. For now, at least.¡± It was already their third day in the desert. To avoid getting lost in this vast desert and to meet people, they were following the road. But the road crossing the desert wasn¡¯t as quiet as they had thought. Above all, there were more zombies lining the road than expected. Probably those who had died here on their way to LA before Aiden¡¯s group arrived. And that wasn¡¯t the only obstacle. There were also zombie hordes of hundreds or thousands roaming freely across the desert plains. While it was fortunate that there were no mutants thanks to the terrain with nowhere to hide, the numbers were too great for combat. Aiden¡¯s group actively avoided battle whenever they encountered such hordes. Thanks to this, they had been able to conserve their strength so far. But there was another problem. As they kept moving in odd directions to avoid the hordes, they ended up still wandering in the middle of the desert without reaching their destination. As a result, Aiden¡¯s group naturally experienced a shortage of blood. It had been a long time since they encountered cannibals who tried to ambush Aiden¡¯s group but were defeated instead. The appearance of cannibals stopped abruptly as they crossed the Arizona border, and because of that, their blood reserves had long since run out. In the midst of this, they had to engage in small battles they couldn¡¯t avoid, so the burden on Arian was accumulating. ¡°It¡¯s better for you to stay out of combat now.¡± Aiden said, looking at Arian. Arian had always had pale skin, but her complexion was even paler than usual. Perhaps because her condition wasn¡¯t good, Arian nodded to Aiden¡¯s words without protest. ¡°Can you hold out for three more days?¡± ¡°That long...?¡± Arian¡¯s face clouded for a moment. But soon, having made up her mind, she nodded. Hadn¡¯t she already prepared for this before entering this desert, before leaving Albuquerque? ¡°But is there something in three days?¡± ¡°We should be able to reach a town called Holbrook by then at the latest.¡± Aiden answered, looking at his map and compass. The desert they had been wandering through had no memorable terrain or anything to gauge their position. So it was just an estimate based on Aiden¡¯s map-reading skills, but it was all they had to believe in now. ¡°...Will there be people there?¡± ¡°We can only hope.¡± It¡¯s a village so small it can hardly be called a town. But it was the only village within a radius of dozens of kilometers in this area, so if there were any people who had drifted into this desert, they would have no choice but to gather there. So it was the most likely place to meet people in this desert, but conversely, there was no certainty of that. Arian nodded as if she understood. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s keep going then.¡± Aiden¡¯s group started walking again. Autumn sunlight poured down on the wasteland, and a gently cool breeze blew, kicking tumbleweed at their feet. They walked for a long time. But the scenery of the road stretching across the desolate desert still didn¡¯t change. It was enough to make one feel like they might be going in circles. But before they knew it, the sun that had been overhead was tilted, and the sky was dyed red. It was time to rest now, not move. When Aiden looked back, not only Arian but also Sadie looked very tired. It wasn¡¯t strange. Aiden¡¯s group had been walking for over 10 hours, and it was hard to believe that such a young body could keep up with such a forced march. So Aiden looked around to find a place to rest. Although this was a desert with nothing in it. As they followed the road, there were occasional side paths, and at the end of those paths, there would sometimes be a solitary building. Most were abandoned small factories, warehouses, or farm buildings. Some of them had zombies hiding inside, but securing such a place was much better than sleeping in the open desert. ¡°This way.¡± For this reason, after walking for about 30 more minutes and finding a side path, Aiden changed course towards it. It was in the direction of a low rocky mountain extending from the desert. The side path led up to that rocky mountain. Looking at the location, it wasn¡¯t a place for farm buildings. Then... could there be a warehouse or campground? Just as he was thinking that either of those would be fine. ¡°Wait.¡± Suddenly, Arian raised her head. Her eyes were glittering ominously. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°...People.¡± At Arian¡¯s words, Aiden felt a faint surprise and relief simultaneously. To think there would be people in a place like this. ¡°How many?¡± ¡°Two.¡± ¡°They don¡¯t seem to be... cannibals.¡± Aiden muttered, twitching his eyebrows. It made sense that they were hiding in the mountains, but this rocky mountain wasn¡¯t very high or wide. It was just like a hill rising from the desert. Also, the number was small, and it was too far from where other cannibals had been. ¡°...We¡¯ll have to confront them directly.¡± After considering various possibilities, Aiden finally came to this conclusion. Arian immediately reacted. ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ll go. You¡¯re in a dangerous state if you get injured now, aren¡¯t you?¡± Aiden said. The reason he usually sent Arian in first was that she could recover instantly even if shot. However, that magical recovery was only possible if she had enough blood. Now, with blood shortage, it would be taking unnecessary risks. ¡°It¡¯s better to approach first.¡± Aiden said, putting on his bulletproof helmet. They continued along the side path. At the end, a small cabin appeared. An old building with nothing special about it. But there were already occupants inside. A gun barrel protruded through a broken window. Someone was aiming a gun at them. Aiden confirmed this, hid his companions in a safe place, and then obediently exposed himself towards the gun barrel. ¡°I¡¯m Aiden Lee, a junk dealer. I don¡¯t want to fight you. I want to trade.¡± Aiden said this with his hands raised and looked at the cabin. Aiden had done this kind of approach several times before, but this time, even Aiden needed to prepare himself. Above all, this was in the middle of a desert with few people. The situation was completely different from contacting a gang settled in their base. Aiden couldn¡¯t know what situation these wanderers or potential cannibals were in. If they had no resources to trade right now, there was a possibility they might shoot first and ask questions later. So Aiden was waiting for the response of the people in the cabin while mentally preparing several response plans, but. ¡°...Aiden, you say?¡± The response from the other side was beyond all of Aiden¡¯s expectations. What flowed out in response to Aiden¡¯s words was a woman¡¯s voice. However, the woman aiming the gun was focusing on that name rather than Aiden¡¯s appearance. Could it be someone who knew him? Just as that speculation flashed through Aiden¡¯s mind, the other party confirmed that suspicion. ¡°That¡¯s right! That helmet.¡± A man¡¯s voice was heard, and Aiden tilted his head slightly. It was a voice he remembered hearing somewhere. Just as Aiden was trying to trace that memory, the gun barrel immediately disappeared inside the house. Then with a clatter, the cabin door opened. What came out was an Indian man. That face... was definitely in Aiden¡¯s memory. ¡°Zaid...?¡± It was Zaid Karem, whom they had met in Snyder. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this, Arian, watching from behind, opened her eyes wide. She remembered that man too. And for good reason, as that man was the leader of the small survivor group who said they would repair the train in the small town. ¡°You remember me.¡± Zaid said with an awkward smile. Having parted on good terms at that time, he showed no signs of wariness towards them. Aiden lowered his raised hands and calmly spoke. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to meet you in a place like this.¡± ¡°The feeling is mutual.¡± Zaid said with a hollow laugh. Meeting Zaid here was unexpected, but certainly not a bad thing. Noticing the clearly relaxed atmosphere, Arian soon joined them along with Sadie. * * * Some time later. Inside the cabin, Aiden¡¯s group was exchanging stories with Zaid and his companion, Linda Green. ¡°So you really came to Albuquerque by train?¡± ¡°Yes. That was the plan. Well, we were quite lucky too.¡± It seemed Zaid had reached Albuquerque much earlier than Aiden¡¯s group in terms of schedule. The railway of the train he said he had repaired really did connect safely from Snyder through Lubbock to Albuquerque. ¡°But that luck only lasted until Albuquerque. After that, the tracks were damaged, and it was impossible for the train to pass through.¡± ¡°That¡¯s understandable. Even cars can¡¯t pass through.¡± Aiden nodded at Zaid¡¯s words. It was obvious. From the west of Albuquerque, especially all roads and railways in Arizona were thoroughly blocked and destroyed. ¡°So you¡¯re walking now?¡± ¡°Yes. We¡¯re heading to Las Vegas. We should be able to find another train there to go to LA.¡± Las Vegas is a city in Nevada, which borders northwest of Arizona. It¡¯s a bit further than Phoenix where Aiden was trying to go, but if they wanted to use a train, they had to leave Arizona, so it was an unavoidable choice. ¡°By the way, you¡¯re amazing too. I didn¡¯t expect you to come this far with two children.¡± Zaid looked at Arian and Sadie. Needless to say, Arian was fine, and even Sadie was in good condition. The presence of a child without a scratch on a journey where even adults had to risk their lives was surprising. ¡°Speaking of which... it seems one of you is missing.¡± Aiden said, looking at Zaid and Linda. He clearly remembered that Zaid¡¯s group had one more person besides these two. It was Nabin Kanna, who had been hiding in a building with an injured leg when he was discovered by Aiden¡¯s group, leading to their meeting with Zaid. ¡°Ah, you mean Nabin.¡± At those words, Zaid¡¯s expression hardened. Linda also lowered her head with a gloomy face. From this, Aiden could guess the circumstances of that other person, and it was soon conveyed through Zaid¡¯s words. ¡°He died on the way. Just before we reached Albuquerque, our train was attacked by a horde of zombies. Somehow the train broke through them, but in the end, one of them that had climbed aboard...¡± ¡°That¡¯s... regrettable.¡± Aiden said, offering condolences for Nabin. Meanwhile, Arian sighed at the news of Nabin¡¯s death, and Sadie¡¯s eyes filled with tears. In this subdued atmosphere. Aiden opened his mouth to change the subject. ¡°More importantly... I¡¯d like to trade. Would that be possible?¡± Aiden carefully brought up the main point. Aiden¡¯s group was glad to meet Zaid and Linda not just because they had reunited with people they had met before. At this, Zaid made a slightly troubled expression. ¡°We¡¯d like to as well, but we¡¯re short on supplies... By any chance... are you still accepting blood?¡± Zaid said, recalling past memories. The shortage of supplies seemed quite desperate, as there was no suspicion about the reason for still accepting human blood as compensation. That desperation was, fortunately, a good thing for Aiden¡¯s group. ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Ah, that¡¯s a relief. Then we actually have something we¡¯d like to request.¡± Aiden thought they would ask for food or water in exchange for blood. However, what Zaid brought up was a request. In other words, instead of food, they had something that needed to be resolved. ¡°A request?¡± ¡°Actually, we have a problem.¡± Zaid looked at Linda. ¡°Recently, there have been people chasing us.¡± Linda continued with a worried face. Aiden nodded towards her, as if telling her to continue. Chapter 166 ¡°Chasing you? In this desert?¡± Aiden asked back, puzzled. Linda answered immediately. ¡°Yes. I saw it myself. It started three days ago.¡± ¡°Three days...¡± Even if they were just looters after supplies, it was somewhat strange. This side has only two people, and they¡¯re crossing the desert. The looters would know that even if they took all the supplies these people had, it wouldn¡¯t amount to much. So the possibility that they were after supplies wasn¡¯t high. Naturally, Aiden¡¯s speculation shifted elsewhere. ¡°Then is there a possibility they¡¯re cannibals?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure... about that.¡± ¡°Have you tried making contact? They might be people you can talk to.¡± ¡°We did try once. But they just started shooting from a distance without warning. I almost got hit.¡± Hmm- Aiden let out a thoughtful sound for a moment. Hearing the story, it seemed ambiguous whether they were cannibals. Those creatures always ambush from the mountains or set traps and hide. They¡¯re skilled at using cunning methods to hunt humans. So the behavior of openly showing hostility by shooting from afar didn¡¯t quite match the pattern of cannibals. ¡°Since then, we¡¯ve been desperately running away. But those people keep chasing us, so we¡¯re in a situation where we can¡¯t do anything. Even today, we thought you might be them.¡± Linda added with a sigh in her voice. Having understood the general situation, Aiden nodded. As she said, if there were people deliberately chasing them, it wouldn¡¯t be easy to shake them off in this desert. ¡°At this rate, you¡¯ll eventually be caught.¡± Aiden muttered. After all, the number of destinations in this desert, that is, small towns or villages within the desert, was limited. Also, there are only one or at most two roads connecting such villages. And on such roads, there aren¡¯t many places to hide. In other words, in this desert, even if you only know the direction the other party is heading, you can figure out not only their destination but also their entire route. Linda nodded. Aiden spoke again. ¡°So what do you want to ask of us? Do you want us to deal with them?¡± ¡°If that¡¯s what you¡¯re asking... would it be possible?¡± The next words came from Zaid. He seemed concerned that it might be a burden for Aiden¡¯s group since it involved combat with humans, not zombies. It was a reasonable worry, but it wasn¡¯t a difficult task for Aiden¡¯s group. ¡°It¡¯s not impossible. However...¡± Aiden trailed off. He was bothered by the reason why those unnamed people were chasing Zaid. If they were simply cannibals or looters, he would have swept them away without any hesitation. But Aiden intuitively knew that their behavior was different from those. ¡°Do you have any idea why they¡¯re chasing you?¡± So Aiden asked that. But after pondering for a moment, Zaid eventually shook his head. Linda did the same. In the end, there were no clues. ¡°Then I suppose we¡¯ll have to try talking to them first.¡± ¡°Talk...?¡± ¡°Well, we¡¯re not hired killers. If they¡¯re willing to talk, we don¡¯t necessarily intend to kill them.¡± At Aiden¡¯s firm words, Zaid nodded as if he understood. ¡°I see. If they turn out to be people we can communicate with, please at least find out why they¡¯re chasing us.¡± ¡°I will. Where are they?¡± ¡°To the east. We came from there too.¡± Did they come along the road directly connecting from Albuquerque? No wonder Aiden¡¯s group hadn¡¯t seen any traces of anyone while coming here. It didn¡¯t match the direction of Aiden¡¯s group, who had come up from the south, inevitably detouring to avoid zombie hordes. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll accept the request if you agree to one last condition.¡± ¡°A condition...?¡± ¡°Can you give us the blood in advance?¡± It meant asking for the reward for the request upfront. A demand rarely made unless in special cases. But Arian, who had been quietly listening to this conversation, was probably still uncomfortable. So Aiden put forward such a condition. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s fine.¡± Whether due to their previous trust relationship or because providing blood wasn¡¯t a burden, Zaid accepted this without much hesitation. At this, the corners of Arian¡¯s mouth lifted slightly. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll try to make contact with them tomorrow.¡± Outside, the sun was already setting. No matter how bloodthirsty the people chasing Zaid¡¯s group were, they wouldn¡¯t move in the middle of the night. ¡°Understood. Then let¡¯s rest for today.¡± Judging by his appearance, Zaid also looked somewhat tired as he said this. Well, he would have been, having crossed this desert while being chased by someone. So Zaid and Aiden¡¯s group spent the night in the cabin on the shallow rocky mountain. * * * The next day. From the morning, Aiden¡¯s group was guarding the thin road that crosses the desert from east to west. They were there to meet someone who was supposedly chasing Zaid¡¯s group along this road. Meanwhile, Zaid¡¯s group was staying in the cabin they had met in yesterday. To save time, there was also the option of entrusting everything to Aiden¡¯s group and departing first. But Zaid wanted to see a definite resolution rather than moving quickly. It wasn¡¯t long after Aiden¡¯s group started waiting for the pursuers. ¡°Look, they¡¯re really coming.¡± Arian said, pointing to the east. At a distance not yet visible to Aiden¡¯s eyes. However, Arian continued speaking as if she could clearly see their figures. ¡°There are three of them. It matches what Zaid said.¡± ¡°Then...¡± Aiden looked at Sadie standing beside him. Since they were opponents who could shoot, they couldn¡¯t openly stand on the road. His eyes fell on an overturned wrecked car nearby. ¡°Let¡¯s go over there for now.¡± Aiden¡¯s group hid behind such a vehicle. ¡°When they get close, I¡¯ll go first.¡± Arian said confidently. It was a clearly different attitude from yesterday when she had been short on blood. So Aiden¡¯s group held their breath and waited for the pursuers. Soon the pursuers approached enough to enter Aiden¡¯s field of vision. Walking along the road were two men and one woman. The two men appeared to be of Southeast Asian and Russian descent, while the woman was of Latin ethnicity. They all looked like young adults in their early to mid-twenties. ¡°Hmm...?¡± Aiden tilted his head as he observed them. One of the men was being supported by the other two. Had he been injured? But there were no visible injuries. He just seemed to be unconscious. While Aiden was closely observing this man, they soon approached to within about ten meters. ¡°I¡¯m going.¡± Aiden nodded at Arian¡¯s words. She naturally revealed herself from behind the car body. Aiden carefully gripped his gun and waited for their reaction. After discovering Arian, their attitude would be one of two: Either they would shoot recklessly, or they would attempt to talk. If it was the latter, that would be fine, but if it was the former, Arian would mercilessly eliminate them just as she had done with countless cannibals so far. ¡°It¡¯s a person!¡± Soon one of the men spotted Arian and aimed his gun with wide eyes. Hearing his warning, the woman also drew her gun. However, the man they were supporting remained unresponsive with his head bowed. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°...¡± Arian calmly looked at them with their guns pointed. They were wary of Arian, and also suspicious, but that was all. To her eyes, they didn¡¯t show the murderous intent that looters or cannibals would have. ¡°Wait, could she be one of those bastards¡¯ companions?¡± ¡°But... she looks young.¡± Such words were exchanged between the man and woman in the meantime. Arian opened her mouth towards them a little late. ¡°I¡¯m a junk dealer.¡± ¡°Wh-What?¡± ¡°I have something I want to ask you. So why don¡¯t you lower your guns?¡± They stared blankly at Arian speaking so matter-of-factly. There was no particular problem with the content, but her attitude of speaking so casually with guns pointed at her created a sense of discomfort. Sensing something strange, they couldn¡¯t easily lower their guns. But Arian patiently waited for them. Some time passed in this standoff situation. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. While the two people were still at a loss, soon a faint groan leaked from behind them. ¡°Ugh...¡± It was the man who had been supported from earlier. The woman glanced at him for a moment, then turned to Arian and spoke. ¡°You... do you have any water?¡± ¡°Water? I do have some.¡± Arian tilted her head at the unexpected question but answered like that. At this, the eyes of the two people in front changed. Greed filled the gaze that had been full of wariness. Although this change in the man and woman was somewhat threatening, Arian rather slightly raised the corners of her mouth. If what they wanted was this clear, persuading them wouldn¡¯t be difficult. ¡°I could give you some if you need it.¡± Arian said with a smile. * * * A little while later. Aiden was facing the three pursuers along with Arian. ¡°...Thank you. You saved us.¡± The one who said this was Ricardo, the Southeast Asian man. The man who had been supported by the other two, Camila and Ivan. The reason he needed such help from his companions was due to dehydration. They said they hadn¡¯t received any fluids for several days now. Moreover, because they had to walk through the desert all the while, they eventually developed dehydration symptoms beyond mild. ¡°Enough. Just rest.¡± Aiden said that after confirming that Ricardo¡¯s condition, lying on the road, was okay. Aiden¡¯s group was providing them with drinking water. There was some loss, but it was unavoidable for the sake of conversation. Also, they planned to get it all back in blood later anyway. ¡°So... what did you want to ask?¡± Ivan, who had also received a bottle of water, asked like that. Aiden first confirmed whether these were indeed the pursuers Zaid had mentioned. Ivan answered without hesitation that they were. ¡°Then... you¡¯re saying it was you who chased Zaid and Linda.¡± ¡°Those things¡¯ names were Zaid and Linda?¡± Ricardo, who was listening from the side, said with an unpleasant face. Aiden didn¡¯t answer this and just continued his questions. ¡°Why are you chasing them?¡± ¡°Because those thieving bastards took all our supplies.¡± ¡°Thieves?¡± ¡°Yeah. While we were out hunting, leaving our camp empty, they cleaned out all our supplies.¡± It was Camila who answered with a sharp voice full of killing intent. Aiden¡¯s eyebrows raised at the unexpected answer. ¡°Did you see them taking it directly?¡± ¡°If we had seen it directly, we would have stopped them.¡± Ivan, who had his arms crossed, said. He explained that after their camp was looted, they discovered Zaid¡¯s group while tracking the remaining traces. ¡°Did you have a lot of supplies?¡± ¡°That¡¯s... not the case.¡± ¡°Then why bother chasing them? The losses must be severe.¡± ¡°What losses? It¡¯s not like we can get resources anywhere else anyway.¡± Their story went like this. There was nowhere else to find supplies anyway. So they followed Zaid, who was heading to the small towns in this desert, half out of resentment and half out of necessity. ¡°You shot at them?¡± ¡°I did that. So what? Who do you think is responsible for us ending up like this? If it weren¡¯t for you, we would have dried up and died in the middle of the desert.¡± At Camila¡¯s words, Aiden inwardly sighed. If their claim was true, it was something that couldn¡¯t be argued with. Aiden had an intuition that he had gotten involved in a troublesome matter. ¡°But... why are you asking about this?¡± At that moment, Camila asked with a puzzled look. Aiden pondered for a moment how to respond there. As he had expected, these people were not simple killers. There was a clear reason for chasing Zaid, and that reason wasn¡¯t nonsensical either. So rather than defending Zaid here, it would be better to have them talk directly. After all, there was also the matter of theft that he hadn¡¯t heard about. Having made that judgment, Aiden opened his mouth. ¡°We¡¯re junk dealers hired by them.¡± ¡°Hired? That bastard hired you?¡± ¡°But I¡¯m not here to question you about anything. Instead, I¡¯ll let you meet them directly.¡± At Aiden¡¯s words, the atmosphere of the three people turned savage. However, Aiden wasn¡¯t trying to arrange this meeting to see a bloody battle. ¡°Of course, you¡¯ll meet without guns or anything. After all, nothing changes if you kill them. You don¡¯t get any supplies, and there¡¯s nothing to gain.¡± ¡°Then why should we meet?¡± ¡°Because at this rate, they¡¯ll consider you enemies too. You¡¯ve barely saved your lives, you¡¯re not planning to have a gunfight, are you?¡± At those words, Camila, who was about to argue, bit her lip. Aiden was right. They were just two, and three survivors. In a desert like this, if you get shot even once, you¡¯d have no choice but to wait for death. Fighting each other wouldn¡¯t only bring no benefit, but the combat itself would be too reckless. ¡°So it¡¯s better to clear up the misunderstanding here. Don¡¯t you need to cross the desert safely and go to LA?¡± Aiden said, looking around at the three people. At his persuasion, they silently looked down at the ground. Chapter 167 A little while later. ¡°You have a point.¡± The first to speak in response to Aiden¡¯s proposal was Ricardo. Though he had been barely conscious due to dehydration symptoms just moments ago, he seemed to have recovered significantly, slowly raising himself up. ¡°We¡¯ve come this far. I¡¯d rather not die from a gunshot here.¡± ¡°That¡¯s... true.¡± Ivan chimed in agreement with his words. Camila, who had been quietly watching her companions, let out a short sigh. ¡°Are we really going to meet them?¡± ¡°We need to get back the supplies they stole, don¡¯t we?¡± At Ricardo¡¯s words, Camila snorted. It was too optimistic a thought. ¡°Ha, you think they¡¯ll just give them back if we ask?¡± ¡°If they won¡¯t give them back, we¡¯ll have to take them by force. After the conversation ends, going back with guns has nothing to do with this junk dealer.¡± Ivan said this while looking at Aiden. Aiden certainly didn¡¯t want the situation to unfold that way, but Ivan was right that he couldn¡¯t interfere beyond this point. All Aiden could do was open the channel for negotiation. After the negotiation broke down, Aiden would have no justification or reason to intervene. ¡°But... it¡¯s not a trap, is it?¡± ¡°If it was, there would have been no reason to keep us alive. See that gun?¡± In front of Camila, who still couldn¡¯t shake off her suspicion, Ivan pointed to Aiden¡¯s weapons. All sorts of armaments with nowhere else to store them were hanging from various parts of his body. ¡°Military rifle, large-caliber pistol, and even grenades. If he wanted to kill us, he could have done so easily already. This junk dealer is the real deal. Watch what you say.¡± Did he have some knowledge about weapons? Ivan saw through at a glance that Aiden¡¯s weapons were no ordinary ones. And also that Aiden was no ordinary junk dealer. Camila, who knew Ivan¡¯s discerning eye well, nodded with a sigh. ¡°Alright, I get it. Let¡¯s meet them once.¡± Even Camila, who had been expressing concern all along, accepted Aiden¡¯s proposal. Finally, the opinions of the three were gathered. Ricardo looked at Aiden. ¡°So you¡¯ll guide us there?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Follow me.¡± Aiden gestured with his chin to indicate the direction and led them to the cabin on the rocky mountain. * * * A short while later. Ricardo¡¯s group was finally face to face with Zaid. Zaid was surprised at first to see those who returned with Aiden, but after hearing Aiden¡¯s explanation, he nodded with a grim face. ¡°Let¡¯s talk inside first.¡± So they all gathered inside the small cabin. Zaid and Ricardo¡¯s group, as well as Aiden¡¯s group. The not-so-spacious area was packed with eight people. There was a table in the cabin that could seat exactly 4 people. On one side sat Zaid and Linda, and on the opposite side sat Ricardo and Camila. Aiden leaned against the wall of the cabin, staring intently at the table. A tense atmosphere hung between the people sitting across from each other. Only Arian seemed uninterested, staring blankly out the window next to Sadie. Aiden initiated the start of the conversation there. He explained why Ricardo¡¯s group had chased Zaid. ¡°They say you stole supplies from their camp.¡± Ricardo¡¯s group¡¯s camp was in a warehouse building on a shallow mountainside. In a narrow sense, it was a similar environment to this cabin. However, the surrounding mountain range was quite wide, so at the time, Ricardo¡¯s group had gone out hunting animals to supplement their scarce food supply. Ricardo¡¯s group claimed that during that time, Zaid had come to the camp and stolen their supplies. ¡°That¡¯s... correct. I certainly did take supplies from that camp at that time.¡± Zaid answered like that. He had admitted outright to the theft allegations claimed by Ricardo¡¯s group. ¡°...¡± Ricardo¡¯s group stared at Zaid expressionlessly. It was as if they had expected this response. ¡°But didn¡¯t you say you had no idea about this?¡± ¡°That¡¯s also true. I didn¡¯t know those supplies had owners.¡± Zaid made that excuse in response to Aiden¡¯s questioning. Meanwhile, Camila scoffed at Zaid¡¯s words. ¡°Ha, does that make sense? There were only food and water in an empty building?¡± ¡°That place, like here, was passed through by many people heading to LA. I thought someone among them might have been unable to take their supplies due to unavoidable circumstances. Such thinking isn¡¯t that strange, is it?¡± Zaid answered calmly to Camila¡¯s irritated question. Since his words weren¡¯t logically wrong, Camila couldn¡¯t refute and just let out a hollow laugh. At this, Ivan, who was standing behind, opened his mouth. ¡°So you judged there was no owner, is that it?¡± ¡°Yes. I wouldn¡¯t have left supplies just sitting there and gone outside if it were me.¡± Camila¡¯s eyebrows raised at those words. It was essentially saying it was their fault after all. Her voice, continuing immediately, became a bit rougher. ¡°So you just take whatever has no owner?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it more unreasonable to leave it behind?¡± ¡°That¡¯s-¡° ¡°Enough.¡± Ricardo stopped Camila, who was about to argue further. Camila looked at him as if wronged, but Ricardo shook his head. ¡°We were careless... it¡¯s true.¡± Ivan said that too. Ricardo nodded and continued speaking. ¡°I think so too. So I won¡¯t argue about the theft. Just return the supplies you took.¡± At this point, arguing about who was right or wrong was meaningless. After all, this was what was important. However, at his demand, confusion appeared for the first time on Zaid¡¯s face, which had maintained composure until now. ¡°Even if I want to... the truth is, there¡¯s not much left.¡± ¡°What?¡± The amount of supplies there wasn¡¯t much to begin with. It was obvious if you thought about it. How much food and water did they think just three people could carry across this desert? So it was only the minimum amount to eat and drink for 3-4 days at most. And that small amount of food was already less than half gone after the recent chase. ¡°Is this all?¡± ¡°This is all we have.¡± What Zaid produced was just a couple of canned goods and one container of drinking water. Ricardo¡¯s face crumpled upon seeing this. ¡°...We can¡¯t last long with this.¡± It takes more than two days of walking through the desert to reach the nearest village from here. Moreover, there¡¯s no certainty that there will be food and water in that village either. It would take nearly a week to completely leave the desert, but this amount of food wasn¡¯t enough for three humans to survive. The moment this was realized, the atmosphere in the cabin became heavy. Camila glared at Zaid as if she wanted to kill him, and Ricardo lightly bit his lip. Ivan¡¯s hand, which had been crossed, naturally moved towards the pistol on his waist. Zaid watched their reactions, and fear settled on Linda¡¯s face as she sensed an impending fight. Amidst this, the first to speak was... an unexpected person. ¡°Aiden.¡± As if a ray of light was shining into the gloomy cabin, a clear voice was heard. It was Arian. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. People¡¯s gazes turned towards her. Arian was still staring out the window. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Zombies.¡± Ivan¡¯s hand, which had been fiddling with his pistol, twitched. The others also couldn¡¯t hide their bewilderment at this unexpected variable. Amidst this, only Aiden¡¯s monotonous voice continued calmly. ¡°How many?¡± ¡°A lot. They¡¯re coming in a horde from the desert. It seems to be a swarm.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll have to avoid them. Let¡¯s move.¡± Aiden¡¯s group¡¯s decision was quick. Aiden picked up his rifle and immediately left the cabin. Arian also followed Aiden, taking Sadie with her. ¡°W-Wait a minute! Is it true? Zombies?¡± Camila asked from behind Aiden. The zombies weren¡¯t even visible yet. This was because, although the rocky mountain wasn¡¯t very high and trees didn¡¯t grow on it, the view was blocked due to the terrain¡¯s elevation differences. So Ricardo rather turned a doubtful gaze towards Aiden. ¡°Junk dealer. If you¡¯re playing some clumsy trick now-¡° ¡°If you can¡¯t believe it, don¡¯t. I don¡¯t particularly care.¡± But Aiden didn¡¯t try to persuade them. At this resolute attitude, Ricardo clicked his tongue as if displeased. However, Zaid and Linda were different. Knowing that Aiden was skilled in zombie hunting, they followed Aiden without hesitation. ¡°Hey, we¡¯re not done talking yet!¡± Camila shouted, watching Zaid. Zaid turned back for a moment and let out a short sigh. He spoke to Ricardo¡¯s group, still in a polite manner. ¡°Let¡¯s escape from here for now.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like you lose anything by moving a little. Hurry!¡± At Zaid¡¯s urging, their expressions changed. The tone and atmosphere seemed so urgent that it didn¡¯t seem like poor acting. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here for now. I have a bad feeling.¡± Ivan said this as well. Camila didn¡¯t seem to object either, quietly waiting for Ricardo¡¯s decision. ¡°Damn it, what¡¯s going on...!¡± At this, Ricardo, who had been sitting at the table until then, stood up. They followed Aiden up towards the top of the rocky mountain. The peak of the rocky mountain they reached was just a hill about a few dozen meters high. A place where you could see at a glance the small mountain ranges that rose sparsely like waves on the flat terrain of the desert. ¡°There they come.¡± Standing there, Aiden said, looking in the direction where the cabin had been. The others who arrived late looked down, panting. There was a swarm of about a thousand zombies that had gathered, now pitch black. ¡°Holy sh-!¡± ¡°It was real!¡± Ricardo and Camila were shocked to see this. The small cabin where they had been staying was engulfed by the raging zombie horde, and was being smashed to pieces as if crushed by heavy machinery in an instant. Zaid and Linda also watched the scene with pale faces. Meanwhile, Aiden was looking for an escape route while examining the scale of the approaching zombie swarm and the terrain. Fighting head-on against a zombie swarm of that size would be reckless and foolish. So the best option was to use the characteristic of the swarm sweeping through in one direction. To completely move out of the path where they were passing through. But that¡¯s not always as easy as one might think. Above all, the zombie swarm was already too close. Even if they fled desperately, they ultimately couldn¡¯t escape from the zombies¡¯ sight. In other words, it meant they couldn¡¯t completely avoid combat. ¡°We¡¯ll have to run from here.¡± Having finished his calculations, Aiden gestured to Arian. Arian, who immediately understood his intention, lifted Sadie up. Arian, now carrying a large bag on her back and Sadie in front, looked very uncomfortable just from her appearance. However, Arian herself didn¡¯t flinch at all, and only Sadie, who was suddenly picked up by Arian, opened her eyes wide. ¡°I, I...¡± ¡°There¡¯s no time.¡± Aiden spoke quietly to Sadie, who was about to say she was fine. If they were going to avoid those things, a child¡¯s running speed wouldn¡¯t even come close to being enough. At this, Sadie bowed her head as if ashamed. And she whispered quietly to Arian who was holding her. ¡°...I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°What are you talking about? There¡¯s nothing to be sorry for.¡± While Arian was taking care of Sadie like this. Aiden glanced once towards Zaid and Ricardo¡¯s group. ¡°What are you doing standing there blankly?¡± Aiden said, looking at them. Only then did they come to their senses, belatedly trying to grasp the situation by looking around. ¡°This way.¡± Aiden, who had spoken quietly to them, immediately kicked off the ground and ran. Arian ran alongside him. ¡°L-Let¡¯s go too!¡± ¡°Move!¡± Zaid and Ricardo followed a beat late. The wave of zombies that had swallowed the mountainside was rising towards the top of the shallow rocky mountain. Chapter 168 Led by Aiden and Arian carrying Sadie, the people ran down the hill. Having already seen the zombie horde, they chased after Aiden¡¯s group at maximum speed. However, no matter how hard they ran, the distance from the zombies didn¡¯t increase. Because the zombie horde was slowly pushing forward while spread wide horizontally like a net, they couldn¡¯t easily escape its range. ¡°Grrrr...¡± The zombies¡¯ groans were now audible. At this, Camila panicked and spoke to her companions. ¡°Huff... Is it really okay to keep going like this?¡± Camila said, gasping for breath. She looked ahead. The direction the junk dealer Aiden was leading them wasn¡¯t completely opposite to where the zombie horde was coming from. If the zombies were coming from the south, he was heading northwest. He was leading the group in a direction that was subtly diagonal. ¡°We¡¯ll be caught soon! Let¡¯s break off to the back instead.¡± Camila suggested moving away from the zombies first, rather than following Aiden. But Ivan immediately disagreed. ¡°We can¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because that way... huff, there¡¯s no end to it.¡± A zombie horde doesn¡¯t change direction unless there¡¯s a special reason. Therefore, unless there was a way to dramatically increase speed, like using a vehicle, simply moving in the opposite direction was a waste of energy. They were already not much faster than the zombies, running while carrying survival gear. But the undead that never tire would keep advancing endlessly, and moving parallel to them would inevitably lead to being caught. ¡°But at this rate...!¡± Just as Camila bit her lip. ¡°Kiaaaa!¡± A frenzied zombie¡¯s scream echoed from behind. Camila turned her head in that direction with an uneasy expectation. And the scene that met her eyes matched that unease. ¡°They¡¯ve seen us!¡± The zombie horde had already approached right up to the group. Because of this, a few zombies at the front had spotted Aiden and his companions. Immediately after, the corpses surged forward. ¡°Damn it...!¡± Camila gritted her teeth and ran. The distance to the zombies was about 30 meters. However, zombies sprinting after discovering prey were several times faster than humans carrying luggage. The distance of tens of meters was closing in an instant. ¡°Kieee!¡± Hearing the screech right behind her, Camila raised her club with trembling hands. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A wooden bat with nails embedded in it. She couldn¡¯t just run away anymore. Just as she made that judgment and was about to turn around. ¡°Don¡¯t stop running.¡± Someone¡¯s shadow said that as it brushed past her. It was Aiden, who had been running ahead. He stood behind Camila with an axe in one hand. Crack! Then his axe shattered the head of the zombie that had gotten closest. Immediately after, another one pounced, but Aiden didn¡¯t bother to engage it and stepped back. ¡°You keep running. You¡¯re falling behind.¡± He instructed Camila like that, and Camila clenched her teeth and ran without even giving a reply. Aiden stuck to the rear like this, as if protecting Camila who had been at the very back. ¡°Huff... huff...!¡± After that, the group continued running. Soon Camila¡¯s breath was coming up to her throat. From behind, only the sound of the axe smashing zombies could be heard endlessly. Even so, Camila didn¡¯t dare to even think about looking back. There was no room for that. It was hard enough just to keep up with the pace. She could see Ricardo, who had been ahead, gradually falling behind. Was it because he hadn¡¯t fully recovered from severe dehydration? Even seeing her companion like this, Camila couldn¡¯t do anything. But even amidst this, Aiden¡¯s presence smashing zombies behind her remained constant. That distance neither closed nor widened. It meant that while Camila was just running for her life, Aiden was steadily keeping up behind her even while fighting. Doesn¡¯t that man ever get tired? Just as Camila was thinking this while forcibly moving her trembling legs. ¡°Damn it... huff, to the side!¡± It was Ivan¡¯s voice. Had he heard their companions making a commotion? In the direction he pointed, another group of zombies was approaching. Their number was about 20. It wasn¡¯t a large number compared to the entire horde, but it was too many for hand-to-hand combat. But then should they take out their guns? Just as everyone running was having this dilemma. ¡°No guns.¡± As if reading their minds, Aiden spoke up. While everyone was having trouble even speaking due to being out of breath, his voice continued in a strangely even tone. ¡°If we make gunshots here, the entire horde will converge on us.¡± ¡°Then... what should we do...!¡± ¡°Fight with melee weapons. I¡¯ll handle the ones coming from behind.¡± Even Aiden couldn¡¯t protect everyone in this situation. So instead, he took charge of the most dangerous rear. However, the rest would ultimately have to fight for themselves. ¡°Huff...!¡± At this, Ricardo¡¯s group and Zaid¡¯s group each took out their weapons. Arian also put Sadie down for a moment and took out her machete, while Sadie aimed her small crossbow at the zombies. Thwack! An arrow sprouted from the head of a zombie running in front. That was the signal for the start of full-scale combat. Crack! Ivan¡¯s hammer crushed a zombie from top to bottom. With that heavy and weighty attack, the zombie fell face-first to the ground with its head smashed. ¡°Kiee!¡± But immediately another one rushed in. Ivan is exposed in the gap created between large attacks. But Ricardo supported Ivan in such a situation. Thud! Ricardo¡¯s iron bar struck down the zombie aiming for Ivan. Next to him, Camila¡¯s spear pierced through the neck of a zombie running alongside. As if they had trained together, the coordination of those three was quite good. However, the zombies¡¯ fierce attacks were not something that could be blocked just by good teamwork. ¡°Kiaaa!¡± Immediately, more than twice the number of corpses they had taken down swarmed in. Ricardo¡¯s group faced off against the corpses but soon started to be pushed back. The violence of overwhelming numbers. Camila gritted her teeth at this. Just the three of them couldn¡¯t handle it. ¡°Someone...!¡± She turned her gaze to ask for help. But Aiden was single-handedly blocking as many zombies as they were facing. Arian was also busy protecting Sadie. Aiden¡¯s group had no room to help them. Camila¡¯s face turned pale. But right after that, someone responded to her voice. It was none other than Zaid and Linda. Crack! Zaid¡¯s pitchfork dug into a zombie¡¯s chest. It wasn¡¯t an attack that could finish it off in one go, but it was enough to hold one in place. Linda used a sharply ground shovel. Contrary to her appearance, she drove its tip into the head of the zombie caught by the pitchfork with a fierce momentum. As they joined Ricardo¡¯s group like this, the balance was barely restored. After that, a frenzied melee ensued. Crunch! A pitchfork was driven into the mouth of a zombie trying to bite Camila¡¯s arm. Rather than saying thanks, Camila broke the arm of a zombie that had grabbed Linda¡¯s hair. ¡°Kiiiie!¡± ¡°Damn it, just die already!¡± The zombies¡¯ screams overlapped, and dull crushing sounds erupted here and there. When they came to their senses, the number of zombies had greatly decreased. But there was no time to rest. ¡°Run again. They¡¯re coming.¡± As soon as the battle ended, Aiden urged them impatiently. The group followed his instructions without even properly organizing their weapons. How long did they run like that? After that, they had to face zombies that had flowed in from the horde two more times. As a result, the number of zombies Camila alone had taken down today reached over 10. It was an impressive result for combat without using guns. However, such achievements weren¡¯t any consolation to Camila. ¡°Huff... cough...!¡± She was so out of breath it felt like blood was flowing from her throat. There was no strength left in her arms and legs. Camila was barely holding her weapon, without even the energy to swing it properly. And it was similar for the others too. Not only her companions who had fought together, but Zaid and Linda¡¯s limbs were also trembling as if convulsing. Because of this, the group was now walking rather than running. They were so completely exhausted that even climbing and descending shallow hills was difficult. ¡°Kiee...¡± Amidst this, the groans of zombies could be heard from somewhere. Those corpses were approaching again with big strides. Judging by the sound, they weren¡¯t too far away. Because of this, anxiety flowed through Camila¡¯s mind. It had been a miracle that they had survived until now. But if another battle broke out here, there truly was no hope. Swallowing her anxiety, Camila looked at Aiden standing behind her. Whether he had a plan or not. The expression of the junk dealer hidden behind that black helmet was not visible at all. ¡°What... are we going to do now?¡± But Camila had saved her life several times today thanks to Aiden. So she asked him with one last hope. Despite everyone being on the verge of collapse from exhaustion, he who still showed no signs of wavering answered Camila¡¯s question calmly. ¡°Just a little further.¡± He simply urged Camila on. But Camila wasn¡¯t even angry. She had no choice but to follow his words now. Just as she turned her head like that. Boom! A deafening explosion erupted from somewhere. It was beyond the hill they had already passed. That massive roar spread to every corner of the shallow mountain range. Soon it became bait to attract all the surrounding zombies. ¡°Kiee...¡± The presence of zombies approaching the group soon receded like the tide. At this magical occurrence, Camila looked at Aiden again. ¡°This is...?¡± ¡°A sound bomb.¡± Aiden said calmly. It was something he had set up on the way here. It was a precious weapon that Aiden had purchased with the surplus supplies from disposing of the vehicle in Albuquerque, with a simple modification to add a time delay function to the existing sound bomb. But Aiden didn¡¯t particularly boast about it. There was no need or room for that. ¡°Enough, keep moving. We¡¯ve probably escaped the horde¡¯s identification range for now, but it¡¯s not time to relax yet.¡± At Aiden¡¯s words, the group squeezed out their last strength to move their feet. It was a long time after that when they finally stopped marching, in the middle of some desert. * * * ¡°Phew... I really thought I was going to die...¡± Camila, sprawled out on the bare desert ground, muttered like that. ¡°Yeah. I heard zombie hordes roaming the desert were scary, but I didn¡¯t think it would be this bad.¡± Ricardo said, furrowing his brow as he sat on the ground. Zaid was also sitting next to him. Zaid looked up at Aiden, who was still standing straight. ¡°But... aren¡¯t you tired?¡± ¡°I am tired. In my own way.¡± Zaid gave a bitter smile at his tone that didn¡¯t seem tired at all despite his words. Then, as if suddenly remembering, he changed the subject. ¡°By the way, you really fought well. I couldn¡¯t see properly because it was so chaotic, but...¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t just fighting well. How many did you hunt alone?¡± Ivan chimed in on Zaid¡¯s words. Beside him, Ricardo was also nodding. The atmosphere between the two groups that had seemed ready to eat each other just a while ago had somehow been washed away. Was the life-or-death battle against the zombie horde not all bad? While Aiden was inwardly relieved with such thoughts, Ivan¡¯s gaze shifted elsewhere. ¡°And that woman too. She was cutting zombies in half with a machete. How is that even possible?¡± Ivan was looking at Arian as if observing a strange animal. ¡°You don¡¯t need to pay too much attention to us.¡± Aiden said, as if cutting off Ivan¡¯s curiosity. Reading his implicit meaning not to probe further, Ivan raised both hands in a gesture of surrender. While everyone was taking a break like this, Aiden approached Arian and Sadie. ¡°Sadie, are you alright?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯m a bit tired, but I¡¯m fine.¡± Sadie, who was sitting leaning against Arian, said with a bright smile. From when the full-scale battle started, Sadie also had to run on her own feet. So it must have been hard for a child¡¯s body, but Sadie wasn¡¯t showing it much. Aiden stroked Sadie¡¯s head a few times as if proud of her. Then he turned his gaze to Arian. ¡°How about you? No problems?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. I used up some blood, but... we have a place to get more, don¡¯t we?¡± Arian whispered with a strange smile, gesturing with her eyes towards Ricardo¡¯s group. Come to think of it, there was still something to receive. Aiden nodded. The chaotic battle was finally over. So now, as a junk dealer, it was time to settle accounts. Chapter 169 ¡°You want my blood?¡± ¡°You have to pay for the water you drank earlier. You didn¡¯t think I just gave it to you for free, did you?¡± sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°No, it¡¯s not that. But...¡± Ricardo trailed off. He too knew that it was thanks to Aiden that his life was saved. From the beginning, he had intended to repay him for that. Especially after seeing Aiden fight the zombies, he couldn¡¯t even entertain the thought of biting him. But he was troubled by what Aiden had demanded. It was fortunate that he didn¡¯t ask for food supplies, even a small amount, but blood. The only ominous thoughts that came to mind were having to make a cut somewhere on his body. ¡°How are you going to take the blood?¡± So Ricardo asked. Aiden immediately took out a blood collection set from his belongings. Upon seeing this, Ricardo let out an involuntary laugh. He hadn¡¯t expected Aiden to be so serious as to even carry syringes into this desert. ¡°Ha, you carry something like that around?¡± Fortunately, there was no need to make any cuts, but Ricardo¡¯s suspicion deepened a bit. To him, unaware of Aiden¡¯s group¡¯s circumstances, the existence of that syringe seemed like an intense obsession with blood. And no matter how he thought about it, that obsession wasn¡¯t something normal. At best, Aiden was just an ordinary mentally ill person, and at worst, he could be a cannibalistic cultist. ¡°You guys... you¡¯re not cannibals, are you?¡± Camila, who had been watching from the side, asked with a slightly contorted expression. Ivan too quietly shot Aiden a suspicious look. Aiden let out a short sigh and calmly took out a can of corn from his belongings. ¡°I¡¯ll throw this in as compensation for the blood. But the condition is that you don¡¯t ask anything.¡± Upon hearing that, Ricardo¡¯s group looked at each other. A mere can of food wasn¡¯t that big of a deal. But for Ricardo¡¯s group, who was short on food supplies to begin with, it wasn¡¯t an insignificant amount either. In fact, the only thing Ricardo¡¯s group had received from Zaid was just two cans of food. With this additional can, each of the three of them could have one can to eat. So Ricardo¡¯s group forcibly suppressed their suspicions in silence. ¡°If they were cannibals... they wouldn¡¯t have just let us go until now.¡± Ivan, who had remained silent, calmly defended Aiden. It was a reasonable point. None of the people here had missed seeing Aiden single-handedly kill dozens of zombies that had swarmed behind their group just a while ago. Ricardo too let out a short sigh and continued speaking. ¡°Come to think of it, I¡¯ve never heard of cultists who draw blood with syringes. Have you?¡± ¡°Well...¡± Camila still could not let go of her suspicion, but in the end, no objections were raised. Ricardo nodded his head. ¡°Alright. Take the blood or do whatever, I don¡¯t care.¡± With his consent, the deal was sealed, and Aiden briefly surveyed the surroundings. The place they were at was a flat desert with no obstacles in sight. They had completely left behind the small mountain range where they had encountered the zombie horde, and the wide open view showed nothing but flat land stretching out. Moreover, no threats were detected in that area. After confirming this, Aiden carefully opened the packaging of the blood collection set. ¡°By the way... where are you all headed?¡± Aiden asked casually, likely to ease the tension as he picked up the syringe. Ricardo calmly answered his question. ¡°Us? Of course we¡¯re going to LA.¡± ¡°No, I meant which city you¡¯re stopping at along the way.¡± ¡°What about you guys?¡± ¡°Phoenix.¡± ¡°Too bad. We¡¯re going to Las Vegas.¡± In the end, the answers could only be Phoenix or Las Vegas. Those were the only two major cities of the past that were closest to this desert. However, their answer was somewhat unexpected for Aiden. From this location, Phoenix was about 150km closer. While Zaid¡¯s group was heading to Las Vegas to use the trains, for ordinary wanderers, Phoenix would naturally be the preferred destination. ¡°Why¡¯s that? It¡¯s a bit farther than Phoenix.¡± So Aiden asked, and Camila answered with a shrug. ¡°There are rumors that Arizona has some dangerous mutant roaming around? Apparently it was strong enough to wipe out an entire gang. I don¡¯t know what it is, but I definitely don¡¯t want to encounter it.¡± ¡°So going to Las Vegas is to avoid that thing?¡± ¡°Yeah. I heard it¡¯s more active around the mountains and forests. Las Vegas is easier to get to while avoiding those kinds of areas compared to Phoenix.¡± The information about the mutant was something Aiden already knew. Of course, even though he was aware of it, Aiden had chosen Phoenix, judging that there would be more survivors for periodic contact. After hearing Ricardo¡¯s group¡¯s destination, Aiden turned his head towards Zaid. ¡°Then... you two have the same destination.¡± At those words, Zaid, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, nodded awkwardly. Ivan narrowed his eyes slightly. ¡°You¡¯re headed to Las Vegas too?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡± ¡°I see.¡± An odd silence fell after those words. It was Ricardo who broke it. ¡°Is it because of the mutant too?¡± ¡°No, not that...¡± After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Zaid revealed his purpose. He had actually repaired a train to travel long distances, and planned to use a similar method to get from Las Vegas to LA. Upon hearing this, Ricardo¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. It was a method Ricardo¡¯s group had never even considered. ¡°Is that... possible?¡± Camila seemed doubtful at Zaid¡¯s words. In response, Zaid could only give a wry smile, but Aiden spoke up to support him. ¡°What he¡¯s saying is true.¡± Aiden recounted the story of how he had met Zaid before in a small town near Lubbock, where Zaid had hired him to retrieve train parts. ¡°Really...?¡± With Aiden¡¯s testimony, the look in Ricardo¡¯s eyes changed. To him, Zaid¡¯s plan to obtain a train in Las Vegas and head to LA now sounded quite plausible. Ricardo¡¯s mind raced. Even if they managed to reach Las Vegas safely, there was still a vast desert blocking their way to LA. A desert as wide as the one they were currently wandering aimlessly in, where an incident like today¡¯s could happen again at any time. However, if Zaid¡¯s plan had a chance of succeeding, the situation would be different. It would provide a much safer method than traversing the desert on foot. ¡°Then...¡± Ricardo opened and closed his mouth several times but ultimately couldn¡¯t continue. Zaid too wore a wry smile, his gaze fixed on the ground. Aiden could fully grasp their intentions. Ricardo and Zaid both wanted to join forces. From Zaid¡¯s perspective, he needed at least a minimum number of people to repair the train and continue their journey. But his current group only consisted of Linda. He needed to increase their numbers, and the youthful trio of Ricardo¡¯s group fit the bill. On the other hand, Ricardo¡¯s group needed Zaid to increase their chances of reaching LA. In other words, they were in a mutually beneficial situation, and if there were no issues, they would have immediately proposed joining forces. ¡°...¡± However, they couldn¡¯t bring themselves to make such an offer. It wasn¡¯t due to any lingering resentment from the past. It was simply because they lacked any remaining supplies. They didn¡¯t even have enough food to get out of this desert. If they spent just three more days here, someone could end up in critical condition due to lack of water and food. They all knew this simple fact. And so an awkward silence lingered. In that silence, Aiden finished the blood collection and secured the blood as compensation. ¡°Hmm...¡± With that, he had completed what he needed to do. It was about time for him to get moving. He took one last look at his companions. ¡°Haah...¡± Arian was seated on a small rock, gazing at the distant horizon with a bored yawn, as relaxed as ever, or perhaps even more so than usual. Outwardly and inwardly, she didn¡¯t seem to have any problems. But Sadie next to her was a different story. For some reason, that child was staring at Zaid and Ricardo¡¯s group with a worried gaze. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Aiden approached Sadie and asked. Sadie opened her mouth a few times, then shook her head as if it was nothing. A puzzling reaction for some unknown reason. But Aiden didn¡¯t press Sadie further. ¡°Alright. Then let¡¯s get ready to move.¡± He began preparing to set off again with Arian and Sadie. ¡°You¡¯re planning to move out?¡± Zaid asked, and Aiden nodded. ¡°Yeah. I hope you all stay safe.¡± Aiden gave a light farewell greeting. In any case, there was no longer any reason for them to travel together, and they were headed in different directions. So parting ways here was only natural, but Zaid added with a troubled expression. ¡°Would it be alright for us to accompany you? To be honest, I¡¯ve lost my sense of where we are...¡± Zaid seemed embarrassed. But it wasn¡¯t entirely his fault. After all, they had fled a considerable distance from their original location while mindlessly running away from the zombie horde. Of course, Aiden had meticulously kept track of the direction and distance they had fled from the beginning. But there was bound to be a difference between the zombies who couldn¡¯t even feel flustered and the humans. ¡°Then... how about this.¡± Aiden allowed them to accompany his group until they reached the nearest road. In this desert, the roads crisscrossing it were among the few landmarks one could use to determine their location. If they made it that far, Zaid¡¯s group would be able to find their own way. ¡°Thank you, we appreciate it.¡± Zaid immediately got up from his spot, and Ricardo¡¯s group did the same. After the brief rest, they soon set their course westward. ¡°You¡¯ll see the road in about 30 minutes of walking.¡± Aiden said as he started walking. A chilly autumn wind blew across the desolate desert. Although the midday sun was high in the sky, its light strangely didn¡¯t feel warm at all. ¡°...¡± Whether it was due to tension or lingering fatigue, not a single word was exchanged between the eight of them as they walked. Aiden glanced around, pretending to survey the area while actually observing the other groups. Zaid and Ricardo¡¯s group were following at some distance behind Aiden¡¯s group. Zaid and Linda¡¯s faces were full of concern. Left in the desert without any supplies, they were naturally worried about their future prospects. And Ricardo¡¯s group shared a similar somber mood. Though their supplies were better than Zaid¡¯s, it still wasn¡¯t enough to get them out of the desert. ¡°...¡± As unfortunate as their situations were, there was nothing Aiden could do except avert his gaze. Of course, Aiden¡¯s group did have a decent surplus of food supplies. So they had the option of sharing the minimum amount needed for the other groups to make it out of the desert. But that would require giving away more than half of what Aiden¡¯s group currently had. It was not something Aiden could decide on his own, nor was there a reason to do so right now. Above all else, there was currently no reason to do so. As Aiden thought this and turned his head, at that moment: ¡°Um...¡± Sadie, who had been quietly walking, spoke up. The child was looking at Aiden. ¡°What is it?¡± Arian¡¯s consciousness turned to Sadie as well at Aiden¡¯s question. Sadie slowly opened her mouth. ¡°Will those people... be okay?¡± This perceptive child had clearly picked up on the fact that the other groups were short on supplies from listening quietly all this time. ¡°Hard to say for sure. But at this rate, it could be dangerous.¡± Aiden answered in a voice too low for the others to hear. Sadie¡¯s face clouded over at that. ¡°Do you want to help them?¡± Aiden asked, seeing through the child¡¯s intentions. Sadie gave a small nod. ¡°Then tell them that.¡± ¡°But...¡± In contrast to Arian¡¯s nonchalant remark, Sadie¡¯s voice shrank as she said that none of the supplies belonged to her. It was then that Aiden understood why Sadie had been so restless up until now. This child had accurately recognized the plight Zaid and Ricardo¡¯s groups were facing, but had made the opposite decision from Aiden. At the same time, Sadie had thought that none of the food supplies in Aiden¡¯s group belonged to her. That¡¯s why she couldn¡¯t easily voice her intentions. It must have seemed like a burden who couldn¡¯t do anything was trying to suggest giving away the precious supplies that her companions had worked hard to obtain. It wasn¡¯t an entirely incorrect perception. In reality, most of the supplies had been obtained by Aiden or Arian, and the amount Sadie had contributed was minimal. Compared to the countless searches conducted by the zombies or the superhuman senses of a vampire like Arian, there was clearly a limit to what a child like Sadie could do. It was only natural that Sadie¡¯s contributions were small. ¡°What kind of talk is that?¡± However, Arian responded like this. She looked at Sadie with a somewhat hurt gaze. Chapter 170 ¡°The things I¡¯ve brought are for you anyway. They¡¯re yours.¡± Arian said to Sadie. But Sadie only gave a wry smile in response, as if she found such words burdensome. At this, Arian looked at Aiden with an awkward expression. Aiden wasn¡¯t as devoted to Sadie as Arian was. However, he too didn¡¯t consider the supplies he had obtained as his own. ¡°The group¡¯s supplies are ultimately shared belongings for all. It doesn¡¯t matter who brought them.¡± Aiden added that anyone in the group could make suggestions on how to use the supplies. In fact, it was a common mindset among many survivor groups and gangs. While someone goes out to scavenge for supplies, someone else has to guard the base. Of course, there was an underlying assumption that everyone had to do their part, but Aiden had never thought that Sadie was not pulling her weight. ¡°But if we end up helping them, you¡¯ll be the one most at risk. Are you still okay with that?¡± Aiden double-checked with Sadie once more. Food supplies were a more crucial resource for the human Sadie compared to zombies or vampires. Zombies could survive for months without any food at all, and while not to that extreme, vampires could last much longer than humans as long as they had blood. So if their food supplies decreased here, the one who would be most affected was Sadie herself, who had proposed this idea. ¡°...Yes.¡± As if she had steeled herself for this, Sadie nodded firmly, showing a resolute attitude that she didn¡¯t mind going hungry for several days if needed. If that was the case, Aiden had nothing more to say. His gaze turned towards Arian. ¡°Arian, what¡¯s your opinion?¡± ¡°...I¡¯m in favor.¡± Though she may have opposed out of concern for Sadie, Arian unexpectedly agreed after a brief moment of contemplation, seeming to prioritize Sadie¡¯s strong will over her own worries. ¡°Understood.¡± With two members of the group having agreed, the fate of their supplies was essentially decided, regardless of Aiden¡¯s opinion. Aiden took another look at Zaid and Ricardo¡¯s group. Perhaps due to the distance between them, they seemed to have not heard Aiden¡¯s group¡¯s conversation at all, their gloomy atmosphere persisting. ¡°...We¡¯ve arrived.¡± Before he knew it, the faint outline of a road could be seen in the far distance. It was at this road that Aiden¡¯s group would part ways, heading south, while the others would go north. If they were going to share their supplies, now would be the right time. However, before unpacking his belongings, Aiden posed one last question to Sadie. ¡°Sadie, why did you make that decision?¡± Deep down, Aiden was concerned about Sadie¡¯s choice. If her reasoning stemmed from simple pity, he thought it might end up becoming a shackle for her someday. But Sadie¡¯s following response was different from his expectations. ¡°Well... because you would have done the same, Uncle.¡± ¡°Me?¡± After a momentary hesitation, Sadie countered by asking if Aiden wouldn¡¯t have made that very decision. Aiden tilted his head at this. He couldn¡¯t recall a single instance in his memory where he had made a choice like Sadie¡¯s. ¡°When have I ever done that?¡± ¡°Just a little while ago, when you were fighting the zombies...¡± However, Sadie trailed off as if finding Aiden¡¯s reaction strange. As she said, Aiden had indeed fought at the most dangerous rear position to protect the others when the zombie horde attacked. If it had been solely to protect himself or his companions, there would have been no reason for him to do that. That was the point Sadie was making. ¡°That was...¡± The words Aiden intended to say, that it was merely to improve their overall survival efficiency as a zombie, got stuck in his throat. Because by that logic, this act of sharing food with the others was also improving their survival efficiency. But in the end, Aiden¡¯s actions were for his own sake. He was a zombie, but he couldn¡¯t survive without humans. So it was only natural for him to be concerned about the survival of people other than his own group. That¡¯s why Aiden didn¡¯t think Sadie needed to learn from his actions like that. ¡°...¡± And yet, pointing that out would be a foolish thing to do. So Aiden ended the conversation in silence, and Arian gently stroked Sadie¡¯s head beside him. ¡°You really are kind, Sadie.¡± Arian seemed to find Sadie admirable. But for some reason, Aiden found Arian¡¯s expression unfamiliar. It was a world where the word ¡®kind¡¯ had come to mean the same as ¡®foolish.¡¯ That kindness may have suited a child like Sadie, but at the same time, it seemed all too precarious. ¡°...¡± Watching the child give a faint smile at Arian¡¯s touch, Aiden tightly sealed his lips. A memory from the past surfaced. A memory of a woman who used to smile as purely as this child ¨C his fiance, Jane. She too had been someone who maintained her kindness in this ruined world, like Sadie. And because of that, she ultimately died. She wasn¡¯t the only one. Aiden had witnessed many instances where misguided compassion put one¡¯s own life at risk. He had also seen countless humans turn their blades on those who had shown them kindness. That¡¯s why Aiden couldn¡¯t simply find Sadie admirable. But he couldn¡¯t deny her either, for her choice was undoubtedly the right one. Amidst this contradiction, Aiden could only hope that someday, Sadie would be rewarded for her kindness. ¡°Just a moment, is this alright?¡± Upon reaching the road, Aiden called over the other two groups for a moment. People with puzzled expressions approached Aiden. Without a word, Aiden held out food supplies to them. The minimum amount needed for the five of them to make it out of the desert. Their eyes widened at this. ¡°Sadie told me to give this to you.¡± ¡°That child...?¡± ¡°It would be best if everyone here considered themselves indebted to her.¡± Aiden said to them. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His manner made it seem like he was saying he would definitely collect on that debt someday, causing the people to nod in tense silence. * * * A few days later. ¡°Mountains again?¡± They had barely managed to escape the endless desert two days ago. But Aiden¡¯s group still hadn¡¯t reached Phoenix or encountered any other people. This was because there was a vast mountain range covered in forests, large enough to be designated as a national forest, between the desert and Phoenix. ¡°Just a bit further. If nothing happens, we should arrive within 3 days.¡± ¡°We have to travel for 3 days through these pathless mountains?¡± Arian complained. Aiden¡¯s group was no longer following the roads. The roads running through these forests were even more dangerous than the desert. ¡°But can¡¯t we just take the road? You saw what was on it too.¡± The roads through the empty forests were lined with as many zombies as the hordes roaming the desert. It was clearly an abnormal situation from a normal perspective. There was no reason for zombies to gather on roads where there were no human prey. However, this national forest was one of the habitats of the mutant known as Fear, which they had heard about from Albuquerque. As such, Aiden couldn¡¯t easily predict what might happen, nor how to deal with it. That¡¯s why Aiden¡¯s group decided to completely avoid the roads and instead forge their own path through the vast national forest, relying on a compass and map. ¡°Still...¡± At Aiden¡¯s words, Arian let out a sigh and glanced to the side. At the end of her gaze was Sadie. It went without saying how arduous this mountain trail must be for the child. Moreover, Sadie¡¯s food rations had decreased recently too. Their supplies had dwindled due to the kindness she had shown. And they had not found much of a harvest in the small towns they had passed through along the way either. So for Sadie, climbing these mountains was likely far more taxing than crossing the desert, but... ¡°...¡± Even so, Sadie persevered silently and resolutely. Arian looked at her with a sympathetic gaze instead. It was more concerning to see her enduring without a word, rather than if she had at least voiced her weakness. ¡°Hmm?¡± As she was watching Sadie, Arian suddenly tilted her head. Her eyes turned towards the dense trees beyond. As if she could see right through them. ¡°Zombies?¡± Aiden opened his mouth familiarly. That was Arian¡¯s typical reaction when she detected something. And in these forests, the only thing they were likely to encounter were zombies. In fact, they had already engaged in combat with zombies several times since entering the forest. But Arian shook her head at Aiden¡¯s words. ¡°There¡¯s one, just a single one.¡± ¡°Could it be... a mutant?¡± ¡°Not a mutant. And it seems like there might be a corpse nearby too?¡± Aiden¡¯s brow furrowed at Arian¡¯s words. ¡°A corpse...¡± It seemed there had been others trying to pass through this forest towards Phoenix besides Aiden¡¯s group. And one of them had ultimately met their demise. ¡°Let me go check it out first. Where about is it located?¡± Arian gave Aiden the approximate location. Aiden headed in the direction she had indicated. After moving about a hundred meters, he soon came upon a small clearing surrounded by trees. There was someone¡¯s campsite. A tattered makeshift tent was fluttering in the wind, and beside it were the remains of a campfire. ¡°This must be it.¡± Aiden muttered as he looked at the corpse in the center. His brow furrowed ever so slightly. The condition of the corpse was severely disfigured. Aiden approached closer and crouched down to examine it. The person seemed to have died no more than two days ago. Yet one arm and leg were missing, and the head was smashed. The abdomen was also more than half torn open, the insides completely hollowed out without any organs remaining. Such gruesome damage was not caused by scavengers. The corpse was not cleanly cut, but covered in mangled, shredded wounds. More than anything, the distinct tooth marks left here and there made the cause of death clear. ¡°...Not regular zombie teeth.¡± As he inspected the severed leg, Aiden came to that conclusion. The owner of this corpse was an unknown adult male. But his thick femur had been perfectly shattered and severed. No matter how strong, a regular zombie¡¯s bite force couldn¡¯t break a femur. In other words, whatever had torn off this man¡¯s leg possessed jaws far sharper and more powerful than a human¡¯s ¨C a mutant. Mutants Aiden knew of flashed through his mind. But no immediate answers came to him. Of course, there were many powerful mutants capable of easily shattering a human femur, but those were typically highly muscular types. A species with such pronounced, well-developed jaws leaving distinct bite marks like this... at best, it could be a Bigfoot or a Hedgehog. However, this forest was far too cramped for such massive creatures. More importantly, if those behemoths had moved through, there would certainly be traces left amidst the densely packed trees around them. ¡°Kiiiii...!¡± At that moment, something inside the tent let out a shriek upon seeing Aiden. It was the single zombie Arian had warned was present. Aiden immediately drew his axe, but quickly relaxed upon seeing the zombie¡¯s state. ¡°Kiiik!¡± The zombie crawled out of the tent, using its arms to drag its body along as its lower half below the waist was missing. With only its upper body intact, it desperately crawled out, but upon seeing Aiden¡¯s decayed face, it seemed to lose interest and turned its gaze away. ¡°...¡± Aiden had initially wondered if this was perhaps one of the creatures that had attacked this place, left behind. But after seeing the zombie, he shook his head. It seemed this zombie too had been one of the victims. It had likely had its lower body devoured, but unable to die peacefully, it had turned into this zombie instead. Twack! Aiden swung the axe he was holding, striking the zombie¡¯s head. Brain matter that hadn¡¯t even fully dried in just two days¡¯ time spilled out from the shattered skull. ¡°Rest in peace.¡± Aiden wished a peaceful rest for someone¡¯s remains and retrieved his axe. But at that moment, he noticed something clutched tightly in the zombie¡¯s hand. Aiden plucked out the object from the zombie¡¯s rigidly clenched fist. It was the much stiffer fur of some animal. ¡°This is...¡± He immediately stood up and surveyed the area around the campsite. He had thought footprints would be more visible in the damp forest floor rather than the dried, hardened ground inside the campsite. And his expectation proved correct. Animal footprints could be seen all around. Moreover, their numbers were staggeringly high. At least 10 animals seemed to have raided this campsite. ¡°Hmm...¡± Aiden studied the footprints intently. Although he had no expertise in hunting animals, he vaguely remembered learning how to distinguish footprints from an elderly hunter in a small town for a short while. According to what that old man had taught him back then, these were undoubtedly... ¡°Wolves... perhaps.¡± Aiden could finally identify the creatures that had attacked the campsite. Zombified wolves, more than 10 of them forming a pack. Caught off guard by this unexpected threat, Aiden narrowed his eyes. Even a single Beast was considered a mutant-level danger. For a pack of them to be roaming together wasn¡¯t something to be taken lightly, even with Arian present. ¡°We need to hurry.¡± Aiden intended to immediately return to his companions and inform them of this. But just as he was about to shift his gaze from the wolf tracks, another set of footprints amidst the numerous animal prints caught his eye. These were clearly human footprints, distinct from those of animals. The faint tread pattern of a ridged sneaker could be seen, and the prints led away from the campsite. Could someone have managed to escape just before the attack? With that thought, Aiden looked towards the forest where the footprints trailed off into. Only a chilly breeze quietly passed through the still green trees. Chapter 171 ¡°You found human traces?¡± Arian¡¯s expression brightened upon hearing Aiden¡¯s words. She had thought they wouldn¡¯t be able to replenish their blood supply until reaching Phoenix. However, finding human traces didn¡¯t necessarily mean they would encounter those people. ¡°But there¡¯s no telling if they¡¯re still alive. Beasts are roaming around in these woods.¡± What Aiden had discovered along with the traces were some abandoned supplies. At the campsite he found, not only food but also guns and ammunition had been left behind. It meant those who had fled from there couldn¡¯t even take their weapons with them. Even if they had managed to shake off the Beast pack¡¯s pursuit, their survival couldn¡¯t be guaranteed. At this, Arian¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. ¡°By the way, more than 10 Beasts in a pack, that¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen so many. Is it common for them to form such large groups?¡± ¡°Not at all. It¡¯s an extremely rare phenomenon.¡± ¡°Then... does that mean someone intentionally gathered them? For instance, that mutant they say is here could have done it. They say it¡¯s quite intelligent.¡± ¡°Hard to say. It¡¯s possible, but I can¡¯t be certain.¡± Wolves are one of the scavengers in the ecosystem that eat even rotten meat. If they hunted the zombies roaming these woods as prey, it¡¯s not impossible for the entire pack to have become infected. However, it was still extremely rare for an entire animal group to become zombified. After all, even scavengers only ate spoiled meat when prey became scarce. Compared to that, the number of wild animals had actually increased considerably in the absence of humans. So from the predators¡¯ perspective, like the wolves, there was an abundance of prey without needing to hunt zombies. ¡°Hmm...¡± Unable to definitively conclude either way, Arian let out an unsatisfied grunt. But whichever was the case, what Aiden¡¯s group had to do was clear. ¡°Let¡¯s follow the trail instead. We might find the person who left it.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Shaking her head to dispel her earlier thoughts, Arian took the lead. Her gaze was sharper than usual. The Beasts in the forest, including the Beast pack, could detect enemies with senses as keen as Arian¡¯s. In other words, one of Arian¡¯s advantages of being able to detect enemies first was nullified. Therefore, Beasts were more formidable foes for her than regular zombies or mutants. ¡°This way.¡± Passing by the campsite with the corpse, Aiden¡¯s group walked in the direction of the footprints. They made their way through the haphazardly grown trees without any proper paths. The wind blew. The remaining green leaves rustled, obstructing their view. ¡°It¡¯s a downhill slope from here, be careful.¡± Arian warned. The flat ground ended, transitioning into a sloping descent. The gradient was somewhat steep but not unmanageable. ¡°Will we be able to get down?¡± ¡°Yes, it should be fine.¡± Aiden moved cautiously, keeping an eye on Sadie following behind. Partway down the slope, for some reason, an enormous tree thicker than an adult¡¯s torso had been uprooted and fallen over. Atop it were what looked like eerie claw marks. However, it had been too long, and with no other traces, there was no way to tell if it was the wolf pack¡¯s doing. After walking for about 10 minutes or so, Arian, who was leading the way, gestured that she had found something. Aiden approached her. Then, a sound reached his ears. It was the unmistakable sound of water. ¡°...A stream.¡± Aiden muttered as he stood beside Arian. As he said, what Arian had discovered was a small stream. Around it were moss-covered rocks. And among those rocks, the flowing water formed a short waterfall not too far away, giving off an almost mystical ambiance. ¡°They must have come here for drinking water.¡± Aiden quickly grasped the intention of whoever had been here. In this area where water was scarce, such a stream was undoubtedly an excellent source of drinking water. ¡°But the trail ends here.¡± Arian remarked in the meantime. To Aiden¡¯s eyes as well, there were no more footprints visible. However, Aiden promptly determined which direction they should head next. ¡°Following the stream would be best.¡± If these were indeed people who had come to fetch water only to have their campsite raided, they would have had no reason to leave the stream. Aiden¡¯s group descended further, following along the stream. Soon, the terrain changed. Dense trees still lined the left and right, but at some point, the path ahead opened up widely. There was... a lake. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A small lake about 300 meters wide, surrounded by forests on all sides. Its gently rippling surface beautifully reflected the autumn sunlight, glistening. ¡°Ah! There they are.¡± Arian pointed towards the far side of the lake. Amidst the spiky evergreens, there were undoubtedly people present. Their faces were too far to make out, but even their movements alone were clearly distinct from zombies. ¡°Shall we approach them?¡± Arian suggested. It was only natural. Aiden immediately nodded in agreement. But then, the people across the lake reacted to their presence. Someone standing by the lakeshore gestured and pointed towards Aiden¡¯s group. They too had spotted Aiden¡¯s group emerging at the lake. ¡°Oh ho...¡± Aiden furrowed his brow slightly. He had a bad feeling about this. While the distance across the lake wasn¡¯t that far, considering the time it would take to circle around, it was far from close. So if they were wary, those people could easily flee that distance. Of course, Arian could give chase, but Aiden didn¡¯t want to engage in a pursuit across this dangerous forest potentially harboring Beasts. However, the reaction from the people across the lake was contrary to Aiden¡¯s expectations. They shouted something towards Aiden¡¯s group and seemed to be intentionally approaching them instead. ¡°What are they saying?¡± So Aiden asked. Arian shrugged her shoulders as she answered. ¡°They¡¯re asking for help?¡± An unexpected call, but it didn¡¯t bode ill for Aiden. He headed towards the people¡¯s direction along with his companions. * * * A short while later. ¡°Huff... haah...!¡± The ones who had encountered Aiden¡¯s group were an elderly black couple, likely in their 60s. They came running towards Aiden¡¯s group as if in a rush. Just in case, Aiden remained cautious of them, but there were no weapons in their hands. Rather, their light clothing seemed out of place in these mountains. The only weapon they had was a pistol hanging from the man¡¯s waist. In contrast, Aiden was heavily armed, carrying a rifle. But the couple didn¡¯t seem to pay any heed to that as the man cheered upon seeing Aiden. ¡°Real people! Real people, I tell you!¡± The man finally spoke as he faced Aiden¡¯s group by the lakeshore. Inwardly, Aiden suppressed a wry smile. In reality, there was only one person among them who could be called human. However, they didn¡¯t seem to have any intention of being hostile towards Aiden¡¯s group. Aiden slung his rifle over his back and opened his mouth. ¡°Why did you call us over?¡± His low, somewhat coldly detached voice. It was only after hearing Aiden¡¯s tone that the man¡¯s excitement finally settled down. He caught his breath, cleared his throat a few times, and then stood directly before Aiden. ¡°Ah, well... My apologies. Got a bit carried away there.¡± Aiden nodded as if in understanding. Then, the woman beside him let out a deep sigh and continued speaking. ¡°I¡¯m Madeline Miller. And this is...¡± ¡°Her husband, Logan Miller. Pleasure to meet you.¡± The Millers introduced themselves. Logan even extended his hand for a handshake. Perhaps because they had little to lose, or for some other reason, they lacked the caution typical of wanderers to an almost excessive degree. However, there was nothing overtly suspicious about them, so Aiden reciprocated the handshake and revealed his and his companions¡¯ names. He then followed up on his earlier question. ¡°So, what was the reason you called us over?¡± ¡°Ah, well... Could you lend me a hand?¡± At the sudden request, Aiden stared intently at Logan. Realizing his blunder, Logan quickly corrected himself. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to ask for something one-sidedly. We need to help each other out. There are dangerous creatures roaming these woods!¡± ¡°You mean the wolves?¡± ¡°You knew about them?¡± Aiden recounted the story of the campsite he had discovered. And he asked them if they were the ones who had fled from there. To this, Logan vigorously nodded as if his neck might break. ¡°Yes, yes! Those damn wolves. We really came so close to death because of them. I was so worried they might follow us.¡± Logan contorted his expression as he spoke. It was then that Aiden seemed to understand why they had approached Aiden¡¯s group so casually without any caution. They had likely gone to the stream to fetch drinking water. But while they were away, their campsite had been raided. In the end, this couple had to flee the campsite without even properly gathering their belongings. Evidence of this was their light attire. No wanderer, no matter how careless, would set out on a journey across the vast desert and mountains carrying only a pistol. Was that why...? ¡°But the wolves aren¡¯t there anymore, right?¡± Logan asked Aiden. From his demeanor, it seemed he wanted to return to that campsite. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± ¡°Well, um... There were a few other people there besides us. They might still be alive.¡± It sounded plausible, but Aiden didn¡¯t believe his words. After all, if they had witnessed the attack by the wolves firsthand, they should have realized it was unlikely for the others to have survived. So Logan¡¯s reason for wanting to go there was not that. The real reason must have been the few supplies Aiden had found. ¡°I¡¯ve already collected the supplies that were there.¡± ¡°Oh... I see...¡± At Aiden¡¯s follow-up words, Logan seemed flustered, as if caught off guard. However, Aiden had no intention of simply handing over those supplies either. This was a perfect opportunity to obtain some blood, after all. As Aiden was thinking this, Logan spoke up first. ¡°Return those supplies to us.¡± Logan said with a tense expression. Aiden waited for his next words. ¡°My wife and I are both doctors. We used to work at the largest hospital in Texas. So we could be of great help to you too.¡± Aiden raised an eyebrow inside his helmet at the following words. These people were doctors? An unexpected fact. Of course, they could be lying, but it wasn¡¯t difficult for Aiden to discern the truth. ¡°What a coincidence. I¡¯m the same.¡± Aiden said so and flashed his ID badge. It was the one that had been tucked away amidst the straps of the bag he was carrying. It was only upon seeing it that Logan¡¯s expression froze. He seemed to have just realized that the yellowed coat Aiden was wearing was a doctor¡¯s white coat. ¡°You too...?¡± Logan fell silent for a moment. But soon, the briefly quieted man tried to persuade Aiden even more fervently. Citing the contents of the Hippocratic Oath, which had little relevance to the current situation, he insisted that Aiden return the supplies. To Logan¡¯s demands, Aiden gave a light nod. ¡°Of course I¡¯ll return them. If you pay the price.¡± ¡°The price?¡± ¡°A blood donation.¡± Aiden dug out a blood collection set from his belongings. Upon seeing this, Logan¡¯s expression turned perplexed. ¡°You want my blood? Why?¡± Perhaps because he was a doctor himself, Logan asked back as if he couldn¡¯t understand the reason for the blood donation at all. However, Aiden had no intention of explaining that part. ¡°You don¡¯t need to know that.¡± At Aiden¡¯s curt attitude, Logan¡¯s brow furrowed. But before he could say anything else, Aiden forced him to make a choice. ¡°So... Will you do it, or not?¡± Logan looked at the syringe thrust before him with a complicated gaze. However, it was Logan¡¯s wife, Madeline, who soon took it from him. ¡°What are you agonizing over?¡± ¡°But... they¡¯re taking our blood. What do they need it for?¡± ¡°It¡¯s none of our business, is it? Getting our guns and supplies back is what¡¯s important.¡± At his wife¡¯s words, Logan became a tongue-tied fool and sealed his lips. Madeline turned to Aiden. ¡°How much blood do you need?¡± After a few more queries, Aiden provided the answers. The Millers then skillfully drew their own blood and handed it over to Aiden. Afterwards, Aiden returned to them the items he had collected from the campsite. Two rifles and some ammunition. As well as food supplies. The Millers¡¯ faces brightened as they received them. ¡°By the way... I assume you¡¯re all headed to Phoenix too?¡± Logan, done organizing his belongings, asked Aiden. Aiden nodded. ¡°Then why don¡¯t you come with us? This is a place where Beasts roam in packs, isn¡¯t it? It would be dangerous for you alone, especially with children in your group.¡± Logan then made such a proposal. Aiden contemplated it briefly but saw no reason to refuse. As he said, there was a wolf pack present in these woods. In a battle against a numerically superior pack of Beasts, having more allies capable of firing guns wasn¡¯t a bad thing. Aiden looked towards his companions, and they too nodded in agreement. ¡°...Very well.¡± In the end, Aiden gave that response to Logan. And so, Aiden¡¯s group and the Millers, who would temporarily travel together, began making their way through the forest, heading south towards Phoenix. Chapter 172 On the path heading south from the lake. Logan shuddered as a chilly sensation fell on the bridge of his nose ¨C raindrops. His eyes turned towards the sky. The weather, which had been clear just a moment ago, had suddenly become overcast. ¡°Of all times...¡± Watching the daytime sky turn gloomy, Logan muttered. The place they were walking through was a vast pine forest. Unlike the area around the lake densely packed with all sorts of trees, here were tall trees over 15 meters high standing at spacious intervals across the flat terrain. Thanks to this, the forest had an open view like a well-made campground, but there was no shelter from the rain. ¡°...¡± The raindrops falling on Logan gradually increased in number. Fortunately, it didn¡¯t turn into a downpour, but it was too heavy to be called a drizzle. The rain soon soaked through Logan¡¯s clothes, and the encroaching chill made his eyes fill with concern. Even without relying on his medical knowledge, pouring rain in the chilly autumn weather would bode ill for those wandering in the forest. ¡°Sadie, here.¡± At that moment, one of the girls ahead was seen handing something to the other child. It was a neatly folded, palm-sized piece of plastic. But when unfolded, it became a child-sized plastic raincoat. Although a bit large for the child¡¯s frame, it wasn¡¯t a major issue. To think they had brought something like that all the way here. Logan was inwardly surprised at their preparedness. When preparing for the journey to LA, he and his wife had focused solely on food and water supplies. Considering the limited weight they could carry, just those provisions alone had filled their entire load. But a small raincoat like that could have easily been brought along. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The person who packed their supplies must have had quite some experience. With that thought, Logan looked towards the man leading the group. The man who had kept his face hidden behind that strange helmet this entire time. Though it seemed they only had the one raincoat. The girl who had given the raincoat to the child resumed walking, undeterred by the falling rain. And so, Aiden¡¯s group and the Millers silently pressed on through the rainy forest. At a glance, it seemed like a peaceful woodland perfect for a stroll. But as Logan passed through the pine forest, he frowned upon discovering something. It was a human skull half-buried in the dirt. Scattered across the forest floor were pine needles and cones. And amidst them, the pale horror revealed its hollow, black eye sockets. ¡°Hah...¡± Logan let out a heavy sigh. This was the fifth old skeleton he had passed by in this forest. A testament to how many people, or zombies, had fallen here. Naturally, his thoughts turned to the beasts prowling these woods. Logan anxiously surveyed his surroundings. Between the countless pine trees, nothing could be seen yet. For now, only the sound of raindrops hitting pine cones echoed from all around. That sound alone made him feel uneasy, prompting Logan to speak up intentionally. ¡°Hmm, by the way, where are we?¡± At his voice, Aiden turned back towards him, as if asking why he was asking such a thing. In response, Logan continued speaking as if making an excuse. ¡°We got lost while fleeing from the campsite. Just want to keep track of our location in case the same thing happens again.¡± Aiden stopped his advance and approached Logan. He unfolded a map and indicated their current position. It was the central area of the national forest and mountain range between Phoenix and the desert. ¡°Whew... still quite a way to go.¡± On the map, it was merely a few centimeters, but covering that distance would take several days of walking. Add to that the uncertainty of when this rain would stop, and the potential danger of lurking Beasts. It was a situation compounded by multiple adversities. As the burden weighed heavier on Logan¡¯s mind, suddenly... ¡°Hmm...?¡± A familiar stench wafted into his nostrils. That smell was unmistakable. The stench of zombies. Startled, he tore his gaze from the map and looked around. But there were no visible zombies anywhere. A light breeze blew. The rainy forest wind dispersed the faint stench, leaving no trace. Logan tilted his head in puzzlement. Had it been his imagination? Or was there perhaps a buried corpse like the skeleton he had just seen? With that thought, he tried to check the map again. But the map was no longer before his eyes. Aiden, who had been holding it, had already distanced himself from Logan. ¡°Hmm...¡± Didn¡¯t seem like a very sociable character. Still, wanting to engage Aiden in conversation, Logan soon came up with a topic he might be interested in. ¡°By the way, you guys. Have you heard any rumors about Phoenix?¡± ¡°Rumors?¡± As Logan expected, Aiden reacted to that. Suppressing a satisfied smile, Logan continued speaking. ¡°There¡¯s a rumor that there¡¯s a camp in Phoenix.¡± Aiden shook his head. The Phoenix he knew was just an empty metropolis. A city with no residents, merely passed through by wanderers heading for LA. That was the extent of Aiden¡¯s knowledge about Phoenix. However, Logan began sharing information that was similar yet slightly different. ¡°I heard it from a fellow who came with us to the campsite. Apparently, there¡¯s a camp in Phoenix where wanderers like us gather.¡± Logan said with a tone of revelation as he shared information about Phoenix. Somewhere in that city, there was an abandoned base left behind by some survivor group. Centered around that base, a camp had been established to attract wanderers. ¡°Then who is the owner of this camp?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no actual owner. If anything, whoever stays there the longest becomes the camp¡¯s owner, so to speak.¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°Exactly what it sounds like. It¡¯s a place for regrouping. After coming all this way, no one would think of settling down in Phoenix, right? They¡¯d just stay there temporarily, and whenever anyone is ready, they¡¯d move on again.¡± Logan then went into more detail about the Phoenix camp he had heard of. In simple terms, this so-called camp was a temporary cooperative of wanderers. You could stay at the camp without any compensation, or newly encountered wanderers could join forces to conduct scavenging operations together. The reason this was possible was that all wanderers arriving in Phoenix shared the same goal. To reach LA. So those who had arrived earlier could abandon the base they had established without hesitation. And those currently staying there could cooperate with others without coveting any surplus supplies they couldn¡¯t take with them. ¡°That¡¯s rather fortunate, then.¡± It was very good news for Aiden¡¯s group. While the camp was only a temporary one people could leave anytime, the mere fact that there were people there was enough. With luck, they might even be able to take on requests from those staying there and receive rewards. Of course, being individual transactions, the level of trust wouldn¡¯t be as high as with regular gangs, but it was still far more promising than an empty, deserted city. ¡°But where did you hear this information from?¡± ¡°Ah, this was something my comrade who died at the campsite told me. He was a good guy...¡± Logan clicked his tongue regretfully. After a momentary silence, he continued speaking. ¡°Anyway, he had encountered someone from LA before, and that¡¯s where he heard it from.¡± ¡°Someone from LA?¡± ¡°Yeah, you know that radio broadcast telling people to come to LA, right? Of course, there must be someone broadcasting that. He happened to meet one of those people by chance.¡± At Logan¡¯s words, Aiden¡¯s eyes narrowed silently. He was well aware of the existence of such people too. He hadn¡¯t met them directly, but he had investigated the traces they had left when targeted by raiders. Come to think of it, wasn¡¯t it precisely those people that had allowed Aiden and his companions to reach Albuquerque using the junk car they had abandoned? Aiden posed to Logan a question he had wanted to ask those people. ¡°Then did you hear any information about LA itself?¡± ¡°Of course. According to what that guy heard, it¡¯s supposed to be an extraordinary place, as impressive as the broadcast makes it sound. Apparently, it¡¯s like the pre-apocalypse world has been perfectly preserved there.¡± In the end, it meant the radio broadcast was not a lie. Of course, coming from someone who had emerged to broadcast that message, it couldn¡¯t be taken at face value. But that testimony directly from an LA native carried far more weight than some dubious recorded broadcast. ¡°So that¡¯s why I¡¯m headed for LA like this. That¡¯s why... huh?¡± Logan trailed off mid-sentence and blinked his eyes. In the scenery of the pine forest he had been absentmindedly looking at, he seemed to have glimpsed something moving like a shadow. But before he could focus his eyes for a better look, Arian¡¯s voice came. ¡°They¡¯re coming. Beasts.¡± At the word ¡®Beasts,¡¯ Logan¡¯s eyes shot wide open. Though the distance made it difficult to see clearly, something was charging towards them. Moreover, there was more than one. The black shadows that had started as mere specks began slowly spreading left and right. Clank! Shortly after, the harsh sound of metal rang out. Beside him, Aiden was loading his rifle. ¡°Stop gawking around.¡± Snapping back to his senses a beat late at Aiden¡¯s curt remark, Logan too readied his own gun. Three fully loaded magazines, their solid weight reassuring. Feeling that heft, Logan stood beside his wife, Madeline. He blinked his eyes as the steadily mounting tension gripped him. Ever since discovering the scattered bones, he had been prepared for combat. But to demand that he and his wife remain unfazed in a fight against Beasts was too much to ask. ¡°Phew...¡± Logan aimed his gun muzzle forward. The black dots visible beyond the sights gradually approached and took shape. Soon, their gray fur came into view. Following that were the torn, flayed hides and the festering, rotten flesh underneath. The decayed, hideously exposed sharp fangs added to the chilling sight. A tense sigh escaped Logan¡¯s lips. And then... Awoooooo- As the wolf pack drew near, a hair-raising, eerie howl rang out. It was a sound Logan was already familiar with. The howl of zombie wolves. But that sound was far more dreadful than any normal wolf howl he knew. Rougher, yet also grating to human ears like jarring noise. The decayed, twisted vocal cords of the zombified wolves produced such a mangled, distorted sound. ¡°Phew... ph...¡± Logan¡¯s rising tension peaked at this. His hands began to tremble. He tried taking deep breaths to calm himself, but it wasn¡¯t easy. The scene of the campsite, torn apart by those same fangs, seemed to replay vividly before his eyes. ¡°Damn...¡± His body continued shaking uncontrollably, prompting Logan to bite his lip. Trembling hands meant an unsteady gun muzzle. And he would soon need to fire at the swiftly charging wolves, making it an extremely troubling situation. But his tension refused to subside easily. The howls of the undead filling his ears obstructed any chance of calming down. At that moment. Bang! Like a crack shattering through that eerie screech, a chillingly sharp gunshot reverberated through the pine forest. Logan flinched in surprise. The wolves were still quite far away. It was only now that their forms were starting to become visible, and they seemed to be intentionally weaving between the trees in the distance, making them difficult targets. It was too early to open fire. Could it be that, noticing Logan¡¯s agitation, Aiden had wasted a bullet just to help him regain his composure? Such a thought crossed Logan¡¯s mind. But that wasn¡¯t the case. Aiden¡¯s bullet had cleanly pierced the head of a wolf that had just emerged from behind a pine tree. Before Logan could even react to that marksmanship, Aiden¡¯s voice followed. ¡°Don¡¯t let them surround us. It¡¯ll be dangerous if we¡¯re encircled from all sides.¡± Aiden¡¯s tone was so flat that it was almost unsettling. Not a shred different from when he had been exchanging information with Logan just moments ago. ¡°Got it. Then what about Sadie...¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll take care of her.¡± In the meantime, Arian, who had been conversing with Aiden, dashed towards the wolves carrying only a small machete. Her unexpected charge left Logan dumbfounded. But he had no chance to stop her. The speed at which Arian burst forward was unnaturally fast. Faster than the wolves charging at them. However, Logan had no leisure to gape at Arian¡¯s retreating figure. ¡°Grrraaaahh!¡± The maddened howls of the wolves assaulted his ears. The wolves had swiftly closed the distance and were now charging through the forest. They entered what Logan considered firing range without hesitation. ¡°Shoot!¡± Whether he was telling himself or his wife, Logan shouted. Bang! The gun in his hands spat fire. He barely managed to brace against the heavy recoil that nearly pushed him back. ¡°Awoooooo!¡± With the gunfight kicking off in earnest, the wolves went into a frenzy. The beasts that had been eyeing their prey from a distance came swarming out all at once. Filling up the area beyond his sights, Logan pulled the trigger frantically at the onslaught of undead bodies. Chapter 173 Bang! Bang! Babang! The fierce gunshots assaulted their eardrums. Several wolves that had been charging fiercely through the pine forest fell from the bullets. But it was only momentary, as most of the fallen ones rose again shortly after. The bullets had failed to penetrate their heads. ¡°Damn...!¡± Seeing those wolves, Logan grit his teeth in frustration. But no matter how carefully he aimed, it was never easy to hit the small, bobbing heads of the beasts charging in a zigzag. ¡°?!¡± A sharp cry came from Madeline. But Logan couldn¡¯t make out what she said due to the ringing in his ears. He simply aimed at the wolves beyond his sights. Yet the bullet he fired only lodged into a pine tree. He grit his teeth, but there was no time for disappointment. Immediately after, another wolf burst out from behind that same tree, prompting Logan to pull the trigger again. Click! But instead of the familiar gunshot and expected recoil, his gun only made a hollow metallic sound. His current magazine had already run dry. He swiftly ejected the empty magazine and loaded the next one. Even to himself, it felt like an extremely fast motion. ¡°Grrrr!¡± But in that brief moment, the wolves had closed the distance significantly. Their howls grew louder. The distorted sound was so clear, as if they were howling right next to his ear. ¡°Dammit!¡± Logan clenched his teeth. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He fired his gun more fervently, as if to drown out those grating, unpleasant cries. But the Beasts charged from all sides, seemingly unfazed by the guns. As a result, Logan didn¡¯t even have a chance to check the state of his targets. ¡°Kak!¡± One wolf that had approached too close took a bullet to the head and rolled onto the ground. Its corpse came to a stop right before Logan¡¯s feet. For a fleeting moment, Logan¡¯s gaze fell upon the fallen wolf corpse. Its size was literally larger than a human¡¯s. A far cry from the wolves he had seen from afar at the zoo in the pre-apocalypse days. But before Logan could even recoil in horror at the sight of the massive wolf, something even more daunting appeared. ¡°Grrraaaaoooo!¡± A distorted, guttural roar tore through the air. Its magnitude was on a different scale from the howls of the wolves. Logan¡¯s gaze immediately turned in that direction. There, some gigantic creature was swatting aside the wolves that had been charging ahead with its forelimbs. The wolf, as large as a person, was sent flying like a ragdoll before crashing into a pine tree, its spine snapping. ¡°What is that thing!?¡± Witnessing that sight, Logan cried out as if screaming. It was... a bear. An immense beast incomparable to the wolf corpse lying before him. Nearly 3 meters in size, a massive grizzly bear had become a hideous zombie, with a long iron chain attached around its neck. This monstrosity came charging towards them, snapping thick pine trunks like twigs with its frontal impact. The ground shook with each of its steps. Just where had such a creature been lurking? The Millers couldn¡¯t help but be aghast at the sheer size of this mutant-level zombie. ¡°It¡¯s coming!¡± Aiden¡¯s voice rang out. Aiden stood protectively before the Millers and Sadie, firing his rifle. Not single shots, but automatic bursts close to full-auto. In the midst of this, Aiden controlled the recoil that felt like an earthquake, planting most of his bullets into the bear¡¯s head. But even that hail of gunfire only slightly slowed the charging beast¡¯s advance. It merely shook its head once in a dismissive manner before pounding the ground again. Aiden shouted over his shoulder. ¡°Dangerous! Fall back!¡± Finally snapping back to his senses at Aiden¡¯s warning, the Millers turned and ran. Then, remembering the child, Logan looked for Sadie. Sadie was right behind him, following. But the young child¡¯s legs couldn¡¯t move as swiftly. The moment he realized Sadie would inevitably fall behind at this rate, Logan¡¯s body moved on its own. ¡°Too slow!¡± Logan scooped Sadie up into his arms. Even to himself, it was a reckless act, but he had no choice. It was the only option that came to mind. At the very least, it was better than abandoning the child to flee. Right after that. Kwack! A massive claw mark was etched into the ground where they had been standing. The gigantic Beast had already closed the distance right behind them. ¡°Grrraaaaah!¡± The bear¡¯s torn vocal cords let out a roar directed at Logan. The foul stench wafting from it assaulted Logan¡¯s nostrils. ¡°Shit...!¡± Logan ran with all his might. But it was impossible for mere human legs to outrun the zombified Beast. Its massive frame leapt into the air. Its forelimb was aimed straight at Logan¡¯s head. The claws on its decayed paw glistened like a guillotine blade. Logan thought he was going to die. But in the next moment. Bang! At the earsplitting sound that reached his ears, Logan¡¯s eyes shot wide open. The descending Beast¡¯s lethal weapon had halted before a chillingly crimson blade. Upon seeing the owner of that blade, Logan let out a gasp of horror. It was Arian. A mere mid-teenager wielding a short sword, blocking the massive Beast. The sight defied all common sense, invoking an intense sense of dissonance. But more than that, an inexplicable dread crept into Logan¡¯s mind. For some reason, her blazing red eyes seemed utterly terrifying. At that moment. ¡°Run!¡± Arian, standing against the bear, shouted. At that chilling cry, Logan immediately turned and fled without a second glance. He ran as if he had seen a horror movie ghost, unable to even look back. ¡°Grrraaaahh!¡± The howls of the Beasts still resounded from behind. Accompanied by deafening roars and the clashing sounds of metal on metal. But the Millers ignored it all and kept running. ¡°Grrrr!¡± This time, the remaining wolves gave chase. However, their pursuit didn¡¯t last long. Soon, a few gunshots rang out, and with each bullet, Logan felt the wolves¡¯ presence disappearing one by one from behind. How much time had passed? Before long, there was nothing around the Millers, who had been running mindlessly. ¡°Huff... haah...!¡± Gasping for breath, Logan finally set down Sadie, whom he had been carrying all this time. He then collapsed onto the ground as if crumpling. Simultaneously, the tension that had been gripping Logan released. He no longer had the strength to even move a finger. ¡°Are... are you okay?¡± Seeing Logan¡¯s state, Sadie asked with concern. Logan couldn¡¯t even answer. His breathing was still labored, the air stuck in his throat. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. He just... needs some rest.¡± As Sadie looked at a loss, Madeline, also breathless, reassured the child. Sadie nodded and obediently stood by Logan¡¯s side. She alternated between looking back in the direction they had fled from and scanning the forest surroundings. Gunshots could still be heard echoing from beyond the trees they had escaped through. But the scene was now obscured by the pine trees blocking their view. Worry clouded Sadie¡¯s eyes. Even as a child, she could well understand the danger of the Beast they had encountered. ¡°...¡± A considerable amount of time passed like this. It was only when the distant gunfire had almost ceased that... ¡°Never imagined... I¡¯d push myself... this far at my age...¡± Using his trembling arm for support, Logan barely managed to sit up. His breathing had steadied, but he was still in no condition to move. The frantic escape through the forest had clearly pushed him beyond his limits. No matter how dire the situation, to have run all this way while carrying a child. Even Logan himself found it incredible where he had mustered such stamina from. ¡°Have some water.¡± Beside him, Madeline offered a water bottle. Logan gulped it down and let out a deep sigh. It seemed his senses were finally returning. Having regained his composure, Logan gazed in the direction Sadie had been looking towards the forest. ¡°...It¡¯s gone quiet.¡± The deafening roars and beastly howls that had been ringing out until just before were long gone. The only sound that could be heard was the wind rustling through the pine trees now that the rain had ceased. It was eerily tranquil, as if the earlier commotion had been a lie. ¡°Will those people... be alright?¡± Madeline asked. Realistically speaking, it was an implausible notion. Wolves and even a bear, zombified Beasts that were dangerous enough on their own, had attacked the two of them together. No matter what guns or explosives they might have had, they couldn¡¯t have been a match. And yet, Logan ultimately couldn¡¯t bring himself to give a negative answer. It wasn¡¯t solely because he didn¡¯t want to trample on the child¡¯s hope. He still couldn¡¯t forget the sight of Arian blocking the bear¡¯s claws. The aura she had exuded at that moment was an ominous sense he could scarcely describe in words, a chilling feeling he didn¡¯t want to recall. So much so that even though Logan fully understood Arian had saved his life, in that instant, her appearance didn¡¯t seem like a hero fending off a monster, but rather another monster intent on devouring it. That¡¯s why Logan couldn¡¯t assert with confidence that such a monster would have easily fallen. As Logan briefly sealed his lips amidst this contradiction- ¡°They¡¯ll be okay.¡± Sadie¡¯s soft voice reached his ears. While the child¡¯s worry didn¡¯t dissipate, she didn¡¯t seem to doubt her companions¡¯ safe return. It was at that moment. As if in response to the child¡¯s words, a shadow stirred in the forest beyond. ¡°Over there...!¡± Madeline pointed with her finger. Glimpses of movement flitted between the trees, reminiscent of the wolves¡¯ first appearance, causing Logan to swallow hard. But what soon emerged from between the trees were two figures. Each gripping a rifle and a machete. Towards them, Sadie went running. * * * That evening. Having barely made it out of the pine forest before nightfall, Aiden¡¯s group had to set up camp once again deep within another mountain range. Their location was a small cave on a cliffside. Though calling it a cave was a stretch, as its depth was barely a few meters. It was merely a shallow alcove big enough for a person to lie down in. But it was sufficient for spending the day after what they had been through. It was far better than sleeping out in the open, unable to shelter even from the wind. ¡°Rest up, then.¡± After settling his companions inside the cave, Aiden took a spot on a rock slightly away from the entrance. He would be standing guard here throughout the night. The sunset arrived briefly. In the mountains where night fell swiftly, the reddish glow faded away almost as soon as it had appeared. But before that crimson light vanished completely, someone approached. It was Logan. ¡°What is it?¡± Aiden asked the quietly approaching Logan. Logan opened his mouth with a wry smile. ¡°Can¡¯t sleep, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°You must be exhausted, though.¡± ¡°Haha, I did push myself today. But maybe it¡¯s because I¡¯m old, I can¡¯t sleep when I¡¯m too tired. So I thought I¡¯d borrow a spot here for a bit.¡± It was a simple enough request, so Aiden nodded in response. Seated on the rock, Logan looked up at the sky. His unfocused gaze seemed lost in thought as it settled on the stars slowly regaining their brilliance in the darkness. It was Aiden who first spoke to the pensive Logan. ¡°Thank you for looking after Sadie. We¡¯ll be sure to repay you once we reach Phoenix.¡± Aiden remembered that Logan hadn¡¯t abandoned Sadie back in the forest. For him, it had been an unexpected help. He hadn¡¯t expected wanderers they had just met that day to protect Sadie as if she were their own. ¡°No need. It was just looking after a child, nothing major.¡± Logan waved his hand dismissively in response. An unusual reply in this world where even common courtesy was often forgotten. Aiden stared intently at Logan. Perhaps sensing Aiden¡¯s questioning gaze even through his helmet, Logan let out a soft chuckle. ¡°My humility must seem strange.¡± ¡°Well-¡° ¡°Yeah, I know what you¡¯re going to say. It¡¯s become rare these days.¡± Logan let out a brief sigh. After a momentary silence, he continued speaking. ¡°You see, my wife and I... we don¡¯t have any children. We¡¯re infertile. Not that I¡¯m complaining. It was a marriage we both knew about, and we didn¡¯t really think about having kids when we were young anyway.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°But as we got older, those feelings gradually changed. Especially for Madeline. She couldn¡¯t take her eyes off any child that passed by.¡± As if recalling some memory, Logan chuckled softly. Despite the sudden recounting of the past, Aiden simply listened quietly to his words. ¡°Eventually, we even left the hospital we had been working at and opened a pediatric clinic in a small town. At least that way, we could be around children. We spent 15 years there. It wasn¡¯t an easy life, but it was fulfilling. There were even times when children we had treated brought their own kids to us.¡± Logan¡¯s gaze towards the stars in the sky became distant, as if revisiting old memories. After a while, he finally lowered his eyes and shrugged his shoulders. ¡°Just some old memories resurfacing, nothing to worry about. Besides, we did save a child, didn¡¯t we? It was you all who saved us. I¡¯m the one in debt, really.¡± Logan stated firmly. To this, Aiden simply nodded once. If Logan put it that way, Aiden had nothing more to say. ¡°Understood. But... we should move a bit slower tomorrow.¡± Aiden said, looking at Logan¡¯s legs. They were still trembling ever so slightly. Considering Logan¡¯s age, the fatigue wouldn¡¯t dissipate overnight. Logan gave a wry smile. ¡°I¡¯ll take you up on that offer.¡± With those words, Logan returned to his bedroll to rest. And so the night deepened, Aiden quietly observing the darkened forest. * * * From the next day onward, Aiden¡¯s group continued forging through the mountains and forests, accompanied by the Millers. While their path wasn¡¯t smooth, they no longer encountered threats like the Beasts. And three days later. ¡°We¡¯ve finally arrived.¡± Arian said as she stepped onto the long stretch of a six-lane road. At last, they had set foot in the metropolis of Phoenix, approximately 600km away from LA. Chapter 174 ¡°Look over there.¡± Even before Aiden¡¯s group had fully emerged from the mountain range, Arian pointed ahead and spoke. Aiden casually turned his gaze in that direction. There stood a house surrounded by a shallow brown wall. Lined along the wall were peculiar statues of horses. Other than that, it was an unremarkable building. However, upon seeing it, Logan¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Whew, finally...!¡± He muttered in amazement, staring at the not-so-impressive horse statues. It had been three days since their battle with the Beasts. During that time, they had endlessly traversed the desolate mountains with only scattered cacti dotting the landscape. Fortunately, they didn¡¯t lack food supplies, but the ordeal could hardly be described as minor. That¡¯s why those horse statues didn¡¯t appear as mere statues to Logan. Though abandoned, they were undeniable remnants of civilization and proof that they had finally set foot in the metropolis of Phoenix. Additionally, a shallow dirt path ran in front of the house. That dirt path connected to a proper two-lane asphalt road. ¡°Hmm... looks like we found the right place.¡± Observing that road, Aiden spoke. For the past few days, they had been relying solely on maps and a compass to navigate through the pathless mountains and deserts. While unfamiliar, it seemed they had at least arrived at the correct destination, much to Aiden¡¯s relief. ¡°Let¡¯s keep going, then.¡± Aiden¡¯s group began following the road. Lining the narrow road was a small residential area. Perhaps due to the desert¡¯s proximity, most of the houses in this neighborhood had a bright tan color resembling sand. Alongside the road grew mainly tumbleweed and cacti larger than a person. Some had even sprouted inside the front gardens of certain houses, creating a unique scenery. As they proceeded, they passed by a small ranch. The stone-walled pen where cows had likely once been raised now stood empty. ¡°Quiet, isn¡¯t it?¡± Aiden muttered as they walked that path. This area had never been densely populated to begin with, but not even a single zombie could be seen. At this, Aiden turned to Logan. ¡°Do you know the location of this camp that¡¯s supposed to be here?¡± They had arrived in Phoenix, but their obvious destination was that camp. However, blindly searching for the camp would be reckless. Phoenix had been a metropolis inhabited by 1.5 million people, and including the surrounding metropolitan area, over 4 million had lived there. The city was vast and complex. ¡°Of course I remember. They said it was near an area called Windsong.¡± Fortunately, Logan answered affirmatively. Aiden put away the map he had been referencing and took out a new one specifically of Phoenix. While the map depicted the city¡¯s layout to some extent, it was still quite intricate. ¡°...Here it is.¡± After poring over the map for a while, Aiden finally located the area named Windsong. It was in the northeastern part of Phoenix, quite far from the city center. Moreover, from the residential area Aiden¡¯s group was currently in, they would have to head considerably further south. ¡°Is it far?¡± Logan, who was beside him, asked. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When Aiden replied that it would take a few more hours, Logan let out a brief sigh. ¡°But we should be able to arrive before nightfall.¡± ¡°We better. I¡¯m sick of sleeping in that damned sand.¡± Logan shuddered as he recalled their recent campsites. The air had grown considerably colder as late autumn approached. Even in the relatively warm southwestern United States, staying outdoors overnight was becoming increasingly uncomfortable. However, having never experienced it himself, Aiden simply nodded once in response. * * * A few hours later. Having finally reached the vicinity of Windsong, where the camp was said to be located, Aiden was observing the signs erected beside the road. ¡°What¡¯s all this?¡± Arian asked, referring to them. Lined along the road were several large metal signs. And scrawled across them were dense lines of text. It seemed someone had directly sprayed or written on the metal plates with their own hands. Aiden approached to examine the contents. The signs began with that introductory line, their contents concise. ¡°These are... rules.¡± ¡°Rules?¡± ¡°Rules for this camp that¡¯s supposed to be here.¡± Listed were a few rules set for wanderers wishing to enter the camp. Simple things like not killing or stealing from each other. The contents resembled something written in a textbook, prompting Arian to tilt her head skeptically. ¡°But even if they tell people not to do those things, who¡¯s going to listen?¡± Arian commented upon seeing them. However, Aiden shook his head. ¡°These weren¡¯t written solely to be followed. They¡¯re likely meant to give an idea of what kind of place this camp is.¡± The lack of enforceability was probably understood by the very people who made these signs. Rather, the purpose was simply to hint at the camp¡¯s general nature to those encountering it for the first time. Especially towards the end, the signs even bore explicit phrases like ¡®Let¡¯s cooperate while following these rules and journey together to LA.¡¯ ¡°Just as I¡¯ve heard.¡± Logan spoke as he observed the signs. Judging from the content of the rules, the camp¡¯s orientation seemed to align with Logan¡¯s description of a cooperative of wanderers. Finding nothing out of the ordinary from his expectations, Aiden proceeded past those signs deeper into the area. There, a wide intersection appeared before them. Beyond it, a barricade came into view. About 3 meters tall, constructed by layering wood and metal sheets, it was clearly meant to keep out zombies. This barricade enclosed a vast area approximately 500 meters wide and 200 meters long. Aiden unfolded his map to verify the location of that area. It had originally been a large shopping district adjacent to an apartment complex. The shopping district¡¯s spacious buildings and open parking lots made it easy for wanderers to gather. Meanwhile, the neighboring apartment zone offered plenty of individual living spaces that could serve as temporary lodgings. Furthermore, the entire area was slightly separated from the city proper, with only the roads providing access, making zombie intrusions less likely from other directions. Indeed, as an abandoned survivor base, the location seemed well-chosen. After surveying the surroundings, Aiden looked towards Arian. Sensing his gaze, Arian softly whispered. ¡°Quite a few. Dozens at least. For the whole camp... probably a few hundred.¡± Upon hearing the specific numbers, Aiden¡¯s eyes narrowed within his helmet. That many people had managed to pass through those mountains and deserts. Most had likely been fortunate enough to avoid danger, but to Aiden¡¯s group, who had directly battled the Beast pack, it was an unexpectedly high number. ¡°...Not bad.¡± However, a large population was not a misfortune for Aiden¡¯s group. After confirming there were no unexpected snipers or the like along the barricades, Aiden immediately approached the entrance area. The four-lane road leading into the camp was blocked by the barricade, but a small side gate remained open in one corner. ¡°...¡± Aiden checked the area around that gate. But there didn¡¯t seem to be any gatekeeper typically present at such an entrance. Even so, Aiden didn¡¯t let his guard down as he carefully crossed the barricade. ¡°Hoh...¡± Following behind Aiden into the camp, Logan let out such a sound. Along the road stretched a parking lot filled with makeshift tents, under which people could be seen. The scene resembled people having gathered at a large park for leisure. With no particular focal point, they were scattered haphazardly. Among them were several wanderers who had set up small stalls beneath the tents. ¡°...¡± As Aiden¡¯s group entered the camp, the gazes of some wanderers briefly lingered on them. A mix of wariness and curiosity. However, their interest didn¡¯t last long. Seemingly judging there was nothing special about the new arrivals, the wanderers soon averted their eyes and resumed their conversations. No particular threats could be sensed. With that assessment, as Aiden tried to proceed further inward from the entrance area, at that moment: ¡°Hey, you guys.¡± A man approached them. Logan¡¯s gaze turned tense. Aiden calmly responded to the man. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°You got any spare food?¡± It was an offer to trade. When Aiden shook his head, the man soon left to approach other wanderers instead. Taking a closer look, the other wanderers seemed to be doing something similar as well. They were making contact with each other, either for trading or cooperation purposes. ¡°So this is how it works here, huh.¡± Observing these interactions, Logan seemed to understand the general operation of the camp. Aiden shared the same impression. Without a reception area like regular gangs where requests could be taken, it appeared requests and trades had to be individually negotiated between wanderers. ¡°So what will you all do now?¡± Logan asked. What Aiden had to do here was obvious. While using this as a base, he needed to gather information and procure necessary resources as quickly as possible. Upon explaining this, Logan gave a light nod. ¡°We¡¯re planning to open a clinic here.¡± The Millers didn¡¯t intend to undertake combat missions like Aiden¡¯s group. With their age and limited physical capacity, they instead aimed to utilize their medical expertise. Their plan was to provide treatment to the wanderers here in exchange for compensation. ¡°Will that be possible?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. We have plenty of experience treating wanderers.¡± Logan brushed aside Aiden¡¯s concerns, saying they had done this many times before. Aiden nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°Then I suppose this is where we part ways.¡± With their arrival at this camp, Logan¡¯s proposal to travel together until Phoenix was now complete. So from here, they would each go their separate ways. ¡°I suppose so.¡± Logan¡¯s gaze deepened as he said those words. With a faint smile, he extended a hand towards Aiden. ¡°Take care, then. Thanks for everything. Let¡¯s meet again in LA.¡± Aiden shook his offered hand. Logan then bid farewell to Arian and Sadie as well. ¡°Yeah, stay healthy until then.¡± His wife, Madeline, also patted Sadie¡¯s head as she spoke. Aiden¡¯s group wished for the Millers¡¯ safety in turn. Afterwards, the Millers mingled among the wanderers, saying they would look for a suitable spot. Briefly watching their retreating figures, Arian turned back to Aiden. ¡°So what do we do first?¡± ¡°...We should start by gathering information.¡± ¡°That should be easy.¡± Arian answered with a grin. Following that, Aiden began approaching wanderers to collect information. Things like which areas still had remaining supplies, or particularly dangerous locations. The information he primarily gathered pertained to the surroundings of Phoenix. No special compensation was needed for this basic information sharing. However, since there was no particular benefit in divulging such details either, some wanderers refused to engage in conversation. But there were those who provided simple answers. Combined with what Arian could overhear, they soon gained a grasp of the general situation. Aiden took a moment to mentally organize the information he had gathered in that brief time. While not extremely detailed, it was enough to formulate an immediate plan of action. Satisfied with this, Aiden looked up at the sky. The sun was already setting. ¡°We should find a place to stay soon.¡± Aiden¡¯s group passed through the shopping district and headed towards the apartment zone. Multiple apartment complexes were located west to south, adjacent to the shopping area. The complex they entered had 3-story buildings with bright tan exteriors arranged in a circular layout. Originally, it must have been a rather tidy apartment complex. But after being abandoned for so long, many windows were now shattered, and sections were in disrepair. The relatively intact units had already been occupied by other wanderers. The remaining options either had entire doors torn off or ominous bullet holes revealing the neighboring units. ¡°...¡± After a thorough inspection, Aiden finally found a suitable place to settle. It was a building located at the end of the complex, and upon checking the interior, it was messy but without any major issues. Having designated it as their temporary shelter, Aiden immediately set about preparing the place. Soon, accommodations were readied for spending at least one night there. ¡°This should do for now.¡± As soon as the preparations were complete, Aiden called his companions over. It was to discuss their next course of action based on the information he had gathered earlier. At this, Sadie and Arian, who had been preparing a meal, approached him. ¡°First, starting tomorrow, we¡¯ll be conducting scouting activities.¡± Aiden began by setting out their plan. Chapter 175 ¡°That¡¯s fine. But when you say scouting, what exactly are you looking for first?¡± ¡°Food and water supplies are the top priority, of course. The more we can find, the better.¡± Those were bound to be the most lacking resources for wanderers who had traversed the desert and mountains to reach this place. They were also essential for continuing on to LA. Perhaps for that very reason, many wanderers had been seen searching for those two items today. What Aiden was aiming for were trades with them. ¡°So if we secure enough food supplies, obtaining the remaining resources through trades shouldn¡¯t be too difficult. Even procuring blood won¡¯t be a problem.¡± ¡°But... won¡¯t the competition be quite intense then?¡± ¡°You¡¯re rught. From what I¡¯ve seen, most of the supplies in downtown Phoenix seem to have been depleted already. It¡¯s not surprising. If a camp has been established here, those areas must have been scavenged dozens of times over.¡± So the places that still had remaining supplies were not in downtown Phoenix itself, but rather the adjacent cities considered part of the metropolitan area. The cities wanderers primarily searched were places like Gilbert and Chandler to the east. Compared to other areas, those had relatively lower zombie populations. ¡°However, I think the opposite direction would be better. Glendale... or even Sun City might work.¡± Aiden suggested. Glendale was a city adjacent to the west and northwest of Phoenix. Sun City was even further west from there. While agreeing with Aiden¡¯s reasoning, Arian inwardly expressed her concerns. ¡°Avoiding the competition isn¡¯t a bad idea. But I heard that area is quite dangerous? Some wanderers who went to Glendale recently never came back, they said.¡± Arian relayed the ominous rumor she had overheard earlier. To such an extent, the western region of Phoenix was considered a danger zone among wanderers. While not as severe as the southern areas directly adjacent to the mountains, a considerable number of zombies were said to have concentrated there. Even so, Aiden shook his head. ¡°Hard to say. The danger might be similar, wouldn¡¯t you agree?¡± ¡°How so?¡± ¡°Humans could pose just as much risk as the zombies, if not more.¡± Aiden¡¯s concern wasn¡¯t limited to just zombies. He was naturally wary of the potential side effects that could arise from people gathering in one place. ¡°Inside the camp, everyone seems to be cooperating, but their attitudes might change once outside. They could open fire on us without a second thought.¡± ¡°I suppose...¡± It was a valid point. The reason this camp could be maintained was solely due to the implicit order resulting from their mutual interests aligning. However, outside the camp, especially when resources were at stake, such flimsy restraints were bound to break down. Aiden had judged that he would rather face zombies than have to worry about those kinds of people. ¡°Then I think going west would be better too.¡± Sadie voiced her agreement with Aiden¡¯s opinion. For Arian as well, if combat was inevitable, fighting zombies was preferable to killing humans. Could it be that Aiden had proposed heading west based on that very mindset? As that thought crossed her mind, Arian could no longer object. ¡°Alright. Do you have a specific location in mind?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Aiden unfolded his map. The area he had chosen was Glendale. However, upon examining the map, Arian¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Why are there so many?¡± Arian expressed her dissatisfaction. The map of Glendale was indeed quite intricate. As Phoenix had been an immense metropolis, the adjacent city of Glendale within its metropolitan area was also a highly developed place, incomparable to a small town. Even just picking out the major points of interest on the map yielded dozens of locations. Simply counting the large supermarkets or grocery stores suitable for food scavenging resulted in a two-digit number. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a complex area. If there are zombies present, it will be difficult to penetrate deep inside. But that also means there should be plenty of remaining supplies.¡± Saying so, Aiden selected one specific location among the numerous candidates. It was a formerly renowned large supermarket. A place that, as far as they knew, had yet to be visited by anyone until now. * * * The next day. From the early morning, Aiden¡¯s group had departed the camp. Despite leaving their base quite early, many wanderers were already out and about in the central shopping district area of the camp. ¡°...¡± Aiden observed those wanderers. Most of them were busily moving through the open parking lots, either for trading purposes or to search for necessary items. And in one corner of those parking lots, something caught Aiden¡¯s eye. It was the Millers, whom they had parted ways with yesterday. They were beneath an old, existing tent. In front of it stood a makeshift hospital sign bearing a green cross, seemingly scrounged from somewhere. So this was how they had opened their clinic, just as they had said. ¡°Ah, over there...¡± Upon spotting it, Arian pointed towards the tent with her finger. At that, the Millers also noticed Aiden¡¯s group¡¯s presence. Contrary to their promise to meet again in LA, they had ended up reuniting the very next day. The Millers greeted them with a quiet wave of their hand. In response, Aiden simply nodded once, while Sadie waved back. It was right after Aiden¡¯s group had exchanged those brief morning greetings with the Millers and turned away when: ¡°Hey... you¡¯re Aiden Lee, right?¡± A wanderer approached and addressed Aiden¡¯s group. A woman of Indian descent, appearing to be in her mid-20s. Aiden briefly looked her over before responding. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re also a junk dealer, correct?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Despite the sudden questions, Aiden answered calmly. He wasn¡¯t surprised that she knew his name. Yesterday, while gathering information around the camp, Aiden didn¡¯t hide his name or occupation as a junk dealer. Add to that the conspicuous helmet he constantly wore without removing, and it was hardly remarkable for a wanderer to have identified him. ¡°Then I have a request for you.¡± At the woman¡¯s words, Aiden let out a brief grunt. He had tasks to attend to immediately, and there was no particular need to accept requests here. In Phoenix, simply exploring would suffice to procure enough supplies. As Aiden was considering how to refuse her request, Arian whispered from beside him. ¡°We could at least hear her out.¡± At those words, Aiden nodded after a moment¡¯s thought. There was no harm in listening briefly, after all. ¡°Alright, speak.¡± Upon Aiden¡¯s response, the woman let out a heavy sigh with a stiff expression. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°My companions who went out scavenging haven¡¯t returned. I want you to find them.¡± ¡°Location?¡± ¡°...Glendale.¡± The woman spoke in a small voice after a momentary pause. It was a familiar place name. Wasn¡¯t that the very destination Aiden¡¯s group had intended to go? And come to think of it, Arian had mentioned yesterday that some wanderers who went to Glendale had gone missing. Those must have been this woman¡¯s companions. ¡°Exactly where in Glendale?¡± Aiden unfolded his map and instructed her to specify the location. At that, the woman¡¯s eyes widened slightly. ¡°You¡¯re accepting the request?¡± ¡°If the location is suitable and the compensation is sufficient.¡± Aiden, who had initially considered refusing, changed his stance. If the request location was Glendale, it was entirely possible to complete the request while conducting their planned scouting activities. ¡°Here... here it is.¡± The woman immediately pointed to the map. It was a university area in the northern part of Glendale. Centered around a university that had previously housed a pharmacy school, the area included restaurants, a small hospital, and even grocery stores. While not the large supermarket Aiden had originally intended to visit, it was still an advantageous location for exploring. The location wasn¡¯t bad. With that assessment, Aiden continued his inquiries. ¡°What are the conditions for completing this request? Surely not that all your companions must be alive, I guess?¡± ¡°...No, not that. Just accompany me in scouting that area. That¡¯s all.¡± ¡°Very well. Then what will you offer as compensation?¡± At that, the woman opened the bag she was carrying and showed its contents. Inside were three bottles of water and several canned goods. A decent enough compensation, or so Aiden thought, but that wasn¡¯t all. ¡°This is just an advance. If you complete the request, I¡¯ll give you twice as much as this.¡± The woman¡¯s follow-up words made Aiden¡¯s eyebrows twitch beneath his helmet. It was far more generous compensation than he had expected. But rather than feeling pleased, suspicion crossed Aiden¡¯s mind first. In cases where the compensation was suspiciously high, there was always something bigger hidden behind it. ¡°That¡¯s quite a lot of compensation. Is there any special reason for it?¡± So he directly probed her about this. Aiden¡¯s question was clearly laced with suspicion. Seemingly finding that suspicion distasteful, the woman furrowed her brow as she opened her mouth. ¡°What? No, nothing like that. This is just the norm around here.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Yes. Not only what I¡¯m telling you, but there aren¡¯t many people coming here to request things in the first place.¡± The woman muttered, implying she would have reduced the compensation if she had known. It was then that Aiden began to roughly understand the reason behind the high compensation for the request. Most of the people who had come to Phoenix were those heading for LA. And now, with their destination of LA right before them, it seemed... Even for a junk dealer, they would opt to carefully search for supplies rather than take on dangerous requests. ¡°So... will you do it, or not?¡± The woman urged Aiden¡¯s decision with a sharp tone. However, her gaze was ever so slightly trembling as she spoke those words. Her circumstances were easy enough to comprehend. She was trying to gather people to find her missing companions, but as she had said, there were no junk dealers here readily willing to accompany her. She had likely been rejected numerous times already, and perhaps even expected the same this time around. However, for Aiden, this request was quite appealing. Going to Glendale was already a certainty. So the risk wouldn¡¯t increase for him, while the compensation for the request was considerable. With a bit of luck, it might even be possible to meet their entire target within a single day. ¡°What do you think?¡± Aiden asked his companions. Neither Arian nor Sadie voiced any objections. Aiden then immediately informed the woman of his acceptance of the request. ¡°Really? You¡¯re really taking it?¡± ¡°Yes. Can we depart right away?¡± ¡°Ah, just a moment. Let me grab my gun and... oh, and some ammo, then I¡¯ll be right back.¡± Saying that, the woman hurried off as if being chased. * * * A short while later. ¡°My name is Sophia. Sophia Evans.¡± On Route 101 heading towards Glendale, the woman introduced herself. Aiden nodded to acknowledge it. At his curt reaction, Sophia naturally turned her gaze towards the two young girls walking beside him. ¡°But what about these kids?¡± ¡°This is Arian, and that child is Sadie.¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t mean their names... Aren¡¯t they too young to be brought along on a request like this?¡± Sophia asked with a puzzled expression. Her doubt was undoubtedly valid, so Aiden simply told her not to worry about it without making any excuses. Unable to argue against his firm demeanor, Sophia looked over the younger of the two, the child named Sadie. She was an adorable child. But in that child¡¯s hands was a weapon entirely unbefitting for a child. A small crossbow. Moreover, a tiny pistol could be seen on her hip. Could such a young child really fight zombies? As Sophia pondered this, Sadie¡¯s eyes met her gaze. In response, the child simply smiled brightly, answering Sophia¡¯s attention. ¡°...¡± Upon seeing that smile, the concern that had surfaced in Sophia¡¯s mind faded slightly. Sadie¡¯s expression was that serene. It was a smile a child could never muster if being forced into an unwanted battlefield. Next, Sophia observed Arian, who held Sadie¡¯s hand. However, Arian¡¯s expression was different from Sadie¡¯s. Her face was an expressionless mask, like a plaster statue. And those crimson eyes seemed eerily unsettling. Perhaps sensing Sophia¡¯s gaze, Arian looked back at her as well. That indifferent stare pierced right through Sophia. Sophia involuntarily averted her eyes. Her sight fell upon the desolate desert stretching alongside the road. At that moment, Aiden asked: ¡°By the way, how many companions did you have in total?¡± Sophia cleared her parched throat with a cough before continuing. ¡°Three.¡± ¡°Not too many, then. Did you go scavenging together, but only you came back?¡± ¡°No, I didn¡¯t go out scavenging at all. I had something else to take care of, so I stayed at the camp.¡± But her companions had ultimately failed to return on the day they went out. It had already been two days since then. Realistically speaking, their survival was uncertain at best. Was that why she had directly come out to search for them like this? Aiden posed another question. ¡°Were they close companions of yours?¡± Among wanderers, who weren¡¯t even part of a gang, it wasn¡¯t common for someone to go this far for their companions. If companions failed to return, it was far easier to simply assume they had died and continue on one¡¯s own path. For Sophia as well, it would have been entirely possible to abandon her companions and take any supplies they had left behind, departing for LA alone. But Sophia denied this as if it were an unthinkable notion. ¡°How could I? They¡¯re all friends from my university. We lived in the dorms together, and ever since the zombie outbreak suddenly happened, we haven¡¯t been able to return home and have stuck together all this time. We all made it here like that, but...¡± As Sophia spoke, tears welled up slightly in her eyes. In that case, Aiden had nothing more to say. Amidst the somber mood, Aiden changed the subject. ¡°By the way, the path seems quiet so far.¡± ¡°Around the camp... it¡¯s usually like this. People come and go, so the zombies get taken care of one way or another. But if we walk for about 30 more minutes from here, they¡¯ll start increasing gradually.¡± Aiden silently nodded at Sophia¡¯s words. And so they continued walking along Route 101. The road that had briefly crossed the desert soon passed through an intersection, leading into the main urban area. And around the 30-minute mark Sophia had mentioned, as they passed through a small park within the city... ¡°...¡± Aiden sensed a change in the atmosphere. On one side of the wide road was a residential area, while the opposite side had rows of nondescript office buildings stretching out. But within that seemingly quiet street, faint moans of zombies could be heard. Even the once-clean roads were now blocked by abandoned vehicles, and traces of zombies could be felt lingering between them. ¡°Be careful from here on out.¡± Sophia issued a soft warning. Aiden nodded and cautiously ventured deeper into the zombie-infested city. Chapter 176 ¡°Kuuu...¡± At the zombie¡¯s voice coming from nearby, Sophia momentarily stopped in her tracks. However, she showed no further reaction to the one shambling beyond the overturned vehicle. Sophia soon crouched down and slowly emerged from beside that vehicle. ¡°Phew...!¡± An exhausted sigh escaped her lips, weary from the constant tension. This was already the dozen or so time she had to pass right by zombies. A situation where the slightest mistake could lead directly to death had been unfolding continuously. But even so, she had no opportunity to rest. The residential area they had arrived at after passing the vehicles. At its entrance stood a house surrounded by a white fence, and zombie voices could be heard even from beyond that fence. This caused Sophia¡¯s spirit to sink further. There were far more zombies than she had expected. They hadn¡¯t even reached Glendale yet, but the path ahead was already far from easy. ¡°This way.¡± To the dazed Sophia, Aiden indicated their next direction. His tone was utterly indifferent. Compared to her, who was moving under extreme tension, he showed not a hint of fatigue. She should probably take a brief rest. Sophia inwardly muttered to herself, but there was no one who shared that sentiment. Not only Arian, but even the much younger Sadie obediently followed Aiden¡¯s instructions without issue. At this, Sophia tightly sealed her lips to stifle any complaints. If even a child could persevere like that, she couldn¡¯t be the first to voice weakness. So without a word, she simply watched Aiden leading the way. It was then that Aiden was about to turn the corner of the residential fence. But right before that moment. ¡°Kiiie...¡± Sophia saw a zombie suddenly emerge from around that very corner. Sophia instantly clasped her hands over her mouth to stifle any screams. Simultaneously, an ominous thought crossed her mind. If that zombie made any noise, it could draw all the surrounding undead towards them. However, in the end, Sophia¡¯s concern didn¡¯t come to pass. Even before the emerging zombie could react, Aiden was already moving. Twack! In the blink of an eye, Aiden had circled behind the zombie and thrust his military sword into its jaw. The zombie fell silent without even a chance to cry out, and Aiden carefully lowered its corpse to the ground. Sophia couldn¡¯t hide her astonishment at the smooth movement reminiscent of a movie scene. Yet the others showed no particular reaction at all. At most, Sadie had briefly aimed her crossbow in that direction. ¡°No more. Let¡¯s continue.¡± Aiden spoke. With just those words, the group resumed advancing, leaving Sophia with a strange sense of dissonance. No matter that three years had passed since the zombie outbreak, their actions seemed far too casual. Was it strange for her to be startled by each of these occurrences? Sophia briefly looked back at the fallen zombie corpse. The zombie¡¯s face was frozen in an expression of shock, unable to anticipate its own death. And so they passed through the residential area and arrived at an unnamed hillside. Atop the shallow hill was nothing but an ochre dirt path and a gray road cutting through it. Apart from the scattered zombies standing like old trees, there were no other structures in sight. It was a typical undeveloped area between cities. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Aiden alternated between glancing at the hill and his map before speaking. ¡°Once we cross this, we¡¯ll be in Glendale immediately.¡± At those words, Sophia¡¯s eyes widened. She hadn¡¯t even realized they had already come so close to their destination, having been preoccupied with avoiding the zombies. Aiden¡¯s words continued. ¡°So let¡¯s decide on our approach now.¡± ¡°Approach?¡± ¡°Designate the locations where there¡¯s a high chance of finding your companions.¡± Aiden held out his map. The area Sophia¡¯s companions had headed towards was the university district stretching widely on either side of Route 101. To the north of the road was a medium-sized shopping area including grocery and convenience stores. Across from it was the location of a university and hospital. After careful consideration, Sophia pointed out a few spots on the map. The first place she indicated was the shopping area north of the road. ¡°With this many zombies around, they likely couldn¡¯t have easily reached the university side. That area is quite large in scale.¡± ¡°Alright. Then let¡¯s start with the shopping area.¡± Aiden¡¯s group made a significant detour along the hillside to avoid crossing it directly. While going straight over would have been a shorter distance, they couldn¡¯t simply climb the barren hill without any cover. They finally crossed into Glendale¡¯s boundaries. From their current position, the only thing separating them from the university district was a small residential area. Thanks to the elevation difference, the residential area could be clearly seen from the hillside. Observing the structure of that residential area, Aiden tilted his head slightly. ¡°This place... is rather peculiar.¡± As if attempting to recreate a Venetian water city. This was a residential area with artificial lakes intentionally constructed between the houses, like canals. As a result, the backs of all the houses faced these lakes. And because of this, the residential area wasn¡¯t arranged in the typical layout, instead stretching out like the stems of a plant. It was information not shown on the map, causing Aiden to pause briefly in thought. It was then that Arian addressed him. ¡°Look over there.¡± Arian pointed beyond the residential area. The road on the other side, barely visible from their position on the hillside. There, nearly a hundred zombies could be seen. ¡°What should we do...?¡± Sophia made a troubled expression upon seeing this. While the university and shopping area, their actual destinations, were not yet in view, that road was undoubtedly Route 101 cutting through the center. If the road was in such a state, the situation at their destination would likely be no different. For that reason, Sophia bit her lip slightly. She hadn¡¯t even entertained the possibility that her companions could be trapped amidst such a horde of zombies. But for Aiden, this number was well within his expected range. If Sophia¡¯s companions were truly isolated among the zombies, there was no way they wouldn¡¯t have made any noise at all. Undoubtedly, someone would have used firearms to try and break through that crisis before becoming trapped. So it was only natural for the zombies to have swarmed together like this, attracted by that commotion. ¡°We can¡¯t proceed like this.¡± Aiden muttered under his breath. At his words, Sophia¡¯s expression hardened. To her, it sounded as if the junk dealer was about to abandon the request. However, Aiden¡¯s following words were contrary to Sophia¡¯s expectation. ¡°We¡¯ll split up and act separately for now. You head north and approach from that direction. Don¡¯t enter the shopping area yet. I¡¯ll give you a signal before then.¡± Aiden unfolded his map and indicated a route for the rest of the group. Committing it to memory, Arian lightly nodded as she asked in confirmation. ¡°And you?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go this way.¡± Aiden pointed towards the waterside residential area. ¡°I should be able to utilize those lakes.¡± Due to its unique structure, there were limited entry points into the waterside residential area. All paths required crossing bridges, and while such bridges existed in every direction, they couldn¡¯t be compared to open ground. So if he could lure the zombies there, those unable to swim would be trapped at those narrow chokepoints, unable to advance or retreat. ¡°Then what about you?¡± Once Aiden had finished explaining, Sophia asked. The tactic he had proposed did seem plausible. If the lure was successful, the zombies would indeed become isolated within that complex residential area. But there was one critical issue with that plan. The person who lured the zombies would then have to escape through those very narrow, zombie-infested chokepoints. It was no different from the mice¡¯s paradox of who would tie the bell around the cat¡¯s neck. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I have a way.¡± However, Aiden dismissively brushed aside Sophia¡¯s concern. Whether he truly had a method, or it was mere arrogance. Unable to discern which, Sophia could only open and close her mouth in silence. Paying her no heed, Aiden urged his companions onward. ¡°Get moving. There¡¯s no point in wasting more time here.¡± ¡°Got it. Let¡¯s go then.¡± Arian took the lead and set off. Sadie silently followed behind her, while the momentarily hesitant Sophia belatedly moved to catch up. Arian¡¯s pace as she circumvented the waterside residential area was quite brisk. While there were still zombies present in this area, she avoided them with an almost supernatural ability. ¡°Hey... are you really sure about this?¡± In the midst of this, Sophia asked Arian. Arian simply gave a light nod in response. ¡°Yeah. It didn¡¯t seem like there were any mutants around.¡± Of course, there didn¡¯t appear to be any large buildings in that waterside residential area where mutants might reside. But how could she be so reassured by that alone? With that thought, Sophia briefly glanced back. In the distance, Aiden was still standing in that same spot, removing his helmet. Inwardly concerned about what might be beneath Aiden¡¯s helmet, Sophia squinted her eyes. But the distance was too far to make out his face clearly. She could barely discern his figure, let alone his facial features. However... just as she thought his skin tone seemed somewhat off... ¡°What are you waiting for?¡± Arian¡¯s voice called out to her from behind. When Sophia turned in that direction, Arian had already walked about 10 meters ahead. ¡°Don¡¯t fall behind. It¡¯s dangerous.¡± ¡°S-Sorry.¡± Sophia said as she hurried to catch up with Arian. By the time she glanced back again, Aiden¡¯s figure was no longer visible. * * * Some time after separating from the group. ¡°...This should do.¡± Aiden had arrived at one corner of the waterside residential area. The spot he was standing was the end of the residential area facing the lake. While close to Route 101 in terms of distance, there was a lake separating them. So even if he made noise here, most of the zombies would only linger across the lake, unable to reach this side. It was the perfect position to lure the zombies. Aiden reached for the bag slung across his back. The large bag containing all sorts of weapons weighed dozens of kilograms. Yet Aiden smoothly set it down on the ground using just one hand. ¡°Kiii...!¡± It was then that the groan of a zombie reached Aiden¡¯s ears. Aiden briefly turned his head in that direction. The front door of a nearby white house was wide open, with a zombie poking its head out. A zombie wearing what had once been a neat suit, its buttons torn off, and a faded white shirt. Upon making eye contact with Aiden, the zombie approached him. Not to chase after prey, but rather... Either sensing something amiss about Aiden, or disturbed by the sounds he was making. The zombie shuffled right up beside Aiden, letting out a drawn-out ¡®Kiii¡¯ sound. ¡°...¡± Ignoring the zombie, Aiden rummaged through his bag. Soon, he retrieved a stun grenade and a small personal alarm. Both were the last remaining items Aiden had in stock. But he didn¡¯t hesitate to use them. This was precisely the moment when he needed them, and in any case, he could replenish them through trades in Phoenix if he secured enough supplies. ¡°Then...¡± Aiden surveyed his surroundings. Once he detonated the stun grenade to draw the zombies and hid the personal alarm in a suitable spot to contain them, his task here would be complete. ¡°Grruuu...¡± Another gravelly sound came from beside Aiden. The zombie was still standing right next to him. While showing no intention to attack, it seemed to be suspiciously observing Aiden¡¯s actions, like a patrolling police officer wondering what he was up to here. ¡°...Perfect timing, then.¡± Seeing the zombie, Aiden spoke. He stood up and walked into the house. And the zombie followed Aiden into the building as well. Aiden headed straight for the garage. Fortunately, the door leading to the garage wasn¡¯t locked. Once the zombie had followed him in there, Aiden turned around to face it. ¡°Kiiiii...!¡± Startled by Aiden¡¯s sudden approach, the zombie let out a sharp cry. But Aiden then attached something to the back of the zombie¡¯s neck. It was a personal alarm on a strap. However, since the alarm was facing the zombie¡¯s back, the undead itself couldn¡¯t tell what had been attached. ¡°This should do it.¡± Aiden activated the personal alarm dangling from the zombie¡¯s back. Immediately, a loud ringing sound began, causing the alarmed zombie to start running wildly within the garage. After observing the zombie for a moment, Aiden closed the garage door and stepped outside. He then retrieved the stun grenade, pulled the pin, and tossed it skyward. Boooom! an explosion powerful enough to knock out a healthy person resounded across the previously tranquil lake. Reacting to this, zombies came swarming in from all directions. The zombies that had been densely packed on the road began prowling along the lakeshore. Even those within the residential area emerged en masse. Those zombies soon pursued the frenzied footsteps and ringing alarm coming from within one of the houses. ¡°Kieee!¡± ¡°Kuuu...¡± In an instant, a sea of zombies had flooded the area across the lake facing Aiden. Some were even pushed into the water by those behind, flailing helplessly. The maneuver was a success. With that assessment, Aiden leisurely crossed the bridge leading into the waterside residential area. His movements were conspicuous, like a salmon swimming upstream, yet not a single zombie attempted to stop him. After exiting the waterside residential area, he stepped onto Route 101 itself. The road that had been packed with zombies, and the shopping area beyond, had become significantly clearer. * * * ¡°Did it work?¡± Having successfully lured away the zombies, Aiden reunited with his companions north of the shopping area. Seeing the now cleared shopping area, Arian let out a brief sigh, while Sophia¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Looks like it went well?¡± ¡°You could say that.¡± ¡°Then...!¡± At the prospect of finally being able to find her companions, Sophia¡¯s voice rose. But Aiden cautioned her against getting too ahead of herself. ¡°But don¡¯t be too hasty. There are still likely some remaining.¡± No matter how Aiden had lured the zombies with sound, he couldn¡¯t have drawn out every single one inside the buildings. So to search the interiors, combat would inevitably be necessary. Understanding this, Sophia nodded heavily. Aiden then had Sophia temporarily fall back with Sadie. It was because he and Arian would need to take the front positions for any combat within the confined buildings. As Sophia retreated to the rear, Aiden asked the Arian beside him. ¡°...Anything?¡± At his question, Arian¡¯s gaze took on a distant gleam. ¡°There is. Over there.¡± Arian¡¯s finger pointed towards one building. It wasn¡¯t a restaurant or grocery store, but rather a fitness center. A low, wide structure about two stories tall, but not the kind of place supplies would be present. Had something happened here, forcing them to take shelter in such a place while avoiding zombies? ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± At Aiden¡¯s words, Arian nodded in agreement. They immediately headed towards the gym. Chapter 177 While the size of the gym was large, its entrance wasn¡¯t particularly wide. At most, it had a glass wall about 5 meters across. Only the two door frames attached to it served as the passage leading into the gym. But the passage Aiden¡¯s group was now facing was completely destroyed. All that remained was a twisted door frame and shattered wall. The glass that had originally filled the wall and doors was smashed into jagged shards littering the floor. Aiden surveyed the interior. There were no zombies left in the lobby area visible first. They seemed to have exited after hearing Aiden¡¯s stun grenade earlier. However, zombie groans could still be clearly heard coming from deeper inside beyond the lobby. Meaning there were still zombies that had retreated further into the building. Aiden looked back at Arian. ¡°How many inside?¡± ¡°Twenty... no, over thirty. And... there¡¯s a mutant too.¡± At Arian¡¯s words, Aiden let out a brief sigh. Thirty regular zombies. A considerable number, but not an insurmountable opponent. The issue was the mutant Arian had mentioned. In such a wide building without any windows, it was unsurprising for a mutant to be lurking inside. The problem was having to face it directly. Arian didn¡¯t specify the type of mutant. Meaning it was one they hadn¡¯t encountered before, and such an unknown could bring unexpected variables. ¡°Will you be alright?¡± Arian asked. Aiden surveyed the gym¡¯s entrance once more. The not-so-wide entrance. It wasn¡¯t a size that even larger mutants like Brutals or Bigfoots, let alone slightly smaller ones like Wielders, could pass through. In other words, the mutant hidden here had to be medium-sized or smaller. In that case, Aiden stood a chance. Naturally, a mutant¡¯s combat power was primarily proportional to its size. While there were exceptions like Hiders that possessed immense strength despite not being much larger than regular zombies, but most small to medium-sized mutants tended to focus on special abilities like Screamers or Stingers. ¡°...It¡¯ll be manageable.¡± With that assessment, Aiden examined the interior. The paths leading inward from the lobby branched off to the left and right. In the complete darkness without any windows, he could vaguely make out treadmills and such. Likely connected directly to the fitness area. In that case, the inner area was likely a wide open space. ¡°Get ready.¡± Aiden tightened his grip on his axe as he warned his companions. Considering the enemy¡¯s numbers and the building¡¯s structure, combat was inevitable. Arian calmly nodded, while Sadie tensed her gaze towards her crossbow, and Sophia gulped as she gripped her spear. Paat! Aiden¡¯s flashlight illuminated the gym¡¯s interior. The zombies, startled by the sudden light, immediately let out cries upon spotting the people around that light source. ¡°Kieeee!¡± Like insects swarming out from under a lifted rock, the zombies hidden in the darkness rushed towards them all together. Their pale, crazed eyes reflected the flashlight¡¯s beam. Their ferocity was indeed akin to savage beasts. But the zombies, confined to this enclosed space from limited directions, could not pose a significant threat to Aiden¡¯s group. Twack! The zombie at the very front, which had been charging while pushing aside a treadmill, was cleaved down by Arian¡¯s strike. Not just its neck, but its entire torso was sliced clean off in one blow. The zombie¡¯s upper body was sent airborne, its head letting out a scream. Kung! But the following downward strike vertically split that screaming zombie head in two. The briefly screaming corpse, now bisected, spilled its rotten brain matter as it further defiled the floor. ¡°Kiiiii-¡° Enraged by the death of their kin, the zombies¡¯ frenzy escalated further. Their savage cries shook the gymnasium. At those eerie howls, Sophia trembled in terror. This prompted the zombies lurking even deeper inside to come rushing out as well. Arian¡¯s blade ceased incessantly cleaving through corpses. Among them, some suddenly had small arrows protruding from their foreheads before collapsing ¨C Sadie¡¯s handiwork. Sophia too, having finally found an opening past Arian, thrust her spear with all her might towards the nearby zombies. Amidst all this, Aiden was supporting Arian¡¯s flank. Yet his gaze continued searching for the mutant that had to be hiding somewhere inside. However, the mutant didn¡¯t readily reveal itself. The building¡¯s interior, completely devoid of light, was far too dark. In contrast, their field of view relying solely on a single flashlight was hardly extensive. Moreover, the various exercise equipment scattered about blocked the light and created shadows, further obstructing that limited vision. At this, Aiden clicked his tongue in frustration. If the mutant happened to possess a special ability like a Screamer that could summon more zombies, he needed to deal with it before that ability could be unleashed. It was at that moment. Keuddeudeuk- Amidst the deafening cries of the zombies, a grating noise could be heard. The sound of heavy metal scraping across the floor. Just as Aiden tried to locate the source, Arian, whose eyes could pierce the darkness, spoke up. ¡°It¡¯s coming!¡± Boooom! Overlapping with Arian¡¯s voice, a deafening sound akin to an explosion resonated ¨C the shattering of steel against steel. When the flashlight was aimed in that direction, a large smith machine could be seen lying on its side, mangled beyond recognition. And stepping on that crushed exercise equipment was... a barbell. A lengthy steel bar with weights attached, also known as a barbell. ¡°A barbell...?¡± Aiden¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. Then, as if moving on its own, the barbell that had smashed the smith machine revealed the mutant Aiden had been searching for. ¡°Grruuu...!¡± Finally confirming its appearance, Aiden narrowed his eyes. The mutant¡¯s height was around 190cm, similar to a well-built adult male. Moreover, distinct bodybuilder-like muscles bulged beneath its decayed skin. But the issue was its two arms. The mutant had no hands. From the elbow down on each arm, a broken barbell was embedded, with the decayed muscles tightly gripping the barbell as if it had been grafted on. Keuddeudeuk- For that reason, at the ends of the mutant¡¯s barbell-bearing arms, the massive weight plates, weighing tens of kilograms, scraped noisily across the floor. Was that the source of the grating sound? With that thought, Aiden drew his rifle. He had sensed that melee weapons alone wouldn¡¯t suffice against this enemy. ¡°Grraaaaahh!¡± The mutant moved. Despite bearing the weight of two heavy barbells, it nimbly leapt into the air, twisting its body as it brought one of its barbell arms crashing down towards Arian. Boooom! Fortunately, Arian immediately evaded that strike, but a nearby treadmill was utterly flattened in its wake. That scene indirectly demonstrated the mutant¡¯s immense striking power, prompting Aiden to steel himself. Aiden¡¯s rifle immediately opened fire. But the mutant swiftly retreated behind the exercise equipment, dodging the gunfire. The bullets ricocheted off the steel equipment taller than a person, like power racks. ¡°Tsk...¡± Aiden ceased firing and clicked his tongue in frustration. At this rate, even he couldn¡¯t recklessly shoot. No matter what, there was no way to predict the trajectories of ricocheting stray bullets in such a place. One of his companions could be struck by sheer misfortune. ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡± Perhaps discerning that risk, Arian spoke up. She dashed after the mutant that had fled between the exercise equipment. And as if anticipating this... Whoosh! A sweeping barbell strike came flying, as if to block the narrow path between the lined up equipment. Arian hastily changed directions, leaping to the side. As she landed on the seat portion of a leg press machine, the barbell slammed into the now empty path. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The soft mat was torn asunder, and even the solid concrete beneath was shattered by the impact, shaking the entire building. Tat! Undeterred by that shockwave, Arian leapt forward. Likely judging that such a weighted strike would have left the mutant momentarily off-balance from the recoil. However. ¡°-!¡± In the end, Arian¡¯s expectation proved wrong. Her senses were assaulted by the chilling presence of the steel projectile piercing through the air. At the very edge of her vision to the left, another barbell was hurtling towards her. ¡°Kkh...!¡± Arian clicked her tongue, trying to pull her body back. But it was already too late. Thud! The steel bar shattered her left arm at tremendous speed before continuing on its path. The excruciating pain of her entire arm bone being pulverized washed over her, yet Arian didn¡¯t let out even a scream. She simply grit her teeth as she glared at the mutant. The mutant was freely wielding those barbells packed with immense force. While appearing sluggish at a glance, it could move with startling agility when needed. Its sheer brute strength far exceeded Arian¡¯s expectations. Had she underestimated her opponent? ¡°...¡± Arian¡¯s crimson eyes turned icy cold. The throbbing pain from her arm ignited her fury. That rage enveloped her machete in a crimson aura. But Arian didn¡¯t blindly charge at the mutant. She couldn¡¯t repeat the same mistake twice ¨C creating an opportunity was the top priority now. Bang! Opportunely, a gunshot rang out. It was Aiden. The barbell the mutant had swung at Arian had cleared away the obstructing exercise equipment in Aiden¡¯s line of sight. And Aiden¡¯s bullets struck the mutant¡¯s head squarely. However, they failed to penetrate the mutant¡¯s skull. Only a portion of its decayed flesh and bone flew off, exposing its grotesque inner face. ¡°Grraaaaahh!¡± The mutant let out a roar in response. Its attention, previously focused on Arian, momentarily shifted towards Aiden. Precisely the opportunity Arian had been waiting for. Arian, who had fallen back, now charged at the mutant. But the mutant reacted as well. Rather, it seemed to have been anticipating this, extending one of its barbell arms towards Arian. Whoosh! The steel bar came crashing down from above, aiming to smash Arian. Arian twisted her body, barely evading that strike. However, a second strike immediately followed. The massive steel bar sweeping horizontally seemed impossible to dodge this time. So Arian met it head-on with her machete. Against the barbell hurtling at tremendous speed, the slender machete appeared as flimsy as a toothpick. But... Claaang! The two violently colliding metals simply repelled each other with a resounding clang. At that sight, a regretful sigh escaped Arian¡¯s lips. Had she possessed enough blood, she could have cleaved through that mere weight plate with ease. The crimson glow faded from Arian¡¯s machete, having expended most of her blood reserves. Yet the mutant remained unscathed. A single deflected attack had consumed virtually none of its stamina. But at this point, the outcome had already been decided. The opportunity Arian had aimed for was never solely hers to begin with. She had merely bought Aiden the time to prepare his final strike while securing a line of fire. Boooom! A gunshot distinctly louder than an explosive blast resounded ¨C a high-caliber round capable of piercing even a Brutal¡¯s skull. It tore through the mutant¡¯s head right before Arian¡¯s eyes. * * * A short while later. ¡°...Are you alright?¡± Aiden asked, looking at Arian¡¯s arm. ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s fine. It¡¯ll heal soon.¡± ¡°Still...¡± Despite her words, Sadie looked at Arian with concern. Sophia too seemed rather abashed. For no matter how much they knew her arm would recover, the grotesquely twisted sight still evoked an imagining of the pain. ¡°More importantly, we need to find the person first.¡± At this, Arian changed the subject. Only after hearing those words did Sadie reluctantly nod, while Sophia snapped back to her senses. ¡°But... do you really think they¡¯re here?¡± Sophia spoke up. After all, this was the dwelling of such a dangerous mutant. Add to that the gym¡¯s wide open structure without any compartments. It seemed unlikely for anyone to have survived if they had stumbled in here by chance. ¡°There was something over there.¡± As if answering Sophia¡¯s doubts, Arian pointed towards one corner of the gym. It was the locker room attached to the gym. While a plastic door had originally been installed there, it was now completely shattered. ¡°Let¡¯s check it out first.¡± Aiden led the group into that locker room area. The interior had the typical layout of lockers divided by a central corridor ¨C nothing out of the ordinary. However, at the very back was a separate staff area, and there Aiden discovered an unexpected entrance. ¡°...So there was something like this.¡± It was a door leading up towards the ceiling. A ladder lay fallen on the floor, presumably used to access that door. Rather than being a second floor, it seemed to be a temporary space created for ceiling maintenance or storage purposes. Aiden attempted to use the ladder to open that door. But it was locked. Without a word, Aiden looked towards Arian, and she nodded in understanding. There was undoubtedly someone inside. ¡°Is anyone in there?¡± Aiden called out as he knocked on the door. A response came immediately. ¡°Wh-Who¡¯s there?¡± A highly tense voice. Well, if they had taken shelter here to avoid the zombies, it was only natural to be wary of unfamiliar visitors. So Aiden gestured towards Sophia. ¡°It¡¯s me! Sophia!¡± ¡°Sophia? No way!¡± ¡°Mateo? Is that you, Mateo? I¡¯ve come to get you. Open up.¡± The ceiling door rattled a few times before finally opening. A Hispanic man then emerged from inside. Sophia introduced him as Mateo Rodriguez. After climbing down the ladder, he let out a deep sigh upon seeing Sophia¡¯s face. ¡°I thought I heard gunshots, but I never expected...¡± ¡°More importantly, are you alright?¡± ¡°Yeah. Haven¡¯t been able to eat anything since getting trapped here, but I¡¯m not injured.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡± Sophia said, then turned her gaze back up towards the ceiling. But there were no other signs of anyone else up there. ¡°But what about the others?¡± ¡°...They¡¯re not here.¡± ¡°Then?¡± ¡°We made it to the grocery store together, but we split up there. I just mindlessly ran and ended up taking shelter here.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying the others fled somewhere else?¡± ¡°Well... probably not.¡± Mateo answered with a gloomy expression. Sophia tilted her head in puzzlement. Mateo licked his lips anxiously before continuing to speak. ¡°Listen, Sophia.¡± ¡°...Why the sudden seriousness?¡± ¡°You know, Oliver...¡± Although uneasy, Sophia slowly nodded. There were now only two remaining companions. Oliver Smith and Chloe Robinson. But Mateo¡¯s following words were devastating for Sophia, who was looking her companions. ¡°The last time I saw him... he as already infected.¡± ¡°What..?¡± Sophia asked back paled. Chapter 178 ¡°No way. What kind of...¡± Sophia¡¯s face turned pale upon hearing Mateo¡¯s words. ¡°No, it can¡¯t be, right? But Oliver...!¡± The lips that had tried to continue were ultimately unable to form any more words. Mateo opened his mouth again in a harsh, stiff tone. ¡°I saw him get attacked with my own eyes.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I just thought you needed to know.¡± Mateo added an apology as he deeply lowered his head. For a while, Sophia couldn¡¯t respond at all. But just as she was finally about to find her voice again. ¡°Kiii...¡± The faint groan of a zombie could be heard coming from beyond the wall. Perhaps the sounds of their battle within the gym had leaked outside. Kung! Kung! Then, as if reacting to the human voices coming from inside the building, the zombie pounded against the wall. That noise forcibly cut off Mateo and Sophia¡¯s conversation. Amidst that chaotic atmosphere, Aiden spoke up. ¡°Let¡¯s move for now. This place seems dangerous.¡± Sophia slightly bit her lip. With a face that looked like she might burst into tears any moment, she stared towards the locker room¡¯s exit. ¡°...Okay.¡± Sophia answered with a voice that sounded forcibly suppressed. Aiden led his group out of the locker room. It was then that Mateo, belatedly noticing Aiden¡¯s presence, turned to look at Aiden¡¯s companions. ¡°But you people are...¡± ¡°The junk dealer your companion hired.¡± Aiden briefly relayed the request from Sophia to him. At that explanation, Mateo simply nodded his head. He too seemed to lack the mental leeway to even question the presence of the two young girls accompanying Aiden. Perhaps due to the grueling ordeal of being trapped here. They soon exited the gym. Fortunately, there weren¡¯t many zombies that had gathered in the vicinity yet. Enough for them to avoid combat if necessary. Having judged as such, Aiden looked towards Sophia. ¡°Then we can search the grocery store now.¡± That was the last place Mateo had seen his other companions. It was a location they had to visit for their scouting mission. But to that suggestion, Sophia didn¡¯t immediately answer, and Mateo spoke up instead. ¡°I¡¯ll go there alone.¡± Mateo advised Sophia to remain here instead. It was because of the man named Oliver that he had mentioned earlier. ¡°I¡¯ll look for Chloe. And if... Oliver is there...¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, Mateo.¡± Sophia cut off Mateo¡¯s words. ¡°I want to confirm it with my own eyes.¡± ¡°...¡± Unable to argue against Sophia¡¯s insistence, Mateo could only nod in response. Confirming their decision, Aiden led his group onward again. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°This way.¡± The grocery store was located on the opposite side of the central shopping area from the gym, separated by a parking lot. So Aiden¡¯s group had to cross that vast parking lot and the road. Fortunately, most of the zombies that had been there were drawn away by Aiden¡¯s luring tactic. While some still remained, by taking a wide detour around the buildings, it was a distance they could reach without much difficulty. ¡°Kuuu...¡± Just as they had made their way from the camp to Glendale, avoiding or silently dispatching zombies, Aiden¡¯s group stealthily advanced. They soon arrived at the grocery store. ¡°Here it is.¡± A low, wide building with a narrow entrance. The grocery store¡¯s structure was similar to the gym. As such, the interior wasn¡¯t visible from the outside. ¡°Arian, what¡¯s inside?¡± ¡°Fortunately, nothing too serious.¡± Arian reported that there were about half as many zombies inside the grocery store compared to the gym, and no mutants were present. ¡°But there is one person there. Based on their location, it seems they¡¯re on the rooftop.¡± ¡°A survivor, then. We¡¯re lucky.¡± Aiden muttered quietly. When he had initially accepted this request, he hadn¡¯t expected even half a chance that any of the three reported missing would still be alive. But now, not only had they rescued one, but another had been discovered as well. As he said, it could only be described as fortunate. ¡°But I smell blood. Their condition doesn¡¯t seem too good.¡± However, that survivor seemed to have sustained some injuries. In that case... it might be better to make a swift entry. With not too many zombies inside, there was no reason to hesitate. Aiden glanced back at his companions. ¡°We¡¯re going in right away. Get ready.¡± At Aiden¡¯s warning, the others each prepared for combat. Even Mateo, whom they had just encountered, carefully gripped the weapon he had. However, Sophia¡¯s state seemed unusual amidst all this. Unable to hide her anxiety more than when facing zombies, her hands were trembling severely. Instantly sensing something amiss, Aiden approached her. ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°...Yeah.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t seem alright.¡± Aiden calmly pressed Sophia, who was forcing herself to appear fine. But Sophia didn¡¯t respond to that. After a brief sigh, Aiden continued speaking. ¡°What was your relationship with Oliver?¡± Aiden had already guessed the reason for Sophia¡¯s behavior. Faced with that direct question, no longer able to evade answering, Sophia¡¯s lips parted heavily. ¡°That¡¯s...¡± With her head lowered towards the ground, Sophia fell silent for a moment. Then, finally opening her mouth, she confessed. ¡°Oliver was... my boyfriend.¡± Sophia admitted that Oliver had been her lover. As if ashamed to say it, Sophia spoke those words, prompting Arian, who had been silently observing from the side, to tilt her head in puzzlement. ¡°Is that really something to hide?¡± ¡°Well, junk dealers tend not to prefer requests like that.¡± The answer came from Aiden. Requests involving lovers or children weren¡¯t particularly welcome for junk dealers. It was because, in such requests, the clients commonly displayed blindly biased tendencies. As a result, the clients themselves often failed to properly assess the risks of the request. In some cases, they even outright concealed hazardous factors and placed impossible demands. Fortunately, this request didn¡¯t reach that extent. But even so, had Aiden known from the beginning, he likely wouldn¡¯t have fully trusted Sophia¡¯s words either. ¡°So that¡¯s how it was.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Then, are you still determined to enter?¡± However, rather than blaming Sophia for hiding that fact, Aiden calmly asked her. In any case, Aiden¡¯s group was already aware that this place was dangerous. And even the mutant they had encountered by chance fell within the scope of expected threats for Aiden. More importantly, there had been no lie in Sophia¡¯s words about rescuing her companions. From a junk dealer¡¯s perspective, there was no reason to fault her at this point. ¡°...I¡¯m going in.¡± On the other hand, to Aiden¡¯s question, Sophia gave that answer. Aiden stared intently at Sophia. Just in case she might do something reckless. But she didn¡¯t seem to be showing any strange signs at the moment, so Aiden nodded and followed up with another question. ¡°Then, could you describe Oliver¡¯s appearance?¡± ¡°Why...?¡± ¡°So that if he has turned into a zombie, I can deal with him as gently as possible.¡± At Aiden¡¯s words, Sophia¡¯s expression stiffened. A brief sigh could be heard from beside them. When Aiden turned, Arian was shooting him a sharp look, muttering something about his lack of tact. ¡°...Oliver was wearing jeans and a gray sweater.¡± Instead of Sophia, it was Mateo who provided the answer. Aiden simply turned away, as if that was enough. ¡°We¡¯re going in.¡± Aiden and Arian simultaneously entered the grocery store¡¯s entrance. Immediately after spotting them, the zombies inside let out shrieks and charged towards them. ¡°Kieeeee!¡± Their frenzy was unchanged, but their numbers weren¡¯t overwhelming. In that case, they were hardly formidable foes for Aiden¡¯s group. Twack! Aiden¡¯s axe, leading the way, cleanly split a zombie¡¯s head in two. Following that, his leg mercilessly kicked aside another corpse that had been trailing behind. Crunch! Accompanied by the sound of shattering ribs, the madly charging zombie¡¯s body staggered. Through that opening, Arian¡¯s machete flew in. The staggering zombie collapsed to the floor, reduced to a headless corpse. In barely a minute¡¯s time, the dozen or so zombies that had swarmed out were swept away like leaves before Aiden and Arian¡¯s onslaught. ¡°Ah...!¡± Watching this, Sophia¡¯s eyes filled with unease instead. Before she could even discern if any of them were her companion, they had all fallen. However, as if aware of her concern, Aiden opened his mouth. ¡°Your companion isn¡¯t among these.¡± ¡°...¡± Even so, Sophia¡¯s gaze momentarily turned towards the fallen zombies. Their discolored skins and tattered, unrecognizable clothes... Nearly all of them seemed to have turned over a year ago. ¡°...There are still some supplies left.¡± Aiden muttered as he surveyed the long rows of shelves. Fortunately, it seemed they would be able to gather enough of the supplies they had come to search for. ¡°Let¡¯s keep moving.¡± But even realizing that, Aiden brusquely passed by the shelves without stopping. There was a proper time to collect supplies. For now, there were still people they needed to find. And so they proceeded through the wide store interior. Occasionally, zombies would notice Aiden¡¯s group and come charging, but they posed no significant threat. At the very back was a door leading to a storage area. Kiii- Upon opening that door and entering, they were greeted by complete darkness. Aiden¡¯s flashlight illuminated the interior. Scattered piles of cardboard boxes could be seen here and there. But there were no human shadows visible anywhere. ¡°Over there.¡± It was then that Arian pointed towards one corner of that storage room. Aiden¡¯s flashlight shone in that direction. There was an iron staircase leading upwards. At the top was a door that likely led to the rooftop, and someone was standing right in front of it. It was a man wearing jeans and a gray sweater with one arm torn off. Oliver. Upon making this discovery, Sophia swallowed hard, and Aiden drew his sword instead of his axe. Around the staircase were scattered remains of a few zombies, along with a green-stained crowbar drenched in their rotten blood. Even though only his back was visible, Aiden could already surmise what had befallen this man named Oliver. ¡°...Oliver?¡± Sophia¡¯s parched voice slipped out into the previously silent storage room. At his lover¡¯s call, Oliver turned his head. Oliver¡¯s face appeared ordinary at a glance. Even after becoming a zombie, human skin didn¡¯t rot away in just a day. So for those who had only recently turned, the only indication that they were no longer human were their pale, discolored pupils. Without any particular injuries, their outward appearance resembled that of a pale-skinned person. And now, that very face stared at Sophia with a blank expression. An expression that seemed as if some semblance of sanity remained, as if he might respond to Sophia¡¯s call at any moment. But that was merely a fleeting illusion conjured by Sophia¡¯s own hopes. ¡°Kiiiiah!¡± The being that had been Oliver let out a bloodcurdling screech as it tumbled down the stairs. Within that horrific wail, there wasn¡¯t a shred of humanity left. Only an insanity more befitting a beast than a human being remained. Aiden positioned himself before that undead creature. ¡°No! Oliver!¡± Sophia cried out, as if realizing what Aiden was about to do. However, the junk dealer who had charged towards the zombie didn¡¯t halt his hand. Swoosh! He mercilessly thrust the sword he was holding up into Oliver¡¯s jaw from below. Sophia let out a scream. Oliver¡¯s body briefly convulsed before immediately going limp like a puppet with its strings cut, unmoving. Aiden gently lowered that motionless body to the floor and withdrew his sword. It was then, a beat later, that blood began flowing from Oliver¡¯s jaw. Not fresh, red human blood, but rotten, discolored green fluid that further defiled the floor. After briefly watching the fallen Oliver, Aiden stepped back. The one who took Aiden¡¯s place standing before him was Sophia. ¡°Oliver...¡± With his eyes closed, Sophia stared intently at Oliver, who looked as if he had simply fallen asleep. There was no doubt about it. No matter how many times she looked, that was undeniably the face of the man she had loved. ¡°No... Oliver, this can¡¯t be...!¡± The swaying Sophia dropped to her knees on the spot. Between her clenched teeth, sobs she could no longer hold back finally burst forth. To Sophia in that state, Aiden couldn¡¯t offer a single word of consolation. For he knew all too well that such words would hold no meaning for her. ¡°Arian.¡± Aiden simply asked Arian to stay by Sophia¡¯s side. Arian nodded in understanding. Aiden then ascended the stairs Oliver had been standing before. Mateo followed behind him. Sadie remained with Arian. Chadak! But the door leading to the rooftop at the top of the stairs was firmly locked. Just in case, Aiden called out to anyone who might be beyond that door. There was no response. ¡°Step back.¡± ¡°What are you planning to do?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to break down the door.¡± The door to the rooftop was made of wood. Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t an excessively sturdy material, so Aiden didn¡¯t need to rely on Arian¡¯s strength for this. Bang! Aiden¡¯s combat boot forcefully struck the area around the door¡¯s handle. The door let out a creaking sound as it twisted like melted butter, and with the next strike, the section connected to the handle shattered. Having finally reached the rooftop, Aiden surveyed his surroundings. Not far from the door, he saw a fallen Caucasian woman. Chloe. Chapter 179 ¡°Chloe!¡± Upon discovering Chloe, Mateo immediately ran over to her. He shook Chloe¡¯s fallen shoulders, calling out to her. ¡°Chloe! Can you hear me? Chloe!¡± But Chloe didn¡¯t regain consciousness. As Mateo stood there, unable to do anything but panic, Aiden approached. ¡°Step aside. Let me check her.¡± Saying so, Aiden showed his ID badge to Mateo. Although Mateo frowned briefly, upon seeing the word ¡®surgeon¡¯ written on the badge, he hurriedly made way for Aiden. ¡°Is this what Arian mentioned?¡± The first thing that caught Aiden¡¯s eye was the wound on her side. While roughly bandaged with torn cloth to stop the bleeding, the area around it was already soaked in blood. He pulled back the cloth. Beneath the blood-stained skin was a long gash. Fortunately, it didn¡¯t seem to be a deep wound penetrating her internal organs. And this amount of bleeding wouldn¡¯t have been enough for her to collapse from blood loss. As Aiden was making this diagnosis, Mateo, who had been watching nearby, showed an expression of realization. ¡°Could it be...¡± He seemed to be assuming the worst after witnessing Chloe¡¯s injury. After all, he had just seen Oliver¡¯s state earlier. However, Aiden immediately dismissed Mateo¡¯s suspicion. ¡°It wasn¡¯t caused by a zombie. If it was, she would have already turned into one by now.¡± The blood that had dripped from her side onto the floor was already completely dried up. At the very least, it had been more than a day since the injury, past the point of needing to worry about turning. At those words, Mateo let out a deep sigh. ¡°Then... why hasn¡¯t she regained consciousness?¡± To that question, Aiden first checked Chloe¡¯s body temperature. Her temperature was normal. It didn¡¯t seem like the wound had caused any inflammation either. In that case... there was no immediately diagnosable critical issue. For Chloe, it was an incredibly fortunate situation. ¡°She¡¯s simply exhausted for now. It would be best to disinfect the wound area first.¡± Aiden said so as he retrieved some disinfectant from the bag he had brought. In the meantime, Mateo carefully repositioned Chloe¡¯s fallen body into a proper lying position. That natural gesture made Aiden suddenly wonder. ¡°By the way...¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Are you this woman¡¯s lover, by any chance?¡± At Aiden¡¯s question, Mateo nodded with a mixture of relief and apology on his face. So that¡¯s how it was. Come to think of it, Aiden should have realized it when he heard they were all university friends. Aiden let out a brief grunt as he finished disinfecting the wound and wrapped a clean bandage over it. That was the extent of treatment he could provide for now. ¡°Let¡¯s start heading back slowly.¡± Aiden had Mateo carry Chloe as he said that. All that remained was to retrieve the scattered food supplies from the grocery store area. * * * A few hours later. They returned to the camp just before sunset. ¡°Phew...!¡± As he entered the camp, Mateo let out a weary sigh. On his back, he was carrying Chloe. The unconscious Chloe had been brought here all the way from Glendale by Mateo himself. ¡°And it looks like there are people who have set up a clinic nearby. It would be best to take her there.¡± ¡°Yes! Thank you so much.¡± Having already started treating Aiden with respect, Mateo nodded deeply and hurried off in the direction of the clinic. The clinic run by the Millers seemed to be doing quite well, more bustling than it had been that morning. ¡°Well then...¡± Following that, Aiden turned his gaze towards Sophia. Although they had found her other companion, her gaze was still gloomy from crying over Oliver¡¯s corpse earlier. Her sorrowful, grief-stricken eyes remained downcast towards the ground. ¡°With that, the request is complete.¡± Aiden matter-of-factly informed the despondent Sophia. At that, she belatedly seemed to remember and opened her mouth. ¡°Ah... right, the compensation.¡± Sophia only said to wait a moment before disappearing somewhere. When she returned, she was indeed carrying a backpack in her hands. ¡°Here.¡± Inside was the compensation she had initially promised. Despite it being a considerable amount of supplies, Sophia handed it over without any reluctance. After receiving it, Aiden turned away. He had no more words to exchange with Sophia. As he was about to leave, Sophia¡¯s voice followed. ¡°And... thank you.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°If it had just been me, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to save anyone.¡± Aiden looked at Sophia¡¯s eyes as she spoke those words. It seemed she had regained some of her composure. When Aiden nodded, Sophia followed after Mateo with slow steps. Silently watching her retreating figure, Arian, who was beside Aiden, spoke up. ¡°So is everything done now?¡± A hint of restlessness could be seen in Arian¡¯s eyes as she asked. It was due to having expended most of her blood reserves against the mutant. Moreover, perhaps because of the lack of blood, her injured arm had yet to fully heal. ¡°Yeah. We can procure blood right away. Just bear with it a little longer.¡± With the compensation from the request, as well as the supplies retrieved from the Glendale grocery store, Aiden¡¯s group currently had quite abundant food supplies. It was enough to trade for not just blood, but any resources Aiden deemed necessary. ¡°This should be fine for now.¡± Aiden began trading with the wanderers as he circled through the camp¡¯s parking lot area. While the wanderers did question Aiden¡¯s actions of purchasing blood, in Phoenix, the value of food and water outweighed such suspicions. Thanks to that, blood was quickly acquired. In an instant, a small plastic bottle was completely filled, and Aiden handed it directly to Arian. Upon receiving it, Arian smiled and ducked into an inconspicuous building, gulping down its contents. Soon after emerging with the now empty bottle, Arian¡¯s arm had already fully healed. Seeing this, even Sadie managed a small smile. The child had likely been constantly worried about Arian¡¯s injury. ¡°At least the urgent matters are taken care of.¡± Aiden muttered under his breath. The sun had already begun to set, but he still had more to do. Blood wasn¡¯t the only necessity. He also needed to replenish the weapons and ammunition expended today, as well as disinfectants and bandages. But as Aiden was about to continue trading... ¡°...Is that really true?¡± ¡°I¡¯m telling you, it¡¯s real! We need to do something about it immediately!¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ominous shouts could be heard coming from somewhere. Aiden turned in that direction. It was towards the camp¡¯s entrance. A group of wanderers who had just returned were shouting something to the others. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Aiden tilted his head slightly as he observed this. It didn¡¯t seem like a simple emotional dispute between wanderers. Following Aiden¡¯s gaze, Arian frowned as she looked at the wanderers there. ¡°Those people... they¡¯re the ones who left the camp for LA earlier today, bragging about their plan.¡± Thanks to her unique senses, Arian could overhear most conversations in the camp. These were people who had remained in her memory. Just that very morning, they had boldly decided to risk the dangers and use vehicles, planning to take a wide detour around the south to reach LA, boasting about it proudly. ¡°Reckless fools.¡± Upon hearing Arian¡¯s assessment, Aiden judged their gamble as such. However, separate from Aiden¡¯s evaluation, he found it odd that they had returned so quickly. Sensing that something must have happened, Aiden focused his attention on the black woman who seemed to be the leader of the returned wanderer group. But Aiden¡¯s group wasn¡¯t the only ones directing their awareness towards her. By now, numerous gazes had converged on the woman. Yet she didn¡¯t seem to notice, nor did she lower her voice. No, she even raised her voice further, as if warning those watching her. ¡°The area south of the city is completely packed with zombies! It¡¯s unnatural!¡± ¡°But isn¡¯t the south supposed to have fewer zombies?¡± ¡°Not a week ago, for sure.¡± The woman insisted that the zombie density beyond the mountain range to the south of the city had clearly changed compared to before. That area was an expansive desert. The woman and her companions had attempted to cross that desert by vehicle but were blocked by an immense horde of zombies, forcing them to turn back. ¡°Has anyone here gone south recently?¡± At this, the man conversing with the woman looked around and asked. But most of the people watching didn¡¯t react. The southern region of Phoenix was known to be dangerous due to its proximity to the mountain range. So hardly anyone had ventured in that direction. However. ¡°My... my companions.¡± Someone among them spoke up. A middle-aged man of Middle Eastern descent. For some reason, his face was solemn as he continued. ¡°My companions went south for exploring.¡± ¡°When?¡± ¡°This morning. And... they haven¡¯t returned yet.¡± Those words cast a heavy pall over the people. The sun was already setting in the sky. If there had been no issues, they should have finished their job and returned long before now. It was clear that something had happened to them. But whether it was related to what the woman had said, no one could be certain. The man anxiously followed up with another question. ¡°Anyone else? Does anyone know anything?¡± But no further answers came forth. That ominous silence only amplified the unease. Observing the wanderers, Aiden let out a brief grunt. Even he couldn¡¯t definitively conclude what had occurred based solely on these clues. ¡°Um...¡± It was then that someone addressed him from behind. It was Mateo, who had left briefly earlier. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Chloe has woken up.¡± ¡°That¡¯s... good news, then.¡± It was a welcome development to hear in the midst of this. It meant, as Aiden had expected, there were no critical health issues. However, Mateo¡¯s expression as he said those words wasn¡¯t particularly bright. ¡°But Chloe is saying some strange things. I thought I should let you know first.¡± ¡°Strange things?¡± ¡°Yes. That this camp is in danger...¡± Mateo¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t very loud. But those few words immediately drew the gazes of everyone who had been focused towards the entrance towards this direction instead. ¡°Why is everyone...¡± Mateo looked around in confusion at the sudden attention. Aiden placed a hand on Mateo¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t mind them, just tell me in detail. What did Chloe say?¡± ¡°She said... the zombies are coming.¡± ¡°On what grounds?¡± ¡°Chloe saw it herself. Last night, from that rooftop.¡± Mateo relayed to Aiden precisely what he had heard from Chloe. Due to unavoidable circumstances, she had been trapped on a building¡¯s rooftop and had originally planned to jump down under the cover of darkness. However, before she could act on that plan, she discovered an immense number of zombies approaching from the west. Under the faint moonlight, like a sandstorm sweeping across the horizon, a sea of undead bodies had been moving during the dead of night. ¡°...¡± At those words, Aiden fell silent for a moment. Mateo seemed to think Chloe had simply hallucinated from exhaustion, but Aiden disagreed. No matter how fatigued, having such a vivid hallucination wasn¡¯t as simple as it seemed. Moreover, considering the wanderer¡¯s earlier eyewitness account, the possibility of what Chloe saw being real was even higher. However... there was one thing that bothered Aiden¡¯s mind. It was the vastly different direction Chloe had seen the zombies coming from compared to the south the wanderer had confirmed. ¡°By the way, where was this grocery store you mentioned?¡± The man who had been conversing with the wanderer asked. ¡°North of Glendale, near Route 101.¡± ¡°Route 101 in Glendale...? That can¡¯t be right. That¡¯s the northwest of Phoenix.¡± As the man said, the location Chloe had been at was the complete opposite direction from where the wanderer had witnessed the zombie horde. In other words, if both their accounts were true, it meant Phoenix was being surrounded by massive zombie hordes from both the south and the north. ¡°It can¡¯t be...¡± At this, someone dismissed it as an impossibility, while another tried to speculate on the reason. But Aiden had already guessed the cause. The sudden marching of zombies like this was forcing a particular city to resurface in his mind. ¡°Fear... perhaps.¡± Aiden¡¯s muttering, though quiet, carried clearly to the wanderers. The mutant named Fear, said to be leading countless zombies from somewhere in the mountains of Arizona. If it was indeed the one controlling the zombies, then causing such an event was entirely possible. However. ¡°Fear is on the move?¡± ¡°But why would it leave the mountains it¡¯s been confined to?¡± Until now, that Fear and its horde had never once set foot in Phoenix or any other city. Like a highly territorial beast, it had never left the mountain range that was its den. So the wanderers shook their heads at Aiden¡¯s conjecture, dismissing it as unlikely. But at that moment. ¡°????-!¡± An indescribably chilling wail assaulted their ears. A guttural roar transmitted from an impossibly distant location. To those in the camp, it was but a faint echo, softer than even a bird¡¯s cry. And yet, they could still recognize it clearly. This was the distinct howl that had earned the creature the name ¡®Fear.¡¯ A haunting screech one would expect to hear only in nightmares. Even the faint resonance that had traveled such a vast distance was enough to make humans tremble. At that sound, the mouths of the wanderers who had been dismissing the possibility of it being Fear fell shut heavily. ¡°Is it really Fear...?¡± ¡°You said Glendale, right? Has anyone gone towards Glendale recently?¡± In an instant, the wanderers began to falter. Those who had been idly listening like spectators across a river just moments ago now took the lead in questioning the others for information. But the results were not favorable. Before long, reports came that nearly all the wanderers who had headed south and west had failed to return. The only ones who had safely come back from those directions were Aiden¡¯s group. However, the sole survivor they had rescued, Chloe, was still insisting that this camp was in danger. ¡°Then... what do we do now?¡± Someone muttered those words as they looked up at the sky. The reddish sunset glow was already fading, like a candle about to be extinguished. The time of the undead was upon them once more. ¡°We don¡¯t have much time to decide. We need to make a decision quickly.¡± Aiden spoke. A chilling air drifted through the wanderers. Chapter 180 ¡°What¡¯s there to think about? We need to leave this place.¡± One of the wanderers gathered in the plaza spoke up. Sighs could be heard from all around. Having to move in the dead of night was an immensely burdensome prospect. But they couldn¡¯t just stay put either. If it was true that Fear led countless mutants in marching every night, then as the man said, remaining here would be even more reckless. In the end, the wanderers had no choice but to opt for the lesser evil. Those who had made up their minds exchanged glances with each other. ¡°It¡¯s fine if we¡¯re leaving, but where are we going?¡± ¡°We have to head east. That¡¯s the only way.¡± The west and south of Phoenix were already overrun with zombies. And the north was too close to Glendale in the northwest, leaving the east as the safest direction. As the conversation progressed to that point, some impatient wanderers had already started packing their belongings. It was then that the woman who had first spoken opened her mouth again. ¡°Since we¡¯ll be moving anyway, let¡¯s all move together.¡± She then proposed that all the wanderers travel together. It was a reasonable suggestion. Even if they immediately departed for the east, it would be difficult to leave the metropolitan area before nightfall. There was also the possibility of encountering any hidden mutants if they were unlucky. So it would be far more advantageous to move as a group rather than separately. ¡°That does sound better.¡± ¡°It¡¯s unsettling, but... this is the best option for now.¡± In agreement with the woman¡¯s proposal, wanderers gathered around her. Watching those people, Arian turned to look at Aiden. ¡°What will we do?¡± ¡°...Hard to say.¡± Unlike his usual self, Aiden hesitated in making a decision at Arian¡¯s question. He was already overlapping this situation in Phoenix with his past experience ¨C the events in Pittsburgh. Back then, he had faced off against the Commander who had led countless zombies and mutants, and apart from the larger scale, the current circumstances were uncannily similar. At that time, Aiden had chosen to fight rather than flee. An inevitable choice made due to lacking the time to escape. But the result had been disastrous. Despite having the irregular combatant Arian, the only one he could save was Sadie. Sadie¡¯s mother Rebecca, and their companion Diana, had been sacrificed in that battle-torn building. That¡¯s why Aiden understood better than anyone how perilous it would be to confront Fear, who was said to lead even larger hordes of zombies than before. So in this case, Aiden should have also joined the wanderers¡¯ group, combining their strength to safely evacuate from here. However, the reason Aiden couldn¡¯t readily make that decision was due to a certain apprehension. No, perhaps ¡®intuition¡¯ would be a more apt term. The image of the nest he had seen at a certain military base refused to leave his mind. The horrific scene blanketed in human bones. But from that nest, one thing could be discerned. Fear was not an ordinary mutant, exceptional not just in physical abilities but also in terms of intelligence. That¡¯s why the current situation bothered Aiden. The creature was pressing inwards from three of the four cardinal directions, leaving the east that originally had fewer zombies wide open. To Aiden, it seemed far too intentional. Of course, rationally thinking, such a notion was absurd. The idea that decayed-brained zombies could formulate strategies, predict human behaviors, and lure them into a trap was an extremely far-fetched story. So perhaps it was simply a coincidence, and following that path was the correct judgment. ¡°Still... doesn¡¯t something seem off to you?¡± However, Aiden¡¯s apprehension was not his alone. Arian seemed to share a similar thought. When Aiden asked why she felt that way, Arian nonchalantly answered. ¡°Well... it¡¯s just something other people might find difficult to consider.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°They don¡¯t know you like I do.¡± The basis for Arian¡¯s thinking was none other than Aiden himself. Just as there was a human-like zombie like him, couldn¡¯t there also be mutants somewhere in between humans and zombies? ¡°...¡± At those words, Aiden fell silent. It was an unconventional perspective, but it did make sense. Aiden had judged himself to be an individual whose zombification had halted for some reason. But if he were to be categorized as one of the mutant variants of zombies... then Arian¡¯s words weren¡¯t entirely implausible. ¡°So you¡¯re not going to join them?¡± After a brief silence, Arian followed up with another question. By now, the wanderers had gathered around the entrance. Their number was approximately 400. Over 80% of the 500 or so wanderers in the camp had assembled together. While there were those who didn¡¯t join, even they were mostly preparing to leave this place or had already departed. Aiden shook his head as he observed them. ¡°If the east really is a trap... then we can no longer leave the city.¡± ¡°Ah, just like in Pittsburgh, huh.¡± ¡°...Yeah.¡± A situation with no way out. But Aiden had faced such an enemy before, so he also knew the way to break through. ¡°Which is why we need to strike first this time.¡± Specifically, dealing with Fear itself. A massive zombie horde including mutants couldn¡¯t exist without something controlling their instincts. So if they took down the one controlling them, the zombie horde would naturally disband. Of course, that was easier said than done... but it had been possible in Pittsburgh. Aiden would have to utilize that experience. ¡°But... we won¡¯t be enough on our own.¡± After a moment¡¯s contemplation, Aiden said those words. He then looked towards the direction of the clinic run by the Millers. There were people there unable to join the wanderers¡¯ evacuation group. Injured patients and their companions staying with them. For them, the others¡¯ proposal to immediately pack up and leave Phoenix was an impossibility. Leaving Phoenix meant having to travel dozens of kilometers across the desert overnight. Even if they carried their companions instead of belongings, there were obvious limits. If they recklessly tried to keep up, they would inevitably fall behind eventually. Among those people was the sight of Sophia and her companions, at a loss over what to do. Their number totaled around 30. Compared to the vast zombie hordes, it was a mere handful, but for Aiden, even that much assistance was desperately needed. He immediately approached them. ¡°What will you all do?¡± At Aiden¡¯s words, Sophia fell silent. They had no good options either. So to them, Aiden proposed joining forces with him. ¡°Is there a way?¡± Harboring a faint hope, Sophia asked. Aiden plainly laid out his thoughts. ¡°We need to occupy a tall, narrow building and defend it through the night. That¡¯s the best option. This place should work.¡± Aiden pointed out a suitable building on his map. It was a high-rise apartment complex located about 3km from the camp. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With its height reaching 20 floors and its apartment structure, it fit Aiden¡¯s criteria precisely. Additionally, even while carrying injured patients, it was a distance they could reach within an hour. However, Sophia¡¯s expression didn¡¯t brighten upon hearing Aiden¡¯s explanation. In the end, it meant risking their lives in combat. ¡°Even then, it will be difficult to hold out against that many zombies.¡± ¡°Your words are true, of course.¡± Aiden understood Sophia¡¯s concerns. But for them, there were no other choices left. ¡°But at the very least, it will be far better than staying here. If we can¡¯t leave this place, we¡¯ll have to fight eventually.¡± ¡°...¡± Sophia closed her mouth. Aiden was right. After a brief consultation with her companions Mateo and Chloe, she soon nodded in agreement. ¡°Alright. We¡¯ll go with you too.¡± Sophia said those words as she joined Aiden¡¯s side. And before long, the other injured patients and their companions at the clinic also joined Aiden¡¯s group. ¡°You as well?¡± Among those who joined were the Millers themselves. Unlike the injured who couldn¡¯t easily leave the city, Aiden expressed his doubts about the Millers¡¯ decision to accompany them. At that, Logan shrugged his shoulders and spoke up. ¡°Isn¡¯t it the same for you? You could have fled this place too. But you didn¡¯t. There must be a reason for that.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°All we¡¯re doing is trusting your judgment. The people I¡¯ve seen in you all are... extraordinary.¡± If that was the case, Aiden had nothing more to say. And so, around 30 people gathered around Aiden as the central point. The first thing Aiden told them was to sell off all their food and water supplies. ¡°Use your food supplies to buy weapons. Before those people depart.¡± Aiden pointed towards the wanderers who had just started their preparations to leave. For those fleeing to avoid combat, procuring food and water for crossing the desert would be their top priority. So if they proposed trades, the wanderers would gladly hand over any surplus weapons they had. ¡°But...¡± However, food and water supplies were also crucial resources for Aiden¡¯s group. So some hesitated over the trades, but Aiden¡¯s words were firm. ¡°Isn¡¯t surviving today more important than worrying about food for tomorrow?¡± Urged by his words, the people soon followed Aiden¡¯s instructions. The fleeing wanderers didn¡¯t miss this final opportunity to secure more supplies before their departure. As a result, Aiden¡¯s group was able to obtain a considerable number of weapons. ¡°Move out!¡± Immediately after, the 400 or so wanderers who had chosen to flee finally completed their preparations and left the camp. With their departure, the once bustling plaza fell deathly silent, as if emptied. All that remained were the 30 or so people and their newly acquired weapons. ¡°How are we supposed to carry all these?¡± Seeing the mountain of weapons, Sophia asked. The others seemed to share similar concerns, but Aiden reassured them as he spoke. ¡°We¡¯ll move them by truck. No need to worry.¡± ¡°What? There was a truck?¡± Of course, Aiden didn¡¯t actually have a truck. However, just before, Aiden had also sold off all his remaining food and water supplies, exchanging half for weapons and the other half for blood. As a result, Aiden¡¯s group now had a considerable amount of blood reserves, which Aiden intended to utilize. ¡°...¡± Without a word, Aiden gave Arian a meaningful look. In response, Arian nodded, indicating no problems. ¡°Then let¡¯s get moving too. The sun will be setting soon.¡± Aiden led the group, including Sophia¡¯s companions and the Millers, out of the camp. * * * Around an hour later, just as the sun had fully set. They were able to reach the apartment complex, their destination. ¡°...Fortunately, the building seems to be in decent condition.¡± Having arrived just in time, Aiden spoke as he observed the apartment building. Towering alone amidst the residential and commercial areas, the apartment¡¯s presence stood out prominently compared to the mostly one to three-story buildings surrounding it. ¡°Wh... When did this...¡± And in front of that apartment were all the weapons they had acquired from the camp, already moved here. But there was no time to question it. The sun had set, and darkness had fallen. It meant the zombies, including Fear, would start moving soon, and considering the distance, they would likely arrive here within two hours at most. ¡°Get up to the higher floors. I¡¯ll secure the building.¡± Aiden took the lead in ensuring the apartment¡¯s safety. The scattered dozen or so zombies inside had their heads instantly blown apart. Meanwhile, the apartment¡¯s structure had three elevators and emergency staircases at each end of the building. As expected, those corridors and staircases were narrow and elongated. Based on the apartment¡¯s internal layout, Aiden began preparing their defenses. First, he moved furniture to block the narrow emergency staircases, constructing barricades. Additionally, he set up booby traps using grenades and such between those barricades. He secured three of these defensive lines on each side¡¯s staircase, spaced two floors apart. Not stopping there, he even erected barricades in the hallways on the topmost floor. That would be their final line of defense. After establishing these defensive positions, Aiden stationed people and weapons at each section. For hastily constructed defenses, their sturdiness was quite considerable. The barricades, fortified not just with explosives but even mounted with hundreds of rounds of machine gun ammunition, were impregnable by regular zombies alone. Moreover, with the narrow staircases they would have to climb, even most mutants would find it challenging to breach through. As the defenses gradually took shape, the expressions of the people lightened with relief. However, Arian, watching from behind, inwardly voiced her concerns. ¡°Will this really be enough?¡± She too seemed to be recalling the events in Pittsburgh as she observed the current situation. The zombies were approaching Aiden¡¯s group in the same manner as back then. But up to this point, Aiden¡¯s countermeasures hadn¡¯t differed much either. It was merely a matter of having slightly more people this time. That¡¯s why the memory of losing two companions back then resurfaced for Arian. She couldn¡¯t help but worry if similar sacrifices would have to be made this time as well. But Aiden declared that this time would be different. ¡°We made a mistake back then. From the start, we should have targeted it directly.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve set up booby traps at the entrance on the first floor. If the horde comes rushing in, it should immediately draw their attention.¡± Arian raised her eyebrows at those unexpected words. She had thought Aiden would try to hole up in this building as quietly as possible today. But he was saying he intended to actively lure the zombies to them. And that wasn¡¯t all. ¡°Also, you and I won¡¯t be defending the front lines today.¡± He said he would entrust the building¡¯s defense entirely to the other people. It sounded preposterous, but Arian calmly followed up with another question. ¡°Then... what will we do?¡± ¡°We¡¯re going to the rooftop. From there, we¡¯ll locate it. Once it realizes this place isn¡¯t empty, it¡¯s bound to reveal itself.¡± Slung across Aiden¡¯s back was a large-caliber sniper rifle equipped with a night scope. ¡°If we can take it down with sniping like last time, that would be ideal. But if not...¡± The gaze within Aiden¡¯s helmet silently turned towards Arian. It was then that Arian understood Aiden¡¯s intentions. Rather than responding passively like before, he planned to actively lure out the creature this time. It was an audacious approach, but not an impossible one. The longer this dragged on, the more disadvantageous it became for their side. That¡¯s why, instead of playing decoy amid the zombies and mutants, Aiden aimed to hunt down the leader, Fear, as quickly as possible. ¡°...Got it. I¡¯ll go.¡± Understanding his plan, Arian nodded in agreement. Coincidentally, as she looked outside, the faint moonlight illuminated the far horizon, which seemed to be stirring. To human eyes, it merely appeared as if the darkness was rippling. But Arian¡¯s eyes could clearly see it. A zombie horde numbering at least in the hundreds of thousands was surging towards this location. Chapter 181 ¡°...An immense number.¡± Observing the zombies surging from the darkness, Aiden muttered under his breath. From his vantage point atop the 20-story building, he had an expansive view that even allowed the buildings in the distant city center to be seen several kilometers away. But nearly half of that wide field of vision was filled with zombies. Not just the western direction Aiden was focusing on, but the zombies¡¯ presence also stretched towards the northern mountains. And to the south, while still far off, the undead were engulfing the city as well. Their encirclement literally blanketed the entirety of Phoenix. The sheer length exceeded 20km. The number of zombies mobilized for this was simply uncountable. At minimum, hundreds of thousands. The scale clearly exceeding Aiden¡¯s expectations prompted a brief grunt from within his helmet. ¡°They¡¯re getting closer.¡± The vanguard of that zombie horde had finally reached the vicinity of the apartment Aiden¡¯s group had occupied. The four-lane road in front of the apartment was packed densely with corpses. The undead could be seen mindlessly passing over it in disarray. But the zombies showed no intention of entering the building itself. They merely swept through the streets like a massive tidal wave. ¡°...¡± From within the apartment that would soon be buried in the midst of that procession of corpses, Aiden tried to locate Fear amidst the zombies. However, Fear¡¯s figure was nowhere to be seen. Not that it was unexpected. That mutant leading this zombie horde would currently be located somewhere within the vast expanse of Phoenix. To hope that such a creature would readily appear within Aiden¡¯s line of sight was simply leaving it to chance. At this rate, there was no telling when he might encounter Fear. But it was right at that moment. The booby trap Aiden had prepared exploded. Boom! A momentary flash accompanied by a thunderous explosion erupted from the apartment¡¯s first-floor entrance. It seemed an unfortunate zombie that had been swept off the road and wandered to the entrance had triggered the trap. Grenades had been rigged to that booby trap. Thanks to that, the zombies within a radius of ten-odd meters from the apartment entrance were instantly reduced to shredded meat. That detonation and ensuing chaos caused the zombies¡¯ dull, vacant eyes to glint with frenzy. They began surging towards the apartment. ¡°So it begins.¡± Accompanying Aiden¡¯s mutter, another explosion rang out. The pre-installed traps Aiden had set. With each detonation, those traps consumed dozens of zombies at a time. But the noise and flames only drew even greater numbers of the undead. ¡°Kiiiii!¡± ¡°Uwoooooh!¡± Soon, the surrounding corpses swarmed in a black tide towards the apartment¡¯s vicinity. While mutants were among them in no small number, none could immediately reach the upper-level defensive lines of the apartment. Not solely due to Aiden¡¯s traps, however. No matter how many traps he had set, they could never rival the sheer numbers of those zombies. It was the apartment¡¯s narrow structure, not designed for such large-scale traffic, that was causing a bottleneck effect for the creatures. A Bigfoot¡¯s massive frame could be seen wedged in the entrance, unable to advance or retreat. ¡°...Still no sign of this Fear?¡± Observing the zombies below, Arian asked with a hint of restlessness. While the fierce onslaught had been considerably weakened by having to pass through the narrow corridors, thankfully, it was only a matter of time before the zombies reached their defensive positions. ¡°This has only just begun. Stay calm and wait.¡± ¡°But...¡± Arian furrowed her brow slightly. They had entrusted the apartment¡¯s defenses to the other people. But among them was Sadie as well. She couldn¡¯t help but feel uneasy about leaving the rear guard solely to them. Letting out a gloomy sigh at Arian¡¯s words, the truth was that Aiden shared the same apprehension. No matter how many layers of barricades they had constructed, no matter how much firepower they had armed that location with, variables could still arise. Especially if mutants were present, such variables were difficult even for Aiden to foresee. And among the zombies now trying to force their way into the apartment, mutants could already be easily spotted. Moreover, with their path obstructed, those creatures were conveniently standing still like perfect targets. This was an opportunity Aiden couldn¡¯t easily let slip by. So he decided to exercise a degree of flexibility. ¡°Can you operate the scope?¡± ¡°Of course. But why?¡± ¡°You search for it. I¡¯ll provide support from here against the ones entering the apartment below.¡± Aiden entrusted the scouting to Arian. In the meantime, he would snipe any mutants that breached into the apartment from the rooftop. With Arian¡¯s superior senses, this wasn¡¯t an unreasonable allocation of roles. Arian immediately nodded in understanding. ¡°Got it. But what exactly should I be looking for?¡± S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°...Brutals.¡± At Aiden¡¯s words, Arian tilted her head slightly in puzzlement. She had already spotted a few of those tyrant-like mutants earlier. But Aiden¡¯s next words followed. ¡°It¡¯s said to move around with other mutants as bodyguards.¡± That was one of the pieces of information Aiden had obtained about Fear. ¡°It¡¯s different from the Commander I saw in Pittsburgh. It¡¯s likely a creature that knows how to protect itself. So it will undoubtedly move together with Brutals.¡± ¡°So... I just need to find where multiple Brutals are clustered together?¡± Arian summarized, and Aiden nodded as he added. ¡°But don¡¯t rush. It will likely be quite cautious as well. It may not show its face for quite a while.¡± ¡°What... you mean it might not appear at all?¡± ¡°Not quite.¡± Aiden extended his sniper rifle towards the area below the apartment. Through his scope, the head of a Hedgehog could be clearly seen. ¡°No matter how powerful the mutant, this is a place it cannot recklessly charge into. Even if that weren¡¯t the case, I¡¯ll make it seem that way.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Which means, for the zombies to breach this location, they will inevitably require intelligence. The intelligence to circumvent traps and deploy elite strike forces. For that alone, it is bound to reveal itself.¡± Bang! Aiden¡¯s rifle discharged. The Hedgehog that had been trying to enter the apartment had its head blown apart, its body immediately going limp. But wedged amidst the masses of zombies, the fallen Hedgehog didn¡¯t even collapse. Its corpse merely obstructed the flow like a buoy stuck in the middle of a crowded subway. ¡°So it will definitely appear. Don¡¯t let your guard down.¡± At Aiden¡¯s words, Arian nodded slightly with a tense expression. Immediately taking up the scope, she continuously scanned every nook and cranny of the view she had previously been unable to see. And before long. Tatatatatatata! The savage roar of machine gun fire echoed from the lower floors. It meant the zombies that had finally breached into the apartment had reached the defensive lines. * * * ¡°Here they come again!¡± At the first defensive line on the staircase leading to the 14th floor of the apartment. It was the machine gunner Sophia who shouted those words. The 2.5-meter wide staircase, which had only gathered dust until just before, no longer looked the same. The glass wall in the direction the machine gun was aimed had been completely shattered without a trace. And the furniture that had previously blocked the staircase below had been smashed beyond recognition. But more gruesome than anything were the scattered chunks of rotten flesh coating the area around those stairs. Tatata-! The machine gun mounted on its stand trembled like an earthquake as it spewed gunfire. The zombies that had been climbing those stairs were instantly shredded and torn apart by that merciless hail of steel, further splattering their flesh in all directions. How many had it been by now? She hadn¡¯t counted from the start, but it felt like it had surpassed hundreds already. And still, there were many zombies remaining. Having witnessed the spectacle outside herself, she was all too aware of that fact. ¡°Heh, I was wondering how this would go at first...¡± Sophia muttered quietly as she continued firing the machine gun. In truth, when she had first come face-to-face with the staggering number of zombies passing by outside the building, it had felt utterly hopeless. She had thought there was no way they could survive amidst those hordes. She had regretted numerous times that they should have fled, no matter how recklessly. But now, having directly clashed with those creatures, her thoughts had somewhat changed. Unexpectedly, the battle was manageable. Above all, the first line of defense she was guarding remained sturdy. A Wielder had managed to force its way up earlier, but even that mutant was merely a mass of meat before the machine gun¡¯s firepower. So if they could just endure like this... perhaps they really could survive. Sophia had that thought when suddenly, Her finger on the trigger felt unnaturally light. Instead of the satisfying gunshot, what followed was an empty metallic click. It was only then that she realized the ammunition belt containing hundreds of rounds had been completely expended. ¡°Machine gun! We need to reload!¡± Sophia shouted. At that, the people who had been behind and beside her stepped forward. While the machine gun fell momentarily silent, they drew their rifles towards the zombies that continued climbing up. ¡°Where are the machine gun ammo cans?¡± ¡°Here! I just brought them.¡± A child who had run down from the upper floor handed Sophia a large ammunition box. Sophia accepted it, inwardly surprised. It was a considerably heavy weight for the girl, who looked to be only around 10 years old, to be carrying. Sadie, if she recalled correctly. Sophia briefly watched the panting child who had hurriedly brought it. But Sadie showed no signs of strain as she handed it over and immediately headed back upstairs. After watching Sadie with an impressed gaze, Sophia snapped back to attention. Clearing the spent ammunition belt from the machine gun, she loaded the new box magazine this time instead. While their loading mechanisms differed slightly, Sophia easily reloaded the machine gun. Ting! But then, a sharp ¡®ping¡¯ sound reached Sophia¡¯s ears. Not from a zombie, but someone¡¯s stray bullet. Furrowing her brow, Sophia shouted a warning. ¡°Don¡¯t shoot at the wall! Watch your muzzles! I almost got hit!¡± After cautioning those firing rifles, Sophia gripped the machine gun once more. By now, a reddish glow had formed around the machine gun¡¯s barrel. It was overheating. Did she need to pause firing for a moment? But unfortunately, Sophia wasn¡¯t afforded that luxury. ¡°Grruuuu!¡± The sudden zombie moan from below caused her eyes to widen. It was the unmistakable roar of a mutant, distinct from regular zombies. Moreover, it was the cry of a monster Sophia had encountered before. ¡°Damn... it¡¯s a Brutal!¡± Accompanying Sophia¡¯s shout, a resounding Bang! shook the building. The Brutal, confined within the narrow zombie-packed corridor, was throwing a tantrum laced with impatience. It didn¡¯t leave even its kin obstructing its path unscathed. Twawack! The Brutal¡¯s monstrous strength mercilessly trampled the zombies that had been climbing the stairs. The tremors it caused could be felt gradually approaching. At this, Sophia released her grip on the machine gun. A Brutal was a monster that couldn¡¯t be driven back even by this machine gun¡¯s fire. That was something Sophia, who had once narrowly escaped death from a Brutal, understood all too well. That¡¯s why she immediately recalled the instructions Aiden had given. ¡°Fall back!¡± The personnel defending the barricade retreated from the stairs into the apartment¡¯s inner corridor. There, they immediately entered the adjacent room, which contained several detonator switches connected in a line. All of them were pre-installed explosives. Bang! The building shook again. Thanks to the Brutal¡¯s reckless advance, its location could be clearly estimated. Directly below, on the 13th floor. Without hesitation, Sophia pressed the detonator switch corresponding to that floor number. Accompanied by an ear-ringing explosion, the sound of countless shrapnel fragments ricocheting from the stairwell area followed. Claymore mines. The hundreds of steel balls exploded along with the blast, violently tearing through the confined staircase. ¡°Grraaaaahh!¡± Even so, the Brutal didn¡¯t fall silent. With parts of its face and outer skin shredded, exposing the solid muscles beneath and even the bone, it endured the full force of the Claymores, just as it had in that hotel in Pittsburgh, refusing to collapse. ¡°...¡± But Sophia didn¡¯t show a hint of emotion despite witnessing the Brutal¡¯s resilience. That toughness was something Aiden, who had installed these explosives, hadn¡¯t overlooked either. Boooooom! Immediately after, the second set of explosives connected to the detonators erupted. The Brutal, which had withstood a single blast, finally succumbed before the successive detonation that followed. ¡°Uwooooh...¡± The Brutal¡¯s body, with its limbs torn asunder, collapsed on the spot. Confirming the mutant¡¯s movements had ceased, Sophia returned to the barricade. Although the explosion had occurred on the lower floor, the shockwave that had swept through the stairwell left considerable impact. Shrapnel fragments were embedded all around the barricade Sophia and the others had been defending. Had Sophia remained there, she too would have been caught in the blast. But that wasn¡¯t the issue. Some of the fragments seemed to have struck the gun barrel, damaging the machine gun. Seeing this, Sophia clicked her tongue in frustration. With only rifles instead of the machine gun, there would be limitations in defending the barricade. While regular zombies could still be held off, any mutants impervious to rifle fire would be impossible to stop. ¡°Pass word that we¡¯ll likely have to abandon this barricade soon.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± At Sophia¡¯s words, one of the women ran down the corridor. When abandoning this position, the personnel guarding the opposite staircase would also need to retreat together, hence the message being relayed. ¡°...¡± In contrast to her earlier brimming confidence, a hint of unease now flickered in Sophia¡¯s eyes. The defensive line that had seemed so sturdy was ultimately breached. ¡°Uwoooooh!¡± Once again, the cry of a mutant echoed from below. This sound was... likely a Hedgehog, perhaps. Another creature difficult to contend with using just rifles. ¡°No choice. Everyone fall back.¡± With no other option, Sophia ordered her forces to retreat upwards to the defensive position on the 16th floor. She too gathered what supplies she could carry. It was then that the heavy footsteps of the Hedgehog could be heard approaching from below. Sophia ran up the stairs. And from her pocket, she retrieved something. Another detonator switch. Soon after, the entire 14th floor barricade erupted, engulfing the Hedgehog. Chapter 182 ¡°The 14th floor has been breached. The first defensive line seems to have fallen.¡± Arian, surveying the surroundings from the rooftop, spoke those words. While she searched the surging tide of corpses in the darkness for any sign of Fear, she didn¡¯t miss the sounds coming from below either. On the other hand, Aiden only let out a heavy grunt in response. It wasn¡¯t unexpected. Even from this rooftop where he stood, he could confirm the sight of Brutals forcing their way into the apartment. ¡°...Not easy, is it?¡± He muttered as he checked the remaining high-caliber ammunition. From this position, Aiden had been relentlessly sniping towards the area below the building. As a result, he had managed to take down a considerable number of mutants, but there was a limit to what he could do alone. The mutants approached from all sides of the building, and their numbers were substantial. Particularly, the Brutal he had just allowed inside was one of two Brutals that had simultaneously advanced from the south and east sides of the building. While Aiden had desperately tried to silence one before it could enter, the other had ultimately succeeded in breaching the defenses. ¡°How long can the 16th floor hold out?¡± ¡°...Hard to say.¡± There was a heavy tinge of worry in Arian¡¯s voice. To that question, even Aiden couldn¡¯t readily answer. The Brutal that had just invaded the building was merely the beginning. Arian had already confirmed over 10 Brutals heading this way, and that was just the ones she could see. Even if Aiden managed to stop half of them, the defensive line would still have to face the remaining five. And considering the other mutant types besides Brutals... the defensive positions were inevitably going to be overwhelmed eventually. Well, that was only natural. The operation Aiden had proposed wasn¡¯t intended for them to defeat the hundreds of thousands of zombies from within this apartment in the first place. The advantages of the apartment¡¯s narrow staircases, the properly placed explosives, the erected barricades, and accumulated ammunition ¨C all of it would eventually be depleted. In other words, this operation was essentially a race against time to hunt down Fear before those resources were exhausted. ¡°It won¡¯t fall easily. But... it can¡¯t hold out forever either.¡± ¡°Then...¡± ¡°So we need to end this before that happens.¡± ¡°...¡± Arian bit her lip slightly. It all came down to whether she could locate Fear in time, after all. Arian peered intently through the scope she hadn¡¯t taken her eyes off since earlier, surveying the view visible from the rooftop once more. But Fear¡¯s figure still couldn¡¯t be seen anywhere. The number of Brutals, which could serve as a clue to its presence, also remained unchanged from before. Two to the south of the apartment, six to the west, and three to the southwest. The only thing that had changed was their positions. Slowly but surely, like a ticking time bomb, they were gradually closing in on the apartment. Drawn by the incessant gunfire and explosions echoing from here. The momentary restlessness Arian had felt suddenly turned into a sense of dissonance. Among the eleven Brutals she had been observing... Only one remained in the same location as before. ¡°Huh...?¡± Arian tilted her head slightly. That Brutal¡¯s position was in the shopping district about 2km away. Too far for human eyes to make out properly, even with a scope. But Arian¡¯s vampiric vision in the darkness could discern even that creature¡¯s expression with clarity. Its grotesquely twisted face, the muscular bulk that had burst through its tattered skin, and those massive, trembling fists. All of it appeared no different from the other Brutals. Except that this one was half-buried in the shadows of a two-story large store, glaring in this direction. As if engaged in a staring contest with Arian¡¯s invisible gaze. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Reacting to the words Arian had unconsciously let slip, Aiden responded. Arian relayed to him exactly what she had witnessed. ¡°...!¡± At that, Aiden¡¯s brow furrowed ever so slightly. Taking the scope from Arian, he looked in the direction she had indicated. ¡°How long has it been there?¡± ¡°About 10 minutes or so.¡± It was strange. 2km was certainly a distance, but not far enough to be shielded from the thunderous blasts and flames erupting from this apartment. Moreover, Brutals were not known to be docile mutants capable of calmly enduring such stimuli. Rather, they were monsters that would rampage and demolish everything in their path, even without any provocation. Just watching the other Brutals from different directions trampling the zombies obstructing their path proved that this one¡¯s composure was clearly abnormal. In other words, that Brutal might be related to Fear. However, this alone wasn¡¯t enough to pinpoint Fear¡¯s exact location. And it was too far for even Arian to detect any signs of its presence. Did this mean they needed to scout it out directly? For Aiden, that would be difficult, but Arian might have a way. ¡°Arian. By any chance-¡° It was at that very moment, as Aiden was about to speak to Arian. Something suddenly burst forth from the shadows of the building where that Brutal had been lurking. Aiden¡¯s words were cut off. Holding his breath, he focused his attention on the view through the riflescope. What initially appeared was another Brutal. The presence of two aggressive Brutals in the same place... But there was no time to find that suspicious. Following them, Hedgehogs, Wielders, Rhinos, and even mutant types Aiden didn¡¯t recognize came swarming out. And amidst those mutant escorts, Fear finally revealed itself. ¡°Heh...!¡± A hollow chuckle escaped Aiden¡¯s lips at the sight. A physique larger than even a Rhino, muscles more developed than a Brutal¡¯s, and bones that had grotesquely grown into an armor-like carapace. Fear¡¯s physical appearance undoubtedly matched the information Aiden had obtained about it. However, what defied Aiden¡¯s expectations was the clothing it was wearing. ¡°Was it an organism with that level of intelligence?¡± Aiden clicked his tongue as he spoke. At first glance, Fear¡¯s outward appearance was almost comical. Like a cartoon caveman wearing roughly torn animal hides, it had simply draped large black cloth pieces over its body and head. But upon closer inspection, those cloth pieces were not ordinary fabric. They were all shredded military-grade bulletproof vests, with intact ballistic plates clearly visible through the torn outer layer. Fear had sewn together multiple bulletproof vests to create its own clothing and hat. ¡°...¡± At this, Aiden had to elevate his assessment of Fear¡¯s potential danger. He had initially evaluated Fear as simply possessing slightly higher intelligence than other mutants. At most, the intelligence of an exceptional beast capable of building nests and leading hordes. But now he could see that wasn¡¯t the case. Fear clearly possessed intelligence beyond that level. Not just for being able to make clothing. The fact that it had specifically obtained and worn bulletproof vests meant... It either understood or remembered the purpose of those bulletproof vests. Absolutely not the kind of thinking an ordinary zombie could comprehend. ¡°Hey, Aiden. You don¡¯t think this Fear creature can... actually talk, do you?¡± Having reached a similar thought, Arian posed that question. To this, Aiden pondered briefly before shaking his head. While intelligence may remain, its humanity had likely been lost long ago. After all, Fear¡¯s infamous reputation had existed even before Aiden¡¯s arrival. It was a mutant responsible for killing countless people, so there was no way any semblance of humanity lingered within it. And even if that weren¡¯t the case, an existence that led zombies to slaughter humans could hardly be called humane. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter either way. Our task remains the same.¡± That¡¯s why Aiden answered as such. Arian nodded in agreement. ¡°Then, I¡¯m going right away.¡± The original plan had been for Arian to immediately engage Fear upon spotting it, swiftly eliminating the creature. However, just as Arian was about to leap down from the rooftop, Aiden held her back. ¡°Wait.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be moving as well.¡± Arian wore a puzzled expression at those unexpected words. ¡°You? What for?¡± ¡°From here, the distance is too far for me to provide support. So I¡¯ll find a closer sniping position.¡± The distance to Fear was 2km. It wasn¡¯t an unreasonable range for a sniper rifle to fire at. Most modern sniper rifles had an effective range exceeding 1km, and 2km was just shy of their maximum range. There were even official records of successful sniper shots beyond 4km. However, those were the effective ranges against human targets. To pierce the skulls of Brutal-class mutants or above, which were tougher than steel, Aiden knew that even high-caliber rounds couldn¡¯t reliably reach beyond 1km. But to Aiden¡¯s words, Arian shook her head. It would ultimately mean spending more time, after all. The situation had already reached the point where gunfire was starting to erupt from the second defensive line on the 16th floor. Arian¡¯s heart was gripped with urgency. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about support. I have... enough blood for this.¡± Arian said as she gestured towards the large spheres of blood floating around her. All of it had been acquired by trading away their food supplies with the wanderers earlier. And as she said, the amount was quite substantial. Certainly more than Aiden had ever seen her use in previous battles. But even that wasn¡¯t an abundant quantity by any means. Considering the number of mutants Fear was leading, it would likely be a precarious amount at best. This was a point Aiden didn¡¯t overlook. ¡°With that much blood, it might be a close call just to take down the surrounding mutants, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be too hasty. The defensive lines won¡¯t fall easily. And don¡¯t underestimate it either. Its strength might not simply be a step above Brutals.¡± Realizing her intentions had been seen through, Arian let out a brief sigh. ¡°...Got it. Then, in that case, you let me move you instead. That would be faster, right?¡± Saying so, Arian extended her hand towards Aiden. It would only waste time for Aiden to travel on foot from this apartment, so Arian was offering to directly transport him herself. If such a thing was even possible, there was no reason to refuse. It meant being able to fly like he had wings, without needing to descend from the apartment or pass through the mutants. But Aiden still had absolutely no idea how Arian actually moved in that manner. A vampire melting into the darkness only to suddenly reappear at the edge of his vision was something he could never comprehend. ¡°...I¡¯ll take you up on that.¡± Even so, Aiden accepted Arian¡¯s outstretched hand. Such was the extent of his trust in her. But then, Arian suddenly gave a mischievous grin. Aiden¡¯s trust wavered slightly at that. Immediately after, Arian leapt over the railing of the apartment rooftop, dragging Aiden¡¯s arm along with her. Whuk! Aiden and Arian plummeted straight down from the rooftop. However, right after that, their figures vanished as if erased from midair. * * * A short while later. Through his scope, Aiden was observing the zombie-packed firing range before him. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His current location was atop the high lighting poles of a baseball stadium. While the platform was somewhat narrow, there was no better vantage point to snipe at the zombies passing along the road. ¡°...¡± As he adjusted the scope¡¯s zero, Aiden recalled the events from earlier. The moment he had leapt off the rooftop together with Arian. Even now, Aiden didn¡¯t understand what had happened to him then. All he knew was that his vision had inverted, the surrounding scenery shattering like puzzle pieces, before reassembling itself by the time he realized it, already standing in this new location. According to Arian, only a few dozen seconds had passed. But during that time, Aiden had no recollection of whether he had been walking or anything. All he felt was a sense of nausea, despite being undead himself. Truly an inexplicable experience. Not a particularly pleasant memory, at any rate. And not something to dwell on right now, so Aiden shook his head and refocused on the task at hand. ¡°...It¡¯s here.¡± The baseball stadium where he was positioned was about 500 meters away from the shopping district where Fear had been spotted. Having finally emerged from that area and begun moving in earnest, Fear was just now appearing within Aiden¡¯s line of sight at that intersection below. Aiden¡¯s finger applied a slight pressure to the trigger. But he didn¡¯t fully pull it yet. The operation was meant to begin with Aiden¡¯s firing. So he had to let Fear approach close enough, without giving it an opportunity to escape. ¡°...¡± While Fear¡¯s path was densely packed with zombies, unlike the other mutants, it didn¡¯t need to trample through them. As if the undead were citizens parting to avoid obstructing a king¡¯s procession, the zombies automatically dispersed to the sides as Fear stepped onto the four-lane road, creating an open path. Watching the road instantly clear, Aiden clicked his tongue in contempt. It truly looked like the corpses were bowing before their sovereign. With that level of intelligence, was it deriving some twisted pleasure from this? An absurd notion. Bang! Having judged Fear to be within effective range, Aiden¡¯s bullet was finally discharged. The heavy recoil pushed against his body, while the thunderous gunshot resounded like thunder among the corpses. But even faster than that gunshot, Aiden¡¯s bullet reached Fear. Baaang! Accompanied by a metallic clang as if striking a tank¡¯s armor, the bullet ricocheted away. The initial shot had failed, but Aiden didn¡¯t fret over it. He had expected as much, ever since he saw Fear protecting its head with ballistic plates. However, unlike Aiden¡¯s composure, Fear reacted violently to having its head grazed by the bullet. ¡°??-!¡± The sudden ambush provoked a roar of fury from the creature. Despite the considerable distance, Fear immediately pinpointed Aiden¡¯s location. Its frenzied gaze locked onto Aiden with such intensity, as if it might charge over and uproot the very light pole Aiden was standing on. But it couldn¡¯t act on that impulse. Twack! With a sickening sound, the head of a nearby Rhino was severed. Arian had burst forth from the darkness, charging straight towards Fear¡¯s neck. Chapter 183 ¡°-!¡± The distance between Fear and Arian was about 5 meters. The moment it allowed that gap, Arian thought this would be the end. All zombies would charge madly at the sight of a human. That went for mutants like Brutals as well. So Arian expected Fear, upon noticing her presence, would lose its composure and lunge at her. And she anticipated it would meet its demise on her blood-drenched blade. However, Fear didn¡¯t act as Arian had expected. Thud! The creature flung its massive body backwards to create distance. Such was the power in its legs that the ground trembled with each step Fear took. As a result, Fear¡¯s speed was remarkably swift for its gigantic frame. Zap! Arian¡¯s blade narrowly missed slicing into Fear, merely grazing its clothing instead. Even that was enough to tear through the sturdy ballistic plates with a screeching sound, but nothing more. Fear distanced itself from Arian without suffering any damage. ¡°That bastard...!¡± Arian immediately tried to give chase, but zombies obstructed her path. Of course, if they had been ordinary zombies, Arian could have simply ignored them. But these were all mutants. Monsters capable of slaughtering dozens or even hundreds of humans each. ¡°Grraaaaahh!¡± ¡°Oooooogh!¡± Those monsters surged towards Arian like a tidal wave from all directions. Having leapt into the enemy¡¯s midst in her pursuit of Fear, Arian now found herself in a literal predicament. However. Kkwak! Chwaak! Even with fists like sledgehammers dropping from above, or spiked monstrosities pushing their entire bodies against her, Arian didn¡¯t retreat a single step. Trailing behind her was a massive crimson sphere of blood. The eerie blood streams flowing from it split into multiple tendrils, butchering the corpses alongside Arian¡¯s blade. From those severed surfaces, a sickly green rotten blood erupted like showers, distinctly different from the vivid red human blood. But despite Arian¡¯s onslaught, the path to Fear didn¡¯t easily open up. The rates at which the mutants swarmed and Arian felled them were nearly matched. So while the distance to Fear didn¡¯t widen, it also didn¡¯t narrow any further. It was at the moment Arian felt that impatience that... Bang! A clear gunshot rang out from somewhere, blowing apart the head of a mutant that had been about to crush Arian from above. It was Aiden. And those gunshots didn¡¯t cease after just one. Every 3 seconds, precisely timed, one of the mutants surrounding Arian had its head pierced by a high-caliber bullet. Thanks to that, Arian¡¯s breathing room opened up. The thick wall of corpses that had felt impenetrable gradually thinned. But it was then. ¡°...!¡± Arian¡¯s senses detected the presence of zombies converging on this location, and she recoiled in shock. The marching direction of every single zombie that had been consuming Phoenix from west to east was changing course. The zombies that had been drawn by the commotion at the apartment. The corpses that had simply been heading west, oblivious to the lights and sounds. They had all suddenly turned their heads and were now surging towards this very intersection before the baseball stadium. Dozens of thousands of zombies were closing in on Arian. ¡°Ha...!¡± Even so, Arian let out a derisive snort. From the very start, this battle had been a race against time. This overwhelming force she wielded couldn¡¯t last forever. So no matter how many zombies swarmed in, nothing would change now. No, if the zombies¡¯ objective shifted to Arian instead, it might even reduce the burden on Sadie at the apartment. However, continuing to play decoy amidst the mutants would still be a waste of time. So she might as well stake everything here instead. With that judgment, Arian¡¯s crimson eyes burned with resolve. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Simultaneously, the blood spheres responding to her will vibrated intensely. Then, that blood was absorbed into the blade Arian was holding, as if being sucked in. The crimson aura enveloping the blade explosively intensified. What had merely been a faint glow was now completely devouring the blade itself. Additionally, the outward form of the machete consumed by that blood was no longer the same as before. The viscous, eerie blood flowed through the air, extending the blade¡¯s length and width. The result was a greatsword over 2 meters long gripped in Arian¡¯s hands. Arian raised that sword high. ¡°Kiii-¡° At that very moment, a mutant tried to pounce on Arian from behind. But... Twack! It was instantly struck in the center of its forehead by one of Aiden¡¯s bullets piercing through the darkness. The surrounding mutants let out collective roars at the ominous sight of that colossal blood-formed blade. There were no further interruptions. Arian swung downwards with the greatsword she had created by expending most of her blood reserves. Chwaak! But Arian¡¯s sword merely cleaved through empty space. Moreover, the blood blade she had swung scattered towards the ground upon landing. Like a carelessly splashed baptism of water, it simply seeped into the earth. To any outside observer, it would have seemed an utterly futile spectacle. At this, a nearby Hedgehog flung its body towards Arian. That was the moment the anomaly began. The sound of rotten flesh and bones being sliced could be clearly heard. A crimson protrusion had abruptly burst forth from beneath the ground, impaling straight through the Hedgehog. The Hedgehog didn¡¯t seem particularly fazed by this. It was a monster accustomed to having countless blades and spears stabbing into its body. Just like all the other knives and spears within its body, this red stake would likely just break partway through, becoming yet another of the Hedgehog¡¯s countless needles. But that crimson stake was different. By the time the Hedgehog realized this, the stake that had pierced its thigh was already reaching its neck. Crunch! It ultimately burst through the Hedgehog¡¯s skull. While the brain-impaled Hedgehog immediately went limp, that blood stake didn¡¯t stop there. The stake continued growing until it reached the mutant¡¯s full height, lifting the Hedgehog¡¯s massive frame into the air. Kwa-kwa-kwadak! Those eerie stakes sprouted from all directions. Dozens of mutants were skewered and hung in the air by those stakes. The sight resembled crimson trees bearing corpse-like fruits. The road that had been blanketed with those corpses transformed into a forest of blood-formed trees. Within that otherworldly scenery- Tat! Arian, having finally cleared a path, charged straight towards Fear. Blood stakes also sprouted from beneath Fear, but the creature didn¡¯t even try to evade them. Arian clicked her tongue in frustration. It would have been easier if that vile creature had simply been skewered and killed as well. However, it didn¡¯t really matter. Arian had already closed the distance to Fear¡¯s immediate vicinity. Arian¡¯s machete was aimed squarely at Fear¡¯s massive head. Claaang! Accompanied by the shattering sound of steel clashing against steel, sparks flew. It turned out Fear had grabbed a broken road sign in its hand, using it to deflect Arian¡¯s initial strike. ¡°Ha...!¡± Arian¡¯s eyes burned with intensity, as if determined not to let this chance slip away. She didn¡¯t have many opportunities left now. Not only was her blood nearly depleted, leaving her unable to create more stakes, but dozens of mutants were swarming back in despite the many she had felled in a single strike. If the corpses obstructed Fear¡¯s path once more, that would be the end. Realizing this, Arian fiercely launched herself at Fear. Swoosh! But as if warning her not to approach. Fear menacingly swung the road sign it was holding. A strike powerful enough to create gusts of wind sweeping the surrounding area. However, Arian scoffed as she leapt into the air, sailing towards Fear. Chwaak! Fear couldn¡¯t react to that unexpected movement. The arm holding the road sign was severed clean off, sent flying through the air. ¡°Wooooookh!¡± Fear let out a wail in response. Unable to do anything, it staggered back several steps. Arian didn¡¯t let this opportunity slip by. Like an arrow loosed, Arian¡¯s figure shot straight towards Fear¡¯s front. Her machete, aiming to end this once and for all, lunged towards Fear¡¯s neck like a striking viper. But just before that blade could connect. ¡°Wha-¡° Arian¡¯s eyes wavered upon seeing what Fear¡¯s sole remaining hand had retrieved. It was... none other than a grenade. The grenade Fear carelessly tossed as it staggered back exploded right before Arian¡¯s eyes. * * * ¡°...!¡± Aiden¡¯s eyes shot wide open at the abrupt detonation. The intense battle between Fear and Arian that had been unfolding until now. Aiden had been desperately trying to provide support, but. The clash between those two beings, defying all common sense, repeatedly exceeded Aiden¡¯s expectations. However, this latest explosion was an especially unfavorable variable. Arian, caught in that blast, was sent tumbling to the ground in a shower of blood. A grenade... did it use one? Aiden¡¯s brow furrowed deeply. Come to think of it, he should have anticipated this long ago. For a creature wearing bulletproof vests as armor, it was only natural that it would know how to wield weapons as well. However, Aiden¡¯s regret didn¡¯t last long. Fear, having regained its senses, was now moving to finish off the fallen Arian. There was no time to hesitate. ¡°...¡± Aiden silently centered Fear within his scope¡¯s crosshairs. Part of his mind was concerned over Arian¡¯s state, but for her sake, he had to stop Fear first. Fortunately, Arian hadn¡¯t just suffered Fear¡¯s attack. Right before the explosion, her blade had struck Fear. On top of that, the shrapnel from the grenade detonating at such close range had also hit Fear, leaving a large gash on its head. Beyond the torn, rotten flesh, a glimpse of the white skull beneath could be seen. At best, it was a gap no larger than a finger¡¯s width. An extremely small target that would have been impossible to hit from hundreds of meters away. ¡°Kwoooh!¡± But in the next instant, Aiden¡¯s bullet struck that exact spot with precise accuracy. The bullet that had burrowed through that gap finally shattered Fear¡¯s skull. Due to the sheer density of the skull, the bullet¡¯s trajectory was altered, merely grazing the brain. But even that was enough to splatter part of the brain matter onto the ground. Witnessing this, Aiden thought it was over. But it wasn¡¯t. Astonishingly, Fear didn¡¯t collapse. Despite convulsing violently, the creature didn¡¯t drop to its knees. Instead, its dull eyes turned towards Aiden. Right at the moment Aiden prepared to take his next shot. ¡°Uaaaaaahh!¡± ¡°Kiiiiii!¡± Suddenly, the zombies all around let out cries from every direction. The ones that had been converging on this location lost their sense of direction. Then, they began rampaging wildly. As if some suppressed instinct had awakened, the mutants indiscriminately slaughtered regular zombies. While even the ordinary undead that would normally flee now turned to tear into those mutants instead. It was utter pandemonium without parallel. Creatures already filled with frenzy, but now clearly exceeding even that state. Their reaction resembled the zombie horde¡¯s response when Aiden had brought down the Commander in Pittsburgh. But Fear itself was still alive. Did this mean it had intentionally relinquished control? Or had it been forced into this state? The latter possibility seemed more likely. Considering Fear¡¯s cautious nature, rather than causing this chaos itself, it had likely tried to rally the zombies to protect its own body, only to lose control instead. While not killed by that partial brain damage, it clearly wasn¡¯t unaffected by it. ¡°...¡± But regardless of the reason, Aiden¡¯s task remained the same ¨C to finish off the creature. He reloaded and peered through his scope once more. It took only 3 seconds. However, in that brief span, Fear had already retreated from Aiden¡¯s line of fire. It had moved into a nearby small house. Had it visually confirmed Aiden¡¯s position in order to find a safe zone? ¡°...¡± At this, Aiden¡¯s brow furrowed deeply. There was no point in confronting a target that had left his firing solution. ¡°Ughh...¡± Fortunately, at least, the fallen Arian was now feebly struggling to rise. But her staggering steps made it clear she was far from unscathed. It was an immense relief that the surrounding zombies, preoccupied with tearing into each other, couldn¡¯t divert their attention towards her. Meanwhile, Fear hesitated momentarily beyond the wall of the house it had taken shelter in. As if conflicted over whether to attack Arian or retreat instead. There wasn¡¯t a complete lack of options. Moving erratically to evade Aiden¡¯s shots while eliminating Arian was entirely possible for the creature. But it clearly remembered. That vile sniper¡¯s bullets hadn¡¯t missed even once amidst the chaotic battle. Soon, Fear¡¯s shadow slowly receded behind that house. Its massive frame, dwarfing the rampaging zombies and houses, submerged from view as if sinking into water. Confirming this, Aiden immediately descended from the lighting pole. He rushed as swiftly as possible towards Arian¡¯s location. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Even as he asked those words, he knew how foolish they sounded. Shrapnel from the grenade was still embedded in Arian¡¯s body. It was fortunate her entire body hadn¡¯t been torn apart. Even so, Arian answered with only a slight grimace. ¡°...I¡¯m fine. Just a bit painful.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s return to the apartment first.¡± To the injured Arian, Aiden, despite being a surgeon, had nothing he could offer. The only thing capable of healing her wounds was human blood. Arian nodded at his words. Aiden escorted Arian back towards the apartment where the others were waiting. The cries of zombies that had broken free from Fear¡¯s control echoed from all directions. Chapter 184 Passing through the wildly rampaging zombies, Aiden and Arian finally arrived at the apartment. The devastated entrance immediately came into view. The small lobby area on the first floor of the apartment. Within that limited space, remnants of countless corpses were scattered about, coated in the soot of explosions. A sight that would discourage anyone from setting foot there. But Aiden entered that entrance without hesitation. ¡°...Quiet.¡± Aiden muttered as he looked upwards. Inside the building where intense combat had unfolded before they left, silence now prevailed. Aiden glanced behind him. While a few zombies could be seen in the streets, the creatures were too preoccupied rampaging amongst themselves to pay any attention to the quiet building. ¡°Do you think you can hold out a bit longer?¡± Aiden turned towards Arian. Her condition was still far from ideal. All she had managed to do was remove the shrapnel embedded in her body. Though her complexion wasn¡¯t great, Arian still nodded. ¡°Wait here for a moment.¡± Leaving Arian there, Aiden ascended the stairs alone. Upon reaching the 14th floor, the collapsed first defensive line came into view. In the center of the barricade lay a dead Hedgehog with its head impaled. Aiden briefly observed it before moving on. The next area he encountered was the barricade on the 16th floor, the second defensive position. But that place was in a similar state as the 14th floor. Bullet impacts on the walls, remnants of explosions, and the stench of rotten, charred corpses. Next to it was the crushed head of a Brutal, as if someone had stomped on it. All evidence of the intense battle that had taken place. But even so, the defensive line seemed to have ultimately fallen. The people who should have been guarding this rear area were nowhere to be seen, and only their mangled weapons remained. Standing before those barricades, Aiden looked upwards. Two floors above where he stood, on the 18th floor. That was the location of the final defensive position. Towards that area, still enveloped in silence and darkness, Aiden called out. ¡°Sadie, are you there?¡± The time Aiden had been away from this apartment was around an hour. He had expected the second defensive line to be breached during that period. But he had believed the final defensive position would hold out until the end, which is why he had left Sadie there. To bring down Fear, there had been no other choice, and he had judged it as the best option. However, even so, at this very moment, Aiden wasn¡¯t entirely free of anxiety. No matter how extensive his experience, in this world overrun by the undead, situations exceeding even his expectations were not uncommon occurrences. Despite making what he thought was the best decision, the worst outcome was still possible. That¡¯s why Aiden couldn¡¯t help but feel a slight unease during those brief moments before a response came. ¡°...Uncle?¡± Fortunately, Sadie¡¯s voice clearly came from above. Finally letting out a short sigh of relief, Aiden continued speaking. ¡°It¡¯s me, Aiden. I¡¯ll be coming up there now.¡± Aiden informed her of his return, and soon rejoined the people gathered at the final defensive position. Quite a number of people had gathered there. ¡°What¡¯s this... I thought you were on the rooftop, junk dealer?¡± Seeing Aiden casually ascending the stairs, Sophia questioned him. Sophia, her clothes caked with dried blood, holding a tattered rifle. Deep fatigue was etched onto her face. Aiden brushed off her question with a vague response before inquiring about the current situation instead. ¡°As you can see. When the lower floors were breached, I thought we were done for... but then the zombies suddenly started acting strangely. They stopped coming up here anymore.¡± ¡°Casualties?¡± ¡°...Five. There are also some injured. The Millers are tending to them inside.¡± Aiden nodded in understanding. No matter how defensive their battle, sustaining no casualties against such a vast number of mutants would have been impossible. After briefly showing a solemn expression, Sophia quickly composed herself and followed up with another question. ¡°So, what exactly happened? Why did those things suddenly start acting that way?¡± ¡°I managed to snipe Fear.¡± Aiden calmly reported. Sophia had been aware of the plan to snipe Fear from the rooftop while the defensive lines held out. Which is why her eyes widened in surprise. She hadn¡¯t expected it to succeed so swiftly. ¡°Is that really true?¡± ¡°But I didn¡¯t manage to bring it down completely.¡± Aiden explained that Fear had suffered injuries causing it to lose control over the zombies. He only relayed the beginning and end, omitting Arian¡¯s intense battle in the middle. ¡°Then...!¡± But for the people here, including Sophia, that was enough. It meant they no longer needed to risk their lives in further combat. ¡°Yeah, the battle is over. You all did well.¡± At Aiden¡¯s declaration, the people who had been maintaining tentative tension collapsed where they stood. It was only then that they mourned their fallen comrades and tended to their own weary bodies. ¡°Phew... damn it...!¡± Sophia was no exception. With a deep sigh, she surveyed the survivors around her. While Sophia and her friends had all survived, her expression was far from relieved. There had still been casualties, after all. As the one responsible for leading this defensive line, she inwardly bore a heavy burden, and that fact alone weighed on her like guilt. To those people, Aiden¡¯s voice followed. ¡°For now, everyone should rest. We¡¯ll need to move again tomorrow. We¡¯ll likely have to leave this place immediately.¡± S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Aiden conveyed their future course of action. No matter that Fear had lost control, they couldn¡¯t remain in Phoenix any longer. The hundreds of thousands of zombies that creature had led here still lingered. And while Fear had been injured, it wasn¡¯t impossible for it to regain control at any time. So they couldn¡¯t afford to let their guard down just yet. They needed to evacuate from Phoenix as swiftly as possible. ¡°...I understand.¡± Comprehending this, the people nodded in acknowledgment. They decided to take their rest here tonight, before continuing their journey tomorrow. In the meantime, Aiden procured a small amount of blood and brought it to Arian. It wasn¡¯t a substantial quantity, but enough to heal Arian¡¯s injuries. ¡°I should be fully recovered by tonight.¡± ¡°I see. You especially... had a rough time today.¡± At Aiden¡¯s words, Arian let out a slight chuckle. Soon after, Sadie also came to join Arian. And so, Aiden¡¯s group was reunited, and the deep night gradually passed. * * * The next day, as the sun rose. The mutants that had been howling through the night scattered like cockroaches fleeing the light, concealing themselves. Only regular zombies remained strewn about the streets in disarray. ¡°...We¡¯ll need to move carefully.¡± Observing the zombies¡¯ distribution, Aiden muttered those words. No matter how much the mutants had rampaged through the night, scattering the zombies, the number of undead visible was still considerable. And yet, the people Aiden had to lead numbered over 30, including injured individuals. Too many to move stealthily, and they couldn¡¯t act in tight coordination either. Punching through the zombie-infested streets with them in tow would be no easy feat. But Aiden had a method. Bang! He utilized the explosives he hadn¡¯t exhausted yesterday to clear a path. Just as he had done in Glendale, using the noise to lure the zombies to one location. Afterwards, Arian would seize that opening to guide the group¡¯s passage. Their first destination was the camp they had originally stayed in. At that camp on the city¡¯s outskirts, Aiden¡¯s group had left behind some of their supplies, so they had come to retrieve those. ¡°...The inside seems clear.¡± Upon reaching the camp¡¯s outer wall, Arian spoke those words. Fortunately, there were no people remaining inside the camp. So there were hardly any zombies that had entered either. ¡°Gather the supplies as quickly as possible, then we¡¯ll move again.¡± At Aiden¡¯s words, the survivors dispersed to collect their respective stored supplies. ¡°Aiden.¡± As he was surveying the camp, Arian approached him. ¡°Have you decided on our route to evacuate?¡± Aiden nodded. He unfolded a map, pointing towards the northeast direction of Phoenix. ¡°If we head this way, we¡¯ll soon leave Phoenix¡¯s metropolitan area. After that, we¡¯ll make a wide detour around Phoenix towards the west.¡± Arian stared intently at the route Aiden had indicated. It was undoubtedly the best path to avoid the zombies. But the distance was quite lengthy, prompting Arian to furrow her brow slightly in concern. ¡°So we¡¯re going straight to LA like this? Will we be alright? Our supplies didn¡¯t seem sufficient.¡± She asked with worry. Even Arian could tell that Aiden and the survivors were nearly out of resources. Food, water, and ammunition ¨C everything had been depleted during yesterday¡¯s battle. No matter how many supplies they retrieved from the camp¡¯s stockpile, it would only be a temporary reprieve to resupply. They lacked enough to safely embark on another journey across the desert. ¡°...We have no choice.¡± But despite being aware of that, Aiden said those words. He hadn¡¯t forgotten the vast numbers of mutants that had converged yesterday. Right now, those mutants were likely hiding inside buildings to avoid the sunlight. Scouring Phoenix in search of supplies would be tantamount to suicide. ¡°But are we really going into the desert with no other countermeasures?¡± ¡°No... there is still hope. Just think about where all these zombies Fear led must have come from.¡± Aiden calmly explained his reasoning. Fear had brought these immense numbers of zombies and mutants from the west of Phoenix. Naturally, that meant the western desert they had come from was likely deserted now. ¡°So the desert itself shouldn¡¯t be too dangerous. But... we¡¯ll have to resupply as much as possible from any small towns we pass through. That part will be left to chance.¡± At Aiden¡¯s words, a troubled look crossed Arian¡¯s face. The uncertainty of resupplying supplies was far more critical for Sadie than for Aiden or Arian herself. So Arian naturally raised another question. ¡°Are you planning to bring all these people along?¡± If it had just been Aiden, Arian, and Sadie, resupplying wouldn¡¯t have been a major concern. With Arian present, even in the dangerous Phoenix area, procuring enough food for a single child wouldn¡¯t have been too difficult. However, the over 30 survivors, including Sophia and the Millers, didn¡¯t seem inclined to part ways with Aiden¡¯s group. Perhaps having witnessed Aiden¡¯s exceptional capabilities during yesterday¡¯s events. They were following his lead as if he had been the leader of this small group from the very beginning. ¡°If they wish to come, then that¡¯s how it will be.¡± And Aiden himself had no intention of driving them away, he said. At that, Arian sharply questioned why. Didn¡¯t he realize their presence threatened Sadie¡¯s safety? But the reason behind Aiden¡¯s decision wasn¡¯t mere willfulness. ¡°Is that what Sadie would want?¡± Aiden gestured towards Sadie, who was conversing with an injured person in one corner of the camp. At the request of a woman with an injured leg, that child was retrieving supplies on her behalf. Seeing that scene, Arian had no rebuttal for Aiden. It was obvious that Sadie, who had shared her food rations with others while crossing the desert, would undoubtedly make the same decision this time as well. ¡°Geez...¡± So Arian could only let out a sigh. Shortly after that, they finished retrieving the remaining supplies from the camp and soon evacuated from Phoenix. And once more, they set out westward, towards where LA was located. * * * Two weeks later, on a rainy afternoon. Aiden¡¯s group, along with the over 30 survivors, had just entered Blythe, a small town in the middle of the desert. Stretching through the dilapidated residential area was a long road paved with cracked asphalt. The cold winter raindrops pelted that road surface. Aiden, Arian, Sadie, and the survivors trudged onwards, unable to take shelter from that rain. ¡°...There should be something here, right?¡± Arian spoke with a grave expression. Blythe was a small town approximately 250km from Phoenix. But due to having to make a wide detour around Phoenix, it had taken Aiden¡¯s group two full weeks since their departure to finally reach this place. During that time, Aiden¡¯s group had been in poor condition. They had ultimately run out of food and water supplies on their way here. So the people were starving and thirsty, Sadie included. And yet, to reach LA¡¯s metropolitan area from here, they would need to travel the same distance they had come from Phoenix once more. If they found nothing today... it was possible the first casualty from starvation could occur. Aware of this, Aiden simply continued in a matter-of-fact tone. ¡°We can only hope so. But... the people are too exhausted. It would be best for only you and I to handle the scouting.¡± At least, as Aiden had expected, the western desert had indeed been deserted. Over the past two weeks, the total number of zombies Aiden¡¯s group had encountered didn¡¯t even reach ten. So the probability of this Blythe being devoid of zombies was high, which is why Aiden suggested splitting up for separate scouting sweeps. ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Okay. Then I¡¯ll focus on this main road-¡° It was just as Aiden was about to assign scouting areas to Arian. But she cut off his words. ¡°Wait a moment.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I hear a sound. This is... an engine noise.¡± ¡°An engine? Does that mean there are people here?¡± Arian nodded in confirmation. ¡°How many?¡± ¡°A lot. Over 50, and the number keeps increasing. They¡¯re coming this way.¡± At those words, Aiden instructed the people to split up in small groups and take shelter inside the houses. It was only natural, not knowing what these newcomers might be. Soon after, a bright light source became visible at the far end of the road. Piercing through the overcast daytime sky that had turned gloomy, shafts of harsh light shone forth ¨C the headlights of vehicles. And there were multiple sources of that light. Coming towards this place were not just one, but a staggering five vehicles in total. Chapter 185 ¡°So what do we do now?¡± Seeing this, Arian asked. This sudden encounter with other people was clearly a crisis for Aiden¡¯s group. They didn¡¯t even have enough ammunition to engage in combat. But this was also an opportunity. Any gang capable of operating that many vehicles would undoubtedly possess food supplies. So depending on how negotiations went, obtaining enough food to sustain Aiden¡¯s group wasn¡¯t an impossibility. ¡°I¡¯ll make contact.¡± So Aiden decided he would take the lead. It meant directly confronting the risk, but it was unavoidable. He had Arian fall back behind him. Now alone, he stood in the middle of the road the headlights were approaching, raising both hands with his gun slung across his back. Wooong! Soon, the vehicles Arian had mentioned arrived right in front of Aiden. They were black military transport trucks. The kind commonly referred to as Humvees, they came to a stop a short distance from Aiden. Fortunately, they didn¡¯t immediately open fire, at least. It had been the worst possibility Aiden had considered, but thankfully, it seemed an excessive concern. Following that, the door of one vehicle opened. Four people disembarked from that truck, all of them wearing military uniforms. Were they also remnants of a former military unit? Aiden scrutinized them carefully. Their armaments seemed to be in decent condition. In the meantime, one of them approached Aiden, aiming his rifle at him. The other three kept watch over the surroundings. ¡°Who are you?¡± Maintaining a distance of about 5 meters from Aiden, the man questioned him. Aiden introduced himself as a junk dealer and wanderer. The man then asked if he had any companions. Normally, it wouldn¡¯t have been a fact Aiden would readily disclose, but now was the time to try and obtain food supplies. Aiden nodded in affirmation. ¡°How many in total?¡± ¡°32.¡± It was quite a large number, but the man didn¡¯t seem particularly surprised. He simply nodded matter-of-factly, prompting Aiden to continue speaking. ¡°We¡¯re headed to LA.¡± ¡°Is that so? Did you hear the radio broadcasts?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°So you want to become citizens of LA, then?¡± ¡°...Yes.¡± Aiden said so while closely observing the man¡¯s reaction. This would determine whether he was a hostile or friendly presence. However, the man¡¯s subsequent actions far exceeded Aiden¡¯s expectations. With the hand not holding his rifle, he withdrew a black radio transceiver. ¡°This is A2. We¡¯ve encountered thirty-two prospective evacuees on the eastern side of Blythe, Interstate 10.¡± He reported the current situation to the person on the other end of the radio. Some kind of response came through the radio, but Aiden couldn¡¯t make it out. The man then engaged in a brief back-and-forth conversation over the radio. ¡°...Understood.¡± Soon, having finished his report, the man put away the radio. Looking back at Aiden, he finally revealed his identity. ¡°We¡¯re a territorial defense force dispatched from LA.¡± At the man¡¯s words, Aiden¡¯s gaze wavered slightly. His affiliation wasn¡¯t some random gang. What he had mentioned was the nation¡¯s administrative body, which Aiden had thought had perished long ago. The soldier¡¯s words continued. ¡°In accordance with the State Special Civilian Act, as of this time, we will provide you with protection.¡± ¡°Protection...?¡± ¡°The territorial defense force will escort you to LA and ensure your safety along the way. So we ask that you disarm and gather in one location.¡± At this, Aiden hesitated for just a brief moment. It wasn¡¯t mere surprise he felt. Of course, there was also suspicion. The words this man had spoken could have been nothing but lies, with the intention of easily disposing of the wanderers they had happened to encounter. But Aiden¡¯s suspicion didn¡¯t linger long. Additional engine sounds could be heard approaching. Shifting his gaze towards the man, Aiden saw more headlight beams in the distance. ¡°...¡± Sure enough, these too were military vehicles. But their number was... more than just one or two. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Arian had said around 50 people, but that must have been only the vanguard, as the number of approaching light sources kept increasing. Those vehicles passed through the entire residential area. Beyond the buildings the survivors had taken shelter in, Aiden could even see small armored personnel carriers on the road. Wooong! Another Humvee emerged right in front of Aiden. Its driver gestured for Aiden to step aside, then indifferently drove past him once he had moved out of the way. Following that Humvee was a large military truck carrying dozens of soldiers. ¡°...¡± The dazed gazes of those soldiers briefly swept over Aiden. Neither affirmative nor negative, just neutral... no, an indifferent gaze devoid of any interest. That indifferent look extinguished the last shred of doubt lingering in Aiden¡¯s mind. Dozens of military vehicles and those soldiers¡¯ apathetic eyes were not things that could be faked through mere deception. Rather, if the metropolis known as LA truly still existed and had been continuously accepting evacuees, such an indifferent reaction would indeed be plausible. ¡°...Very well then.¡± So Aiden decided to comply with the soldier¡¯s instructions. At Aiden¡¯s direction, the 32 survivors lined up before the soldier. Looking at their haggard faces, the soldier asked: ¡°Do you need anything?¡± * * * Some time later. The survivors, under the protection of the soldiers, were all loaded onto three open-topped military transport trucks. Although the lack of a roof meant they couldn¡¯t shelter from the pouring rain, the expressions of those survivors aboard were far from gloomy. Before boarding, they had been given a small amount of food, providing relief to their starving states. And among those trucks was one carrying Aiden¡¯s group as well. ¡°What¡¯s this... is this really LA?¡± Arian spoke as she surveyed their surroundings. Having traveled through the desert for hours, it had been quite some time since the trucks had entered the city area. Finally, a signpost indicating the boundaries of Los Angeles had come into Arian¡¯s view. But looking around, LA didn¡¯t seem much different from any other city they had passed through. The roads were relatively well-maintained, but that was about it. From the residential areas in the distance, Arian could clearly sense the presence of zombies. ¡°By administrative areas, yes. But their base is likely only a part of LA. It was such a massive city that they couldn¡¯t have turned the entire area into a stronghold.¡± Aiden answered her. LA, the city of Los Angeles, had once been home to around 3.8 million residents. But the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area centered around LA boasted a population exceeding 18 million, one of the largest in not just the United States, but the entire world. The area Aiden¡¯s group had entered was merely the outskirts of that vast LA region. They still had some distance to travel before reaching LA¡¯s downtown core. ¡°I see? Well... I hope we arrive soon. We are heading straight there, right?¡± Arian cast a concerned look towards Sadie. At the moment, Sadie was cradled in Arian¡¯s arms. Not only was it raining, but Arian had insisted on this arrangement out of worry for Sadie, who had been starving recently. But Sadie¡¯s condition didn¡¯t seem too bad. The child was simply observing her surroundings with curiosity, as if intrigued by the situation. And after being provided with food, the hollowed cheeks that had sunken in just earlier were now regaining a bit of their healthy plumpness. ¡°Yes. Both the direction and route are correct. We¡¯re headed westward.¡± Meanwhile, Aiden answered Arian¡¯s question after confirming his map and compass. From what he could see, the trucks carrying them were indeed taking the most direct path towards LA¡¯s city center. ¡°By the way, it must be an incredible place, this LA.¡± Arian spoke with an anticipatory gaze. In the past, Aiden might have dismissed Arian¡¯s expectations as unrealistic. But the current Aiden didn¡¯t do so. ¡°Yeah. There¡¯s a high possibility of that.¡± Instead, he echoed Arian¡¯s words in agreement. Earlier, Aiden had posed a few questions to the soldier about LA. According to the answers he received, LA was clearly a place that exceeded Aiden¡¯s expectations. The number of survivors within this LA stronghold was a staggering 2 million people. Moreover, those 2 million seemed to be maintaining a lifestyle within a society where law and systems hadn¡¯t collapsed. It was an almost unbelievable claim at first. But seeing the soldiers behave like civil servants from three years ago made it hard not to believe. ¡°I wonder how much longer until we arrive? It¡¯s been over two hours since we entered the city.¡± Arian tilted her head slightly. If their destination was the downtown area near the center of LA, it was about 400km away from Blythe. So even using vehicles, it wouldn¡¯t be a place they could reach immediately. However, the military truck Aiden was riding seemed to be traveling at a much faster pace than he had anticipated. ¡°At this speed... we should be arriving soon.¡± It was right as Aiden said those words. The truck, cruising along the smooth road, rounded a corner. The view that had been obstructed by the gray exterior walls of an abandoned factory building suddenly opened up wide. According to the map, what lay ahead was the Los Angeles River cutting through the heart of the city, and the bridge crossing over it. ¡°What in the world is that...?!¡± Someone¡¯s words trailed off as they caught sight of the area beyond that bridge. Aiden¡¯s group also turned their gazes in that direction, and everyone fell silent. Such was the overwhelming spectacle before them. ¡°How tall is that, exactly?¡± ¡°It must be at least 30 meters, right?¡± The survivors murmured among themselves. What they were seeing was a white wall reaching a height of 30 meters. And that wall stretched as far as the eye could see, following the course of the river. Moreover, this wall wasn¡¯t constructed from crude materials like scrap iron or wood. It was entirely comprised of solid concrete, and that thick outer surface didn¡¯t bear even a single visible scar. ¡°This is... remarkable.¡± Even Aiden muttered those words as he observed LA¡¯s wall. He had believed that walls alone would never be enough to stop zombies, especially mutants. At best, they were merely consumable resources that provided a defensive advantage. He had judged that against mutants, walls would inevitably be easily breached, making them unsuitable as a complete defensive measure. But the wall now spread out before Aiden¡¯s eyes... it seemed to overturn his common sense. Not even the likes of Brutals or any other mutant would be able to scale a 30-meter wall. The truck carrying Aiden¡¯s group was headed towards the entrance of that wall. Near the area where the bridge crossing the river connected to the wall was a massive gate. Spanning the entire width of a four-lane road, the gate seemed almost insignificant compared to the sheer size of the wall itself. ¡°It¡¯s incredible... I guess what that soldier said earlier was true.¡± As they approached that entrance, Arian let out an exclamation of awe. She said she could sense the presence of hundreds of people just beyond this gate alone. And compared to that, the land area enclosed within the wall was so vast that its true expanse couldn¡¯t be discerned by the naked eye. The number of residents living in this LA seemed incomparable to any survivor group Aiden had ever encountered. To the point where even that 2 million estimate didn¡¯t feel implausible anymore. Kiiik! The truck came to a halt in front of that wall. Soon after, the soldier who had transported Aiden¡¯s group began disembarking the people. ¡°So what will you do now?¡± In front of LA¡¯s wall, Arian posed that question to Aiden. Aiden immediately grasped the meaning behind her query. The people who had arrived at LA would now need to enter through that wall. It was the destination they had finally reached after their long journey, and the time had come to witness the fruits of that voyage. But Aiden alone couldn¡¯t do the same. As a zombie, he couldn¡¯t set foot within the human domain. Sadie looked at Aiden with a worried gaze as he briefly fell silent. ¡°You¡¯re not... leaving here, are you?¡± She asked Aiden, perhaps thinking he might depart at this point. Her voice carried a hint of unease. Of course, if LA was truly as remarkable a place as its outward appearance suggested, then Sadie¡¯s concern would be valid. It would mean the request from Rebecca to let Sadie live in a safe place had been fulfilled. But Aiden still had one remaining task before he could consider the request complete. ¡°No, that¡¯s not it. I need to see if this place really is as good as it seems.¡± At his words, Sadie gave a faint smile. Aiden then turned his gaze towards Arian. ¡°But from here on, we¡¯ll need to move separately.¡± Having anticipated those words, Arian simply nodded. ¡°Arian. You go inside with Sadie. Assessing the internal situation will have to be left to you.¡± ¡°Alright. And you?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll gather information from the outside.¡± ¡°The outside? Well, you can¡¯t enter, so you have no choice... but will there be a place suitable for that?¡± It was inevitable that Aiden would have to remain outside of LA. But there were surely limitations to what he could do beyond these massive walls. Even so, Aiden answered nonchalantly. ¡°I¡¯ll have to find out. Fortunately, the scale of this LA exceeds my expectations.¡± ¡°So?¡± ¡°It means there¡¯s a high possibility of another group existing in the surrounding area. I¡¯ll investigate that side.¡± Aiden spoke with a hint of conviction. Of course, his words did make sense. A population of 2 million was an immense number, after all. As an extreme example, just gathering the criminals who had committed offenses and fled from that city would likely amount to thousands of individuals. So it was entirely plausible for such people to have banded together and formed their own organizations. ¡°But it could be dangerous.¡± ¡°Or it might be better that way. There may be information I can only obtain from such places.¡± ¡°I suppose...¡± Arian let out a brief sigh as she spoke. Having once fought against a large organization herself, she knew. The seedy underbelly of grand, glamorous cities always started from places like that. ¡°Then... how will we meet up next time?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s plan to reunite in three days¡¯ time, at night. The location will be here.¡± Aiden opened his map as he said that. The spot he indicated was near a hotel close to the shoreline in an area called Long Beach, south of LA. ¡°If it¡¯s you, you should be able to make it this far at least.¡± Arian nodded in agreement with Aiden¡¯s words. With their respective tasks decided, Aiden approached the soldier. Fortunately, the soldier didn¡¯t try to stop Aiden from not entering LA. Aiden gave Arian one final nod before distancing himself from the wall. While a few survivors asked where he was going, Aiden didn¡¯t respond. In the meantime. Kugugugugu- Accompanied by a massive mechanical rumbling, the gate blocking their path opened. Catching her first glimpse of LA¡¯s interior, Arian held her breath in awe. Chapter 186 In the late evening, as the crimson sunset faded from the western sky. ¡°Woah...!¡± Having just entered through LA¡¯s walls, Sadie let out an exclamation as she saw the bright lights twinkling overhead. Their source was merely ordinary street lamps. Those unremarkable artificial light sources stretched along LA¡¯s roads in long lines. A cityscape that had once been familiar to everyone. But at that sight, the other survivors were also rendered speechless. For the past three years, street lamps had been nothing but obstructions littering the roads. Seeing them shattered in the middle of the road, blocking the way, had been a common occurrence. But who could have expected those very lamps to shine with light once more? ¡°...¡± Meanwhile, Arian, holding Sadie¡¯s hand as she surveyed their surroundings, also calmly let her eyes widen. The lamp-lit roads seemed to extend all the way to the city center in the distance. Beside them, a brick building around six stories tall could be seen. And from within that brightly illuminated building, the sounds of people¡¯s voices drifted out. Occasionally mixed in were even the noises of power tools like motors and drills. Could it be that LA was supplying electricity to the entire city? But that wasn¡¯t the only astonishing sight. Along the four-lane road, in addition to military vehicles, Arian spotted large buses as well. Stopping briefly at a bus station to let passengers board before departing ¨C their appearance was exactly like buses from the past. It was as if the society that had crumbled under the zombie onslaught remained nearly intact here. While Arian had harbored some expectations for LA, this still exceeded even those. ¡°Everyone, attention!¡± It was then that one of the soldiers who had escorted the survivors clapped his hands and spoke those words. Only then did the people, who had been standing around the entrance in confusion, turn their gazes towards him. ¡°I¡¯m Sergeant Brown.¡± His tone had shifted to a polite one, unlike before. He first had the survivors line up in two rows on the sidewalk beside the road, then continued speaking. ¡°All of you are prospective evacuees. And those wishing to resettle in LA have a task they must complete first ¨C evacuee registration and citizen registration. I will be assisting you with those procedures. Do you understand?¡± The survivors nodded at Sergeant Brown¡¯s words. ¡°In LA, those two tasks are handled by the Citizen Management Bureau. From here, I will guide you to that location. Do not stray from the group, and follow me closely. If you fail to comply with my instructions, it can become grounds for expulsion, so keep that in mind.¡± At the mention of ¡®expulsion,¡¯ some people gulped audibly. They had only just entered through these gates, but they could sense how much they stood to lose by being expelled from this place. ¡°It will take around 15 minutes to reach our destination on foot. Any questions?¡± Sergeant Brown asked. For a brief moment, there were no questions. But soon, a hesitant woman, Sophia, raised her hand. ¡°What exactly is this citizen registration? What do we have to do?¡± ¡°There isn¡¯t much you need to do. Just fill out some paperwork and receive a temporary citizen ID.¡± ¡°Temporary...?¡± ¡°An explanation regarding that will be provided at the bureau.¡± Sophia lowered her hand with an unsatisfied expression. Then, another middle-aged man spoke up. ¡°Will we get our weapons back that were taken earlier?¡± ¡°Within the walls, only soldiers are permitted to carry weapons. If you plan on leaving, they will be returned to you immediately.¡± At Sergeant Brown¡¯s words, the middle-aged man retreated with an awkward look. While feeling uneasy without a weapon in his hands, he didn¡¯t want to leave the safety of these walls either. After addressing a few more questions in a bureaucratic manner, Sergeant Brown led the people forward, accompanied by four other soldiers. Fifteen minutes later, as promised, they arrived at a six-story office building. On the first floor was a small cafe, and above that was a clean, beige brick exterior with not a single broken window. Moreover, above the entrance leading to the building¡¯s stairwell were the words ¡®Citizen Management Bureau¡¯ engraved, just as Sergeant Brown had mentioned. ¡°This way, please.¡± Passing through the entrance of that building, Sergeant Brown guided the group to the fourth floor. The fourth floor resembled a bank. In one corner was a long reception counter, and in the center were chairs for waiting customers. ¡°Heh...!¡± Some of the people who peeked inside let out involuntary chuckles. It was such an intact scene, unlike the ruined buildings they had passed through up until now. Sergeant Brown continued leading the people further inside. As the survivors filed in one by one, a woman emerged from behind the reception counter. ¡°What can I assist you with today?¡± She asked Sergeant Brown. Sergeant Brown naturally responded. ¡°These are the prospective evacuees we found in Blythe. I believe you received the report?¡± ¡°Ah, yes. Thirty-two of them, correct?¡± ¡°Thirty-one. One defected outside the wall.¡± ¡°I see. Understood.¡± The soldiers had the survivors take seats in the waiting area while guarding the entrance. With that confined atmosphere, as if they were being detained here, some survivors showed uneasy expressions. Seeming to notice this, the woman at the reception counter smiled faintly before speaking. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. It¡¯s just standard procedures. First, the gentleman over there, please come this way.¡± She then began guiding the people to the reception counter one by one. The others waited their turn in the seats, and those called up began conversing with the receptionist. The scene was truly reminiscent of a bank or a city hall. Arian tried to eavesdrop on the conversations between the receptionist and survivors, but someone approached her from the side. ¡°Heh, ain¡¯t this something? Wouldn¡¯t you say?¡± It was Logan, who had somehow come to sit beside her. Before Arian could even respond, his wife Madeline¡¯s voice followed. ¡°Did you see the cafe on the first floor earlier? I could smell coffee. I never thought I¡¯d experience that scent again...¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m saying. Look at those fluorescent lights. They even have electricity.¡± ¡°Fluorescent lights are the issue? Look inside. They¡¯re using computers.¡± The Millers chattered on like primitive people experiencing modern civilization for the first time. The other survivors were no different. Having been excluded from the civilization they had once enjoyed for three long years, they were now awestruck to find it still intact here. Amidst that atmosphere. ¡°Next is... your turn.¡± It became Sadie¡¯s turn, and Arian accompanied her to the reception counter. ¡°Are you her guardian?¡± The receptionist asked. Arian nodded. While Sadie and Arian didn¡¯t appear to have a significant enough age gap for one to be the other¡¯s guardian, the woman impassively nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°First, please state your names and ages.¡± Arian provided the answers. For Sadie, she gave her actual age, but Arian stated that she was 18, having just become an adult. At that, the receptionist furrowed her brow slightly. ¡°Eighteen?¡± As if unable to believe it, the receptionist tilted her head in puzzlement. But when Arian reaffirmed her age, the receptionist lowered her voice as she continued. ¡°All LA citizens are required to work at their assigned jobs. That¡¯s the rule here. However, minors can attend school instead.¡± Upon hearing those words, Arian¡¯s eyes widened. It was a welcome statement. The mention of Sadie being able to attend school. But Arian herself had no such intentions. To gather information about this city, working at a job would be preferable to attending school. So Arian once again insisted to the receptionist that she was an adult. The receptionist then nodded in understanding. ¡°Alright. Then...¡± She proceeded to ask Arian about her place of origin and any skills she possessed. It was for the purpose of job assignment. After a moment¡¯s thought, Arian smiled faintly as she answered. ¡°I¡¯m good at fighting zombies.¡± ¡°So combat is your specialty?¡± ¡°Yeah. Is that weird?¡± ¡°In that case, you¡¯ll likely be assigned as a soldier. Will that be alright?¡± The receptionist spoke as if puzzled. For most survivors who had risked their lives to reach LA, their motivation was survival and stability. As such, being a soldier was one of the most crucial occupations in this LA. But hardly anyone actually wanted to become a soldier themselves. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, Arian confidently nodded. It had been her intention from the start. From her perspective, fighting zombies was far more comfortable than working at an ordinary factory or job like this receptionist role. ¡°Yes. I want to be a soldier.¡± ¡°...I understand.¡± Once the citizen registration was completed, Arian and Sadie were soon issued palm-sized ID cards. Written on them were Arian¡¯s name, a citizen number, and the words ¡®Temporary Citizen ID.¡¯ ¡°Your job assignments will be provided tomorrow. If you work at that job without any issues for three months, you¡¯ll become an official citizen. However, if you are derelict in your duties or commit any crimes, you will be expelled. Do you understand?¡± Arian affirmed that she did. The receptionist continued providing further explanations about LA. It was only after listening to her detailed account that Arian could roughly grasp what kind of city this LA was. First, as the receptionist had mentioned, everyone in this city was required to work compulsorily. Moreover, all workplaces were under the jurisdiction of the city government, which took the lead in assigning citizens to those jobs. The government even held command authority over the military forces. Clearly, the nature of this society differed from that of the past. The only consolation was that the underlying concept of rule of law still existed. Just that alone made it a far more humane city than most other survivor groups or gangs. Feeling somewhat satisfied, Arian posed another question. ¡°Can we change jobs later on?¡± ¡°Only if there are special circumstances. For instance, if you are deemed unsuitable for being a soldier, you would be dismissed from that role. After which, you would be reassigned to a different job.¡± ¡°What about food?¡± ¡°It will be provided at your workplace. For the child, it will be supplied at school.¡± The receptionist added that while meal menus might vary, there would be no discrimination between workplaces. ¡°Surely we don¡¯t have to sleep at our workplaces too?¡± ¡°No. All of you evacuees will be provided with residential housing today. For your reference, changing residences will only be possible after becoming an official citizen, so keep that in mind.¡± ¡°Residential housing? You mean we¡¯ll have homes?¡± Arian¡¯s voice rose slightly in surprise, as it was something she hadn¡¯t anticipated. ¡°Yes. It will just be vacant city-owned housing that¡¯s being provided, so don¡¯t expect too much.¡± The receptionist said with a wry smile, but Arian and Sadie couldn¡¯t conceal their anticipation. After a few minor additional questions, Arian rose from her seat, temporary citizen ID in hand. And so, Arian and the other survivors finished the citizen registration process and exited back outside. ¡°Please board this bus. It will take you to your residential area.¡± They were made to board a waiting bus, departing from the city center. The sun had already fully set, but the city remained illuminated. While not as brilliant as in the past, the faintly glowing streets still captured Sadie¡¯s wonderment. After all, it was something unimaginable from the outside world, where they had needed to take shelter once night fell. They were transported to an area called Compton, located south of LA. It was a region mostly comprised of residential neighborhoods. The survivors were assigned residences scattered throughout those neighborhoods. The apartment Arian and Sadie were dropped off at was located on the outskirts of one such neighborhood area. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived.¡± The peeling paint exposed the gray concrete beneath, making the building appear decades old and run-down. But even so, it was an intact structure with unshattered windows and an attached front door. The male driver handed Arian a set of keys as she disembarked from the bus. ¡°Unit 301 of this apartment will be your residential housing. Have a good rest.¡± Saying nothing more, he departed along with the bus. Arian looked up at the apartment building. She could sense the presence of people inside. Around 20 or so. It seemed the other units already had residents living there. ¡°Shall we go in?¡± Arian asked Sadie. ¡°...Yes.¡± Sadie gave a small nod. They entered the apartment building. The narrow hallway and dilapidated walls made an impression, with a wooden staircase leading upstairs. Unit 301 matched the apartment¡¯s outward appearance. A cramped, tiny room with a moldy bed and dirty bathroom. But Arian and Sadie didn¡¯t show any dissatisfaction. Even in such a rundown apartment, flicking a switch caused a small light bulb on the ceiling to illuminate. The bathroom¡¯s faucet also provided running water without issue. Of all the places they had spent nights throughout their journey until now, not a single one had been better than this. And so, on their first day arriving in LA, Sadie and Arian passed the time cleaning up their small yet satisfactory new home. Chapter 187 ¡°...Even electricity is being supplied here.¡± On the bridge crossing over the Los Angeles River. After briefly glimpsing the interior of LA¡¯s walls through the momentarily opened gate, Aiden muttered those words. Although he couldn¡¯t enter, even his eyes could clearly perceive the light from the street lamps illuminating the roads. Seeing this, Aiden couldn¡¯t help but be considerably surprised. According to what the soldier had told him, the area within LA¡¯s walls was far from small. LA¡¯s walls bordered the Santa Monica Mountains to the north. The Santa Monica Mountains were a mountain range cutting through the center of LA, famous for the Hollywood sign. To the east, the walls were built along the Los Angeles River, which flowed northward from the ocean. With the south and west sides meeting the ocean, natural barriers surrounded the city from all directions to block the zombies. The area secured within those LA walls spanned a width of 25km and a length approaching double that at 50km. While not as large as the original LA, it still encompassed over half that vast expanse. And yet, to think that even electricity was being supplied throughout such a city. In many ways, LA was proving to be a city that exceeded Aiden¡¯s expectations. Thud! The gate that had briefly allowed Aiden to glimpse LA¡¯s interior swiftly closed once more. The street lamps that had shone like stars were obscured by the gloomy iron gate, their light vanishing. At this, Aiden looked up towards the sky. Night had already fallen. ¡°I should hurry.¡± Aiden crossed the bridge, distancing himself from the walls. First, he needed to gather information, as he had forewarned Arian. But to do that, he first had to identify locations where people would congregate, beyond just those walls. So Aiden surveyed his surroundings and soon spotted a few soldiers keeping watch on the other side of the bridge. Aiden approached one of those soldiers. They eyed Aiden¡¯s inverted helmet with puzzlement, but didn¡¯t try to restrict his entry. ¡°What are you? A prospective evacuee?¡± One of the soldiers reacted as Aiden drew near. ¡°I used to be one. But there were circumstances that prevented me from entering.¡± ¡°That¡¯s too bad. So what now?¡± ¡°Is there a place around here that I could go?¡± Upon Aiden posing that question, the soldier¡¯s gaze narrowed. ¡°You some kind of criminal?¡± He was clearly viewing Aiden with open suspicion. But when Aiden remained silent, the soldier also turned away, as if having nothing more to say. Unfortunately, it didn¡¯t seem he would readily provide any information. In that case, Aiden had no choice but to search for clues himself. It was right as Aiden turned to leave that the soldier nonchalantly tossed out a single line, as if muttering to himself. ¡°Try Huntington Beach.¡± The words that left the soldier¡¯s mouth were the name of a location. Situated to the southeast of LA, it was a coastal area about 8km away by foot. ¡°...Thanks.¡± With a dismissive wave of his hand, the soldier seemed to be telling Aiden to depart from this place promptly. Following his request, Aiden distanced himself from the walls. * * * ¡°...This must be it.¡± Two hours later, having arrived at Huntington Beach, Aiden surveyed his surroundings. Lining the not-too-wide road were palm trees and resort-style buildings that caught his eye. Perhaps due to its proximity to the sandy beaches where a waterfront used to exist, Huntington Beach retained traces of being a tourist destination. But it was far from a glamorous resort area sparkling with life. The palm trees left untrimmed had snapped trunks, appearing more unsightly than ordinary trees. And the white, castle-like buildings were defaced with ominous graffiti scrawled by someone. Indeed, it gave the impression of a slum area in stark contrast to LA. A fitting sight, in its own way. ¡°...¡± Aiden walked quietly between those palm trees. It was already late evening by this time. The sun had fully set, of course, but even amidst that darkness, there were people moving about. From within the poorly visible buildings, flashes of light could be seen. Voices cursing at someone drifted out from there as well. Listening closer, it seemed people were engaged in some form of gambling inside. Across from that building, an unidentifiable man and woman were exchanging suspicious-looking bags. Despite no signs of electricity like in LA, quite a few people were still actively pursuing their own objectives. In front of some buildings were even makeshift tents fashioned from plastic tarps, materials likely scavenged from somewhere. It was a scene reminiscent of the homeless encampments Aiden had seen in past news reports. That aspect was quite unexpected for him. This place was still around 10km away from LA¡¯s walls. And yet people could so casually wander the city streets in the dead of night. It was something unimaginable in the outside world prowled by mutants, beyond those LA walls. ¡°Could this really be considered a safe zone, despite its appearance?¡± It was an absurd notion, and yet not entirely unreasonable. After all, wasn¡¯t there a survivor group numbering 2 million people right next door? The LA soldiers would undoubtedly maintain constant vigilance in clearing out nearby zombies, if only to secure their own safety. Those who had gathered here were likely subsisting as parasites within that secured area. ¡°For now...¡± Aiden surveyed this Huntington Beach. While outwardly seeming disorderly, there were surely rules governing how this place operated. More than anything, Aiden needed to familiarize himself with those rules. He needed to grasp the inner workings of this Huntington Beach. As Aiden was scanning his surroundings, his gaze fell upon a man sitting alone in the corner of a building. The way he had a hand clutched over his stomach with a pained expression ¨C he was undoubtedly suffering from hunger. Coincidentally, Aiden happened to have bait he could offer that man. Aiden approached him. ¡°...What do you want?¡± The man eyed Aiden warily as he drew near. But before the man¡¯s hand could reach for his gun, Aiden extended a military ration pack towards him. It was one he had received along with the other survivors when boarding the military vehicle earlier, but hadn¡¯t consumed yet. ¡°I¡¯d like to ask you some things, if you don¡¯t mind?¡± Aiden intended to trade information from this man. And the deal was easily struck. Whether the man had been starving all day or not, he readily agreed to Aiden¡¯s request far too easily. ¡°Sure. Yeah, ask me anything.¡± The man immediately tore open the ration pack and began eating as he sat there. Saying he could answer questions while eating. Aiden didn¡¯t decline the man¡¯s offer. ¡°I¡¯m a junk dealer. Just arrived in this area today. Is there anything I should know?¡± At the mention of it being his first time here, the man let out a snort of laughter. Nodding as if he understood why Aiden had approached him, he spoke. ¡°So that¡¯s what it was. Yeah, there are things you should know.¡± The man gulped down what he had been chewing. With a mischievous gaze, he eyed Aiden¡¯s helmet. ¡°Then I guess you don¡¯t know about the Huntington Docks, do you?¡± Aiden shook his head. The man¡¯s voice raised slightly. ¡°If you¡¯ve come here, you should at least know their name. They¡¯re the gang that rules over this Huntington Beach. Armed to the teeth with weapons, drugs, you name it.¡± The man said that much before shoveling more rations into his mouth. Even as he continued chewing and talking, he didn¡¯t stop. ¡°If you head further east from here, you¡¯ll find a luxury apartment complex. That entire complex is the Huntington Docks¡¯ territory. The members have a black dog tattoo on their right arm, so they¡¯re easy to identify.¡± ¡°A gang? Then is it possible for a junk dealer like me to deal with them?¡± ¡°Probably. I¡¯ve heard they employ junk dealers for sure. Though I can¡¯t say if they accept just anyone.¡± After asking a few more questions, Aiden nodded in understanding. It seemed this Huntington Docks gang was the ruling authority governing this small slum area. Moreover, their nature differed slightly from the gangs Aiden was familiar with. In a sense... they were closer to the gangs of the past rather than modern-day ones. What surprised Aiden most was that they even dealt in drugs. He had thought those reckless enough to dabble in such substances had all perished three years ago. ¡°Still... I have no choice but to meet with them.¡± For Aiden, it was an unavoidable decision. They were the ones distributing requests throughout this Huntington Beach area. As a junk dealer, contact with them was essential to obtain work. Aiden headed in the direction the man had indicated. After walking for about 10 minutes, just as the man had said, a luxury apartment complex came into view. Brightly colored in orange and white, with exterior walls adorned with glass and balconies. Dozens of lavishly constructed apartment buildings were arranged in a semicircular layout, forming a sizable complex area. The interior of that semicircle had been fashioned into an ornate park, where dozens of people could be seen engaged in drinking and revelry. Were all those people members of the gang¡¯s organization? While their stances appeared relaxed, their waists and backs were undoubtedly weighed down by firearms. Aiden surveyed the area around that park. As expected, he spotted men standing guard at the entrance to the apartment complex. With their muscular builds and weapons in hand, anyone could tell they were gang sentries. Aiden approached those men. ¡°Who are you?¡± The sentries reacted sharply. They eyed Aiden up and down, but he calmly responded. ¡°I¡¯m a junk dealer. I¡¯d like to receive a request.¡± ¡°A junk dealer?¡± One of the men clicked his tongue in annoyance. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, go over there.¡± The sentry pointed with his finger towards a commercial building behind Aiden. There, beneath a large sign depicting a hot dog, was a hot dog shop. It seemed like a joke, but the man¡¯s manner was firm. So following the sentry¡¯s directions, Aiden entered that hot dog shop. Beyond the counter, in the area that should have been the kitchen, sat a stout black man. Upon Aiden¡¯s entry, he stared at him intently before speaking in a low voice. ¡°...Haven¡¯t seen that helmet before.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Aiden Lee, a junk dealer.¡± ¡°Ah, so that¡¯s why you¡¯ve come to this office. Looking for work, are you?¡± Unexpectedly, this place seemed to be the Huntington Docks¡¯ office for contacting junk dealers. When Aiden affirmed that was the case, the man shook his head with what seemed like regret. ¡°Then I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s a shame. We don¡¯t take jobs from newcomers.¡± At those words, Aiden¡¯s brow furrowed beneath his helmet. It didn¡¯t seem to be a mere attempt at gaining a negotiating advantage. After all, it wasn¡¯t unusual for a gang to only deal with parties they had established trust with. But for Aiden, it was an inconvenient situation, so he didn¡¯t give up there and continued pressing. ¡°So you can¡¯t give me any requests at all?¡± ¡°A persistent one, aren¡¯t you? Well, if you really want work that badly, procure one of these items. Then we¡¯ll give you a job.¡± The man gestured towards one corner of the shop¡¯s wall. Where the menu would normally be displayed in a hot dog shop, there was instead a list of items the Huntington Docks were looking to acquire. But among them, there were no ordinary items like ammunition or food supplies. Most were specific military equipment or electronic devices unfamiliar to Aiden. And among those, one item in particular caught Aiden¡¯s eye, causing him to tilt his head slightly. ¡°Personal effects...?¡± ¡°Yeah. Personal effects belonging to those wall bastards. Specifically, the soldiers.¡± The man answered, having heard Aiden¡¯s murmur. On the menu, the exact location where those personal effects needed to be retrieved from was even specified. It was at a substation located inland to the east of Huntington Beach. Over 20km away from LA¡¯s walls. ¡°Why would you need things like this?¡± Aiden looked at the man as he asked. Both the suspicious equipment and personal effects seemed odd items for a gang to be seeking. But the man didn¡¯t answer that question. ¡°Don¡¯t think you need to know that.¡± ¡°Fair enough.¡± Without prying further from the tight-lipped man, Aiden studied the list intently. Separate from the man¡¯s reaction, among the items the gang had listed, the personal effects were the most feasible for Aiden to procure. More than anything, unlike the other items, the location was clearly specified. Aiden wouldn¡¯t have any trouble finding his way there. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, the flip side was that retrieving those personal effects would be dangerous. The fact that soldiers¡¯ personal effects were present in that location implied that something there had killed those soldiers. And the only things capable of killing well-armed soldiers were either vast numbers of zombies or mutants. Aiden mentally went over the weapons he currently possessed. While he still had some remaining ammunition, he had no other weapons beyond that. At most, his three remaining high-caliber rounds were his only means of dealing with mutants. But since the location could be pinpointed, it didn¡¯t necessarily mean he would have to fight. Moreover, Aiden would be moving during the daytime. The dangerous mid-to-large-sized mutants would be seeking shelter from the sunlight then. Any mutants active during the day would be relatively low-risk ones like Bigfoots or Wielders at most. And if it was just ordinary zombies swarming with sheer numbers, that went without saying. So as long as he could retrieve even a portion of those soldiers¡¯ personal effects, the risk seemed acceptable. Therefore, in order to establish a deal with the Huntington Docks, Aiden decided he would try retrieving the soldiers¡¯ personal effects. ¡°Exactly what kind of personal effects are we talking about?¡± ¡°Dog tags, IDs, firearms... anything that can identify them, really.¡± The conversation ended there. There was no need to explicitly state that he was accepting the request. All he had to do was procure the items, so Aiden exited the office just like that. Chapter 188 The next day. After spending the night in an abandoned hotel in Huntington Beach, he set out early in the morning. Headed towards the substation near LA where soldiers had died. The substation was located in a place called Irvine, over 10km away from Huntington Beach. A city surrounded by small mountain ranges to the north and south, it had more green spaces than typical urban areas. But from this Irvine onward, it was no longer a safe zone. ¡°Kiii...¡± Entering the abandoned residential area, the moans of zombies could be heard coming from various directions. There were no traces of human presence, with only the occasional corpse shambling along the roads. It wouldn¡¯t be surprising if mutants were lurking somewhere amidst this as well. Passing through that residential area, Aiden entered an empty lot and continued walking until the substation finally came into view. The substation was situated on a wide field enclosed by green iron fencing. At its center loomed a massive transmission tower, with numerous transmission facilities stretching out beside it. There were also some smaller buildings and electrical facilities on the grounds, but nothing too substantial in scale. Certainly not large enough to provide hiding places for any dangerous mutants. While the details of what had occurred here were unclear, the possibility of mutants currently being present seemed low. ¡°...¡± Assured of that, Aiden stepped onto the dirt grounds within the substation¡¯s perimeter. Advancing a bit further inside revealed the interior littered with signs of combat. Some of the short transmission line towers resembling lightning rods had collapsed, as if crushed by something. The surrounding white distribution boxes bore clear bullet impacts as well. And the bloodstains coating those areas seemed to bear witness to the carnage that had unfolded here. ¡°...There¡¯s one over there.¡± Amidst that grisly scene, Aiden easily spotted someone¡¯s corpse between the mangled lightning rods. It was a man. Dressed in a territorial defense force uniform, he seemed to have died instantly from a broken neck, likely struck by some impact. ¡°Rest in peace.¡± After silently wishing the man peace, Aiden retrieved his personal effects. His LA citizen ID and dog tags that had been inside his uniform. As Aiden rose after collecting that soldier¡¯s effects- ¡°Kiiiii...!¡± That sound came from nearby. When Aiden turned to look, sure enough, there was a zombie. But... that zombie was also wearing a military uniform. It seemed some of the soldiers who had died here had turned into zombies. ¡°Tsk...¡± Aiden drew his military sword. Since he wasn¡¯t wearing his helmet here, the zombie hadn¡¯t reacted to Aiden¡¯s approach until he was right next to it. Twack! Aiden¡¯s blade pierced straight through the soldier zombie¡¯s neck. Its body immediately collapsed, and Aiden recovered its personal effects as well. ¡°Next...¡± Aiden scoured the substation grounds, rummaging through corpses and putting down zombies. Fortunately, there were no signs of any mutants emerging during that time. As such, retrieving the soldiers¡¯ personal effects was merely a repetitive task for Aiden. ¡°Night vision goggles, huh...¡± Aiden fiddled with the helmet one of the dead soldiers had been wearing. Damaged from some impact, it still had a pair of shattered night vision goggles attached. While it was a shame for such valuable equipment to be ruined, the existence of those goggles allowed Aiden to deduce something. First, that these soldiers had come here in the dead of night. Quite a few items like those night vision goggles or flashlights, meant for operating in darkness, were found among them. Some were even still turned on, clearly indicating they had been in use right until the soldiers¡¯ demise. Additionally, the mutant that had assaulted these soldiers was presumed to be a Wielder. The condition of the deceased, the crushed lightning rods, and most decisively, the presence of thick, broken steel rods left behind ¨C items that didn¡¯t belong in this place. Those had likely been the Wielder¡¯s weapons. From these clues, Aiden could roughly surmise the details of the tragedy that had occurred here. The group of just over 10 soldiers who had come to this location were annihilated by a Wielder¡¯s ambush. ¡°...¡± However, amidst those traces, there were also some peculiarities. First, the soldiers¡¯ armaments seemed inferior to what Aiden was familiar with. Compared to the soldiers who had escorted Aiden¡¯s group to LA yesterday, even their rifles were different. Those soldiers had all carried standardized military-grade rifles, but the ones scattered here were commercial models. Lacking automatic firing capabilities, their firepower was significantly diminished compared to military-issued weapons. Moreover, among these soldiers were even unexploded grenades carelessly rolling around. Not only were their rifles in poor condition, but their explosives had been duds as well. Was it simply a case of compounded misfortune? Or had this tragedy occurred due to LA¡¯s circumstances forcing them to resort to using defective equipment? Aiden briefly pondered that thought before shaking his head. It wasn¡¯t an issue he could draw any conclusions about right now. Clearing his mind of those wandering thoughts, Aiden focused on collecting the personal effects. ¡°Is this all of them?¡± In total, Aiden had recovered the effects belonging to 13 individuals. Five had been deceased, while the rest had turned into zombies. But that was a relatively decent number, considering there seemed to be two or three others whose bodies had been so gruesomely mangled on the ground that recovering any effects would have been impossible. However, on the opposite side, there was also a stroke of luck. In the direction Aiden had entered from, there was an open door. On the floor leading that way were faint bloodstains, as if someone had escaped through there. Meaning amidst this chaos, at least one person had managed to flee from the substation. Aiden briefly looked in the direction those bloodstains led. Towards a small park area with a lake. Perhaps the person who had fled tried to use that lake to throw off any mutant pursuits. Whether that attempt had succeeded or not, Aiden simply turned away. His task, after all, was only to recover the fallen soldiers¡¯ personal effects. If someone had managed to survive, he could only wish them fortune. There was nothing more he could do for them. ¡°Time to head back, I suppose.¡± Having completed his task, Aiden muttered those words. He swiftly departed from the substation grounds. A cold winter breeze swept across the silent wasteland where corpses now slumbered. * * * The next day in LA. Weary from their long journey, yet invigorated by anticipation for this new city, morning came sooner than usual. Both Arian and Sadie had to rise from their beds earlier than normal. Sadie to attend school, and Arian to go to her assigned workplace. ¡°Was it 8... no, 8:30?¡± Arian tilted her head slightly as she checked the clock, one of the only electronic devices in the apartment they had been provided. She clearly remembered the receptionist yesterday mentioning the time when the school bus would pass by, but couldn¡¯t quite recall the exact hour. ¡°It¡¯s 8:30 for me. For you, Arian, it¡¯s 9.¡± Sadie spoke up to the puzzled Arian. Unlike Arian, who had a hazy concept of time, Sadie clearly remembered the hours they had been told. ¡°Ah, that¡¯s right. Well... a school bus, huh...¡± Arian let out an awkward chuckle as she spoke. She had heard yesterday that Sadie could attend school in LA, but it still didn¡¯t feel entirely real to her. In fact, Arian even harbored some lingering doubts over whether a bus would actually come as promised. But. ¡°...It really did come.¡± Standing near the bus stop close to their apartment at the appointed time, Arian could clearly see a bus approaching from down the road. Somewhat aged but unmistakably a typical yellow school bus. That school bus glided smoothly to a stop right in front of Arian and Sadie. Soon, its door opened, and a middle-aged woman stepped out. ¡°Are you Sadie? Sadie Lewis?¡± The woman asked, looking at Sadie. When Sadie nodded, the woman smiled faintly as she continued speaking. ¡°I was informed you¡¯d be coming today. Is this your first day? Could I see your citizen ID?¡± After confirming Sadie¡¯s ID, the woman stepped aside as if motioning for her to board. She then turned her gaze towards Arian. ¡°And you must be her guardian? Please read this.¡± The woman pointed towards a paper posted on the bus. It contained information related to the school Sadie would be attending, such as its location and class dismissal times. Arian tried her best to commit that information to memory in the brief time she had. ¡°Well then... have a good day at school.¡± Arian bid Sadie farewell. It was only then that Sadie responded with a bright smile before scampering up the bus steps. Soon, the bus carrying Sadie departed. Watching its receding figure, Arian felt an impulse to chase after it. She couldn¡¯t be entirely certain that the school would be a safe place, after all. But the school bus had many other children aboard as well. Among those cheerfully chattering kids, there seemed to be no hints of unease. So Arian calmly suppressed her urge to follow. She had already secretly passed a small paper slip laced with her blood to Sadie, just in case. If Sadie deemed her surroundings dangerous, all she had to do was tear that slip. Arian would then sense Sadie¡¯s peril and be able to approximate her location. With that reassurance, Arian set aside her worries about Sadie for now. As she turned away, a different concern crossed Arian¡¯s mind. ¡°Speaking of which... having a job...¡± Unfortunately, Arian had never experienced working a job, not just since arriving in this zombie-infested world, but even before that. As a vampire who had been hunted by humans from the moment she came of age ¨C no, even before then ¨C she lacked any experience with ordinary societal life. ¡°Umm...¡± That realization prompted Arian to let out a vexed grunt. At least her chosen occupation as a soldier was somewhat fortunate. The military was the only organization Arian was remotely familiar with, having constantly stood on battlefields. Through frequently eavesdropping on conversations between soldiers, Arian had a rough understanding of how the military functioned, even if the battlefield itself had been her workplace. Had Arian chosen an ordinary company job instead, she would have been utterly lost. She had scarcely witnessed the working lives of regular office employees, not even through media like TV. ¡°...¡± Back inside their apartment, Arian checked the clock again. She had been told her assigned workplace would contact her by 9 AM. As Arian was anxiously watching the time, it happened. ¡°Is anyone there?¡± There was a knock at the front door, accompanied by that voice. Upon opening it, a man was standing outside. ¡°Arian Clifford?¡± Arian nodded in affirmation. But the man didn¡¯t acknowledge her response, simply holding out his hand instead. A gesture demanding she present her temporary citizen ID. It was only after confirming Arian¡¯s ID that the man spoke again. ¡°This is your job assignment order.¡± The man briskly handed Arian a palm-sized paper before immediately heading back down the stairs. Written on it were the name of the military unit Arian had been assigned to and that unit¡¯s location. Their garrison was in a building near the walls. The route to reach that building was also indicated, with instructions to take a bus. ¡°I have ridden buses before.¡± It was an experience from when she had been hiding within the confines of a certain metropolitan area. Back then, using buses or subways had actually been less conspicuous, so she had frequently utilized them. Feeling confident, Arian promptly set out for her first day of work. She waited for a bus in front of her apartment. After around 10 minutes, one arrived. There didn¡¯t seem to be any route number distinctions ¨C it appeared only a single bus line passed through this area. And when Arian boarded, she realized there was no fare payment system in place. Passengers could simply get on without any payment. Come to think of it... did currency even exist in this city to begin with? No matter how hard Arian tried to recall, she couldn¡¯t remember seeing anything resembling money. Meanwhile, after riding that bus for about 30 minutes, Arian reached her stop. The workplace she had been assigned to appeared to be an ordinary warehouse building from the outside. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But stepping inside, it was filled with soldiers. However, Arian already had a rough idea of which specific soldier she needed to meet. ¡°...¡± Without a word, Arian entered deeper into the warehouse interior. Her presence immediately drew the gazes of the soldiers, but Arian paid them no heed. Soon, she arrived before a door labeled ¡®Platoon Leader¡¯s Office.¡¯ Deftly, Arian knocked on that door. Promptly receiving permission to enter, she opened the door just like that. Seated at the desk inside the platoon leader¡¯s office was a woman of Middle Eastern descent. Her uniform even had her name displayed ¨C Ava Hill. Upon seeing Arian enter, Ava tilted her head slightly in puzzlement. ¡°What¡¯s this, who are you?¡± ¡°A new recruit, ma¡¯am.¡± Arian brazenly answered Ava¡¯s question. In an instant, Ava¡¯s brow furrowed deeply. ¡°A recruit? You?¡± Without another word, Arian handed her assignment order to Ava. After confirming the order along with Arian¡¯s citizen ID, Ava¡¯s expression hardened even further. ¡°Ha... even with our manpower shortages, this is...¡± She pressed her temples with her fingers as she said that. It was obvious from her reaction that she didn¡¯t approve of Arian¡¯s deployment. Even knowing this, Arian simply remained silent. Then Ava spoke first. ¡°Hey, kid. Did you say you¡¯d join the military?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Have you fired a gun before?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve used knives more than guns.¡± Hearing Arian¡¯s reply, Ava sighed exasperatedly. ¡°You¡¯re not suitable to work here. I¡¯ll take responsibility for changing your job. So...¡± ¡°I like it here.¡± ¡°What can a girl who can¡¯t even hold a rifle properly do...¡± Ava kept suggesting that Arian change jobs, but Arian was stubborn. She had no intention of leaving the military. In the end, it was Ava who gave up the conversation. ¡°Okay, then I¡¯ll make you realize it. Harris!¡± Ava called out towards the outside. Soon the door to the platoon leader¡¯s office opened, and a white man stuck his head out. ¡°Yes, sir?¡± ¡°This is the new recruit. Take her and have her work today.¡± ¡°Take her along?¡± Harris stared at Arian, then spoke again. ¡°But today¡¯s work is...¡± ¡°I know.¡± Ava simply hurried Harris, and he had no choice but to take Arian and leave the warehouse. The place Arian arrived at with Harris was the parking lot behind the warehouse, where there was a truck and large sacks, which turned out to be cement bags, each weighing over 40kg. ¡°Today¡¯s work is to load these onto the truck...¡± But moving them wasn¡¯t an easy task even for an adult male. So Harris trailed off, but Arian nodded calmly and stood in front of them. Perhaps soldiers don¡¯t always have to fight. It was an unexpected task for Arian, but of course it was not something she couldn¡¯t do. She just couldn¡¯t fully display her true strength. She couldn¡¯t advertise that she was a vampire, and had to stay within the bounds of common sense. So Arian decided to lift only one bag at a time. ¡°Huh...?¡± Seeing Arian easily lift the bag, Harris¡¯s eyes widened. It was not exactly within the bounds of common sense for a girl in her mid-teens to single-handedly lift a cement bag. But Harris had no words to say to Arian about that. It was the work he had assigned, and the task allocated to the unit. He couldn¡¯t nitpick her for doing the job well. Instead, he assumed that¡¯s why the platoon leader just told him to have her do it. And a few hours later. ¡°That new recruit is doing the work amazingly well.¡± When Harris went to report the completion of the work to Ava, he said that. At this, Ava¡¯s expression twisted in disbelief. Chapter 189 ¡°Hoho...¡± Inside the hot dog shop-styled office of the Huntington Docks. The man who owned the office let out a chuckle as he examined the personal effects Aiden had brought. ¡°This is quite unexpected.¡± The man, adorned with flashy gold bracelets, lowered his sunglasses slightly to look at Aiden. Next to the man stood another person holding a gun, likely his bodyguard. But Aiden paid him no mind and reacted to the man¡¯s words instead. ¡°...What do you mean?¡± ¡°What do I mean?¡± The man picked up one of the dog tags. On the bloodstained silver plate was the precise name and affiliation of the deceased soldier. ¡°We get a lot of strange fellows coming around here. No, only strange fellows ever show up. But among them, you¡¯re a particularly bizarre specimen, wandering around in that inverted helmet... I didn¡¯t expect you to complete the job so swiftly.¡± ¡°Are you saying there¡¯s a problem?¡± ¡°A problem? Not at all. You did an excellent job.¡± The man swept up the dog tags and IDs that had been placed on the counter, collecting them. He put them into a small box before handing it over to the bodyguard beside him. The bodyguard took the box and disappeared into the back of the shop. ¡°Pleased to meet you. You can call me Dirk.¡± It was only then that the man revealed his name in a gruff voice. Though that likely wasn¡¯t his real name either, it wasn¡¯t particularly important to Aiden. ¡°Aiden Lee.¡± ¡°Alright, Aiden. I¡¯ve definitely received the goods. What kind of compensation would you like?¡± ¡°What can you offer?¡± Aiden asked in return. The list of items they were looking to acquire didn¡¯t specify any prices. In response, Dirk shrugged his shoulders as he spoke. ¡°Anything. Food, guns, bombs, drugs... just name it. We¡¯ll provide whatever goods we deal in at fair market rates.¡± ¡°...¡± Aiden pondered briefly. What he needed most immediately were weapons. Ever since depleting his supplies during the battle with Fear, he hadn¡¯t replenished them. But Aiden was weighing another item that had just occurred to him against that need. It was something he had frequently used back in Pittsburgh, but no longer required. Specifically, his motorcycle. ¡°Do you deal in vehicles as well?¡± ¡°Vehicles? But the compensation for this job wouldn¡¯t be that substantial.¡± ¡°So you do sell them, is what you¡¯re saying.¡± Dirk let out a derisive snort. Then, as if prompting Aiden to elaborate, he nodded. Aiden continued speaking. ¡°Could I procure a motorcycle?¡± ¡°Hmm... a motorcycle?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need anything that can carry much cargo. Even an old one is fine. But the color has to be black.¡± At Aiden¡¯s words, Dirk¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. In this place, the value of motorcycles was considerably lower compared to ordinary passenger vehicles. Not only was there a vast difference in cargo and passenger capacity, but more importantly, motorcycles offered no protection whatsoever for the rider against zombie attacks. As such, even the Huntington Docks members only used motorcycles for getting around within secured areas. For a junk dealer to request such an item... Dirk nodded, his interest piqued. ¡°We do have a few spares lying around. But I can¡¯t just give one away. Even if it¡¯s compensation for this request, that would be too much.¡± Dirk leaned forward, resting his bulky frame on the table in front of him, causing it to creak. ¡°So here¡¯s the deal, Aiden. You take on one more request for us. Then, no questions asked, I¡¯ll hand over a motorcycle. How about it?¡± Dirk was naturally trying to rope Aiden into another job. But for Aiden, it wasn¡¯t an unwelcome proposition. From the start, he had taken on these requests not for the compensation, but to establish dealings with this group. ¡°I suppose. Let me hear the details of the request first.¡± ¡°A good attitude.¡± Dirk let out a low, satisfied chuckle. Soon after, he began describing a certain item they had left behind outside the safe zone. * * * That evening. Aiden entered a pub located around the luxury apartment complex controlled by the Huntington Docks gang. The raucous, clamorous conversations immediately assaulted his ears. This place, which had been a bar even before the world fell apart, was still operating that same business under the gang¡¯s control. Aiden approached the long table and bar counter area typical of such establishments. ¡°What do you want?¡± At his approach, the bartender behind the counter reacted with a scowl. A tall, rough-looking white man. An discourteous attitude, inappropriate for someone in the service industry, but Aiden paid it no mind as he spoke. ¡°I heard I could get lodging here.¡± ¡°Lodging?¡± ¡°Dirk sent me.¡± Upon hearing Dirk¡¯s name, the man¡¯s expression softened slightly. ¡°Ah, I¡¯d heard you¡¯d be coming. The one with the dark helmet... you match the description.¡± The man looked Aiden up and down appraisingly. ¡°Name¡¯s Adam Baker. And you¡¯re Aiden Lee, right?¡± It seemed Aiden¡¯s name had already been shared with him. ¡°That¡¯s right. So about the room?¡± ¡°Right over there. The cheapest room we¡¯ve got.¡± Adam pointed towards a door in the corner of the bar. At best, it seemed to just lead to a storage room attached to the pub, but Adam was brazenly presenting it as a room for rent. ¡°It¡¯ll probably be too noisy to sleep properly, so don¡¯t come complaining later. That¡¯s why it¡¯s so cheap.¡± Adam warned him, as if anticipating complaints. But Aiden simply nodded calmly, already aware of what to expect. Aiden promptly entered the small room attached to the pub. The interior was just as shabby as it had appeared from outside. At most, it was barely large enough for a single person to lie down. Moreover, it was separated from the pub itself by only a thin wooden door, allowing the conversations at the nearby tables to be heard clearly. ¡°...¡± Listening to those voices, Aiden leaned the rifle he had been carrying against the wall. Yesterday, while spending the night in an abandoned building in Huntington Beach, Aiden had realized just how dangerous this area was. He had been approached by two separate would-be muggers, one of whom was persistent enough that Aiden had to beat him down before he would retreat. In some ways, it was closer to being a lawless zone than even the area outside LA¡¯s walls. Perhaps that was the very reason the Huntington Docks gang¡¯s business included offering lodging in this area to outsiders. In fact, according to Dirk, not just this pub, but the buildings lining the surrounding streets were all managed lodgings under their control. And while those lodgings came at a cost, they at least offered a minimum level of security. But that wasn¡¯t the reason Aiden had chosen to rent a room here, despite not needing sleep. As a zombie, it would have been entirely possible for Aiden to simply establish a hideout somewhere outside Huntington Beach itself. Even so, he had deliberately paid for lodging here due to the conversations drifting in from beyond that door. ¡°Damn freezer warehouse! They said there were supplies there, but when we got the door open, a pack of freakin¡¯ zombies came pouring out!¡± ¡°Hah, you mean that place in Brea? Dumbass, didn¡¯t I tell you? Past Anaheim, it¡¯s all zombie territory!¡± Even now, the people entering the pub were exchanging stories, whether sober or in various states of intoxication. Aiden intended to listen attentively to those drunken ramblings throughout the night. On the off chance that some useful information might slip through amidst their aimless blathering. Of course, objectively speaking, the likelihood of gaining anything worthwhile was low. But it was far more meaningful than simply spending the night observing the darkened streets while fending off potential muggers. ¡°...¡± Aiden leaned back against the door, briefly closing his eyes. The voices of the drunken patrons continued echoing from outside until dawn broke. * * k Two evenings later. Wooong! In the Long Beach area situated across the Los Angeles River, south of LA¡¯s walls. A black motorcycle came to a stop in front of a hotel overlooking the beach. The man in the dark helmet who dismounted, Aiden, parked the motorcycle near the hotel entrance before immediately heading inside the lobby without delay. ¡°You¡¯re here?¡± Arian¡¯s voice immediately reached him. With the sun already set, darkness had fallen over the hotel interior. Illuminated only by the faint moonlight filtering in, she was seated in an abandoned chair in one corner of the shabby lobby. ¡°You¡¯ve already been waiting, I see.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a much shorter distance for me.¡± Arian shrugged as she spoke. Of course, in terms of physical distance, that was true. But Arian had undoubtedly crossed over LA¡¯s walls undetected to arrive here. Even Aiden, aware of Arian¡¯s true nature, had wondered if she could really breach that 30-meter wall with ease. But it seemed such a barrier was incapable of impeding a vampire¡¯s movements after all. ¡°So, how¡¯s Sadie doing?¡± That was Aiden¡¯s first question upon reuniting with Arian after three days. In response, Arian smiled faintly as she described Sadie¡¯s daily life in LA since their arrival. ¡°Sadie has been attending school.¡± ¡°School, you say?¡± ¡°Yes. An ordinary school. While she does learn things like how to shoot and about zombies, she also seems to be studying regular subjects as well.¡± Arian explained about the school Sadie was attending. Overall, it sounded similar to the schools Aiden was familiar with. But there were a few distinct differences as well. Such as the remarkably low staff-to-student ratio. And the subpar facilities and curricula. ¡°Also... the school hours are excessively long. The poor ten-year-old has to stay until evening.¡± Moreover, as Arian mentioned, that school didn¡¯t conclude until 8 PM. An unreasonably long day for an elementary school student. But Aiden could easily surmise the reason behind it. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say everyone in LA is compelled to work?¡± ¡°Yes, all adults at least.¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s less of a school and more akin to a child management facility.¡± The school¡¯s closing time matched the typical workplace¡¯s closing time in LA. Ultimately, the purpose behind creating such schools in LA didn¡¯t seem to be solely for the children¡¯s benefit. Rather, it was likely intended to provide an environment where parents could leave their children for extended periods without concern, enabling them to work longer hours. ¡°But Sadie seems fine with it. I didn¡¯t sense any dislike from her.¡± With Arian¡¯s keen senses, she could easily see through a child¡¯s deception. And from what she could tell, Sadie genuinely seemed to enjoy attending school. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It wasn¡¯t a particularly surprising reaction, though. No matter how arduous the long school hours might be, it would pale in comparison to the hardships they had endured on their journey. Moreover, she was surrounded by friends of the same age, at the very least. For Sadie, who had almost always been in the company of adults ¨C vampires and zombies, no less ¨C it must have been a comfortable change of pace. ¡°Still, if the child herself is content, that¡¯s a relief.¡± After hearing Arian¡¯s account of Sadie, that was Aiden¡¯s response. The child seemed to be doing well, at least. But at that point, Arian¡¯s expression became slightly troubled. ¡°Even so, she didn¡¯t seem completely at ease either.¡± ¡°Why is that?¡± ¡°Why, you ask... it¡¯s all because of you, of course.¡± At Arian¡¯s words, Aiden simply looked at her questioningly. As if asking what she meant. With a sigh, Arian continued speaking. ¡°You¡¯re the only one who couldn¡¯t enter LA. Do you have any idea how worried that child is about you?¡± Aiden let out a soft hum of realization. It was an unexpected statement. He hadn¡¯t even considered the possibility of being a source of concern for the child. ¡°When I told her I was coming to meet you today, she seemed to want to tag along. I was half-seriously contemplating it, myself.¡± ¡°That would have been far too reckless-¡° ¡°I know. That¡¯s why I came alone.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°So from now on, at least bring her a gift when you visit. Just relaying messages doesn¡¯t really cut it. I¡¯d tell you to write her a letter, but that doesn¡¯t seem like your style.¡± As if anticipating Aiden¡¯s obliviousness, Arian even provided him with instructions on how to act. And indeed, her words rang true. Now that he thought about it, such a reaction from Sadie should have been expected. For a child who had readily extended a helping hand even to complete strangers, it only made sense that she would be concerned for Aiden, whom she had journeyed alongside until now. ¡°...I understand.¡± So Aiden readily nodded in acknowledgment. After the topic of Sadie concluded, a brief silence fell between them. It was amidst that stillness, as Aiden gazed out the window, that he spoke again. ¡°Then... was that place really alright?¡± Asking if there were no issues with LA. Arian didn¡¯t immediately arrive at a clear conclusion. ¡°Hard to say. I¡¯m still not sure.¡± LA¡¯s outward appearance had exceeded Arian¡¯s expectations, presenting an impressively developed city. And for Sadie¡¯s future life, it could hardly get any better than this. But Arian¡¯s keen senses were also picking up on a certain undercurrent permeating that city. ¡°And yet, something still seems off about it.¡± ¡°Off, you say?¡± ¡°It¡¯s like... the people there don¡¯t really smile much? It¡¯s difficult to explain...¡± Arian drummed her fingers on the table in a vexed manner. It was a mere intuition, so putting it into words was challenging. Rather than dismissing her words, Aiden suggested a way to resolve this issue. ¡°Then how about investigating the city government next time?¡± ¡°The city government?¡± ¡°Yes. From what I¡¯ve heard... in LA, all power is concentrated in the hands of the mayor.¡± This was information Aiden had obtained in Huntington Beach. The mayor of LA was named Ross Preston. He not only held command authority over the military force called the Territorial Defense, but also governed nearly the entire city itself. Not merely a mayor, but a figure akin to a king in practice. Thus, Aiden judged that to verify the city¡¯s safety, they needed to look into this mayor himself. ¡°If there truly is an issue with LA, the truth will undoubtedly reveal itself around that authority figure. Just like with Shriveport.¡± ¡°I suppose that¡¯s true. Leave that part to me. I¡¯ll look into it.¡± ¡°Alright, is there anything else to discuss?¡± ¡°Anything else? Oh right, I did hear some talk about you in LA.¡± At that unexpected statement, Aiden¡¯s brow furrowed slightly in concern. ¡°Talk about me, you say?¡± Despite Aiden¡¯s grave tone, Arian casually nodded in affirmation. Chapter 190 ¡°That is strange indeed.¡± Aiden muttered those words. From the start, he hadn¡¯t entered LA himself. And the requests he had handled over these past few days were nothing remarkable enough to draw LA¡¯s interest. So why was LA aware of Aiden¡¯s existence? The answer soon came from Arian. ¡°It¡¯s all because of Fear.¡± ¡°Fear?¡± ¡°Yes. It seems LA has been closely monitoring Fear¡¯s movements.¡± The LA territorial defense force that Aiden¡¯s group had encountered in Blythe wasn¡¯t there by mere coincidence. They had detected Fear leading a massive horde of zombies towards Phoenix. Arian explained that they were a LA scout unit dispatched to investigate the situation. ¡°Come to think of it... for an army stationed in an abandoned city, their numbers were unusually high.¡± Recalling their troop size at the time, Aiden muttered those words. Arizona, which had been Fear¡¯s area of activity, wasn¡¯t located too far from LA. So it was only natural for LA to be on high alert over that creature¡¯s movements, and to have directly mobilized their military in response to its changes. ¡°And so?¡± ¡°And so... from their perspective, Fear suddenly went missing, right? They started questioning us about what had happened.¡± Upon hearing that much, Aiden gave a small nod accompanied by a soft hum of realization. The over 30 survivors who had journeyed from Phoenix to LA alongside Aiden only knew that Fear had suffered injuries from Aiden¡¯s sniping. Having noticed Fear¡¯s disappearance, LA¡¯s administration had demanded testimony from those who had been rescued around Phoenix at the time. Judging they had no reason to hide anything, the survivors simply relayed what they had witnessed and heard. ¡°...I see.¡± Aiden understood the general situation now. While an unexpected development, it fortunately wasn¡¯t a major issue. Especially since Aiden himself wasn¡¯t present in LA at the moment. And even if information about him reached the Huntington Docks, it wouldn¡¯t pose a problem. At most, his abilities as a junk dealer might be somewhat overestimated, but that was hardly a significant concern. Arian¡¯s account continued. ¡°But LA seemed rather suspicious about it. They kept asking me if it was really just a sniper rifle that took down Fear.¡± ¡°Well, I suppose that¡¯s understandable. Anyone who truly knows Fear would realize how difficult it is to bring that creature down through sniping alone.¡± Even in hindsight, without Arian¡¯s involvement, defeating Fear would have been impossible. So their suspicion was valid. Meanwhile, Arian snapped her fingers as if recalling something. ¡°Oh, and there¡¯s some good news too.¡± At Aiden¡¯s prompting gaze, she continued. ¡°Zaid and Ricardo, remember them? Those people we met in the desert before. They arrived in LA yesterday.¡± Of course, they would remember Aiden as well. The ones with whom a conflict had nearly erupted at the desert shack, only for them to have to flee together from the zombie horde. They were the very people Sadie had personally shared her food rations with upon parting ways. Back then, Zaid had mentioned his intention to head to Las Vegas and take a train to LA. Now it seemed that attempt had ultimately succeeded. ¡°There are quite a few people in LA from what I know, but they managed to find each other nonetheless.¡± ¡°The workplace I¡¯m assigned to isn¡¯t too far from where citizen registration happens. Just got lucky, I guess.¡± Arian mentioned that she had even reunited with them briefly. According to her, Zaid and his companion Linda had been assigned jobs related to their skills in operating trains. As for Ricardo¡¯s group, they seemed to have been assigned to the military, similar to Arian herself. ¡°By the way, Aiden.¡± After finishing her account of Zaid and Ricardo¡¯s group, Arian¡¯s expression turned somewhat serious as she opened her mouth again. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°If this place truly is suitable... what will you do next?¡± If LA proved to be a city lacking nothing for Sadie¡¯s future life, then the request from Rebecca would be complete, finally bringing their long journey to an end. Arian was inquiring about what would happen after that. ¡°...Hard to say.¡± Aiden avoided giving a direct answer to that question. In response, Arian tilted her head slightly. ¡°Surely you don¡¯t intend to leave?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have anywhere else to go. But I also don¡¯t have a reason to stay here.¡± ¡°Then...¡± ¡°Of course, that¡¯s just for now. Circumstances can change at any time. You know the reason without me having to spell it out, don¡¯t you?¡± At Aiden¡¯s words, Arian let out a sigh and fell silent. If his true nature as a zombie were to be exposed, even for a single moment, he would undoubtedly have to leave this place. But Aiden wouldn¡¯t be the only one. ¡°In that case, what about you?¡± ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Yes. Having experienced living in that city firsthand, do you really think you could continue residing there?¡± Arian couldn¡¯t easily answer that. Of course, the routine of going to work, doing her job, and returning home was manageable enough. She could handle that much without issue. But that daily life was only possible because a certain crucial requirement of hers wasn¡¯t being met. ¡°Can you procure blood in that place?¡± ¡°...No.¡± Arian shook her head slightly. Over the past three days, she had tried various methods to obtain it. But through ordinary means, there was no way to acquire blood anywhere within LA. After all, even if their work was tiring, the citizens of LA didn¡¯t lack for sustenance to the point of desperately needing to sell their own blood. So the only option left for Arian would be to steal the blood reserves stored at one of the city¡¯s hospitals. But even that held no meaning for her. She was already well aware of the clear limits to subsisting through thievery. ¡°I had a feeling that would be the case.¡± Upon hearing Arian¡¯s response, Aiden retrieved a few plastic bottles filled with blood from his belongings. Seeing them, Arian¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You...!¡± ¡°For the time being, I¡¯ll procure the blood for you. That much shouldn¡¯t be too difficult.¡± Compared to Arian, it was far easier for Aiden to obtain blood. From a gang that freely dealt even in drugs, they had no qualms about simply handing over human blood to Aiden. ¡°But if there¡¯s no way for you to acquire blood in LA... then you won¡¯t be able to remain in this city for long either. You should be prepared for that possibility.¡± As Arian gulped down the contents of one of the bottles, Aiden advised her in a cautionary tone. Ultimately, it meant that Arian too might have to part ways with Sadie. But it was such an obvious fact that Arian couldn¡¯t refute it. ¡°...Thank you. I¡¯ll give it some thought.¡± Aiden nodded at Arian¡¯s response. After exchanging a few more minor pieces of information, they both sensed that their conversation was largely concluded. It was Aiden who first moved to take his leave. ¡°I think that covers everything we needed to discuss. How about we meet again in a week¡¯s time? We¡¯ll likely need that long to gather further information. What do you think?¡± ¡°Works for me. So next Wednesday evening, right?¡± Wednesday. An innocuous word, and yet one that stirred a sense of nostalgia within Aiden. After all, it had been nearly 4 years since he had last kept track of specific days of the week. ¡°So today is Wednesday.¡± ¡°Apparently so. I didn¡¯t even realize it until a couple of days ago myself.¡± Arian let out a chuckle, as if finding such a conversation amusing. Then, clutching the blood-filled bottle to her chest, she rose from her seat and waved at Aiden. ¡°I¡¯ll see you next week, then.¡± Aiden nodded in response. Immediately after, Arian¡¯s figure vanished, obscured by the moonlight as if by magic. Or perhaps it truly was magic itself. Without dwelling too deeply on that wondrous sight, Aiden also stood up from his seat. It was time for him to return to that noisy pub controlled by the Huntington Docks gang. * * * A few days later, in the morning. Aiden visited the Huntington Docks¡¯ office. It was, as expected, to complete their request. Upon his arrival, Dirk welcomed Aiden¡¯s appearance. ¡°Our exemplary employee has graced us with his presence.¡± He spoke with a sly grin. In the span of just a few days, Dirk¡¯s perception of Aiden had shifted considerably. All thanks to Aiden swiftly resolving even the gang¡¯s more challenging requests. Of course, this was precisely Aiden¡¯s intention. To extract decent information from the Huntington Docks, he first needed to prove his capabilities. So he had strategically chosen requests that allowed him to effectively utilize his zombie nature, completing them promptly. The trust Dirk had built up towards Aiden in this short period was the result of those efforts. ¡°Do you have another request for me?¡± ¡°Of course. But... today, I¡¯ve got a separate proposal.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s about joining your gang, I¡¯ve already declined that offer.¡± As Dirk had mentioned, he had previously suggested that Aiden join the Huntington Docks. While Aiden had refused at the time, it seemed Dirk hadn¡¯t given up on the idea entirely. Meanwhile, at Aiden¡¯s response, Dirk let out an amused chuckle. ¡°Honestly, if it were anyone else, I¡¯d call them crazy. Turning down a gang¡¯s recruitment offer, over and over. But you, you¡¯ve earned that right. So I¡¯ll be generous and let it slide.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Of course, that offer still stands. Feel free to change your mind anytime. But today¡¯s proposal isn¡¯t about that.¡± Dirk pointed one thick finger at Aiden¡¯s ID tag. ¡°You said you were a doctor, right?¡± Aiden nodded. Dirk¡¯s questioning continued. ¡°Then have you ever seen something like this before?¡± From under the table, Dirk retrieved a yellowed piece of paper. It was... an old pamphlet. It likely had been published by some company, depicting a photograph of some kind of machine on it. ¡°...¡± Aiden studied it intently for a moment. In size, it was roughly equivalent to an ordinary desktop computer¡¯s tower case. With a boxy, rectangular shape that allowed an oven-like door to be opened. The name of the device was illegible, having been erased from the text. But below that, its functions and usage were described in writing. Upon seeing that, Aiden quickly deduced the item¡¯s identity. ¡°A cell analysis unit.¡± ¡°Correct. A doctor would recognize it, I suppose.¡± Dirk spoke with seeming satisfaction. ¡°We need to acquire one of these cell analysis units. We even have a general idea of its location ¨C a pharmaceutical company¡¯s research lab in Riverside. There should be one of these somewhere in there.¡± Riverside was a city about 80km away from LA. While separated by a mountain range, it was still effectively part of the greater metropolitan area. The distance itself wouldn¡¯t be an issue for Aiden, who possessed a motorcycle. But being that far removed from LA made it a risky area. ¡°But here¡¯s the problem ¨C none of our junk dealers can identify this thing.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you have a photo of it?¡± ¡°This scrap of paper only shows one model from countless manufacturers. It might not even match the actual unit at that research lab. That¡¯s why we¡¯ve been having such a headache over this. Hell, one guy brought back a printer thinking it was a cell analysis unit. Idiot.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°So we¡¯ve got no choice but to ask for your help on this one. It¡¯s a rather important request, you see. What do you say? The compensation will be more than fair.¡± Dirk spoke those words while observing Aiden intently. Based solely on the request details, there was nothing objectionable about it. Aiden was quite familiar with cell analysis units, so he could easily identify one. And there was no particular evidence suggesting the research lab in Riverside would be more dangerous than other requests. The only aspect that gave Aiden pause was the gang¡¯s reasons for wanting this item. While cell analysis units were occasionally used by doctors, they were more commonly utilized by pharmaceutical companies. For good reason ¨C one of their primary purposes was in developing vaccines. ¡°Is this... a request from LA?¡± ¡°You¡¯re certainly a curious one. I like that about our exemplary employee, but it¡¯s also a problem. Too inquisitive, you see.¡± Dirk spoke those words as if probing Aiden¡¯s intentions. Perhaps he had already caught on that Aiden was gathering information, despite his caution. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But when Aiden remained silent, Dirk let out a snort of laughter before continuing. ¡°Alright, everyone has their flaws, I suppose. I¡¯ll let you in on it this time, just for you. You¡¯re right, it is a request from inside those walls. They¡¯re researching a vaccine for the zombie virus over there.¡± ¡°A vaccine?¡± Aiden repeated those unexpected words in a questioning tone. But Dirk simply nodded, as if it were no big deal. ¡°You¡¯re new here, so you might not know, but it¡¯s common knowledge. Not really a secret or anything. The real secret begins here, actually. There was a recent accident at that research lab.¡± Dirk lowered his voice, as if divulging a confidential story. ¡°Because of it, everything got torched ¨C people, equipment, the whole building. This is one of the items that got scattered in the chaos. The LA government wants to recover this piece of equipment as quickly as possible. They want to keep the incident under wraps, you see. Don¡¯t want word getting out about their research failure.¡± This was information Aiden hadn¡¯t even heard from Arian. Did those words imply that information was truly being controlled within LA itself? He couldn¡¯t be certain yet. But Aiden had the intuition that he might uncover something about LA through this request. ¡°That¡¯s all I¡¯ve got to say on the matter. So, are you interested in taking on this request now?¡± ¡°Very well. I¡¯ll accept this one.¡± So Aiden readily agreed to Dirk¡¯s proposal. In response, the corner of Dirk¡¯s mouth curved upwards. ¡°Good. Then I¡¯ll be expecting another exemplary performance from you this time around, our star employee.¡± Leaving behind Dirk¡¯s parting words, Aiden exited the office. Right outside was his black motorcycle, waiting for him. Whether by chance or inevitability, it was the same model he had used back in Pittsburgh. Aiden mounted the motorcycle and started the engine. The low rumble of the exhaust reverberated in his ears. Soon, with Aiden astride it, the motorcycle took off, speeding eastward towards Riverside in LA. Chapter 191 ¡°What did you say?¡± At the northern wall of LA, the section still incomplete unlike the eastern wall. Ava, who had been overseeing supply transportation work at that site, questioned Arian with those words. In response, Arian casually repeated her previous inquiry without any reservations. ¡°How do I meet with the mayor?¡± At that, Ava looked at Arian with puzzlement. Arian was a newcomer who had only joined the unit Ava commanded as a captain a few days ago. With an outward appearance that seemed no older than a high school student at most, Ava was still convinced Arian had lied about her age to be here. However, separate from that, the Arian that Ava had observed over these past few days was no mere naive child. First of all, Arian had been perfectly handling all the menial tasks assigned to her by the unit. No matter how physically demanding the simple labor might be, she hardly seemed fatigued at all. Additionally, Arian hadn¡¯t uttered a single complaint about the extended working hours that exhausted everyone else. She simply continued the tasks mechanically, without pause. The groans of ¡®This is too hard¡¯ or ¡®I¡¯m so bored¡¯ that spilled from everyone else¡¯s lips had never once passed through Arian¡¯s. Moreover, though Ava hadn¡¯t verified it yet, according to Arian¡¯s own words, she was also experienced in combat against zombies. For those reasons, Ava¡¯s impression of Arian had changed considerably. Even if she truly wasn¡¯t an adult, Arian was not someone who could be treated like a child. At some point, Ava had come to regard her as a legitimate, full-fledged member of the unit. ¡°If you¡¯re asking about the mayor, you must mean Mayor Ross Preston?¡± Arian nodded. Ava¡¯s questioning continued. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just curious about the person leading LA.¡± Arian provided a casual response, but Ava accepted it without issue. After all, it was a natural thought for any evacuee who had come to LA. ¡°The mayor holds a state of the city address in the city hall plaza once a month. There aren¡¯t any special qualifications required to attend the address, so you¡¯ll be able to see him then if you go.¡± ¡°And when will that be?¡± ¡°The most recent address was two weeks ago. So two weeks from now.¡± Two weeks from now. That wasn¡¯t a satisfactory answer. Arian was supposed to reunite with Aiden in just one week¡¯s time. While there wasn¡¯t a strict time limit on her investigation per se, she had hoped to have answers before then if possible. ¡°Is there no way to meet him before that?¡± ¡°No other methods immediately come to mind. He does work at city hall during the day, but just showing up won¡¯t let you meet him. He¡¯s an exceptionally busy man.¡± Then should she try visiting the mayor¡¯s residence at night instead? No, Arian shook her head inwardly at that thought. It would be pointless in the end. What Arian was curious about was the mayor¡¯s official duties as the mayor, not prying into his private life. So she would need to visit city hall during the daytime hours. But to do that, she would have to leave her current workplace. Even for Arian, it wouldn¡¯t be easy to slip in and out of city hall unnoticed from her assigned worksite during broad daylight. ¡°Is there perhaps a way to take leave here?¡± So Arian posed that question. Upon hearing it, Ava¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. * * * At the same time. ¡°This must be it.¡± Having arrived at the pharmaceutical company¡¯s research lab located in Riverside, as Dirk had mentioned, Aiden gazed at the stone structure standing by the entrance. The lettering carved into the massive boulder, larger than a person, remained clear and legible despite nearly four years having passed since then. It was the name that had once belonged to one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in America, and the location Dirk had specified for this request. After concealing his motorcycle in a suitable spot, Aiden entered inside. The exterior of the research lab was a landscaped park-like space. A circular lawn area overgrown with withered weeds swayed gently in the breeze. And at its center stood a long-since stilled fountain, like a weathered statue. Beside the research lab, a small lake could also be seen, but Aiden silently focused on the road leading to the main building itself. From the outside, the research lab only appeared to be around two floors high at most. A simple design with rows of blue-tinted windows lining its pristine white exterior walls. However, the main entrance to that very research lab stood wide open, most of its windows shattered as well. Numerous scars marred those outer walls too. Underneath them rolled the corpses of zombies that had died here long ago. It seemed quite a few junk dealers or wanderers had passed through this place before. But for Aiden, the ground floor of the research lab held little significance. He had already obtained the building¡¯s layout from Dirk in advance. While only appearing two floors high from the outside, this research lab actually extended five floors underground as well. And the ground floor itself had mostly just been office space. The actual research and development of vaccines and new drugs had taken place in those underground levels. So after entering the research lab building, Aiden immediately searched for the stairwell leading underground. The stairs were located in the central area, next to the elevators. The elevator doors were damaged and inoperable, with no electricity running to them anyway. Aiden opened the door to the stairwell. What greeted him first was darkness. Naturally, there were no light sources underground, leaving even just one floor below completely obscured from view. Pat! Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Aiden switched on the flashlight mounted at the end of his rifle¡¯s barrel. No immediate threats were visible at the moment. Next, he checked over his armaments. Aiden had no way of knowing what might be waiting below. The only information Dirk had briefly mentioned was that the areas beneath the third basement level likely hadn¡¯t seen human presence in quite some time. And that mutants might be present down there as a result. So Aiden was prepared for potential combat. At the very least, his armament status had improved considerably thanks to resolving quite a few requests over these past few days. After confirming his firearms and explosives were in working order, Aiden stepped into the darkness below. ¡°...¡± He paused for a moment in front of the corridor leading to the first basement level. Aiden¡¯s flashlight illuminated the research area. Arranged along the straight hallway were research labs to the left and right. The pristine white walls, thick glass windows, and hazmat suits displayed inside were all quintessential sights for a research facility. However, there was one jarring element amidst that scene. Unmistakably, it was the rotten corpses strewn across the floor. ¡°...Did someone pass through here?¡± Aiden murmured those words. The zombies on the first basement level had all been put down. Moreover, there were signs that people had recently traversed this hallway in various spots. Most likely, these were the traces left behind by the other junk dealers Dirk had mentioned, those who had come searching for the cell analysis unit. Their search must have been quite thorough, as Aiden found nothing of note remaining on this first level. The second basement level was similar to the first. The zombies had been cleanly dispatched, and the expansive research labs appeared to have been thoroughly scoured, leaving no worthwhile harvests behind. The skill level suggested these were no mere amateur junk dealers. While Dirk had dismissed them as idiots who mistook printers for cell analysis units, Aiden couldn¡¯t view them with such disdain. As they weren¡¯t zombies like Aiden himself, those junk dealers who had ventured here were likely among the top echelon in Huntington Beach. ¡°Hmm...¡± Having considered that possibility, Aiden let out a soft hum. The fact that such skilled junk dealers had returned with only meager results troubled him. Soon, as Aiden reached the third basement level, he was able to confirm the source of that unease. The door leading to the third basement was not only firmly locked, but the entire door frame had been warped and mangled, leaving no way for anyone to enter. But that wasn¡¯t the issue. Etched onto that distorted door were what appeared to be vicious claw marks. Those markings extended from the door all the way across the stairwell¡¯s outer walls, with the concrete gouged out over 10cm deep in places. ¡°...So this must be what Dirk was referring to.¡± Dirk had only mentioned the possibility of mutants being present here. At the time, Aiden had dismissed it as unnecessary information, given how obvious that likelihood was. But now, he could see there had been clear evidence after all. Aiden stared intently at those scars. They were undoubtedly not the kind of damage any ordinary zombie could inflict. The junk dealers who had come here previously must have witnessed these markings themselves. Realizing the presence of mutants, they likely chose to retreat from this point onward. A sensible decision, naturally. For any junk dealer, veteran or otherwise, avoiding combat with mutants was the wisest course of action. But from these marks alone, Aiden couldn¡¯t discern the specific mutant¡¯s identity either. The traces seemed mismatched with the mutants he was familiar with ¨C Wielders, Brutals, or Hedgehogs. Whatever had left these seemed to possess elongated, blade-like appendages far sharper than anything those other mutants wielded. The closest comparison might be the spines protruding from a Hedgehog¡¯s body, but these gashes were too cleanly carved to be from mere random stabbings. If not those, then the only possibility Aiden could conceive was a Beast. Otherwise, it was highly likely this was an entirely new strain of mutant unknown even to him. Chillleuk! Aiden tried forcefully pulling on that mangled door, but it remained firmly sealed shut as expected. If Arian had been here, perhaps they could have forced it open together. But alone, this was a door he couldn¡¯t breach. Having judged the third basement inaccessible, Aiden descended one more level. The fourth basement¡¯s condition was far more blatant. Those eerie claw marks were gouged everywhere. And whatever had occurred here, the stairwell leading down to the fifth basement had completely collapsed, the ceiling caved in and blocking the way. Amidst that devastation were the remains of zombies scattered about haphazardly. Like crumbs spilled by a careless child, putrid flesh, severed hands, feet, and organs littered the floor in disarray. To Aiden, it was clear evidence that the mutant present had cannibalized its own zombie brethren. ¡°Kiii...!¡± Alerted by Aiden¡¯s flashlight beam, one of the zombies amidst that carnage let out that sound. Perhaps it had once been a researcher here, still wearing a soiled white lab coat. That zombie was missing its lower body. As if torn apart and partially devoured, only a horrific stump remained, the creature merely whimpering piteously amidst the rubble. That whimper almost seemed to be warning Aiden about the presence lurking here. Leaving that zombie behind, Aiden entered the research facilities on the fourth basement level. Their overall structure didn¡¯t differ much from the upper floors. But these appeared to be more specialized areas. The individual research labs had unconventional designs. Some seemed intended to create vacuum environments, with specialized doors and reinforced glass windows. In one room, Aiden found a massive machine he couldn¡¯t identify the purpose of, taking up the entire space. ¡°...¡± Aiden silently advanced along that corridor. The single beam of light meticulously swept across every darkened corner of the research labs. For a mutant¡¯s dwelling, there was surprisingly little evidence of widespread destruction present. It was amidst those thoughts that something caught Aiden¡¯s eye, glinting in the flashlight¡¯s beam. He crouched down and picked up the object reflecting that light from the floor. ¡°This is...¡± A spent cartridge casing. But unlike the others buried under years of accumulated dust, this one seemed to have been dropped only days ago at most. It was an anomaly. Ultimately, it meant that someone had been here very recently. Could it have been those junk dealers who had ventured this far into the depths? In that case, they would have undoubtedly obtained information about the mutant present. And they surely would have reported that to Dirk as well, yet Aiden hadn¡¯t heard a single mention about it. Had the information been deliberately withheld from him, in case he refused the request? ¡°Hmm...¡± Of course, that possibility couldn¡¯t be ruled out entirely. If an exceptionally dangerous mutant was involved, any junk dealer would likely choose to withdraw. But on Dirk¡¯s side, withholding that information would be a foolish gambit. If a junk dealer unaware of the mutant¡¯s presence ended up falling victim to it, the request would ultimately fail regardless. That would only result in a loss for Dirk as well, would it not? Whether he had truly made such a senseless judgment, or if someone other than junk dealers had ventured this deep instead. However, the answer to that question unexpectedly surfaced soon after. As Aiden advanced further inward with his rifle raised, an unimaginable sight came into view. Blood. Not the rotten, greenish blood of the undead, but the deep crimson of human blood. Pools of it were scattered about, each one invariably accompanied by a corpse lying amidst the viscera. And those bodies unmistakably belonged to humans. People in the LA military uniforms that Aiden had become all too familiar with by now. Moreover, their deaths seemed to have occurred no more than a day or two prior at most. The very mutant Aiden had been exercising caution against was positioned right next to those fallen soldiers. Its size was only slightly larger than an average human¡¯s build. And its arms... its bones seemed to have undergone some mutation, protruding through the skin as elongated, white skeletal protrusions resembling blades. Those must have been the source of the claw marks gouged into the door. It was undoubtedly a strain of mutant Aiden had never encountered before. And yet, that creature now lay sprawled on the floor, its head damaged. The bullet holes riddling its body and charred, flame-licked face. Coupled with the shrapnel embedded in its shattered skull, it seemed the mutant and soldiers had engaged in combat, mutually annihilating each other. Coincidentally, the cell analysis unit Aiden needed to retrieve was located right nearby. Had those deceased soldiers also come in search of this very item? Aiden picked up the cell analysis unit. Fortunately, it appeared undamaged, though stained with streaks of crimson blood along its edges. ¡°Tsk...!¡± Having recovered the requested item, Aiden clicked his tongue as he surveyed the fallen soldiers. The number of people who had perished here reached around ten. No matter that they had fought a mutant, such a staggering sacrifice was simply absurd. Moreover, Aiden already had an inkling as to why these soldiers had met their demise in this place. This cell analysis unit was an item desired by LA¡¯s city government. And according to Dirk, the reason they wanted it was to conceal a policy failure of theirs. So the presence of these soldiers here was hardly surprising in that context. Having lost faith in the Huntington Docks¡¯ ability to produce results, LA¡¯s government had directly dispatched their own forces. To secure the cell analysis unit themselves, undoubtedly. ¡°...¡± With a sense of finally glimpsing LA¡¯s hidden face, Aiden¡¯s gaze narrowed. Just what was so important about this research lab that they had gone to such lengths? This was an issue that clearly warranted further investigation. Firmly committing that to memory, Aiden briefly surveyed the grisly underground scene once more before ascending back to the surface. Chapter 192 Having completed the request, Aiden returned to the Huntington Docks¡¯ pub where he was lodging. He pushed open the brown wooden door. Immediately, the distinctive atmosphere of a bar enveloped him ¨C the laughter of people, raised voices, and the thick aroma of liquor permeating the air. A stark contrast to the eerily lifeless research lab he had just been in moments ago. Amidst that lively scene, one person reacted upon noticing Aiden¡¯s black helmet. ¡°You¡¯re back.¡± It was Adam, the pub¡¯s owner. While pouring a cheap vodka for some man, he was looking at Aiden. Aiden approached the counter where Adam stood and took a seat in front of him. ¡°Business going well?¡± Aiden asked. In this Huntington Beach area, Aiden tried to limit his conversations as much as possible. Building unnecessary rapport would serve no purpose for him. But even Aiden made an exception for Adam, the pub owner. It was for the sake of gathering information. Like most pub owners, Adam was privy to all sorts of minor rumors and gossip. Moreover, unlike Dirk who assigned Aiden requests, Adam didn¡¯t seem to view him with the same wariness. He was the perfect source to exploit. Of course, Adam was still affiliated with the Huntington Docks gang, but he adhered more to his profession as a pub owner than as a gang member. At Aiden¡¯s question, Adam let out a chuckle. ¡°Who¡¯re you kidding? You¡¯ve not bought a single drop here.¡± ¡°Hmm, sorry for that.¡± Aiden responded shamelessly. Adam snorted and picked up a glass. ¡°Here you go.¡± Some woman had placed an order. After bringing her drink, Adam stood before Aiden once more. ¡°So where¡¯d you head off to today?¡± ¡°Riverside.¡± ¡°That¡¯s quite a distance. What for?¡± Adam enjoyed hearing tales of requests from the junk dealers. Aiden obliged him each time, so long as it didn¡¯t involve anything problematic. In exchange, Adam provided Aiden with trivial pieces of information he requested, a mutually beneficial arrangement. ¡°Dirk told me not to discuss it.¡± But this time, the gang had demanded confidentiality regarding the request. No matter how curious, Adam couldn¡¯t openly defy his own organization¡¯s mandates. So he simply backed off without pressing further. ¡°Well, can¡¯t be helped then. Did you at least encounter any zombies?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Aiden had already reported the mutant he discovered at the research lab to Dirk. But Dirk himself seemed to have no knowledge about that particular mutant. Since Dirk hadn¡¯t explicitly required secrecy on that aspect, Aiden continued speaking. ¡°It was a mutant. The kind with sharpened bone protrusions extending from its arms in place of hands. Do you know something about it?¡± Aiden asked, just in case. As expected, Adam opened his mouth as if this wasn¡¯t the first time he had heard such a description. ¡°Ah... I have heard similar accounts before. Thought it was just drunken ramblings, but I guess they were real. Probably doesn¡¯t have an official name yet. Though some of the fellas who claimed to have seen it have been calling it a ¡®Spear¡¯.¡± A Spear, referring to the spear-like protrusions. According to Adam¡¯s following explanation, there had only been a few unconfirmed sightings until now, so it had merely been treated as an unverified rumor. It didn¡¯t seem to be a very common mutant in this area. Meanwhile, upon hearing Aiden¡¯s encounter, Adam¡¯s eyes gleamed with interest. ¡°So you fought against that thing?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t engage it directly, but I did confirm its remains.¡± ¡°Lucky you. Word is, Spears are pretty dangerous. Supposed to be incredibly fast, too quick to even draw your gun before they¡¯re on you.¡± ¡°That makes sense. Its build didn¡¯t appear particularly large either. Speed was likely its weapon over brute force.¡± Aiden echoed Adam¡¯s words in agreement. Before Adam could continue the engrossing conversation, he was called away to take another customer¡¯s order. Soon after returning, it was Aiden who posed a question this time. ¡°Do you know anything about the mayor, by chance?¡± ¡°The mayor? You mean the one inside those walls?¡± Aiden nodded. Adam grinned as he continued speaking. ¡°Sure, I know a thing or two. I used to be from LA myself, after all.¡± Adam had originally been a citizen of LA but had voluntarily left due to being unable to cope with the labor environment there. According to him, it was because he couldn¡¯t secure work as a bartender, but even so, abandoning the safety of LA over such a reason seemed rather incomprehensible to Aiden. ¡°So what kind of person is the mayor?¡± ¡°Ross Preston! Now he¡¯s one hell of a character. Barely over 30 years old, and that young pup became the ruler of LA. But I guess you¡¯d want me to tell you more?¡± ¡°Quite young, yes. He wasn¡¯t the original mayor then, was he?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± Adam continued while clearing away a vacated table. ¡°Ross used to be just one of the mayor¡¯s aides, from what I¡¯ve heard. But then the old mayor died in the chaos, and Ross took over, leading the survivors ever since. That¡¯s why he¡¯s still called the mayor to this day.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve seen LA¡¯s walls, right? Those were all his doing. They aren¡¯t fully completed yet, mind you. Word is, the northern section is still under construction.¡± Aiden had indeed heard that the northern side of LA bordering the mountains still lacked a completed wall section. It wasn¡¯t particularly surprising, given the sheer scale of such a massive construction project. ¡°Hmm...¡± As Adam recounted this information, Aiden pondered inwardly about this Ross Preston, the mayor of LA. Summarized succinctly, he was essentially the hero who had narrowly brought the city under control and safeguarded it in the immediate aftermath of the zombie outbreak. A far more remarkable figure than Aiden had anticipated. But it was at that point that Adam¡¯s voice dropped slightly lower. ¡°However, word is that those days are ancient history now.¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know the details, but there are rumors that the mayor¡¯s standing is becoming shaky.¡± An unexpected revelation slipped from Adam¡¯s lips. Aiden focused his attention on Adam¡¯s subsequent words. It seemed the clues he had been grasping for were finally converging with this information. ¡°Apparently, several of the mayor¡¯s recent policies have all ended in failure. So the city¡¯s living standards have been deteriorating rapidly, and there have been quite a few casualties too, or so I¡¯ve heard.¡± ¡°But surely that alone wouldn¡¯t be enough to shake his position.¡± No matter how poorly the mayor¡¯s recent performance might have been, his achievements in safeguarding LA were still from just a few years ago. A mayor with such accomplishments wouldn¡¯t have their position so easily undermined. But even as he nodded, Adam voiced a rebuttal. ¡°It would be enough, here. You see, over half of LA¡¯s current population consists of evacuees.¡± From the very beginning, LA had desperately sought to attract evacuees to their city. Some of their original citizens had even risked their lives, spreading out across America to broadcast radio messages. The reason they had needed to do so was because while they had barely managed to preserve the city¡¯s infrastructure, there was a severe shortage of people to actually operate and maintain those facilities. Power plants, oil refineries, water treatment plants, and so on. The numerous facilities required to sustain a functioning society would simply deteriorate if left unattended. So for LA, accepting evacuees was not a choice, but a necessity to keep those infrastructures running. ¡°But here¡¯s the problem ¨C those evacuees who poured in never witnessed the mayor¡¯s celebrated achievements firsthand.¡± To those evacuees, the mayor was merely a leader clinging to past glories. The policies enacted since their arrival had largely failed, leading to worsening living conditions. So from the evacuees¡¯ perspective, the current mayor was simply an incompetent ruler. Despite all authority being concentrated in the mayor¡¯s hands, it was the citizens who had to bear the full brunt of those policy failures. What¡¯s more, most of them had already witnessed numerous cities collapsing under incompetent leadership before arriving here. It was only natural for them to fear their new home of LA might eventually meet the same fate as those other fallen cities. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯ve heard the evacuees are demanding reforms to the mayoral system. In other words, they want the mayor to step down from his position. Apparently there¡¯s even conflict brewing between the original residents and the evacuees over this.¡± Having grasped the general situation within LA, Aiden nodded in understanding. Indeed, if that was the case, then it made sense why LA¡¯s government would want to conceal their own failures. It meant LA was far from the perfect haven it outwardly appeared to be, just like every other fallen city. However, what Aiden couldn¡¯t have imagined was that his own actions would potentially influence this matter. ¡°Still, the mayor¡¯s side had managed to keep a lid on things, until recently at least. With the route here blocked off, the influx of new evacuees had slowed to a trickle.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°But then Fear suddenly disappeared, didn¡¯t it? For LA, that¡¯s both a blessing and a curse. Without that creature around, evacuees will start flooding in again. And that could drastically destabilize the city¡¯s situation that they had just managed to settle. So who knows, something big might happen in LA soon. My advice? Don¡¯t even think about trying to get inside there.¡± Adam spoke those words as if he realized Aiden had been gathering information to potentially gain entry into LA himself. But Aiden¡¯s mind was preoccupied with more complex thoughts. Could the repercussions of him defeating Fear truly trigger such a butterfly effect, plunging LA into chaos? ¡°...I think I¡¯ll head back for now.¡± ¡°Yeah, you do that.¡± Aiden rose from his seat. As Adam saw him off, wiping down a table for the next customer, Aiden retreated through the door to his room. The drunken chatter from outside could still be heard, but Aiden paid it no mind today. With his eyes closed, he began organizing all the information he had collected within his mind. * * * The next morning. ¡°Ah, this must be it.¡± From the early morning, Arian had come to the school Sadie attended. Today was a day she needed to go to her own workplace as well, but fortunately, this place did have a leave system in place. Of course, that leave wasn¡¯t something readily granted to someone who had only worked there for barely a week. But through persistent persuasion with her superior Ava, Arian had finally secured permission to be absent from work for just this one day. The primary purpose of taking that leave was, naturally, to visit city hall. However, what weighed more heavily on Arian¡¯s mind was confirming how Sadie was faring at school. Each day, she would hear about Sadie¡¯s time at school, even leaving home together with the child. But she had never directly witnessed Sadie¡¯s life at the school itself. So Arian had decided to observe Sadie¡¯s school life before heading to city hall, making a brief stop there first. ¡°There are so many children...¡± From the rooftop of a nearby residence overlooking Sadie¡¯s school, Arian muttered those words. The school itself didn¡¯t appear to be of particularly large scale to Arian¡¯s eyes. It was a pre-existing elementary school building that had been in use even before the zombie outbreak. But the number of students attending that school was considerably high. During what seemed to be a physical education period, with the children out on the schoolyard, it was so crowded that the entire area was packed full. And yet, there were still numerous children seated inside the classrooms as well. It almost seemed like three times the original intended capacity, at the very least. And among those children, Arian easily spotted Sadie¡¯s figure. Sadie was outside in the schoolyard area. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Hmm...¡± The number of children outside was around a hundred or so. But supervising those children were only two teachers at most. As a result, the children weren¡¯t being properly managed, and the so-called lesson was complete chaos. But even amidst that pandemonium, Sadie was smiling. The figures of other children could be seen around her as well. It seemed she had made new friends, with three other girls standing beside Sadie. ¡°Huh?¡± One of those girls¡¯ appearances struck Arian as familiar. Upon closer inspection, it was Luna. The daughter of Taylor Evans, whom they had met in the small Texan town of Santa Rosa. Now that she recalled, they had been heading towards LA at that time as well, hadn¡¯t they? Though unavoidable circumstances involving zombies and vampires had forced them to part ways, Arian remembered them as good people. It seemed that mother and daughter had finally arrived in LA after all. With her increased workload involving outside missions lately, coupled with the surge of new evacuees, Arian hadn¡¯t been aware of their arrival. Back then, they had parted with such regret. But now, it appeared the two children were happily reunited. At that sight, Arian couldn¡¯t help but beam with a bright smile. While the educational environment didn¡¯t seem ideal, Sadie at least appeared happy. For Arian, that was enough. After watching the two children¡¯s joyful reunion for a while longer, she descended from the rooftop. Spotting Arian¡¯s sudden leap from the roof, one of the residents was startled enough to stare at her in shock. But Arian paid no mind to such gazes as she went on her way. ¡°Then... this must be the place.¡± Having confirmed Sadie¡¯s wellbeing, Arian headed towards city hall with a lighter heart. LA¡¯s city hall was located in the most prosperous downtown area within the walled city. Along the wide roads weaving between the high-rise buildings, people could be seen bustling about busily. Passing through that financial district, Arian soon arrived at the street where the city hall and other government offices were concentrated. The city hall itself was still utilizing LA¡¯s original pre-outbreak building. An archaic, classical design dating back to the 1920s, yet still a stately 32-story structure with a pristine white exterior. ¡°I probably can¡¯t just walk in, can I?¡± Arian muttered to herself as she examined the entrance to that building. As expected, security guards were stationed at the front of city hall. Of course, if Arian utilized her abilities, bypassing those guards would be far from impossible. But there was no need to go that far. Instead, she simply pressed herself against the building¡¯s outer wall and closed her eyes. Then, she opened her ears. No matter the distance, even sounds originating dozens of floors above from within the building, a vampire could still perceive them. Immediately, a multitude of voices reached her. Among them, Arian strained to identify the mayor¡¯s voice. Naturally, she had never heard the mayor¡¯s voice before, but it wasn¡¯t an impossible task. She already knew the mayor¡¯s name, after all. All she needed was for someone to call out that name, and then pinpoint the responding voice ¨C that would be the mayor¡¯s. After how long did she wait? ¡°Mayor Preston!¡± A woman¡¯s voice uttered the name Arian had been listening for. It was coming from some conference room on the top floor of city hall. There, Mayor Ross Preston seemed to be engaged in a heated argument with someone. Chapter 193 ¡°This cannot continue.¡± Inside a large conference room at LA¡¯s city hall. A place that still retained the atmosphere from before the zombie outbreak, this was where the leaders responsible for operating the city of LA had gathered. Emilia Clark was one such leader, a white woman in her mid-40s. Raising her voice towards the mayor, she spoke. ¡°We can no longer simply cover this up. It was an accident that caused casualties, wasn¡¯t it? And yet you¡¯re not even conducting a proper investigation?¡± Emilia continued pressing her argument. It was regarding the research lab that had burned down to the ground last month. ¡°If there are any necessary materials, we need to collect them and identify the cause. Aren¡¯t we just leaving it unaddressed as is?¡± ¡°But investigating the scene of the research lab is extremely dangerous. It was a place studying the zombie virus, after all. Ensuring safety must come first.¡± The one objecting to Emilia¡¯s words wasn¡¯t the mayor, but someone else. Grace Martin, a woman of Northeast Asian descent in her 30s. At Grace¡¯s remark, Emilia furrowed her brow in response. ¡°And when will that safety be assured? If we just restrict entry like this, it¡¯ll never get resolved, will it?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll find a way soon. So please be a little more patient.¡± ¡°Then at the very least, we should make an announcement to the citizens.¡± ¡°We¡¯re preparing for that as well.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the exact date?¡± ¡°We¡¯re currently in the process of rebuilding the research lab elsewhere. The announcement should be made at the minimum once preparations to resume the project are complete. That¡¯s the only way we can provide hope to the citizens, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Hope? What¡¯s that...!¡± Emilia let out an exasperated chuckle. ¡°You need to have accomplished something to give people hope. You¡¯re saying the research has to start over from the very beginning? Do you have any idea how many resources went into that lab?¡± ¡°That¡¯s...¡± ¡°As the director of energy resources, let me tell you ¨C we don¡¯t have enough left to sustain continuing this project. Even if we rebuild the lab, we won¡¯t be able to keep it operational.¡± At Emilia¡¯s words, Grace¡¯s expression tensed up, appearing at a loss for a rebuttal. It was then that the mayor, Ross Preston, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke up. Ross looked Emilia directly in the eyes. ¡°Is that the truth? I recall the last report stated we still had some reserves remaining.¡± What Ross was referring to were the strategic petroleum reserves left behind by the former US government. Somewhere on the outskirts of LA was a massive oil storage facility. It was where the explosively increased domestic oil production in America shortly before the zombie outbreak had been stockpiled. That immense reserve of oil had been one of the core driving forces enabling LA to persevere through numerous difficulties up to this point. With oil, buses and vehicles could continue running, and power plants along with factories could keep operating. Quite literally, it was the energy source allowing society to function. While those reserves had been steadily dwindling, there had still been a slight surplus remaining. But Emilia shook her head at Ross¡¯s words. ¡°That was the case until last month. But not anymore. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re aware that Fear has disappeared, Mayor.¡± Ross nodded. It was a fact he had directly confirmed through Grace, the director of military affairs. Emilia¡¯s explanation continued. ¡°Because of that, evacuees have been flooding in from the desert. The exact number is...¡± Emilia looked towards one of the men present. He was responsible for managing evacuee intake into the city, and cleared his throat once. ¡°As of yesterday, 1,800. Additionally, based on the evacuees¡¯ testimonies, the information about Fear¡¯s disappearance seems to be rapidly spreading to other areas as well.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Combined with the fact that vehicle usage in the desert has become possible, it¡¯s accelerating the influx of evacuees from much farther away as well. There¡¯s even a possibility that over ten thousand evacuees could arrive in a single day before too long.¡± The expression of the evacuee management director as he spoke those words was rather grim. Of course, LA had been actively welcoming evacuees from the very start. They were at a stage where they could create more by investing in manpower and technology rather than facing a shortage of resources. However, the situation was different now. As the dam called Fear suddenly collapsed, an enormous number of evacuees were pouring in from all directions. Even for LA, such an influx of people was overwhelming. ¡°Based on these projections, maintaining long-term power generation and vehicle operations with our current oil reserves will be impossible.¡± ¡°The food situation is the same. Estimated requirements are already exceeding this year¡¯s harvest yields. If the evacuee influx continues as expected, we¡¯ll have to reduce rations.¡± Reports of impending issues piled up from every direction. At this, Ross let out a sigh. The citizens¡¯ living conditions had already been deteriorating recently to begin with. And now, on top of that, they would need to make further sacrifices across the board, including their food rations. It was a difficult proposition to accept. ¡°How about refusing entry to evacuees for the time being?¡± Perhaps it was for that reason that someone proposed such a suggestion. Immediately, Emilia shook her head firmly. ¡°That¡¯s not possible.¡± ¡°But don¡¯t we have no other choice?¡± ¡°Even so. If we reject them, do you really think those people will just obediently leave? They¡¯ll undoubtedly gather in Huntington Beach instead. And with hostile intentions towards us, no less. That would be far from desirable.¡± None of those present were unaware that the gang ruling over Huntington Beach had been formed by individuals expelled from LA for committing crimes. However, LA was not in an openly adversarial relationship with the Huntington Docks gang controlling that area. Rather, LA was utilizing them for missions that were too dangerous or unsavory to send their own soldiers on. But such a relationship could only be maintained because LA¡¯s scale was incomparably larger. If the gang¡¯s size grew considerably beyond its current extent, the Huntington Docks would inevitably become hostile forces against LA. The resources they lacked, LA possessed in abundance. Conflict between them would be all but inevitable. ¡°Rejecting the evacuees would ultimately create our greatest enemy right next door. We can barely handle the zombies as it is, we don¡¯t have the leeway to deal with hostile humans on top of that. Wouldn¡¯t you agree?¡± Emilia looked towards Grace, the military affairs director, as she spoke. It was an undeniable point, leaving Grace unable to voice any objections. As a result, a tense silence fell over the conference room for a while. It was Ross who broke that silence first. ¡°Then let¡¯s do this. For food, reduce rations if necessary. Production will increase next year once we assign evacuees to agriculture, so I¡¯ll try to convince the citizens.¡± In other words, they would not refuse the evacuees, even if it meant making sacrifices. At this, Grace¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Mayor?¡± ¡°And for fuel... it seems we¡¯ll have to attempt domestic production.¡± Ross gestured towards a large map hanging on one side of the conference room. ¡°The city of Monterey to the north used to be an oil production hub. While the distance is somewhat far, if Fear is gone, it should be manageable. If we can secure the oil facilities and refineries there, producing our own petroleum wouldn¡¯t be impossible.¡± Ross outlined a broad plan before the attendees. It was a challenging endeavor they had avoided attempting until now, but the time had come to take action. Ross¡¯s gaze turned towards Grace. ¡°We¡¯ll deploy the military to survey and secure the necessary facilities. Prepare an operation immediately.¡± ¡°Yes, Mayor.¡± ¡°Finally, until domestic oil production begins, we¡¯ll rebuild the research lab but temporarily suspend any further research activities. Additionally, I¡¯ll permit disclosing the details of the lab accident to the citizens.¡± At those words, a faint smile crept across the lips of Emilia, who had initially raised the issue. ¡°However, the site itself will remain sealed off. Since it was a place handling the zombie virus, it could still be dangerous. Until safety is assured, entry will be prohibited for anyone.¡± There were no objections raised by the attendees. Only Grace watched Ross with a concerned gaze. Ross continued speaking in a composed tone. ¡°Are there any other matters to discuss?¡± No voices answered. With that, the meeting concluded, and the attendees rose one by one to exit the conference room. Soon after, only two people remained inside. The mayor, Ross, and the military affairs director, Grace. ¡°Are you alright, Mayor?¡± Grace¡¯s tone had shifted to a softer, gentler voice, contrasting with her demeanor during the meeting. In response, the mayor could only offer a wry smile and a slight nod. But Grace let out a vexed sigh instead. She understood well the implications behind the decisions made during today¡¯s meeting. Emilia, who had pressed for countermeasures today, was a member of the anti-Ross faction seeking to remove him from the mayor¡¯s office. A leader among the evacuees trying to oust Ross from his position as mayor. That was why she had forced Ross into making such burdensome choices. Accept the incoming evacuees, while simultaneously reducing rations for the existing citizens. Decisions that would only undermine the mayor¡¯s standing further. ¡°But Mayor...¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, Grace.¡± Ross shook his head, as if anticipating what she intended to say. ¡°This measly mayor¡¯s seat doesn¡¯t mean much to me. I don¡¯t particularly care who becomes the mayor.¡± ¡°What are you saying... You¡¯ve done so much for LA¡¯s sake. Who else could possibly become the mayor if not you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad that you would say such a thing.¡± Ross offered a faint smile. Then, as if a thought had just occurred to him, he changed the subject. ¡°Ah, by the way, how is the restoration of the research lab progressing?¡± ¡°We¡¯re starting by acquiring replacement equipment for the destroyed items first. There was some damage, but... the entire process should be complete within a month.¡± That was an impressively swift timeline. So Ross nodded in satisfaction, and Grace continued speaking. ¡°However... there are people who keep coming by.¡± ¡°Who...?¡± ¡°The families of the deceased.¡± Ross turned his gaze to look outside the window. Even as he maintained that stance, he continued the conversation. ¡°They come often?¡± ¡°It varies from person to person, but... Ava Hill has been visiting frequently.¡± ¡°Ava Hill?¡± ¡°The sister of Nora Hill, the deceased lead researcher. Since entry to the research lab is prohibited, we¡¯ve been turning her away. But she keeps insisting on at least having her sister¡¯s personal effects returned. What should we do?¡± Ross pondered briefly as he observed the downtown scenery. But ultimately, his stance didn¡¯t waver. ¡°That¡¯s not possible. The site investigation hasn¡¯t even concluded yet. Please convey my apologies to her.¡± ¡°...Understood.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s leave it at that for today¡¯s discussion. I¡¯m already tired enough.¡± Ross spoke those words as he rubbed his face. His actions betrayed the weariness he couldn¡¯t fully conceal. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this, Grace rose from her seat, feigning an apologetic demeanor. ¡°I¡¯ll always stand by you, Mayor. So if you ever need any assistance, please don¡¯t hesitate to ask.¡± Upon hearing Grace¡¯s words, Ross momentarily held his breath. The faint smile that had been etched onto his face vanished. But before Grace could register any puzzlement over his reaction, Ross had already composed his expression, offering a faint smile as he expressed his gratitude. ¡°Thank you.¡± * * * ¡°Hmm...¡± Below the city hall building. Arian, who had been pressed against the outer wall, let out a perplexed sigh. She hadn¡¯t been able to grasp any substantial leads. ¡°There doesn¡¯t seem to be any particular issue, though.¡± Rather, LA¡¯s leadership structure seemed better than Arian had anticipated. She had expected it to be like an ordinary gang, with an autocratic boss making all the decisions. But unexpectedly, it had a rather democratic structure instead. Experts in their respective fields were responsible for operating different aspects of the city, while the mayor only determined the overall direction. Of course, LA was certainly facing various challenges. But among them, Arian couldn¡¯t identify any crisis severe enough to threaten LA¡¯s very existence itself. For issues like resource shortages or the sudden surge of evacuees, they did have countermeasures of their own in place. And any internal conflict was at most just a power struggle over the mayor¡¯s seat. Even that didn¡¯t seem likely to escalate into a dire situation, based on the current mayor¡¯s own words about a potential change in leadership. Naturally, that wasn¡¯t a bad thing. It meant there were no apparent problems with this city where Sadie would be living. And yet, something still nagged at the back of Arian¡¯s mind. The fire accident that had occurred at the research lab. The fact that they hadn¡¯t even conducted a proper investigation stirred a slight sense of suspicion within her. However, that alone wasn¡¯t enough to substantiate any concerns. It was just an odd detail, nothing more. Certainly not enough to consider it a problem or crisis for the city itself. The only unexpected aspect was that her own superior, Ava Hill, seemed to be involved with that incident in some way. Could it be that Ava¡¯s sister had perished in that accident? And judging by her actions, she appeared to be in conflict with the government over this matter. But at Arian¡¯s own workplace, there had been no indications of such an occurrence whatsoever. ¡°...¡± Arian opened her eyes, which she had kept closed. It didn¡¯t seem like she would uncover anything more by lingering here today. So after committing to memory the information she had obtained, Arian departed from city hall. Chapter 194 A few days later. Having completed the request, Aiden had returned to Huntington Beach. Passing through the ever-raucous pub, he entered his room. Setting down the bag and rifle he had been carrying all day, he didn¡¯t remove his helmet. There were still other people just beyond that thin door separating him. Fortunately, he didn¡¯t feel overly stifled by it. Wearing the helmet all day long wasn¡¯t an issue for him either. If he were human, the helmet would likely start reeking of sweat and odor. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But his dessicated, sweat-free skin remained dry no matter how long the plastic helmet clung to his bare skull, only faintly carrying the smell of a zombie¡¯s natural decay. ¡°...¡± As he leaned back against the door that evening, Aiden took out a notebook from his belongings. A recent acquisition, it contained the detailed information he had been gathering meticulously. He had to meet with Arian tomorrow. But the information Aiden had gathered until now left him rather unsatisfied. Over these past few days, he had been blatantly gathering data about LA¡¯s mayor and the city government he led. Going so far as to request compensation from the Huntington Docks for such information, or trading with the junk dealers frequenting this very pub. And the result was... not as dire as Aiden had been concerned about. First, the information about LA¡¯s mayor had been largely negative overall. But that was only natural. Those who gathered in this Huntington Beach area were individuals who had left LA, whether voluntarily or by force. So the image of the mayor leading LA could only be portrayed in the worst possible light here. Whenever Aiden inquired about the mayor, the responses were mostly just slander and derision. But the actual substance behind that slander was essentially hollow. They simply disliked being expelled from LA, or disagreed with its societal structure. It wasn¡¯t a matter of there truly being any glaring flaws with the mayor or his government that warranted criticism. As such, the evaluations varied wildly from person to person, making it difficult for Aiden to discern any underlying truth amidst them. The information provided by the Huntington Docks itself wasn¡¯t particularly noteworthy either. They had simply offered slightly more detailed accounts about the mayor¡¯s background and the composition of the city government. Was his investigation still insufficient? Or was there truly no issue to be found with LA? Whichever it was, Aiden needed to reach a conclusion by the end of today. ¡°It seems to be about that time.¡± Aiden muttered those words under his breath. Fortunately, there was still one more story left for him to hear. Perhaps thinking the information they had provided wasn¡¯t sufficient compensation, the Huntington Docks had offered to introduce a man who claimed to have ties with the former mayor. Thump! Thump! It was then that someone knocked on the door Aiden was leaning against. Too forceful a motion to be considered a mere knock. When Aiden opened the door, a middle-aged man with a scruffy black beard stood there. ¡°The man in the black helmet. You were the one asking about me, weren¡¯t you?¡± He addressed Aiden in that manner. The ¡®black helmet¡¯ had long since become a moniker referring to Aiden in this Huntington Beach area. Aiden responded to the man. ¡°That¡¯s right. Have a seat first.¡± Rather than inviting him into the room, Aiden guided the man towards the pub area instead. He figured it would be easier to converse there. The man nodded curtly with a stiff expression before taking a seat at one of the small two-person tables in a corner of the pub. ¡°Whiskey fine with you?¡± ¡°Heh, I¡¯d prefer vodka.¡± Aiden ordered a bottle of vodka and a single glass from Adam, the pub¡¯s owner. Seemingly delighted that this helmet-headed fellow was finally purchasing alcohol, Adam even provided a small plate of cheese cubes as a complimentary side. After bringing those to the table, Aiden continued speaking. ¡°Aiden Lee.¡± ¡°...Oliver Wilson. You¡¯re not drinking?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll pass.¡± With that, Oliver silently uncapped the vodka bottle and poured himself a glass. After downing that first serving in a single gulp, letting the alcohol work its way into his system, he let out a deep exhale. His gaze, now tinged by the liquor¡¯s effects, slowly turned towards Aiden. ¡°So what did you want to ask?¡± ¡°About the mayor. Were you well-acquainted with him?¡± Oliver let out a derisive snort of laughter. ¡°Me? I was that bastard¡¯s bodyguard. Stuck by his side for half a year, I was.¡± It was an intriguing statement to Aiden. Among all the people he had contacted until now, Oliver seemed to be the one who had been closest to the mayor himself. ¡°What kind of person was he?¡± ¡°Well... he was a real piece of work.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard plenty of that already. Anything else?¡± ¡°Anything else, huh... ah, right. That lucky son of a bitch.¡± ¡°Lucky?¡± ¡°Yeah. Lucky. People go on and on about how he built up LA, but that was just pure chance, you know what I¡¯m saying?¡± Oliver said that much before taking another swig of vodka. His words continued. ¡°Sure, he had some political savvy. He used to be an aide trailing after the former mayor¡¯s ass, after all. But the things he accomplished, the successes he achieved... they were just too bizarre. It was like the goddamn zombies roaming the city were actually helping the bastard out.¡± Oliver spoke with a mocking laugh. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°I¡¯m talking about LA¡¯s walls. You¡¯ve seen them too, right? Ridiculously tall, aren¡¯t they? Any idea how long it took to build those things?¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Over a year. And during that entire time, not a single zombie managed to infiltrate LA. Does that even make sense to you?¡± Aiden tilted his head slightly. ¡°Explain further.¡± ¡°What more is there to explain? LA spent over a year constructing those walls with only a single small river separating them from the zombies. And yet during that whole time, the zombies stayed quiet as if they had made a pact.¡± ¡°But doesn¡¯t that just mean they managed the surrounding area effectively?¡± Aiden pointed out Oliver¡¯s apparent oversight. Even now, LA¡¯s soldiers periodically cleared out zombies in the vicinity of the walls. Wasn¡¯t that the very reason this Huntington Beach area they were in was also relatively secure? But Oliver shook his head adamantly. ¡°Impossible. This used to be a metropolitan area with a population of 14 million, you know. Of that, only about a million survivors gathered in LA¡¯s downtown core. You know what that means? The rest had all turned into zombies roaming the city.¡± Oliver insisted that LA could never have cleared out the zombies from the very start. At this, Aiden let out a short hum of realization. His point did make sense. Unlike other cities like Pittsburgh that had seen massive evacuee outflows, LA¡¯s situation was different. This was one of the last major cities hit by the virus outbreak in America. So while evacuees had poured in, the population drain hadn¡¯t been as extreme. In other words, if viewed objectively, LA should have been swarmed by more zombies than anywhere else. ¡°Then where did all those zombies go?¡± ¡°Where did they go, you ask? You must have seen them yourself on your way here ¨C Fear¡¯s hordes.¡± Oliver stated that the vast numbers of zombies Fear had led were mostly drawn from LA itself. ¡°...I see.¡± Aiden nodded in understanding. The zombie horde Fear had commanded certainly numbered in the millions at the very least. But even that was only what Aiden had directly witnessed himself. Considering he hadn¡¯t even seen the full extent, if those hordes had blanketed the entirety of Phoenix, their true numbers could have easily exceeded hundreds of millions in reality. And that was a scale that couldn¡¯t be gathered merely from scattered zombies across the desert, no matter how widespread. Numbers that staggering could only originate from a major metropolitan area. So Oliver¡¯s claim about Fear mobilizing LA¡¯s zombies did hold credibility. At this point, Oliver¡¯s voice continued. ¡°The weird part is what happened after that. Fear just so happened to show up right when LA needed it most. And then it took pretty much all of LA¡¯s zombies and led them out into the desert. Without ever actually attacking LA itself.¡± It was only after hearing that much that Aiden understood the meaning behind Oliver¡¯s words about LA being ¡®lucky.¡¯ Fear had used its abilities to lure LA¡¯s zombies away into the desert, but it had never directly invaded the city itself. As a natural result, LA¡¯s citizens were able to remain relatively safe from the zombie threat, giving them ample time and resources. According to his words, LA had effectively been half-rescued by Fear¡¯s actions. ¡°So that¡¯s what you meant by them being lucky?¡± ¡°Yeah! You¡¯re finally getting it. That incompetent mayor bastard didn¡¯t actually do a damn thing himself. It was all just sheer dumb luck.¡± Oliver punctuated those words by slamming his palm down on the table with a resounding bang. It was quite a loud noise, but amidst the rowdy atmosphere of the pub, that sound was immediately drowned out by the laughter emanating from the other tables. Only Adam, the pub owner, cast a concerned glance their way, as if worried the table might get damaged. Aiden posed another question. ¡°So then how did you end up in this place?¡± ¡°...¡± For a brief moment, Oliver fell silent. In that interlude of silence, his face gradually contorted. Soon after, he gestured towards the glass of liquor cradled in his hand. ¡°Because of this stuff. Damn it, I came to this cesspit of a place because of alcohol, and I still can¡¯t seem to quit it.¡± Oliver downed his drink before rambling on incoherently. ¡°In LA, we only got one day off per six-day workweek. Just a single goddamn day to rest in an entire week. Isn¡¯t that insane? So on that one measly day off, I¡¯d get completely plastered... and that¡¯s when the accident happened.¡± ¡°An accident?¡± ¡°Suddenly, being inside those walls started feeling suffocating, you know? So I went outside. Felt like I could finally breathe again. And that¡¯s how I ended up wandering around beyond the walls.¡± At that point, Oliver¡¯s gaze dropped downward. He stared off into the distance, as if recalling that past incident. ¡°While I was out there, I ran into some muggers at one point. Even climbed up to the mountains in the north area. I really wanted to see that big rocky hill with ¡®Hollywood¡¯ carved into it, you know? But then I must have dozed off somewhere along the way. Next thing I knew, it was already nighttime when I opened my eyes again. Gave me quite the scare. So I started hurrying back, and that¡¯s when I encountered the zombies.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°And it wasn¡¯t just one or two of them, either. Dozens upon dozens, lined up in a long trail. I thought I was a goner for sure. But want to know the weirdest part? Those zombies didn¡¯t even seem to notice me at all.¡± Oliver let out a mocking chuckle. Aiden simply listened to his words impassively. ¡°They were just lining up like people and heading into the sewers, can you believe that? Thinking back on it now, it sounds ridiculous... but at the time, I saw it with my own two eyes. Clear as day. So when I returned to LA and tried to report it, of course no one would believe me.¡± Oliver laughed self-deprecatingly. ¡°In the end, all they knew was that I had wandered outside the walls without authorization. Well, the rest was pretty obvious after that.¡± Oliver downed the final glass of vodka. Now, only the empty bottle and glass remained in front of him. ¡°And where exactly was this place you claim to have seen the zombies?¡± ¡°You believe that drunkard¡¯s ramblings? It was obviously just my imagination, brought on by the alcohol.¡± ¡°Well, we can¡¯t dismiss it entirely, can we?¡± Oliver¡¯s gaze turned towards Aiden, as if testing whether he was being sincere or not. But that gaze, obscured by the dark helmet, simply drifted aimlessly before dropping back downward. Towards the small cube of cheese Adam had provided as a complimentary side. Oliver popped it into his mouth with his bare hand as he continued speaking. ¡°It was along the Los Angeles River upstream from the walls at the front entrance. The stretch running alongside the mountain range. I¡¯m sure about that much.¡± ¡°...I see.¡± After that, Aiden asked a few more questions to Oliver, but gained no further noteworthy insights. Soon after, Oliver took his leave. Left alone once more, Aiden returned to his room to organize his thoughts. Objectively speaking, the information he had heard from Oliver held little significance beyond what he had already known. The only substantial detail was the claim that Fear had inadvertently aided LA¡¯s establishment. As for the comments about seeing zombies in the sewers, there was no proper evidence to substantiate it, and the content itself strained credibility. ¡°...Is this as far as it goes?¡± Aiden let out a brief sigh as he muttered those words under his breath. Despite investigating this far, he hadn¡¯t uncovered any notable issues within LA. Which meant LA was indeed a suitable place, just as it appeared. In that case, there was no cause for concern on his end either. At long last, the longest-running request he had undertaken was finally reaching its conclusion. ¡°...¡± And yet, for some inexplicable reason, a sense of strange emptiness fleetingly crossed his mind. Had he grown too accustomed to having company, in a manner of speaking? Clicking his tongue briefly, Aiden opened his notebook. Inside, he jotted down the location of those sewers he had just heard about. If tomorrow, Arian also failed to uncover any issues. Then investigating those sewers would be the final step in examining LA. * * * The next morning. From the early hours, Arian was heading to the military unit where she worked each day. Wooong- The bus she was aboard lumbered along the roads at its usual leisurely pace. The scenery visible through the windows didn¡¯t seem out of the ordinary at a glance. But as the bus drew closer to downtown, an unexpected sight came into view. ¡°Hmm?¡± At the end of the road, too far for most others to discern clearly, a large crowd of people had gathered in protest. Their grievances were directed at the mayor, demanding his resignation. It was in response to the recent announcements made by the city government. Not only had there been a fire accident at the research lab, but there were warnings that citizen rations and electricity supplies could be disrupted moving forward. It seemed the citizens¡¯ dissatisfaction over those events was now surfacing. After briefly observing that protest, Arian let out a concerned sigh. Soon after, Arian arrived at her workplace. A few soldiers she had grown familiar with waved at her in greeting. Arian responded with just a slight nod of acknowledgment. ¡°Everyone, attention!¡± Not long after, Ava, the unit captain, gathered the soldiers together. As was customary, it was time to brief them on the day¡¯s schedule. But today was somewhat special. Instead of the usual menial tasks, they would be deployed for combat operations. ¡°Today, we¡¯ll be securing part of a route. We¡¯ll send out an advance team first, then return ourselves.¡± Ava explained the operational details to the soldiers. They would be venturing outside the walls, heading north to secure a certain road path. For Arian, this was her first such mission. And its contents aligned with what she had overheard at city hall. About securing oil production and refining facilities. It seemed Arian¡¯s unit would also be participating in that operation. ¡°Our unit¡¯s full-scale deployment for this operation will begin tomorrow. Once deployed, we won¡¯t be able to return to LA for over a week. Keep that in mind.¡± At those words, Arian¡¯s brow furrowed slightly in concern. It meant Sadie would be left alone during that period. But as a member of this unit, it was an unavoidable circumstance. At the very least, she was fortunate that her scheduled reunion with Aiden was tonight. So she could pass on all the information she has collected. Thinking this, Arian quietly focused on Ava¡¯s words. Her calm voice, meticulously explaining the operation, penetrated Arian¡¯s consciousness. Chapter 195 That evening, bathed in moonlight, at a hotel in Long Beach. Inside the dilapidated lobby, Aiden reunited with Arian after a week apart. After briefly exchanging greetings, they immediately shared the information each had gathered. ¡°I see.¡± Aiden nodded his head. As expected, the details Arian had brought exceeded Aiden¡¯s anticipations. Who would have thought she would directly visit city hall and eavesdrop on the entire meeting between the mayor and his inner circle? Thanks to that, Aiden was able to grasp an overall picture of LA¡¯s situation, albeit roughly. Regarding the city government¡¯s composition, the state of affairs within the city, and the mayor himself as an individual. And the result was partially as Aiden had predicted. Aiden and Arian were now poised to reach their final conclusion about LA. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°...There doesn¡¯t seem to be any particular issue.¡± ¡°I¡¯m of the same opinion.¡± Arian concurred with Aiden¡¯s assessment. In the silence following Fear¡¯s disappearance, there were no major threats lingering around LA. And while there were signs of a potential change in leadership, it wasn¡¯t a situation that warranted concerns of civil war. Some disruptions to the food supply and other provisions were anticipated, but those seemed capable of being resolved over time. Moreover, above all else, this place possessed a future. Not only could the city continue growing by accepting more evacuees. But they could also identify talented individuals among them, utilizing their skills and abandoned technologies to pioneer new infrastructures, elevating LA beyond its current state. It was a potential none of the other cities Aiden¡¯s group had passed through possessed. Just like the radio broadcasts they had once propagated, LA might truly be the last remaining hope in this world overrun by the dead. So neither of them could disagree that LA was the most suitable place for Sadie to live. ¡°But was that story about the zombies in the sewers actually true?¡± Of course, among the information Aiden had obtained, there were some dubious elements as well. Specifically, the claim about zombies infiltrating LA¡¯s sewers. ¡°No, that part isn¡¯t true. But we should still verify it, just to be sure.¡± At this, Aiden shook his head. Objectively speaking, it wasn¡¯t particularly credible information. If there had been any other substantial leads, he likely wouldn¡¯t have even considered investigating it. However, Aiden didn¡¯t dismiss it outright either. Since he had come across that piece of information, after all. Viewing it as the final wrap-up wouldn¡¯t make it a wasted effort. ¡°Then should I go and check it out?¡± The sewer entrance connecting the river to LA¡¯s underground was naturally located near the city¡¯s walls, of course. So Arian made that suggestion, but Aiden shook his head in refusal. He didn¡¯t want to unnecessarily burden Arian any further. ¡°No need. I heard you¡¯ll be deploying outside of LA starting tomorrow, right? Leave this task to me.¡± ¡°Oh? Alright then.¡± ¡°But... does that mean Sadie will be left alone while you¡¯re away?¡± ¡°Well, I suppose so.¡± Arian responded nonchalantly, as if it were a given. At her casual reaction, Aiden looked at her with a perplexed gaze. He had expected Arian, as he knew her, to be unable to hide her dismay over Sadie being left unattended. ¡°Why is that?¡± In response to Aiden¡¯s puzzled reaction, Arian questioned him in return. After Aiden explained his reasoning, Arian let out a slight sigh as her eyes drooped slightly. ¡°The thing is, after hearing what you said last time, I gave it some serious thought.¡± ¡°What I said?¡± ¡°Yes, you had asked me if I could truly live in LA, didn¡¯t you?¡± He had asked that. Just as Aiden himself couldn¡¯t live among humans, he had guessed Arian would ultimately face the same problem. And that prediction had proven accurate. While it might be possible for a short while, the current Arian was now fully aware that she couldn¡¯t remain in LA indefinitely. ¡°But after mulling it over... it does seem rather difficult, after all.¡± Arian offered a wry smile. Her gaze briefly wandered across the shattered glass tabletop. ¡°isn¡¯t that only natural? In LA, unless I commit crimes, I have no way to obtain blood. And if my true nature as something other than human is exposed, I¡¯ll simply be expelled.¡± LA¡¯s citizens were different from the mere survival-focused survivors in other cities they had encountered. They wouldn¡¯t desperately seek to sell their own blood just to secure food for the day. Nor would they readily join hands with unidentified monsters simply to combat the undead threats closing in on them. Ultimately, they had no need for someone like Arian. So if Arian¡¯s true identity and abilities were to be revealed, they would undoubtedly view her as a threat that could potentially undermine the very city they had established. Just as the people from Arian¡¯s original world had regarded her. There was no place for Arian to stand within that city. While Arian had journeyed all this way to LA for the sake of a single child, the reality was that she herself could not linger there for long. ¡°So you see. Sooner or later, I¡¯ll have to leave LA. I can¡¯t stay there forever like this.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Which is why... this is practice. That child needs to become accustomed to living without either you or me around. Of course, Sadie is a smart girl, so it likely won¡¯t be a major issue. But it¡¯s better than leaving suddenly, isn¡¯t it?¡± Arian spoke those words with a deliberately lighthearted tone. In response, Aiden simply nodded silently. Whether for Sadie¡¯s sake or Arian¡¯s, it was a decision they would eventually have to make. ¡°...Let¡¯s change the subject.¡± Seemingly dissatisfied with the somber mood that had settled, Arian shook her head once before shifting topics. ¡°More importantly... about that research lab where the accident occurred. Did you know they were researching a vaccine for the zombie virus there?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± It was clear what purpose that research lab had been established for. The city government had even publicly declared its goal of conquering the zombie virus, no doubt to inspire the citizens¡¯ morale. ¡°This is just a rumor, but... there¡¯s talk that the vaccine development was nearly complete.¡± ¡°Where did you hear that from?¡± ¡°From my coworkers. As I mentioned before, the unit captain¡¯s family member was in charge of that research lab.¡± Aiden nodded, and Arian continued speaking. ¡°Apparently, that person used to visit our unit occasionally before I arrived in LA.¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This was before Arian had even reached LA herself. Nora Hill, the lead researcher overseeing the vaccine development, would sometimes drop by to visit her sister Ava, who worked in this unit. During her most recent visit, Nora had subtly mentioned to Ava that the vaccine development was nearing completion. ¡°Another soldier overheard that conversation by chance. But with the recent lab accident and Nora¡¯s death being announced, that person has been whispering about those words.¡± ¡°...Is that so?¡± Aiden tilted his head slightly. Compared to such a claim, the city government¡¯s response to the research lab accident seemed rather puzzling. If vaccine development had truly been imminent, they should have been scrambling to recover those research results by any means necessary. ¡°Doesn¡¯t that seem a bit strange?¡± ¡°...¡± Arian had that same doubt. After briefly contemplating it, Aiden soon arrived at one potential possibility. ¡°It could be a political maneuver, perhaps.¡± ¡°Political?¡± ¡°If the development was indeed nearly finished, then it was likely not a widely known fact. Probably only the lead researcher and the mayor knew it.¡± It was evident from the contents of the meeting between the mayor and his inner circle that Arian had relayed. If everyone had been privy to that information, they wouldn¡¯t have simply left the damaged research lab untouched. ¡°So then?¡± ¡°But now, the lead researcher is dead, and only the mayor remains. A mayor whose own position is becoming increasingly precarious, at that. So what if he still possesses the vaccine research data?¡± ¡°Ah...!¡± Arian let out an exclamation, as if realizing Aiden¡¯s implication. The mayor was already in the process of rebuilding that research lab, after all. While claiming it wasn¡¯t for immediate use, if he could complete the remaining vaccine development at that newly reconstructed lab and unveil those results, it would undoubtedly be an immense achievement that could offset all his recent failures. In other words, it would eliminate any justification for the opposition to remove him from the mayor¡¯s office. ¡°That mayor turned out to be quite the schemer, didn¡¯t he?¡± Arian¡¯s brow furrowed slightly in displeasure. But Aiden, who had voiced that speculation, maintained a cautious demeanor instead. ¡°It¡¯s just a hypothetical scenario. I simply tried to find an explanation that fits the observable facts. We can¡¯t claim it as the definitive truth.¡± ¡°...I suppose so.¡± Arian nodded, shrugging her shoulders. Truthfully, regardless of how it unfolded, it wasn¡¯t a matter that greatly concerned her. ¡°So then... where shall we meet next time?¡± Sensing their conversation was largely concluded, Aiden asked that question as he handed Arian a few bottles of blood. Arian pondered it briefly before continuing. ¡°Let¡¯s make it another week from now.¡± It was a rather generous timeframe. Sufficient enough that he could even postpone investigating those sewers until afterward. Not that there was any issue with that timing. Aiden hadn¡¯t been able to properly replenish his expended weapons and munitions lately, having focused more on information gathering instead. It would be better to tackle the sewers after ensuring he was fully prepared and equipped. As Aiden was nodding in agreement to those thoughts, Arian¡¯s following words caught him off guard. ¡°And I¡¯ll bring Sadie along with me then.¡± ¡°...What do you mean by that?¡± Abruptly mentioning bringing Sadie ¨C it sounded like a reckless proposition. Aiden raised his brow at those unexpected words. But rather than showing any concern, Arian responded as if puzzled by his reaction instead. ¡°This is the final stretch, isn¡¯t it? When we meet again next week, your request will be completed. You realize that, don¡¯t you?¡± Aiden let out a contemplative hum. It was an undeniable fact. By next week, Aiden would be convinced of LA¡¯s safety, finalizing Sadie¡¯s residency there. It would mark the true completion of the request he had undertaken. ¡°So you didn¡¯t want to see Sadie¡¯s face even once before that happens?¡± ¡°I... can¡¯t refuse. But will it be alright? There won¡¯t be any risk of exposure, will there?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I just need to replenish a bit of blood, that¡¯s all.¡± Arian waved her hand dismissively as she spoke those words. If she was asserting it so confidently, Aiden had no reason to refuse. The idea of parting ways with Sadie without even a proper farewell was difficult for him to accept as well. Rather, he was grateful for this opportunity. ¡°Very well. Then... I¡¯ll leave it to you.¡± So Aiden readily agreed to Arian¡¯s proposal. With a satisfied expression, Arian nodded before adding one more request. ¡°And after the request is completed, don¡¯t just disappear without a word either.¡± ¡°I had no such intentions... do you really think I would do that?¡± Unless it was a truly urgent situation, even Aiden wouldn¡¯t simply leave without any notice to them. But Arian firmly affirmed that concern. ¡°Yes. I do think you¡¯d do exactly that.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°So how about we agree to meet up regularly instead?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll think about it. And if I do have to leave at some point, I¡¯ll at least notify you beforehand.¡± ¡°Well, alright. I suppose that¡¯ll do.¡± Arian flashed a slight smile. Their conversation concluded there. After exchanging a few more casual remarks and lighthearted jokes, they soon parted ways to return to their respective residences. * * * The next day. As had been forewarned, Arian was deploying for the operation alongside the soldiers. Their objective was to secure an oil refinery facility located to the northeast of LA. That site was a considerable distance away, around 200km from the walls, which was why the soldiers were loaded onto large troop transport trucks. Kukung! The truck jolted heavily as it ran over a pothole in the crumbling asphalt road. ¡°...¡± At the jarring motion, Arian¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. This truck Arian was aboard had originally been intended for cargo transport. It had been converted for troop deployments, which was why the roof was open-air, and the long bench seats the soldiers were seated on were mere temporary installations. As such, the ride quality was far from comfortable. But beyond that discomfort, Arian found the equipment they had been issued rather unpleasant as well. The standard-issue American military rifles felt cumbersome, like unwieldy metal rods. And the bulletproof helmets they had been forced to wear emitted an unpleasant odor. Neither option was particularly agreeable, and yet she couldn¡¯t simply discard them as she pleased either. Consequently, Arian could only remain seated rigidly atop the swaying truck, her expression stiff. ¡°Feeling tense?¡± It was then that one of the soldiers seated across from Arian, noticing her demeanor, spoke up. A brown-haired black woman. With some difficulty, Arian recalled her information from memory. Her name was Olivia, if she wasn¡¯t mistaken. Whether she viewed Arian favorably or not was unclear. But Arian, who wasn¡¯t one to engage in casual conversation herself, was someone this woman frequently initiated conversations with nonetheless. ¡°It¡¯s understandable for your first real combat operation.¡± Supporting Olivia¡¯s remark was Harris. He was the one who had been surprised by Arian¡¯s work capabilities on the very first day she had been assigned to this military unit. Nodding as if it were only natural, he affirmed her words. ¡°We¡¯ll be facing off against zombies, after all. What¡¯s more, that refinery hasn¡¯t had anyone venture inside for years, apparently.¡± ¡°Well, it has only been about three weeks since we last deployed outside, hasn¡¯t it? Operations have been relatively infrequent lately. But Arian is a soldier too, no need to be too anxious.¡± Olivia spoke those reassuring words to Arian. While she didn¡¯t find the situation particularly daunting, Arian didn¡¯t outright refute their comments either. Instead, she simply offered them a faint smile in response. At that, they both smiled back at Arian as well. Having worked here for some time now, her coworkers didn¡¯t seem to be bad people. Not exceptionally kind individuals by any means, but just ordinary, average people. Which was why Arian¡¯s inner thoughts were rather conflicted as they headed towards today¡¯s operation area. During this mission, she would undoubtedly encounter zombies, as expected. So how should she engage them in combat? It wasn¡¯t as though Arian was incapable of firing a gun herself. While her experience was limited, her innate senses should allow her to handle at least the workload of a single ordinary soldier without issue. So if the operation proceeded smoothly, that would likely be sufficient. But it was the potential for complications that posed a dilemma. There was no telling what might be waiting at that oil refinery they were heading towards. If a powerful mutant was present there, endangering someone¡¯s life, would Arian still have to conceal her true abilities even then? ¡°...¡± Unable to find a suitable answer to that lingering question, Arian¡¯s expression hardened once more. She didn¡¯t want to simply stand by and allow any of these people to die. And yet, the truth was, she felt burdened by the prospect of openly revealing her abilities in front of them. The total personnel deployed today numbered over a hundred individuals. If she were to flashily slay any mutants before their eyes, there would be no excuses or explanations she could offer. If that were to happen... wouldn¡¯t she be chased out of LA without even seeing Sadie? As her thoughts were wandering, unsure of what to do- Screech! The truck had stopped in the middle of the desert. Arian lifted her head, which had been bowed, and looked around. The place was a flat expanse of ochre-colored sand and cacti. But at the far end of that plain, a gray monstrosity was visible. A massive tank and a complex web of steel structures, with a chimney towering like a turret, and thick oil pipelines. Looking ominous like a fortress, it was a massive oil refinery facility. ¡°All troops! Disembark!¡± The platoon leader, Ava, commanded the soldiers in front of it. Arian also followed the order and stepped down from the truck, feeling the familiar touch of the desert beneath her feet. Chapter 196 ¡°It¡¯s quite vast...¡± As the nearby oil refinery facility came into view, Arian muttered under her breath. The scale of the refinery facility was much larger than it had appeared from a distance. The area it covered was so expansive that it had to be measured not in meters, but in kilometers. And the number of structures inside approached three digits. Arian scrutinized the refinery facility as if she could see right through it. This was the desert northeast of LA. Although it was connected to the Arizona desert where Fier had been active, there had never been a single sighting of Fear¡¯s activities in this area, hundreds of kilometers away from there. So this place was different from the deserted Arizona desert that had been emptied out by Fear. Arian tried to sense any movements from inside the facility, and easily confirmed the presence of zombies. At least dozens of them. It was just the outskirts of the facility, barely scratching the surface as it were, yet that many zombies were swarming there. It was a considerable number. The number of zombies here was probably far greater than the military had anticipated. Thinking this, Arian looked over at Ava, who was leading the troops. Coincidentally, Ava too was discussing this very issue. ¡°Don¡¯t we have too few troops?¡± It was Harris who asked Ava this. Though his voice was low enough that the other soldiers couldn¡¯t hear, Arian could make it out clearly. Ava raised an eyebrow slightly as she answered. ¡°You should have brought that up before we departed.¡± ¡°True, but I never expected this place to be so vast.¡± Harris was a native of LA, a soldier as experienced as Ava. As such, he had worked alongside Ava for a long time as a colleague, which allowed him to ask such questions without hesitation. Ava too acknowledged his insight with a nod. ¡°Still, it will be fine. According to the advance team, the number of zombies inside is manageable.¡± ¡°...Really?¡± ¡°Of course, I can¡¯t guarantee it. The advance team¡¯s report may not be accurate. But we didn¡¯t purposely deploy a small force. As you know, this operation is quite large-scale. That¡¯s why command is also short on troops.¡± Ava explained the general situation to Harris. LA, aiming to develop oil production capabilities, had sent most of its forces to Monterey, where the oil drilling facilities were located. Since those drilling facilities and the city were closely linked, securing them required stabilizing the entire town of Monterey. ¡°On top of that, we¡¯ve dispatched troops to dozens of refinery facilities like this one. Since they¡¯ve been abandoned for so long, there¡¯s no telling which facilities will still be operational. So it seems the government wants to secure as many as possible.¡± Of course, even with LA¡¯s population of two million, there were still available soldiers left. But the problem was vehicles to transport them. LA, still unable to produce automobiles, considered vehicles a precious commodity, and this transportation limitation was why only about a hundred soldiers could be deployed here today. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. Additional troops will arrive tomorrow. The main operation will begin then.¡± So Ava said this, and Harris nodded in resignation. After persuading Harris, Ava proceeded to initiate the operation. First, she divided the hundred or so troops into ten squads. The military had classified this massive refinery into ten zones, and was deploying small squads to each zone to first ascertain the exact number of zombies hidden in the facility and, if possible, reduce their numbers as much as they could. ¡°We¡¯ll take this area.¡± Ava spoke to the ten soldiers, including Arian, in front of her. Among the various squads, Arian had been assigned to the one led directly by Ava. The same squad included Olivia, who had conversed with Ava earlier, and Harris. And where they stood was the northwestern part of the refinery facility. The first thing in view was a massive tank over ten meters tall, with a concrete building attached beside it. Reconnoitering that building was the mission of Arian¡¯s squad. ¡°Let me reiterate, today¡¯s objective is not to occupy the facility interior, but to reduce the number of zombies. So-¡° Standing before them, Ava warned of the operation¡¯s precautions once more. For some reason, she seemed to be looking particularly at Arian as she spoke, but Arian paid it no mind, focusing more on the other squad members¡¯ conditions instead. ¡°...¡± Faced with imminent combat, most had grim expressions and tense demeanors. Arian surveyed her squadmates, then looked up at the building they would enter. Its frame was a massive concrete block. Structurally, it was a simple rectangular shape, with no windows and only a rusted red iron door as the sole entrance. However, between the concrete, countless pipes were threaded through like strings. And with the facility¡¯s sheer size, it resembled a steel fortress. ¡°Begin the operation. Everyone, take positions.¡± At Ava¡¯s words, the squad members spread out to surround the building entrance. Ava, rifle at the ready, tossed something through the slightly ajar door. It was a stun grenade. She swiftly retreated as a thunderous boom followed in her wake. Boom! The stun grenade, said to be able to knock someone out with just the sound at close range, shook the previously still refinery. It was a lure, meant to draw out any zombies inside with the noise. The plan was to first try luring and eliminating any zombies that came out with sound. If there were too many, they would temporarily withdraw. Other squads in the different zones seemed to be initiating operations smoothly too, judging by similar sounds coming from elsewhere. And after some time had passed. ¡°Kiii...!¡± From behind the red-stained iron door, the corpses finally revealed themselves. A zombie charging mindlessly slammed into the slightly ajar door. The impact flung the door wide open, exposing the darkness within. What could be seen was a wide corridor leading further inside the facility. And that corridor was packed full of zombies. Their eyes met the soldiers¡¯. ¡°Kiaaaa!¡± ¡°Open fire!¡± The zombies¡¯ shrieks upon spotting their prey and Ava¡¯s attack order rang out almost simultaneously. Gunfire erupted as the soldiers opened fire on the zombies at the collision point. Ratatatat! A hail of bullets mowed down the zombies head-on as they tried to pour out the entrance. The special ammunition manufactured in LA specifically for fighting zombies shattered their skulls and tore off their limbs. In an instant, the hordes that had been pushing to get out were swept away. ¡°...¡± Arian calmly observed this scene as she fired. The soldiers¡¯ skills were better than she had expected. Not quite up to Aiden¡¯s level, but certainly formidable enough. Still, the zombies¡¯ momentum didn¡¯t easily dissipate. Dozens of zombies had been reduced to rotting chunks of meat, yet the zombies¡¯ screeches still echoed from within the iron door. The refinery¡¯s pitch-black interior seemed like the maw of some monster, endlessly producing corpses. ¡°Throw grenades!¡± Then Ava¡¯s voice rang out with that order ¨C a warning that explosives were about to be used. Arian took cover behind a barricade. Seconds later, the forewarned blast erupted. The razor-sharp shrapnel shredded any zombies still lurking in the shadows. Only then did the zombies¡¯ movements subside somewhat. But Arian couldn¡¯t relax. At the same time, she unmistakably sensed a presence distinct from the ordinary zombies. It was undoubtedly a mutant. Whoosh! Right after Arian detected it, the sound of air being torn reached her ears. Sensing something amiss, Arian¡¯s pupils glowed a brighter red. Her thought processes accelerated, her senses heightened. In that state akin to slowed time and sharpened perception. Arian¡¯s eyes immediately pinpointed the source of the sound. It was a pipe as thick as a human arm. From within the facility¡¯s depths, an exposed Wielder had flung that pipe like some improvised artillery piece. Its trajectory was toward Arian¡¯s right ¨C where Olivia was stationed. Without hesitation, Arian moved. Like a bullet fired at the Olivia several meters away, Arian grabbed the back of her neck. ¡°Huh?¡± Olivia felt a strange floating sensation, her entire body being lifted up. But before she could properly voice her confusion at the phenomenon- Baaang! The steel pipe hurled by the mutant narrowly missed her, shattering part of the chimney stack Olivia had been using as cover as it passed. ¡°Wha... what?¡± Olivia¡¯s face turned pale, having just glimpsed that lethal force. Then someone shouted: ¡°It¡¯s a Wielder!¡± ¡°It¡¯s throwing makeshift weapons! Spread out!¡± Ava too immediately issued orders in response. The troops previously encircling the entrance scattered. Bang! Even after that, the Wielder flung a few more pipes, but thanks to Ava¡¯s quick judgment, there were no further incidents. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Instead, the remaining zombies that had begun crawling out were swept away by the mutant¡¯s attacks. Eventually, no more zombies emerged, and the Wielder itself didn¡¯t show its face outside either. Being an intelligent mutant, it seemed to know that the interior was more advantageous as a battleground. However, the soldiers couldn¡¯t easily advance inside either. ¡°Hold position for now.¡± This stalemate dragged on for some time. Then Ava carefully tossed an illumination grenade into the building¡¯s interior. The blinding red light illuminated the previously pitch-black indoors. But even so... there was no response from within. The Wielder¡¯s presence had vanished. ¡°Looks like it retreated.¡± After observing the interior for a moment, Ava said this. Even as the illumination grenade continued casting its bright glow over the facility insides, there was no sign of the hulking Wielder anywhere. Ava gathered the troops at one point. As Arian moved according to her orders, someone tapped her from the side. ¡°Thanks for earlier.¡± It was Olivia. Having barely regained her composure, Olivia expressed her gratitude to Arian. Too preoccupied with the combat, she seemed to have not realized how Arian had saved her. Sensing this from her demeanor, Arian felt a bit relieved and just nodded in response. ¡°So what will you do now?¡± Meanwhile, Harris asked Ava. Ava frowned slightly in thought. A Wielder was certainly dangerous, no doubt. But they had already eliminated most of the zombies near the entrance. In that situation, ten armed soldiers should have no issue dealing with the Wielder together. Moreover, it was hiding inside the facility. Even with more troops, the confined indoor spaces would limit any numerical advantage in combat. So Ava judged that they could proceed with the operation after all. It was something that had to be done today if not tomorrow. ¡°We¡¯ll enter. Harris, Jones, you¡¯re with me.¡± Ava designated herself and the two most experienced soldiers in the squad to take point. The soldiers whose names were called nodded gravely. ¡°It¡¯s dark inside. Prepare illumination, everyone.¡± Seeing the fading illumination grenade, Ava instructed her squad. Though still midday, the facility¡¯s interior was shrouded in impenetrable darkness with sunlight completely blocked out. ¡°Everyone inside.¡± Before the illumination grenade¡¯s light fully dissipated, Ava gave the order to enter. The soldiers swiftly rushed into the facility. The refinery¡¯s interior was as expansive as it had appeared from the outside, with a towering ceiling height. But most of it was obscured by the tangle of thick pipelines. It was like a metal forest made of steel trunks. However, only Arian could see it clearly. Not only was it dark inside, but the view was obstructed from every angle by pipes, so even their illumination couldn¡¯t properly light up the depths. ¡°Advance slowly.¡± Ava and the soldiers stepped into that metallic woodland. Though there was a fairly wide central path, thankfully there were also many narrower side passages for them to take sufficient cover in. These corridors between the pipelines had walls made of clusters of dozens upon dozens of woven steel pipes ¨C solid enough barricades that even the mutant¡¯s strength would have difficulty breaking through. Using those as shields, the soldiers gradually made their way deeper into the facility¡¯s interior. ¡°Kiaaaa!¡± Before long, they encountered the rampaging Wielder. The moment it spotted the soldiers, it hurled more pipes at them. But they simply clanged loudly against the pipeline walls and ricocheted away. Seemingly unable to tolerate this any longer, the Wielder charged while wielding a pipe as thick as a human torso. ¡°It¡¯s moving! Block it!¡± Ava shouted out at this. The soldiers immediately revealed themselves and opened fire. Bullets rained down as the Wielder tried to use its weapon to deflect them. Bang! Babang! The blocked shots were scattered in all directions. But no matter how thick, that pipe could not protect the Wielder¡¯s entire body. ¡°Aim for its legs!¡± Ava commanded the troops again. The Wielder was desperately protecting its head, leaving its lower body completely exposed. Heeding her order, a volley of rounds targeted those unguarded limbs. The special ammunition that had shredded ordinary zombie bodies now tore into the mutant¡¯s flesh. However, a Wielder¡¯s skin, muscles, bones ¨C every aspect of its physicality was several times denser and tougher than a regular zombie¡¯s. So while its thickly muscled legs initially withstood that barrage. Kwaduk! Before it could close the distance to the soldiers, its body started wobbling. The concentrated fire had finally severed its ankles. ¡°Kuaaaaa!¡± The Wielder let out a guttural roar. But no matter how dangerous, once a Wielder lost its mobility against armed soldiers, it was no longer a threat. So the very moment the soldiers thought they had won- ¡°Huh...?¡± That sound escaped Arian¡¯s lips. As the Wielder faltered, she abruptly sensed yet another presence. Its direction was... above. Arian¡¯s gaze turned toward the blackened ceiling. There, amidst the tangled mess of pipes even Arian had never seen before, was something grotesque hanging from the ceiling. It was a spider-like mutant. Its arms and legs had developed long, slender, and sharp protrusions that allowed it to cling to the ceiling. Arian couldn¡¯t hide her shock. Not just at its horrific appearance, but more concerningly, at how close the mutant had already advanced undetected. Could these things perhaps be adapted for stealth in this dark, obstructed labyrinth of pipes? Whuk! Without a sound, the mutant dropped from the ceiling. The closest to it were Ava and the other two soldiers at the vanguard, firing their weapons. They had no chance to turn their guns toward the new threat. Sensing the danger, Arian leapt into the air. Chapter 197 Ava had understood from the beginning that this operation wouldn¡¯t be so simple. Her assigned mission was to assess the situation here with limited troops, and if possible, reduce the number of zombies. If this had been a war against humans, her role could be likened to that of a commander leading a reconnaissance team dispatched into enemy territory. Of course, such reconnaissance teams must be prepared to take certain risks. Fully aware of being vastly outnumbered by the enemy, they must secure information without engaging in direct confrontation, and return alive. From that perspective, today¡¯s mission had gone more smoothly than expected. The plan to lure out the zombies with loud noises and mow them down in advantageous terrain had worked out. They were able to eliminate numerous zombies without sustaining any casualties. And at the very end, they even encountered a Wielder, but fortunately no one died. For Ava, it was an overwhelmingly successful outcome. They had sufficiently reduced the enemy¡¯s numbers and visually confirmed the presence of a formidable foe. So she judged that it would be fine to proceed a step further. By any measure, it seemed a battle they had a good chance of winning. After entering the facility interior, Ava¡¯s judgment appeared to be validated. First, they located the lurking Wielder. Ava positioned her subordinates appropriately and lured it out. In response, Wielder rebelled by hurling steel pipes like artillery shells, shaking the ground. But in the end, none of its attacks could reach Ava or her troops. Instead, after Ava and her subordinates fought back desperately, they witnessed Wielder lose its footing as its ankles were severed. ¡°Kuerrr!¡± Wielder let out a roar toward Ava, who was at the vanguard. The distance between them was just over three meters. Close enough that the weapon Wielder swung missed by a hair¡¯s breadth. Close enough that only its rancid breath could be faintly felt along with its roar. Right before Ava¡¯s eyes, as her magazine ran dry, the hulking mutant started to topple over. Watching this scene, Ava was about to heave a long sigh of relief. She had thought this burdensome mission was finally over. But it wasn¡¯t. Before Wielder¡¯s body could even hit the ground- ¡°Kuk...!¡± Someone else¡¯s death rattle sounded from behind. And then. Clang! Something that had been about to smash Ava¡¯s head was deflected with a shattering sound. ¡°-!¡± Caught off guard by the sudden situation, Ava forgot about Wielder and turned to look behind her. What entered her view was an unbelievable sight. There, right behind her, was another mutant ¨C a Spider. When had it even arrived? Spiders are a type of mutant that mainly inhabits dilapidated factories or high-ceilinged underground spaces. So they were a rare breed to encounter outside of major industrial zones. But this refinery was indeed an environment they would favor. Perhaps she should have considered this possibility before entering. Yet such regrets were too late now. Ava¡¯s face contorted with a ghastly expression at the grisly scene before her eyes. One of the Spider¡¯s long, sharp limbs had impaled her subordinate Harris. ¡°Damn...!¡± Gritting her teeth, Ava turned her rifle¡¯s muzzle toward it, only to realize her magazine was empty. Ava¡¯s face drained of color. Spiders are agile, fast-moving mutants. It was already within striking range, leaving no time to reload. In that moment, Ava sensed her own demise. Yet amidst that premonition, a question also arose. Considering the Spider¡¯s reaction speed, Ava should not have even had a chance to turn her head before being struck down. But she was still alive. How? The very moment Ava pondered this- Clang! As if answering her question, the shattering sound from earlier when something had deflected the Spider¡¯s attack on Ava rang out again. Someone was batting away the Spider¡¯s limbs ¨C movements too fast for even Ava¡¯s eyes to follow. Ava¡¯s vision, previously focused solely on the Spider, finally broke free. And standing to her left was someone she never expected to see. It was... Arian. The rookie soldier, having discarded her rifle, wielding only the standard-issue longsword. ¡°Wha...¡± Confusion flooded Ava¡¯s mind. Why was Arian here? And how was she confronting the mutant with just that short blade? More than anything, why were Arian¡¯s eyes glowing that ominous, bloody red? None of it made any sense. But Ava soon regained her senses and her hands moved. She may not understand the circumstances, but her duty was clear. From the ammo belt with a full magazine, Ava¡¯s hands grabbed a red-painted magazine. Unlike the hulking Wielder breed, the Spider had a thin, razor-sharp physique. Yet its physical toughness didn¡¯t match that slender appearance. Having developed thick, dense bones instead of muscles, it possessed an internal armor capable of deflecting ordinary bullets. So what Ava had retrieved was an armor-piercing round. Like the LA-made rounds for shredding zombie bodies, this was a special anti-mutant ammunition. Intentionally loaded with more gunpowder and an elongated, sharper penetrator tip to pierce mutant defenses. However, with limited quantities, only Ava carried these in their small squad. Even the toughest Spider couldn¡¯t withstand this firepower. Clang! Clink! In the few seconds it took Ava to ready her weapon, several exchanges had already occurred between Arian and the mutant. In that time, Arian had closed in further on the Spider, which had lost one of its limbs. It was a sight that made Ava doubt her eyes. Arian seemed to be matching... no, even overwhelming the mutant with just her machete. ¡°Kiii-¡° Was that why? The Spider abruptly turned its body. Having sensed Arian was no easy prey, it tried to flee. But by then, Ava had completed her counterattack preparations. Her rifle¡¯s muzzle was aimed squarely at the Spider. The resounding thunderous roar that followed enveloped the mutant¡¯s back. Ava¡¯s rifle spat fire, its heavy recoil shaking her entire body. She withstood it as most of the rounds pierced straight through the Spider¡¯s body. ¡°Gureuk...!¡± Vomiting rotten blood, the Spider crumpled. The penetrating shots that struck its head had undoubtedly shattered its skull and pulverized its brain. But immediately after- ¡°Behind!¡± Arian shouted. Before Ava could even react, a massive impact slammed into her body. An excruciating, breath-stealing pain, as if her entire body was being crushed, sent Ava flying through the air. ¡°Kugh!¡± Her vision distorted, consciousness flickering. When she managed to open her eyes again, she was tumbling across the floor. Nearby, the Wielder came into view. Having dragged itself over despite losing a leg, the Wielder had closed in on Ava. And scored a decisive hit. ¡°That bastard...!¡± Between Wielder and Ava now stood Arian. Her expression had turned coldly aloof, those eyes still glowing an unsettling red. With that chilling sight of Arian burned into her vision, Ava¡¯s consciousness faded away. * * * Some time later. Near the Los Angeles River below LA¡¯s walls as the sun set, the silhouette of a man appeared beneath one building. ¡°I heard the entrance is around here.¡± It was Aiden. Carefully concealing himself lest the sentries above the walls spot him, he looked down toward the river. LA¡¯s Los Angeles River was a fully urbanized waterway running through the heart of the metropolis. Its flow didn¡¯t run along a natural bed of soil and gravel. Instead, it was an artificial channel constructed from sloped grayish-white concrete. And alongside this concrete riverbed ran abandoned railroad tracks. Aiden cautiously followed along the river. Before long, the sewer entrance Oliver had mentioned came into view. It was a large drainage channel connected to the river. A typical sewer, with a semi-circular space large enough for a person to enter, narrow walkways on either side, and a water channel running through the middle. However, the passage leading further inside was firmly sealed with an iron grate and chains. Without flustering, Aiden examined the padlock securing those chains. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°...Not too old, it seems.¡± He muttered under his breath. The padlock¡¯s condition was better than expected. Some rust had built up, but not excessively, with only a slight fading of its silvery sheen. If this had been a padlock left there since before the zombie outbreak, that would have been unthinkable. Exposed to moisture this close to the riverside, it surely would have degraded to the point where no key could unlock it. This caused Aiden¡¯s brow to furrow slightly. It meant someone had been consistently maintaining this sewer¡¯s lock. ¡°...¡± From his bag, Aiden took out a set of tools. A lockpick, a tool for opening padlocks. Fortunately, the sewer entrance used a conventional padlock. Had it been an electronic door lock or similar, even Aiden would have struggled. But it seemed LA lacked the resources to install powered locks on a mere sewer entrance. Click! After briefly wrestling with the lock mechanism, Aiden swiftly picked it open. Uncoiling the chains, he finally opened the gate. ¡°Hmm...¡± For a moment at the entrance, Aiden surveyed his surroundings. Today, Aiden had completed reconnoitering this area before coming here. Thanks to that, he already knew about the padlock, allowing him to prepare the lockpick in advance. The information he had gathered also indicated this was one of the patrol routes regularly swept by LA¡¯s security forces. Fortunately, there were no signs of anyone approaching yet. Aiden casually draped the chains back, enough that his entry would not be noticeable from the outside, and carefully headed inside. In the hand of the man entering the sewer was a pistol with a flashlight attachment. He also had a rifle slung across his back, but judging the tight confines would favor a handgun for any contingencies. His helmet was also removed. He had determined there would be no risk of being detected from this point onward. Yet despite Aiden¡¯s precautions, the sewer interior was deathly still. Only the long-dead carcasses of cockroaches and rats littered here and there. Not a single moving corpse was in sight. ¡°...¡± Aiden nonchalantly delved deeper into the sewer. The further inward he went, the stronger the putrid stench became, but he didn¡¯t so much as twitch a brow. He advanced several kilometers into the sewer system. At this range and direction, he must have reached the city center by now. Yet until that point, Aiden had made no noteworthy discoveries. Not a single zombie or anything resembling one had been encountered. Had Oliver¡¯s words merely been hearsay after all? Aiden lightly clicked his tongue in disappointment. He had come here just in case, but it seemed his doubts were justified. Up ahead of Aiden appeared an intersection, splitting into three paths ¨C straight, left and right. He shone his flashlight down each corridor. But as far as the light reached, the sewer¡¯s scenery remained unchanged. There were no conspicuous signs anywhere. Only the still, black sewage water flowed quietly. ¡°This is as far as I go.¡± Aiden let out a brief sigh. If there was truly nothing here, further investigation would be pointless. So as Aiden turned to leave. ¡°That is...¡± Something up ahead caught his eye. It was a rat¡¯s carcass. Black fur, around 25cm in length, with a long tail. The same type of sewer rat he had occasionally glimpsed down here. But this partially decayed corpse had one key difference. It looked as if something had grabbed and twisted the rat¡¯s entire body, leaving it contorted in death. ¡°...¡± Noticing this, Aiden¡¯s eyes narrowed. As far as he knew, this was one of the common phenomena seen in small animals infected by the zombie virus. Naturally, small mammals like rats were among the easiest targets for exposure to the zombie pathogen. Not only did they feed on corpses, but their population numbers were staggeringly high. Yet the reason such zombie rats didn¡¯t overrun this continent was because infected rats didn¡¯t survive long. Regardless of human or animal, infection by the zombie virus induces certain physical changes in the host. In extreme cases, it can lead to mutant, but even short of that, facial disfigurement, increased strength, and other typical zombie characteristics manifest. However, the bodies of small mammals like rats couldn¡¯t withstand such changes. Particularly the disproportionate muscular changes relative to their size, twisting their bodies like that until the overdeveloped muscles crushed their own brains. That was why only larger beasts like deer or big dogs could potentially become Beasts. So finding a virus-infected dead rat was not so strange in itself. But what puzzled Aiden was why an infected rat existed here in the first place. For small mammals, the rate of virus infection is far swifter compared to humans. So for a rat to have contracted the virus outside, then made it all the way here was highly improbable. It would have been immobilized within a few hundred meters at most while sprinting at top speed. ¡°...¡± Ultimately, the presence of this rat was evidence that zombies had been in this vicinity. Realizing this, Aiden discarded any thoughts of retreating and began walking forward once more. Chapter 198 Not long after, another iron gate came into view. Another padlock at the depths of the sewer. Moreover, this one too was well-maintained. Seeing this deepened Aiden¡¯s suspicions. At the entrance, he could understand. But finding traces of human activity this deep was clearly abnormal. He took out his lockpick again. It had a slightly more complex mechanism than the entrance lock, but Aiden easily opened it as well. An ominous creaking sound rang out. The path leading further inward, however, soon ended. ¡°This is...¡± What came into view at the end of that path was an enormous cavern. That majestic underground space was so vast, its far wall could barely be seen even with Aiden¡¯s flashlight illumination. The ceiling too was tremendously high. Tall enough for a whole building or two to fit inside. Likely the central junction where the sewage converged. The sewer Aiden stood in was like a hole opening into the upper part of that cavern. Only there was no way down from this opening to the cavern floor. It was simply a drainage channel to allow water overflow, structured like a precipice. Advancing further didn¡¯t seem possible. With no choice but to stop at the edge of that channel, Aiden shone his flashlight down into the cavern below, wondering if anything was there. And then. ¡°...!¡± Upon seeing the cavern floor, his eyes widened in shock. Down below, about 7 meters beneath where he looked, was an astoundingly large number of zombies. Aiden immediately reached for his rifle, but soon realized something was amiss. Despite detecting the light, the zombies showed no reaction at all. They simply stood motionless in orderly rows, staring blankly ahead. Not turning their heads in the slightest. And there were approximately thousands of these unmoving zombies. The sight of them seeming to hibernate en masse was downright eerie. Aiden stared gravely at the underground cavern. Why were so many zombies gathered here? And why were they just standing still like that? All sorts of questions arose, yet he couldn¡¯t answer a single one. No matter how dire the scenario he envisioned, he had never imagined anything like this. As he observed the cavern, something else caught his eye. ¡°...¡± It was a CCTV camera attached to the cavern wall. Nonchalantly pointed in Aiden¡¯s direction, it seemed to gaze back at him indifferently. Noticing this, Aiden¡¯s brow furrowed deeply. He had thought there would be no risk of encountering humans here. That was why he had even removed his helmet to search. But the existence of that CCTV proved his miscalculation. An electronic device that would have long ceased functioning outside the walls ¨C he had failed to account for its presence here. Of course, Aiden couldn¡¯t tell if it was actually operational. However, this was not the kind of place CCTVs would normally be installed. Someone must have set it up, undoubtedly related to these zombies. Then... the most rational approach was to assume the worst possibility once more. ¡°Tsk...!¡± Aiden swiftly retreated backwards. Remembering only that zombies did indeed exist here, he immediately began exiting the sewers. * * * ¡°Ungh...!¡± The first thing Ava felt upon opening her eyes was the pain in her left arm. A searing heat, as if it had been set ablaze, burning her elbow. That agony roused Ava¡¯s consciousness. ¡°This is...¡± Still not fully lucid, Ava looked around. She saw pristine white walls and ceiling, and sunlight pouring through the windows. For a moment, she was at a loss for words. It was so starkly different from the last scenery she recalled. She distinctly remembered sustaining injuries from that mutant in the darkened refinery facility. As Ava frowned, trying to recollect what happened after that, ¡°You¡¯re awake?¡± A voice called out from somewhere. Before Ava could turn her head toward the source, its owner stepped into her view. It was Arian. ¡°Why are you...¡± To the still disoriented Ava, Arian recounted the events from the refinery battle until now. Ava had lost consciousness after Wielder¡¯s counterattack. But immediately afterward, Wielder was defeated, and her subordinates were able to rescue Ava and escape the facility. ¡°Then other soldiers brought you, injured, back to LA. I returned as well, by the way.¡± ¡°Were you hurt too?¡± Ava asked, but Arian shook her head. Arian was unharmed. The reason she had returned midway was because she had directly engaged the mutant. Suspecting even the slightest infection risk, the military immediately recalled Arian from the operation area for observation over a full day. But of course, Arian showed no signs of any mutation. So she was eventually released, which was why she could be here now. This caused Ava to tilt her head slightly. By Arian¡¯s account, it seemed a considerable amount of time had passed since then. ¡°So how long has it been since that day?¡± ¡°Three days.¡± ¡°Three days, huh...¡± Ava slowly sat up in bed. Not just her bandaged left arm, but her torso too was a source of pain. Watching this, Arian continued speaking. ¡°Your arm was badly fractured, and some ribs were broken too. Don¡¯t overload yourself by moving around.¡± ¡°...I can tell.¡± Just sitting up in bed was considerably taxing. Having been unconscious for three whole days, her physical exhaustion must have been immense too. Yet Ava couldn¡¯t complain. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Simply being alive after the mutant¡¯s attack was fortunate enough. This realization led Ava to recall something else. There had been someone other than herself struck by the mutant, hadn¡¯t there? ¡°Ah, what about Harris? Back then, he clearly...¡± ¡°He died.¡± Arian¡¯s matter-of-fact reply made Ava¡¯s expression harden. But Arian kept speaking. ¡°His remains were brought back to LA along with you. The funeral has already been held too. Harris was buried.¡± Arian even informed Ava of Harris¡¯s grave location. Moreover, it was Arian who had notified Harris¡¯s family and delivered his belongings. Hearing that Arian had handled her own duties in her stead, Ava bit her lip. ¡°What about the others...?¡± ¡°They were safe until I left. I can¡¯t say about now, though.¡± Arian said the operation was still ongoing at the refinery facility. Only the commanding officer had changed due to Ava¡¯s injury. The soldiers were still struggling to secure the area. ¡°Haah...¡± After listening to this recap, all Ava could do was let out a long sigh. For a while, she stared vacantly with a somber expression, before expressing her gratitude to Arian first. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯m indebted to you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Arian waved it off nonchalantly. That aloof, utterly indifferent attitude was just like her usual self. Seeing Arian¡¯s unchanged reaction, Ava could only let out a wry smile. ¡°But why are you here?¡± ¡°Just stopped by briefly. I didn¡¯t really have anywhere else to go.¡± Arian shrugged as she spoke. It was half the truth. The military unit she belonged to had been deployed for the operation and had yet to return to LA. So Arian couldn¡¯t report for duty, and she was also concerned about Ava¡¯s injured condition. Of course, there was another reason too. Ava was hospitalized at a medical facility operated by LA. And hospitals were places that managed blood supplies, even if just for transfusions. Arian had come to see if there might be any legal means to acquire blood here. Though she found no such opportunity, just seeing Ava awake had put her mind at ease. ¡°You...¡± Ava was about to say something to Arian when. Movement could be heard from outside. Following a knock on the hospital room door, a nurse entered. Seeing Ava was awake, she brightened up. ¡°You¡¯re up?¡± The nurse soon called for a doctor. ¡°That¡¯s a relief. You don¡¯t seem to have any complications.¡± After a brief examination, the doctor said this to Ava. Instructing her to get plenty of rest, the doctor turned to leave, but then looked back. ¡°Ah, by the way, the Mayor may visit you later. Will that be alright?¡± ¡°The Mayor...?¡± Ava tilted her head quizzically. Why would his name come up here? Sensing his explanation lacked context, the doctor continued. ¡°The Mayor periodically visits to consoled injured soldiers. Today happens to be one of those days. Of course, only if you¡¯re amenable...¡± After briefly considering the doctor¡¯s words, Ava accepted. To be honest, she harbored some resentment toward the Mayor over the Nora incident. But since he would be coming in person, this was an opportunity to settle that matter. So Ava gave her consent to the doctor. ¡°Am I allowed to stay too?¡± Beside Ava, Arian asked. Aware that Arian had some interest in the Mayor, Ava readily permitted it. Not long after, the previously quiet hospital corridor became somewhat noisy. The Mayor had arrived. Starting from the central area, he visited each patient room one by one. ¡°...¡± Ava quietly waited her turn. Gradually, the Mayor¡¯s movements drew nearer. But for some reason, the closer he approached. ¡°...?¡± Arian¡¯s expression grew oddly tense. Tilting her head, her brow furrowed deeply. Was she feeling anxious? It did not seem that way from her look. Ava regarded Arian¡¯s strange demeanor with puzzlement, if only briefly. ¡°May I come in?¡± Finally, Mayor Ross Preston arrived at their room door. With Ava¡¯s permission, he opened the door and entered. His gaze met Ava¡¯s. As always, his hair and attire were neatly groomed. ¡°Ava Hill... it was you after all.¡± Ross spoke with an apologetic expression, as if embarrassed. Ava was the sister of Nora, who had held a research director position, so Ross was acquainted with her. They had never met personally, but Ava had coincidentally faced the Mayor alongside Nora before. ¡°I¡¯m sure you can guess what I¡¯m about to say, can¡¯t you?¡± Ava questioned Ross in an accusatory tone. With a stern face, Ross nodded. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s about Nora¡¯s belongings, I presume.¡± ¡°...It¡¯s not just that.¡± Nora, who had perished along with the research facility in the fire. Ava claimed the city government had conducted no proper investigation into her death, nor retrieved any of her belongings. However, Ross immediately shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s a misunderstanding. The site was sealed off for safety reasons. It was a place researching the zombie virus, after all. Moreover, the investigation there has already concluded. But nothing was left behind.¡± ¡°Nothing was left?¡± ¡°Yes. The research facility itself, as well as Nora¡¯s lodgings, were the same.¡± Ava shook her head at the Mayor¡¯s words. She no longer trusted him. Which was why she had intended to confirm it herself. ¡°Then may I enter and see for myself?¡± ¡°That... I¡¯ll look into it soon and let you know.¡± That response made Ava¡¯s expression harden. She knew it was a phrase Ross often used to refuse proposals. So Ava tried to press further, but Ross swiftly turned his attention away from her. Instead, his gaze fell upon Arian beside the bed. ¡°And who might you be?¡± Ross asked, looking at Arian. One of his accompanying aides then whispered some information about her into his ear. ¡°Ah, so you¡¯re the one who saved Ava...!¡± Reports based on soldier testimonies about the incident Ava experienced had already reached upper echelons. Ross too was aware that Arian had miraculously saved Ava¡¯s life with an inexplicable ability. Perhaps for that reason, he smiled faintly and extended a hand toward Arian. ¡°Pleased to meet you. I¡¯m Ross Preston, the Mayor of LA.¡± Ross naturally offered a handshake. An innocuous gesture by any standard. Yet Arian regarded Ross with an extremely perturbed expression. Just as the flustered Ross was about to ask why, Arian spoke up first. ¡°Are you really the Mayor?¡± Confusion and shock were evident on Arian¡¯s face as she said this. As if Ross had uttered something inconceivable. But her reaction was solely her own perspective. That rude query left even Ava, who had been prepared to argue with Ross, at a loss for words. However, before anyone else could respond, Ross simply nodded with an unchanged smile. ¡°Of course. Is there something off about me?¡± ¡°...¡± Instead of answering, Arian stared intently at Ross. Her gaze then turned toward Ava, Ross¡¯s aides, and even the medical staff behind them. To Arian, they all appeared utterly abnormal. And for good reason. This Mayor Ross had a face far too human-like, a voice far too person-like. Yet the stench of rotting corpses emanated from him, and the movements of his facial skin were ever so slightly unnatural. Could she perhaps be mistaken? Entertaining that possibility, Arian took Ross¡¯s offered hand. For some reason, it felt subtly warm to the touch. A temperature mimicking body heat, yet in that moment, Arian became certain. There was no pulse, no heartbeat from that hand whatsoever. Without a doubt. This Ross Preston was not human, but a zombie merely wearing human skin. ¡°Is everything alright?¡± The zombie asked her that. Arian, still unable to process the situation, could only withdraw her hand. The Mayor was a zombie? An inconceivable reality that left even her uncertain how to proceed. ¡°Ah... no, it¡¯s nothing.¡± So Arian simply said that and retreated. Ross regarded Arian¡¯s strange behavior with puzzlement. Chapter 199 Huntington Beach was a city adjacent to the ocean, true to its name. Most of the buildings constructed like a resort town catered to the beachside tourists, including the bar where Aiden was staying. In the dead of night, Aiden quietly exited that bar¡¯s storeroom. The drunken ramblings could still be heard from inside. However, after walking just a block or two further, that clamor faded away instantly. What found Aiden instead was darkness and stillness. And the night ocean, reflecting the twinkling stars and moon. ¡°...¡± Gazing down at that sea, Aiden became lost in thought for a moment. He still couldn¡¯t discern the identity of those zombies he had seen in LA¡¯s sewers. Could they perhaps be controlled by a mutant like Fear? Of course, if it had the ability to command other zombies, summoning them into the sewers would be plausible. But then the doors leading into those sewers were peculiar. Those doors were clearly being maintained by someone, likely people from LA. Furthermore, if some entity like Fear did exist there, LA couldn¡¯t have been unaware. It was happening beneath the very ground they lived on. They should have been able to investigate, and for that many zombies, there would be witnesses like Oliver too. Then... did those zombies have ties to someone within LA after all? While Aiden couldn¡¯t readily answer most of the questions that arose, he could affirm that one suspicion at least. More than anything, the CCTV camera there implied those sewer zombies were under someone¡¯s control. No matter how potent, a zombie mutant wouldn¡¯t install CCTV in its lair. ¡°Hmm...¡± But that was the extent Aiden could deduce. The crucial identities and motives behind it all eluded him ¨C something he couldn¡¯t even begin to imagine. So in an uncharacteristically vexed manner, he had come out to this beachside in the middle of the night. ¡°It¡¯s been three days now, huh...¡± Aiden counted down to his scheduled meeting with Arian. He lacked leads. And to obtain those leads, he needed Arian who was inside LA. But the agreed date to meet her was still some time away. This incident warranted urgently summoning her if possible, but he had no means to do so. He now regretted not arranging any emergency contact contingencies. Had he grown complacent, underestimating LA¡¯s potential threats? Aiden blamed his own lack of caution. Then. Wheeee- A chilly breeze blew in from somewhere. Fitting for a winter night by the sea, yet carrying the unmistakable scent of blood. That faint odor of blood pierced Aiden¡¯s senses with an eerie feeling. An alarming occurrence for any ordinary person. But to Aiden, this blood-tinged wind was more than welcome. It signaled the arrival of the very colleague he had been waiting for. ¡°...Arian?¡± At Aiden¡¯s murmur, Arian¡¯s figure manifested in the moonlight. Her distinctive red eyes turned toward him. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s me.¡± ¡°How did you get here?¡± ¡°You told me where you were staying before, remember? I just followed the map.¡± Indeed, they had previously exchanged information about their residential areas. Yet while Aiden lacked a way to reach Arian¡¯s location, she seemed to have no such issue finding him. Aiden immediately asked why she had come to see him. Of course, he too had something to convey to her. But it appeared the abruptly-arrived Arian also had urgent matters to discuss. ¡°There¡¯s something I need to tell you urgently.¡± As expected, Arian began recounting the events of the past few days with a grave expression. Aiden too opened his mouth to speak. The two proceeded to exchange information. ¡°The Mayor is a zombie?¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying there really were zombies like that in the sewers?¡± The revelations stunned them both. However, if their degrees of shock were compared, Aiden¡¯s was greater. Zombies gathering in LA¡¯s sewers was an anomaly, but one that could be somewhat rationalized through enough contrivance. But Arian¡¯s testimony about the LA Mayor himself being a zombie was on another level entirely. After becoming a zombie, Aiden had never encountered another sentient undead besides himself able to maintain their sanity. But the very same phenomenon was exhibited by none other than Ross Preston, the founder of LA. Had it not come from Arian, Aiden would have scoffed and dismissed such a claim outright. ¡°Are you certain about this?¡± ¡°Without a doubt. I even shook hands with Ross, he has no heartbeat.¡± Arian stated it with conviction. If she went that far, Aiden had no choice but to believe her. ¡°Then...¡± Aiden narrowed his eyes. As implausible as each revelation was, accepting them as fact seemed to provide answers to the previously baffling questions. More than anything, those countless zombies in the sewers. If the Mayor Ross Preston was truly a zombie himself, their relation to him was self-evident. Not merely due to their shared undead status. To gather zombies in the sewers and manage them continuously would require the power to silence witnesses and control information flow. The position of LA¡¯s Mayor was perfect for such purposes. The treatment suffered by Oliver, who had been Ross¡¯s bodyguard, was solid proof of this. Ross had likely exiled him ruthlessly from LA at the slightest risk of the sewer¡¯s secret leaking out. ¡°But what reason would the Mayor have to gather zombies?¡± Arian raised this objection to Aiden¡¯s deduction. ¡°Why bother hiding zombies in the first place? To you, they¡¯re nothing but nuisances, right?¡± ¡°True. I have no ability to control zombies.¡± ¡°Does that mean the Mayor possesses abilities like Fear?¡± At Arian¡¯s words, Aiden clicked his tongue in thought. After a brief contemplation, he continued speaking. ¡°Well, I can¡¯t say for sure. But... it may even surpass that.¡± Considering those dormant zombies in the sewers, it was clear the Mayor had some means of controlling them. But Aiden¡¯s speculation went one step further. ¡°I told you before, didn¡¯t I? That LA was a city that received Fear¡¯s salvation.¡± The Mayor¡¯s fabled accomplishments in founding LA that Aiden had heard. Coupled with this revelation of the Mayor¡¯s true zombie identity, that supposed feat of luck no longer seemed so coincidental. ¡°Fear led hundreds of millions of zombies out of the LA metropolitan area into the Arizona desert. And after that, it completely ignored LA¡¯s existence.¡± It was perplexing. While Fear had razed the mere thousands-strong camp in Phoenix, it utterly disregarded the millions residing in LA. Thanks to that, LA was able to safeguard and achieve so much. Yet no one could explain why Fear had acted that way. That was not the only peculiarity either. ¡°Plus, at some point, it started blocking survivors¡¯ paths to LA. The timing coincided with when those evacuees began rebelling against the Mayor.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that... are you saying the Mayor made some deal with Fear?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Just that the timing was rather convenient.¡± Arian let out a dry chuckle at the idea of the Mayor colluding with Fear. It seemed too far-fetched an assertion. But she had no grounds to refute it either, so she simply shook her head repeatedly. There was no point dwelling on such hypotheticals in any case. ¡°Forget it. Fear has lost its powers now anyway. Let¡¯s ignore it for now. More importantly, what are those sewer zombies for?¡± ¡°...Hard to say.¡± Even Aiden couldn¡¯t easily answer that. If Ross was simply an intelligent zombie masquerading as human, those zombies could be seen as an invasion force against LA. But Ross had personally founded LA himself. Whether he had been a zombie from the very start or became one later was unknown. Yet he showed no signs of abandoning LA, still working for the city¡¯s sake. Ross had no reason to destroy LA. Then why had he gathered those zombies in the sewers? As Aiden pondered this, he spoke up again. ¡°Arian, is there anyone else who knows he¡¯s a zombie?¡± Arian shook her head at that question. Ever since learning the Mayor¡¯s zombie identity, she had used her spare time to observe his private life as well. But Ross didn¡¯t seem to meet with anyone outside of work. The confidential conversations he had while on duty were only with his close aides. No one else appeared to recognize Ross as a zombie. ¡°He¡¯s concealing it thoroughly, it seems.¡± ¡°Of course. There aren¡¯t any outward signs yet, unlike with you.¡± While a zombie, Ross¡¯s outward appearance resembled a human¡¯s. Arian could smell the stench of his rotting flesh, but not enough for ordinary people to notice. Ross too employed various countermeasures like using preservative chemicals and attempting silicon skin grafts to halt his bodily decomposition. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Then... it¡¯s clear he has no intention of relinquishing the Mayor¡¯s seat.¡± Arian agreed with Aiden¡¯s statement. Ross¡¯s ability to conceal his deteriorating body was only possible because of his position as Mayor. ¡°So the current situation isn¡¯t very favorable.¡± ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Calls for the Mayor¡¯s resignation are growing stronger among the citizens. There are even rumors he¡¯ll step down soon of his own accord.¡± This made Aiden furrow his brow in concern. Arian¡¯s apprehension was justified. If backed into a corner like that, there was no telling what Ross might do. ¡°For now, we need to ascertain his intentions.¡± ¡°How?¡± To Arian¡¯s question, Aiden promptly provided an answer. ¡°Arian, you investigate the research facility.¡± ¡°Research facility?¡± ¡°Yes, the one where the accident occurred. The Mayor is trying to conceal something there. Enough to risk jeopardizing his precious position as Mayor.¡± Nodding at his words implying there must be clues there, Arian shared his skepticism about that facility. Now knowing the Mayor was a zombie, even the supposed ¡®accident¡¯ that occurred there seemed suspicious. Whether it had truly been an accident at all. Or a staged incident orchestrated by the Mayor himself. The thought that he might have been responsible for Ava¡¯s sister Nora¡¯s death made Arian¡¯s gaze turn sharp. ¡°...Understood. And you?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll head north.¡± ¡°North?¡± ¡°One of the exits leading out from that underground sewer cavern I discovered is in that direction. But... part of the wall there is still under construction.¡± The northern mountain ranges adjoining LA¡¯s massive perimeter walls were its most vulnerable area. Yet LA had implemented a complete access restriction to those mountains under the pretext of ongoing wall construction. ¡°If he¡¯s up to something shady... the answer may lie there.¡± Arian nodded in understanding. She too had visited the northern area before due to construction material transports, but never ventured into the mountain ranges themselves. For LA citizens, entry into those ranges was strictly prohibited. At the time, she had assumed it was simply for safety precautions. But revisiting it now, that directive seemed subtly suspicious. ¡°Got it. Then-¡° Just as they finalized their respective courses of action- Arian halted mid-sentence and abruptly turned to face away from the ocean. ¡°Someone¡¯s coming.¡± Arian said, peering into the darkness. The direction of the bar Aiden was staying at and the Huntington Docks buildings. When Aiden asked if it was just drunks, Arian shook her head. ¡°No, there are many of them. And they seem to be encircling the area while armed.¡± Aiden¡¯s expression hardened slightly. This was the territory of the Huntington Docks gang. So it was hard to imagine some nameless band of drifters brazenly coming to rob Aiden here. In other words, those approaching Aiden now were none other than the Huntington Docks gang. However, Aiden couldn¡¯t figure out why they would seek him out in such a manner. ¡°What should we do?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hear them out first. As for you...¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll stay well hidden.¡± The moment he finished speaking, Arian¡¯s figure vanished, blending into the darkness like magic. But Aiden had no time to ponder that uncanny sight, because as Arian had forewarned, footsteps soon approached. The clanking of metal and over a dozen sets of footfalls gradually neared. Eventually, the one who appeared was Dirk from the Huntington Docks office that frequently issued Aiden contracts. ¡°There you are, Aiden.¡± ¡°...What¡¯s this about?¡± Aiden reacted sharply, leveling his pistol at Dirk¡¯s nonchalant greeting. He had no choice. While Dirk was unarmed, the ten subordinates with him all had guns in hand. They had shown up armed to the teeth in the dead of night ¨C hardly a friendly visit meriting hospitality. As if understanding this, Dirk calmly smirked. ¡°Right, this doesn¡¯t seem like a joking matter, so I¡¯ll get straight to it. Come with me. Of course, I don¡¯t intend you any harm ¨C I promise.¡± ¡°You expect me to believe that?¡± ¡°Well... it¡¯s understandable if you can¡¯t just take my word for it. But what choice do we have? You see these guys here?¡± With a wave of Dirk¡¯s hand, the subordinates all aimed their guns at Aiden in unison. ¡°As the wise junk dealer you are, you know there¡¯s no other way. Just listen to me.¡± Dirk admonished Aiden in a patronizing tone. Aiden glared at him intensely. ¡°And what¡¯s the reason for all this?¡± ¡°Why else? It¡¯s a contract, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°A contract?¡± ¡°There¡¯s someone who wants to meet you.¡± At Dirk¡¯s words, Aiden finally seemed to grasp why they had come for him. The clue was... that CCTV camera. Someone who had noticed his presence in those sewers must have put a hunt out for him. ¡°Could that person be the Mayor, by any chance?¡± ¡°...¡± So Aiden posed that question, but Dirk maintained a poker face without responding. If so, Aiden had nothing further to say in return. ¡°I refuse that contract.¡± Dirk¡¯s expression soured. ¡°Hey, let¡¯s not make this difficult. I don¡¯t want to resort to rough measures either, but you¡¯re leaving me no choice here.¡± ¡°Funny, I feel the same way, you see.¡± With a sigh as if chiding Aiden¡¯s bravado, Dirk¡¯s demeanor turned cold as he addressed his subordinates. ¡°That one there, break his legs if you have to ¨C just bring him in somehow. But don¡¯t kill him under any circumstances, got it?¡± The subordinates nodded and began slowly closing in on Aiden. In response, Aiden lowered his pistol and calmly spoke. ¡°No need for killing, it seems. You heard that?¡± ¡°Yeah, I heard.¡± Dirk¡¯s eyes widened at the cheerful girl¡¯s voice that suddenly came from the darkness. Simultaneously, a crimson shadow-like entity rose up from the ground. In an instant, a tidal wave of red blood engulfed the Huntington Docks subordinates. Chapter 200 Ross Preston had become a zombie over three years ago. Shortly after that inexplicable and deadly pandemic began spreading from the easternmost point of the continent, New York. That catastrophic disease eventually reached even LA on the opposite west coast, thousands of kilometers away. The situation back then was so dire that ¡®worst¡¯ would be an understatement. There were infected corpses rampaging madly in the streets. Yet the police and military forces meant to protect the citizens couldn¡¯t even properly subdue those corpses. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was only natural. Back then, no one truly understood whether they were already dead bodies, or simply delirious patients afflicted by the disease. However, amidst that chaos, there was someone who boldly authorized firing upon the zombies. It was the Mayor. The actual Mayor of LA whom Ross was serving under. Declaring she would take full responsibility, she even went so far as to wield a gun herself and open fire on the zombies before the hesitant military and police forces. As a result, not just the city¡¯s military forces, but even armed civilians could at least establish basic guidelines for dealing with the zombies. Combined with the Mayor and administration¡¯s desperate efforts, LA seemed to barely regain a semblance of order. However, their permitted defiance only went that far. Just as the military had secured the downtown area with City Hall, an unprecedented monster emerged from the residential districts. A zombie, but far larger and more powerful than any ordinary zombie. It was a mutant, a fact they only learned later. But at that time, they had no such knowledge, and naturally, no one among the people knew how to confront it. In the end, everything the people had built was effortlessly torn down by that single mutant, like a sand castle washed away. The Mayor was no exception. Ross vividly remembered that mutilated face of the Mayor after she had been mauled by it. Bang! Even back then, inside this very LA City Hall Mayor¡¯s office, Ross had been forced to put a bullet in her head. The demise of the woman he had served for years was far too abrupt. And Ross had thought his own end would be the same. He simply sat down in that chair the Mayor had occupied. In that place overlooking LA¡¯s downtown, Ross let out a hollow laugh. The year the zombie virus first spread, Ross had only just turned thirty ¨C a rookie politician. Although only an aide, he had aspired to become the Mayor one day. To attain even greater heights beyond that position. But such dreams now seemed utterly lost. Because in this world, there was nothing left but corpses. Having resigned himself to await death, he quietly held a gun to his own head, ready to pull the trigger at the slightest hint of his zombification progressing. Yet, for some reason... It was not until a full day had passed that he realized something was amiss. Even after being bitten by a zombie, he found his faculties still intact the following day. That was not all. Despite the Mayor¡¯s clearly visible bite marks on his arm still oozing fresh blood, his heart continued beating and body temperature remained. Only then did he realize something unprecedented had occurred. Unlike the Mayor and others, Ross had not turned into a monster. He was an immune. At first, Ross merely thought this miracle was simple good luck. With the zombie virus already coursing through his veins, he had no need to fear zombies. And the zombies too, as if sensing something from him, regarded Ross with puzzlement yet didn¡¯t outright attack him either. He alone was free in this world overrun by zombies. A sense of liberation that only he could experience. So Ross could dream again. If he utilized this ability, he believed he could revive LA and become its leader. However, as time passed, Ross¡¯s rosy outlook gradually changed. While searching for LA¡¯s survivors, a conversation with someone he shook hands with made Ross realize his body temperature was fluctuating uncontrollably. Afterwards, Ross hurriedly acquired a thermometer to measure his temperature. 29 degrees Celsius. Though not a doctor, Ross knew that was not a body temperature possible for humans. But he felt no pain or discomfort. Which only made it more unsettling. The next day, his temperature had spiked to 40 degrees. A dangerously high fever that should have been life-threatening. Still, he experienced no agony whatsoever. And from that day onward, he could no longer sleep. No matter how long he lay with his eyes closed, his consciousness never faded in the slightest. Even forcing himself to remain lying until sunrise, he felt no fatigue at all. It was merely a tedious passage of time, staring up at the starless night sky. Then at some point, he lost his sense of taste as well. Finally, Ross felt his heart slowly, steadily stop beating. Only then did he comprehend his situation. He was not a zombie virus immune. He was simply becoming a zombie at a much slower rate than others. From that point on, Ross moved urgently. Not just for his own dreams, but because he needed others¡¯ aid to cure this affliction. Those knowledgeable about the virus, doctors who could restore him to his original self. But in this devastated LA, even if such people existed, there was nothing they could do for him. So Ross rebuilt LA. He simply gathered the scattered survivors together. Braving any dangers, Ross took the lead and guided them. It was around then that he discovered a certain ability too. At some point, the zombies that had merely observed Ross with puzzlement began moving according to his will. Those frenzied living corpses came when Ross beckoned, and went where he commanded. An unexpected boon he could never have imagined. After gaining that ability, everything progressed swiftly for Ross. He drove all of LA¡¯s zombies out into the desert and, in that interim, the LA survivors swore allegiance to Ross as their Mayor. And eventually, a research facility was established in LA. Though his heart was almost stopped by then, Ross spared no expense investing in that research facility until the very end, never giving up hope. On the eastern side, a massive wall was constructed too. Not for Ross¡¯s own sake, but to reassure the citizens and attract more people he would need. Until that point, Ross had been brimming with hope. Everything seemed to be going well. He even found someone he wished to rely on ¨C a woman named Scarlet. She had been a trustworthy comrade by Ross¡¯s side ever since he began leading the people of LA. Ross and Scarlet were mutually attracted to each other. So once LA stabilized, it was Scarlet who first confessed her feelings to him. Upon hearing her confession, Ross agonized over it for several days. Whether to accept her love and reveal his secret to her. In the end, his decision was affirmative. Perhaps he shouldn¡¯t have, but Ross had grown weary of keeping this inexpressible secret to himself. That fatigue and loneliness shook his judgment, and he ultimately opened up to Scarlet about his feelings and his secret, fully expecting her to accept him. But she did not. Scarlet¡¯s face turned deathly pale at the revelation that Ross was a zombie. Claiming to be too shocked, she asked for some time to think, but Ross already knew then. Having known Scarlet for so long, he realized it was her way of rejecting him. Still, Ross understood her decision. Zombies were truly that much of a threat to humans. Even with most zombies having left the city, the remaining few alone led to soldiers perishing on expeditions day after day. Ross had merely hoped to continue their comradeship as before. Trusting her, he gave Scarlet that time to think. However, that trust was soon betrayed. Scarlet divulged Ross¡¯s secret that he was a zombie to others. Specifically, to those in charge of governing LA at the time ¨C the very people who had built LA alongside him. Though skeptical of Scarlet¡¯s claims, they demanded the truth from Ross. Saying they could not remain with him if he truly was a zombie. They aimed their guns at Ross. It was a situation where Ross would either die or be exiled. But Ross too had made preparations. Keeping in mind the lethal implications if his zombie status was revealed, he had always been ready for such an eventuality. Bang! With a thunderous boom, one wall of the Mayor¡¯s office was blown apart. From there emerged a mutant that had been kept imprisoned, scurrying out like a sewer rat. There was no time for anyone to even scream. In an instant, it slaughtered everyone who had come for Ross. With the sole exception of Scarlet. ¡°Why did you do it?¡± Ross asked her, demanding to know why she had betrayed him. But Scarlet¡¯s answer was succinct. ¡°Because I knew you would do this.¡± ¡°Brazen wench! You were the one who started this. If you had just kept my secret, I would never have-¡° ¡°That¡¯s not the issue here. Don¡¯t you understand?¡± Scarlet gestured around at the bloodbath surrounding them. Where a monster clad in the blood of former comrades stood. ¡°In the end... even if I had accepted you, you could kill me like this at any time, right?¡± Ross fell silent. And Scarlet too perished there. After that, LA¡¯s leadership underwent a major restructuring. New people were brought in, and even evacuees rose to governing positions in the city. Though some of them viewed Ross unfavorably, it didn¡¯t matter. For he already had countermeasures in place. However, despite retaining the Mayor¡¯s seat, Ross couldn¡¯t muster the same drive as before. The woman he had loved was gone. As was the LA he had cherished, and that coveted Mayor¡¯s position he had so yearned to attain. No matter what position he held, no matter who he acted alongside, Ross had to face the truth that he was utterly alone. From then on, Ross¡¯s goal became singular: To escape this solitude. But to achieve that, he couldn¡¯t remain a zombie. Because no human would ever trust a zombie like him. The only ones who could trust a zombie were other zombies. Yet zombies were beings without reason, unable to even speak. So Ross wished to become human again. His lneliness was all due to becoming a zombie. Had he remained an ordinary human, he would never have been betrayed by anyone. But time only further cornered Ross. The sluggishly beating heart finally stopped completely. And it was around then that his largely undecomposed body began rotting away too. Frantic, Ross poured all resources into the research facility, even recklessly. But nowhere could a method to revert him to human be found. The facility¡¯s director, a woman, even stated that turning a zombie back into a human was impossible. Ross didn¡¯t take kindly to such definitive claims. Moreover, the facility continuously produced only the worst results. Those steadily accumulating research data on zombies led to them eventually developing a zombie virus vaccine. Disastrous news. If such a zombie vaccine were ever distributed, letting all people become unafraid of zombies, then there would truly be no place for Ross left in this LA. So recently, Ross had abandoned even that research facility of his own accord. Cutting off his last lifeline, but he had no choice. Of course, that decision didn¡¯t come without severe repercussions for Ross. Those dissatisfied with him grew more numerous, and now aimed to topple his position. A prospect Ross found utterly unacceptable. For these people, who hadn¡¯t even been present when LA was founded, to behave like overlords after learning he was a zombie ¨C despite unhesitatingly aiming guns at him ¨C was sickening. As such, while Ross had no attachment to this position, he had no intention of relinquishing it meekly either. His countermeasures were already in place. All he needed now was an opportune moment. Amidst that, a certain report reached Ross¡¯s ears. During a military operation, there had been a girl possessing extraordinary abilities. By a fortuitous chance not long after receiving that report, Ross encountered the girl Arian herself. At that time, Ross harbored a glimmer of hope. That perhaps this girl was an existence in the same predicament as himself. However, that hope was ultimately dashed. A simple blood test showed not a trace of the zombie virus in the girl. There were also the doctor¡¯s remarks about some anomalies in her test results, but Ross had already lost interest and disregarded them. And now, having returned from the hospital where that hope was crushed. An unexpected spark had reignited it. ¡°...¡± Ross stared wide-eyed at the screen of a CCTV monitor. It showed the image of a single zombie. A zombie with a disfigured, rotting face ¨C unmistakably one of the undead. Yet that zombie¡¯s behavior was unlike anything Ross knew. In that grainy footage, the zombie wore a soiled white coat with a rifle and assorted weapons slung across its body, even using a flashlight to survey the sewers. Though those sewers concealed Ross¡¯s secret, he was oblivious to any risk of its exposure. Ross was simply elated. His chances of reverting to human were so slim. So in a sense, he had resigned himself to being alone forever. But not anymore. If there were others like Ross in this world, then he wouldn¡¯t need to become human again in the first place. Would his kindred not genuinely understand Ross¡¯s plight and trust him as he was? Finally seeing that hope, Ross¡¯s lips curled into a crescent moon smile. Chapter 201 ¡°Haah...¡± The night after subduing the Huntington Docks pursuers with Aiden and escaping from there, Arian had come to Santa Monica, where LA¡¯s research facility was located. Originally a separate administrative district from LA, Santa Monica was a different city. However, with one side facing the beach and the rest surrounded by other LA districts, the area within the walls was now simply treated as part of LA. There, Arian gazed at the research facility building. Once belonging to a game company, this structure stood out even in the resort town of Santa Monica. Its white, cathedral-like columns and azure glass windows set between arched entrances were particularly eye-catching. With park-like surroundings, had it remained intact, it would have been opulent beyond mere splendor. But now, that grandeur was nowhere to be found. Due to the infamous ¡®accident¡¯ that had occurred here. ¡°Hmm...¡± From the rooftop, Arian looked down at the research facility. Most of the building was charred black from the fire. Through the melted window frames, only piles of ash scattered like shadows in the darkness. Outside, a few guards patrolled the perimeter, as the city government still restricted access to this site. After roughly surveying the guard positions, Arian turned away. Fortunately, it didn¡¯t seem they had posted guards inside the building itself. Then... there would be no issues exploring it. With that judgment, she vanished from the rooftop, reappearing inside the vacant research facility a moment later. ¡°It was the third floor, right?¡± Amid the burn-scarred remains, Arian muttered softly. She already possessed rough information about the facility¡¯s layout. Details she had heard from Ava. According to her, the third floor contained the director¡¯s office where Nora resided, as well as the main research labs she oversaw. Arian walked those third floor interiors. The corridor leading to the emergency stairwell, the deactivated elevator ¨C all bore traces of human passage. Beyond lay a soot-blackened marble lobby. Venturing deeper revealed the main research labs. But surveying them made Arian furrow her brow slightly. Despite the intense fire that must have swept through, there were areas suspiciously untouched by the flames. Signs that something had been removed from here after the fire was extinguished. ¡°...There¡¯s nothing for me to recover here.¡± Her faint hopes were for naught, as expected. A considerable time had already passed since the accident occurred. If the Mayor wished to conceal something from this place, he would have ample opportunity to do so. So Arian cleanly abandoned searching the labs. She checked the director¡¯s office too, but it was the same story. That room seemed even more thoroughly stripped of any related materials ¨C whether monopolized or discarded outright. Desks, bookshelves, everything was gone without a trace. ¡°Hah...!¡± Arian scoffed at their brazen lack of effort to even hide this confiscation of data. Yet separately from her derision, this was an unfavorable situation for Arian. It meant the lead she sought was no longer present here. A faint sense of unease rose within her. Meanwhile, Aiden was acting independently, having headed north toward LA¡¯s outskirts. Partly to investigate those northern mountain ranges, but also due to unavoidable circumstances. After the Huntington Docks gang began pursuing him, he could no longer remain in that area. The gang¡¯s reason for hunting Aiden was that LA had identified him as a zombie. Specifically, from that CCTV footage showing his undead form. The very scenario Arian had worried about had come to pass. Now Aiden could no longer even linger around LA. But if so, Arian couldn¡¯t remain in LA either. For he had been her sole reliable source of blood supply. Of course, Arian had steeled herself for eventually leaving LA. But the current circumstances were not favorable. With the LA Mayor revealed as a zombie, and that ominous discovery in the sewers, Arian couln¡¯t depart and leave Sadie behind until the truth was fully uncovered. Hence Arian felt a sense of urgency. If she left here empty-handed, would the trail simply end like this? ¡°Tsk...!¡± Clicking her tongue, Arian forcibly suppressed that restlessness. Now wasn¡¯t the time to be swayed by anxiety, but to remain levelheaded. Closing her eyes, Arian recalled the conversation with Ava about this research facility. It had been something Ava had grumbled, rarely opening up about this matter before the Mayor¡¯s arrival. More a one-sided lamentation than any substantial information. But from that, Arian had gleaned a small clue. ¡°...Lodgings.¡± Arian murmured to herself. Ava had said she understood protecting the research data, but questioned why they had retrieved personal belongings from the residential quarters too. At the time, Arian had simply brushed it off without much thought. However, did Ava¡¯s words not imply there were living quarters somewhere in this facility for the researchers? With her objective renewed, Arian swiftly moved. Soundlessly, she scoured the entire five-story building at speed. And finally, in one corner, she discovered the staff lodgings. A small conference room that had been repurposed into residential quarters. ¡°...¡± Arian cast a somber glance over those lodgings. The late night fire had reduced this area to ash heaps as well. Leaving more than a few who had met their demise here. Though the bodies were already removed, Arian could clearly sense their presence. She stepped inside those lodgings. Perhaps even the Mayor lacked justification to confiscate personal items as thoroughly as the lab data. Fortunately or not, most of the residents¡¯ belongings remained untouched here. Among them, Arian found Nora Hill¡¯s private room. Unsurprisingly, the walls were completely charred black. On the burnt desk surface, only the corner of a photograph showing Nora¡¯s face remained. ¡°Haah...¡± With a brief sigh, Arian began searching that blackened room. But all she could see were charred clothes and melted decor. For a while, nothing noteworthy appeared. Then, at the very bottom of the desk¡¯s metal drawer, Arian discovered something. ¡°This is...¡± From the outside, it merely looked like the drawer¡¯s scorched base. Inside were a thick notebook and various unused cables. The heat of the fire had melted and fused the rubber and plastics, pooling into the drawer bottom. However, Arian¡¯s senses detected something embedded within that re-solidified surface. Using her sharp nails, she pried it open and retrieved the object buried inside. It was a palm-sized notepad containing Nora Hill¡¯s handwritten journal entries. Arian immediately examined its contents. Was this Nora¡¯s diary? The calendar pages were filled with meeting schedules and such. Interspersed were scribbled notes, likely thoughts jotted down amid her research work. There were also personal musings akin to a diary, like foods she felt like eating. ¡°...¡± Arian read through Nora¡¯s notepad entries. Most contained nothing particularly noteworthy. However, on the very last page of that diary... There was an entry stating Nora had finally succeeded in developing a vaccine and reported it to the Mayor. The date was just two days before the research facility fire. Too coincidental a timing to dismiss as mere chance. Could this vaccine have been what the Mayor sought to conceal from this facility? Arian¡¯s eyes narrowed. It strongly suggested the Mayor himself had orchestrated burning down the research facility. Willing to jeopardize his own position, all to eliminate this vaccine. ¡°...Alright.¡± Taking the diary with her, Arian exited Nora¡¯s room. The Mayor¡¯s previously ambiguous intentions were now somewhat discernible. She then headed for LA¡¯s northern area to reunite with Aiden. * * * At that time, Aiden was in the Santa Monica Mountains adjoining LA¡¯s northern boundary. ¡°Hah, this is...¡± He could only let out those words at the sight before him. The Santa Monica range meets LA¡¯s walls across a 20km stretch from northeast to northwest. As Aiden traced that range from east to west, this area didn¡¯t seem particularly dangerous at first. The far eastern end joining the Los Angeles River at LA¡¯s eastern border was where the famous Hollywood sign stood. So despite being mountainous, it had numerous buildings and roads crisscrossing, with human traffic regulated but no special threats apparent. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If anything did exist there, someone other than Aiden would likely have noticed first. However, Aiden¡¯s assessment changed as he progressed further westward. The numbers of buildings and roads dwindled, the undeveloped area steadily expanding. And finally, after a stretch of quiet forestry, Aiden felt something snag underfoot. Initially, he thought it was just a protruding rock. But upon closer inspection, it was someone¡¯s corpse ¨C the skull that had tripped him. At first, Aiden assumed it belonged to some hapless drifter who had met their demise here. But that was not the case. Looking carefully, the ground appeared unnaturally disturbed. Digging a little deeper revealed the corpse Aiden had kicked was glaring right back at him. It was not just a regular corpse, but a zombie that had been buried underground. A rather disconcerting discovery. Zombies, even if buried after death, do not remain docile in their graves. Driven by primal instincts to move, they attempt to claw their way out, dismembering themselves in the process. Like old zombie movie posters depicting a rotting hand bursting from a grave. Especially here, where the zombie had simply been lying horizontally with a light soiling of earth over it. Buried so shallowly, it should have emerged immediately. As that thought crossed Aiden¡¯s mind, the sight of the sewers flashed before him. Those zombies gathered underground, as if hibernating. Their dormant appearance overlapped with these zombies compliantly buried in the mountains. Soon harboring a certain suspicion, Aiden proceeded to dig in various spots. Each time, he found more zombies lying interred as if asleep. ¡°...Just how many are there?¡± Aiden surveyed the blackened mountain range. Even beyond LA¡¯s western border, the Santa Monica range stretched dozens of kilometers further than where he stood. So the total number of zombies buried here was... something Aiden couldn¡¯t dare to guess. Tens of thousands? Hundreds of thousands? In the worst case, reaching millions would not be strange ¨C just as Fear had gathered. ¡°...¡± In the face of this, Aiden could only harden his expression. This was a threat on an entirely different scale from those sewer zombies. The zombies there had numbered mere thousands at most. While their potential to infiltrate LA through the sewers was certainly troublesome, it posed no existential risk to the 2 million population if precautions were taken in advance. But the zombies in these mountains were of another magnitude altogether. No matter where Aiden tread across that considerable span he surveyed, zombies were densely interred everywhere. Even just the area he had directly inspected likely contained over a hundred thousand of them. If such numbers breached LA¡¯s vulnerable northern border... the city¡¯s future would become utterly bleak. ¡°Tsk...!¡± Aiden hurriedly descended the mountain. He seemed to grasp the Mayor¡¯s intentions behind amassing them here. The sole consolation was that the Mayor hadn¡¯t prepared these for LA¡¯s destruction, it seemed. More likely to preserve his position, or as a contingency worst-case insurance policy. A transparent ploy. For the best way to quell internal unrest and dissent was to present an external threat. As Aiden made his way down, LA¡¯s northern border naturally drew closer. But for some reason... ¡°That is...¡± LA¡¯s soldiers had ventured outside the boundary. Some had even entered the restricted mountain range interior to search it. An excessively reckless and unthinkable action in the dead of night. However, Aiden soon grasped the likely reason behind it. It was because of him. Not satisfied with tasking the Huntington Docks to find Aiden, the Mayor was now mobilizing the military as well. ¡°...¡± Aiden regarded the soldiers with displeasure in his gaze. He didn¡¯t know how they had detected his presence here, but their search vector was clearly aimed at him. At this rate, a confrontation was inevitable. So then... should he immediately retreat back into the mountain ranges? But there was an urgent matter requiring his attention first. Unable to simply leave or stay put due to that, Aiden found himself stuck. It was at that very moment- ¡°Aiden.¡± That voice called out from behind him. Arian had arrived. ¡°Over here.¡± Quickly grasping the situation, she presented Aiden with an escape route. At his trusted colleague¡¯s words, Aiden calmly nodded in agreement. Chapter 202 ¡°What did you say?¡± In LA¡¯s Mayor¡¯s office, Ross questioned with an irritated tone, as if demanding an explanation. Before him, Grace hung her head apologetically. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. All the capable personnel we have are currently deployed outside...¡± That was Grace¡¯s excuse. Of course, as the Mayor, Ross was well aware that over half of LA¡¯s military forces had been dispatched to secure the oil drilling and refining facilities. But even so, with the number of troops they had committed, Ross had directly provided Aiden¡¯s location to the Huntington Docks trackers, yet they could not apprehend a single man? It was unacceptable. Still, Grace¡¯s excuses continued. ¡°The night timing makes it even more difficult. Most of our night vision equipment has been reassigned too, and with the target having entered the mountains-¡° Finally tiring of hearing her voice, Ross waved his hand dismissively to cut her off. ¡°So you¡¯re saying you can¡¯t find him today.¡± Unable to reply, Grace could only nod meekly. Ross regarded her with a disdainful look before turning his gaze away. ¡°Pull back the troops for now. You¡¯re dismissed.¡± ¡°...I¡¯m sorry.¡± Though repeating her apology, Grace seemed to hesitate, as if she had more to say. Prompting Ross to glare at her impatiently. ¡°What else?¡± ¡°Mayor... the situation outside is not good.¡± At Grace¡¯s words, Ross let out a derisive laugh as he looked down at the area below City Hall. The downtown streets that should have been quiet even in the middle of the night were in complete uproar instead. Hundreds of civilians holding flashlights and such had gathered before City Hall. It was a protest rally. Surrounding the building, they waved picket signs and shouted through loudspeakers. While their grievances varied, it could be summarized simply: They demanded Ross step down, claiming he was unfit as Mayor. Merely reiterating the same chants the protesters had been vocalizing all this time. Ross let out a mocking scoff at this. Which prompted Emilia, who seemed to be one of the protest leaders, to raise an eyebrow and ask threateningly, ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± Little did she know. Ross was recalling the past while observing this situation. A few years ago, when his colleagues had demanded the truth while aiming their guns at him. This very moment, with so many harboring animosity and trying to force Ross out, was a perfect re-enactment of that nightmare. Soon, Ross¡¯s face contorted with revulsion at the unpleasant memory. ¡°Why... does it have to be so alike?¡± Ross clicked his tongue as he regarded Emilia. ¡°Are you that eager for the Mayor¡¯s seat? Over this measly scrap of power that can¡¯t do anything?¡± ¡°What... what do you mean?¡± ¡°In the end, this LA is nothing but a small castle built on sand. A paltry authority unable to achieve anything you truly desire. Was that what you wanted so badly?¡± Stripping away the usual courtesies and pretenses, Ross¡¯s curt and cutting response left Emilia letting out a bewildered breath. The other protesters behind her grew enraged, hurling insults at him with a demeanor as if they would charge at any moment. No, had he given them a bit more time, they likely would have. But Ross didn¡¯t allow them that opportunity. ¡°Enough. I... can¡¯t keep this up anymore. I¡¯m sick of this ¨C of all of you, of this city.¡± Ross rose from his seat. Picking up the suit jacket hanging nearby, he said as if speaking out of consideration. ¡°So let¡¯s end this here. The Mayor¡¯s seat, anything ¨C I¡¯ll relinquish it all to you.¡± This seemed to slightly deflate Emilia and the protesters¡¯ momentum. They hadn¡¯t expected him to so readily abandon the Mayor¡¯s position. However, at that moment, Ross was genuinely prepared to forsake this LA. ¡°Could you make way for me?¡± Ross addressed the protesters. Yet those words were not aimed at the people themselves. Boom! A sudden thunderous sound made the protesters¡¯ gazes turn toward the source. One wall of the Mayor¡¯s office was distorting outward. Another impact shook that wall before the source finally manifested itself. It was a mutant Brutal. Before the stunned protesters could even react, the creature moved. * * * ¡°This should be safe enough.¡± The location Arian and Aiden arrived at after evading the soldiers was, ironically, inside LA¡¯s outer wall perimeter. An enemy territory for Aiden, essentially. But precisely because of that, the military¡¯s encirclement didn¡¯t extend into LA¡¯s interior, leaving them no other choice. Inside that quiet warehouse building they had reached, Arian spoke up. ¡°So the Mayor is the root problem, it seems?¡± Her voice was laden with concern. The exchange of information between them had concluded. Which meant Aiden and Arian both now understood. This LA was not the perfect haven they had envisioned. ¡°Seems that way. That bastard has hidden weapons threatening LA all around. And he doesn¡¯t seem to hesitate to use them either. Under these circumstances... we can¡¯t consider it safe here.¡± ¡°What if I just assassinate the Mayor?¡± Arian voiced the most straightforward solution that emerged. Just as when they had dealt with Fear, neutralizing the leader. However, Aiden shook his head. ¡°But that won¡¯t make the zombies disappear. Nothing would really change.¡± The multitudes of zombies in the mountains and underground remained silent under the Mayor¡¯s control. If that Mayor was eliminated, they would simply start rampaging unrestrained, ultimately posing the same danger. ¡°Hmm...¡± Arian let out a vexed sigh. But soon, Aiden continued speaking. ¡°For now, let¡¯s try meeting the Mayor first.¡± ¡°Meet him? And then what, exactly?¡± ¡°Have a conversation with him.¡± At those words, Arian raised an eyebrow slightly. ¡°...Will words even reach him?¡± Arian voiced a somewhat pessimistic prediction. Not merely because Ross was a zombie. But because he was someone who had nonchalantly prepared threats to millions of lives, no matter his justifications. She doubted mere words could sway such an individual. ¡°Convincing him won¡¯t be easy. But isn¡¯t it still better than not trying at all?¡± Aiden replied calmly. He too didn¡¯t consider this a definitive solution, but the only viable option they had. Understanding this, Arian soon nodded in agreement. ¡°Alright. If needed, I¡¯ll take the lead then. Shall we go right away?¡± Arian boldly suggested. With her abilities, immediately seeking out the Mayor today was certainly possible. However, Aiden shook his head. There was something they should do first. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°No, securing Sadie should be the priority for now.¡± ¡°Sadie? Why?¡± ¡°He¡¯s found out my true nature. So there¡¯s a high chance he may already be aware of you all as well.¡± ¡°You mean...¡± Arian quickly grasped the implication ¨C that the Mayor might target Sadie to get to Aiden. ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll go confirm her safety right-¡° Just as Arian said that- A distant string of gunfire rang out, as if interrupting her words. ¡°What the...?¡± The direction was the northern mountain range Aiden and Arian had fled from earlier. It seemed one of the soldiers searching that area had discharged their weapon. ¡°...¡± Without a word, Aiden glared intently toward the source of the gunshots. If it was simply a lone soldier spotting a zombie or an accidental discharge, he could ignore it. A non-issue not worth concerning themselves over. However, that initial burst of gunfire did not stop there, but kept recurring sporadically. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me...!¡± Arian trailed off, voicing an ominous premonition. But from this distance away from the mountains, it was difficult to discern the exact situation. ¡°Let¡¯s change locations.¡± So Aiden suggested relocating. Soon, they arrived at LA¡¯s northern border where the city walls were under construction. Surrounded by scattered construction materials, equipment, and a makeshift wire fence perimeter. ¡°...Zombies.¡± There, Arian furrowed her brow as she gazed toward the forest shrouded in darkness. Her keen senses clearly detected numerous presences stirring underground ¨C movements utterly absent until just recently. The zombies buried in those mountains had indeed begun to awaken. ¡°What should we do?¡± The soldiers were currently only dealing with a small fraction. Before long, zombies would start pouring out from the mountain range en masse. At that point, this flimsy wire fencing would be utterly inadequate to stop them. ¡°...¡± Aiden fell silent for a moment, deep in thought. Had this been any other city besides LA, he would have unhesitatingly opted to depart with Sadie immediately. The safe choice. But this time, a different decision had to be made. ¡°...We have to protect this place.¡± Arian didn¡¯t question Aiden¡¯s resolve. She had arrived at the same conclusion herself. This LA was that precious a place. No other city possessed such potential. Remove the Mayor¡¯s threat, and it could be confidently declared unmatched anywhere across this continent. So this had to become Sadie¡¯s foundation to grow up in. They couldn¡¯t allow it to be destroyed like this. ¡°Then how?¡± Arian followed up with that question. The answer came swiftly. Chapter 203 ¡°You hold this position.¡± Saying that, Aiden took out a considerable amount of blood from his belongings and handed it over to Arian. It was a stockpile he had prepared, just in case, after confirming the sewer zombies. ¡°We can¡¯t let those things breach the walls. You understand, right?¡± ¡°Yeah. But...¡± Arian¡¯s expression tensed as she looked at the blood-filled bottles. Certainly, the quantity of blood Aiden had brought was not insignificant. But whether it would suffice against that immense number of zombies was another matter entirely. For that, far more blood would be needed. So much, in fact, that even if they had more time, obtaining such an amount might have been impossible. Of course, Aiden was well aware of this limitation too. ¡°Right, this won¡¯t be enough. But you won¡¯t be alone. People will arrive soon. And we still have a bit of time before those things crawl all the way here.¡± In front of the half-constructed wall perimeter where Aiden and Arian stood, there was merely a two-meter-high wire mesh fence erected. Utterly inadequate to stop even an ordinary zombie horde, let alone mutated ones. Yet for that very reason, several sentries were stationed around that flimsy barricade along with construction equipment. Those sentries had already detected the anomaly in the mountains and were scrambling into action. It meant that a proper defense force would soon be deployed to this location. ¡°But I¡¯ve heard most of LA¡¯s troops were dispatched outside. There may only be an absurdly insufficient number remaining. Still, is it possible?¡± At Aiden¡¯s question, Arian let out a brief sigh. It was not a matter of possibility or not. This was something they had to accomplish, no matter what. ¡°...Yeah. I¡¯ll give it a shot. And you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to Sadie.¡± ¡°You? Will you be alright?¡± Arian asked with evident concern. For now, LA¡¯s interior remained calm. As if this night too would pass peacefully, the silence protected someone¡¯s slumber. But with the mountain zombies already stirring, such tranquility was bound to shatter soon. Their numbers were simply too vast, and LA¡¯s unfinished northern perimeter stretched too far for a few military units to secure alone. Before long, a city-wide mobilization would likely be ordered, rousing armed civilians from their beds onto the streets. Not to mention the zombies the Mayor had hidden in the sewers could also surface at any moment. While their numbers were not unmanageable, infiltrating the city interior through those tunnels could sow considerable chaos. This was the very frontline Aiden would be heading into now. For an ordinary person, traversing those hazardous streets as a zombie himself might be too dangerous. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Yet Aiden¡¯s expression remained composed. Flipping his black helmet over, he continued nonchalantly, ¡°Just in case, I¡¯ve stashed a bike nearby. That should be sufficient.¡± His unperturbed demeanor made Arian smile faintly. ¡°Alright then. I¡¯m counting on you.¡± With just those words, Arian made her request. Though apprehension for Sadie¡¯s safety still lingered, this was the best course available for now. And so, the two parted ways in opposite directions. Of the two, Arian dashed toward the darkness of the mountain range where gunfire still rang out intermittently. * * * ¡°Just what in the world is going on here?¡± Ricardo, one of LA¡¯s soldiers, muttered those words as he glanced around warily. The radio slung near his shoulder crackled with overlapping voices even now. Moreover, their reports were... mostly about the sudden appearance of zombies. The forest that had been deathly still mere moments ago was now filled with gunfire, human screams, and the wails of the undead in an instant. ¡°What¡¯s causing this all of a sudden?¡± At that dramatic shift occurring within just minutes, Ricardo¡¯s comrade Camila voiced her unease. Yet Ricardo had no reassuring reply to offer. Since arriving in LA, Ricardo¡¯s group lacking any special skills had all been assigned to the military ¨C tasked with guarding the city walls. Their presence here tonight was due to a sudden directive. Not just their border patrol unit, but the entire perimeter defense had been ordered to search for some man. While the target¡¯s description of a black helmet and white coat was highly recognizable, the instructions stressed capturing him unharmed had put them at ease when deploying earlier. However, nowhere in that operation briefing were they told to expect confronting zombies. Of course, venturing outside the walls inevitably risked zombie encounters ¨C that much was understood. But no one could have foreseen this many zombies bursting forth from the nearby mountains without warning. ¡°Down there, look!¡± Then Ivan, another in Ricardo¡¯s group, pointed at the ground. Camila¡¯s flashlight beam fumbled over hastily. What it illuminated was a withered hand clawing up through the earth ¨C its fingers contorting as if in a seizure before steadying its grip on the soil. That was only the beginning. Soon, the once flat surface began to undulate, gradually revealing the outline of a shallow buried corpse. Before long, it had shaken off the soil weighing it down and raised its submerged head from the ground. ¡°Kiiii...!¡± The zombie¡¯s eyes snapped open. Its maddened gaze immediately fixed on the closest targets ¨C Ricardo¡¯s group. Bang! Immediately after, the rifle Ricardo was holding punched through the zombie¡¯s skull. It was only then that the three of them comprehended the meaning behind those frantic reports. ¡°What is this...?¡± Ricardo stared briefly at the fallen zombie. But at that moment, Camila grabbed his shoulder, her voice heavily shaken. ¡°Here... they¡¯re everywhere...¡± Following Camila¡¯s line of sight, Ricardo soon noticed the disturbance too. He couldn¡¯t discern exactly when it had started. But the entire ground surface visible to them was now undulating. Crunch! Desiccated, twisted hands erupted from the earth all around. Their numbers densely filled every patch of exposed ground, obscured only by darkness and vegetation. The faces of Ricardo¡¯s group went deathly pale at the sight. It was then that someone¡¯s voice crackled over the radio, yelling for retreat. ¡°Run!¡± Ricardo¡¯s group obediently followed that command. The three of them dashed across that indistinctly visible terrain. But their expected headlong flight never materialized. Because the rotten zombie hands sprouting like weeds had already begun grasping at their ankles. ¡°Kuk!¡± Ivan, nearly tripped by one such hand, swung the rifle stock down to smash its withered wrist. It snapped like a twig, but the zombie itself was already rising from its half-buried slumber. ¡°Kieeee!¡± Letting out an inhuman screech at Ivan, it was immediately met with gunfire. Splattering rotted brain matter, the zombie¡¯s torso embedded into the ground as its body crumpled. ¡°You okay?¡± Camila checked on Ivan¡¯s condition. Though he nodded to indicate no issues, their situation was grim. Zombies were already crawling forth from underground all around them. But this flat terrain offered no cover besides the sparse trees. Engaging in combat seemed utterly hopeless. ¡°Damn...! The path ahead is blocked!¡± In the midst of trying to forge ahead, Ricardo backed away with his rifle raised. With their forward progress halted, the three naturally gathered together in one spot. Positioning themselves back-to-back, they aimed their muzzles outward in all directions. And surrounding them, the corpses had finally risen. Within the illuminated sweep of the rifle-mounted flashlights. Amidst the moonlit shadows of the distant treeline. From the unseen darkness, the newly awakened zombies¡¯ wails echoed endlessly. Their total numbers were... too immense to even attempt counting. Faced with this overt crisis, Camila spoke up. ¡°So... what now?¡± At Camila¡¯s question, Ricardo and Ivan could only grit their teeth, unable to offer any response. ¡°Kiii...!¡± ¡°Uwoooohhh!¡± The zombies that had surfaced acknowledged the presence of living prey amidst them. In an instant, a tsunami of undead surged forth. Ricardo¡¯s group fired desperately to stem that tide. But it was only a temporary reprieve. While dozens fell, the gunfire simply drew even more zombies racing towards the sound. In the end, they seemed destined to be swept away like buoys adrift, surrounded by the sea of corpses. But then- Whunk! Something intervened, blocking the oncoming zombie horde just before they were overwhelmed. Simultaneously, an inexplicable dread shook their very consciousness. ¡°Kuweek...!¡± S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even Ricardo, steadfast in the face of mortal peril until now, let out a pained groan. It was then that crimson blades scythed through both earth and undead alike. Twack-twack! The zombies charging toward them were bisected along with the forest¡¯s towering trees. Smaller ones lost their heads, while larger mutants had their upper bodies shredded and dismembered. ¡°Wha...¡± Just what had happened? Though their eyes were wide open witnessing it directly, not even Ricardo could comprehend the phenomena. In a single instant, over a hundred zombies occupying the surrounding dozens of meters had been swept away like fallen leaves. A scene akin to a bomb detonating, but what now stood before them was no explosive device. ¡°You are...¡± A girl wielding a blood-red machete had appeared in their midst. Her crimson irises exuded an instinctive, unsettling dread. Had it been anyone else, they might have screamed in terror, forgetting this girl had just saved them from a dire predicament. But Ricardo¡¯s group had seen those eyes before. ¡°Arian...?¡± That was undoubtedly her name. The girl gave a small nod in acknowledgment when addressed. Ricardo¡¯s lips trembled as if to speak. But before he could say a word, Arian spoke first. ¡°Run.¡± Gesturing over her shoulder, Arian instructed them to flee the mountain range back toward LA¡¯s direction. And littering the path she had indicated were countless shredded zombie remains. Had she truly carved through all of those to reach this point? An unbelievable tale. But recalling the events that just have happened, such disbelief itself seemed ludicrous. ¡°What are you waiting for, hurry!¡± Arian urged Ricardo¡¯s momentarily stunned and fearful group. Finally regaining their wits, the three riflemen awkwardly followed her directive. Fumbling their way across the corpse-strewn forest floor as they ran. ¡°Haah...¡± Arian watched their retreating backs briefly. Within her range of perception, there were no other living humans left in these mountains now. Those soldiers had been the last patrolling this area. The rest, Arian had already sent back toward LA¡¯s safety. Or they had perished before her arrival. So all that remained was buying time. Until those men reached LA¡¯s border to sound concrete warnings, and defensive preparations could be made. ¡°Gheurr...¡± From the forest Arian had just scythed through, more zombies began crawling out once more. Arian coldly glared at those corpses as she unscrewed the cap of a blood-filled bottle. Sensing its master, the crimson vital fluid reared upward like a serpent roused. * * * Aiden¡¯s motorcycle tore down LA¡¯s streets. With the early morning hour past midnight, its ferocious engine roar disturbing the night air could only be considered a public nuisance. But the city Aiden currently sped through was embroiled in such pandemonium that this noise was easily drowned out. Shouts echoed from all directions. People brandishing rifles dashed about haphazardly, and gunfire could be heard within just a few blocks¡¯ radius. Some zombies had even begun emerging from manhole covers onto the very roads. ¡°Kiaaa!¡± One such creature, spotting a human target, let out a bloodcurdling roar. Its quarry was some woman who had just exited a building ¨C her face still heavy with grogginess, likely roused from slumber moments ago. Petrified by the zombie¡¯s unexpected appearance and scream, she could only freeze up. The motorcycle Aiden was riding body-checked that zombie charging the woman from its flank. Thud! With that forceful vehicular impact, the zombie¡¯s midsection crumpled and folded as it was flung aside. Simultaneously, the jarring collision violently shook Aiden¡¯s bike so severely it nearly toppled over. But Aiden had no reason for concern. Wooooong! The subsequent guttural exhaust rumble propelled the motorcycle¡¯s forward thrust. Through machine-like handlebar inputs, Aiden stabilized the bucking chassis to regain balance. Affording no chance for a grateful reaction, Aiden had already vanished from the woman¡¯s sight once more. ¡°...This should be it.¡± After speeding through that city where chaos had begun to erupt, Aiden soon arrived at the rundown apartment complex where Sadie was staying. Chapter 204 ¡°This is...¡± Aiden trailed off as he looked up at the apartment he had arrived at. The pale gray, thin and tall building, the rusty exterior stairwell, even the slightly peeled outer walls ¨C its appearance matched what Arian had described. So undoubtedly, Sadie would be present in unit 301 of this building. However, zombie figures could be seen lurking various areas of the apartment complex. Not mere passersby. The zombies here outnumbered those on other streets several times over, with a considerable portion having infiltrated inside the building itself. Could it be... was he too late? An ominous premonition flashed through Aiden¡¯s mind. But regrets were meaningless now. Shaking his head briefly, he proceeded to force entry without delay. Swosh! A steel-hued longsword sliced under the jaw of a zombie standing at the entrance. Even before the instantly decapitated corpse¡¯s head hit the ground, an axe blade flew into the next zombie beside it. At the sounds of rending flesh, the zombies filling the apartment¡¯s narrow hallway turned their attention. ¡°Aaaarghh!¡± Their putrefied, dimwitted brains finally registered the situation. In unison, they charged toward this unfamiliar intruder assaulting their brethren. But Aiden¡¯s expression didn¡¯t waver in the slightest. He simply extended his rifle and axe to meet the onrushing zombies, felling them one by one as they neared. A reckless frontal assault disregarding any evasion. So Aiden didn¡¯t emerge entirely unscathed either. Crunch! One zombie clamped its jaws into Aiden¡¯s shoulder. Bite force exceeding any human¡¯s tore through cloth and putrid flesh alike. But all that gushed forth was rotten blood. Aiden gifted that creature, gagging in distress after tasting its kin¡¯s vile fluids, with an axe blade. Puck! In that moment, a broken wrist bone struck the helmet Aiden wore. It didn¡¯t actually reach his face, but rather shattered the helmet¡¯s visor ¨C the coated glass meant to conceal his features. ¡°Tsk...!¡± Clicking his tongue, Aiden stomped on the outstretched knee of that handless zombie. Its leg snapping, it crumpled to the floor where Aiden¡¯s gunfire finished it off. With that zombie dispatched, Aiden¡¯s field of vision became slightly clearer. The broken visor had exposed part of his face. But he lacked any means to repair it here in LA for the time being. Nor was there any immediate need. Having judged thus, Aiden continued the skirmish unabated. Though zombie bites accumulated across his body, he paid them no attention. For a while, only the sounds of rending decayed flesh and gunfire echoed within that cramped apartment. ¡°Kiii...¡± After snapping the neck of the last zombie clinging to his arm, Aiden finally had a moment to survey his surroundings. The state of the now quieted apartment was deplorable. The wooden doors connecting the hallway to each unit were all smashed open. And the occupants inside seemed to have fared little better, for the most part. That grisly scene only fueled Aiden¡¯s sense of urgency further. He swiftly ascended the stairwell leading upward. As he reached the next floor, more corpses tried swarming him, but Aiden trampled and shattered them to proceed to the third floor. ¡°...¡± There, the door to unit 301 ¨C nearest the staircase ¨C came into view. Though undamaged, it hung ajar. Meaning someone, or something, had already forced entry inside. Aiden pushed that door fully open. Within were two zombies. But thankfully, neither wore any face he recognized. Twack! Aiden¡¯s axe immediately quartered those two. With the zombies cleared, the cramped apartment interior finally became visible. A mere single room structure with just a tiny kitchen and bathroom attached. However... nowhere inside could he find any sign of the child he sought. Had she perhaps sensed the zombie assault and fled outside before they arrived? But then, Sadie¡¯s shoes still remained by the entrance. And the small window inside was locked from the interior. No indications that Sadie had exited. So Aiden naturally turned his attention back inside the apartment. His gaze swept across every potential hiding spot ¨C the closet, under the bed, inside kitchen cabinets. Anywhere a small child could conceal themselves. ¡°...¡± Of those, Aiden approached the closet first. A built-in recessed into the wall¡¯s interior, its size could potentially accommodate an adult. Rattle! Aiden opened it. But peering inside the bifurcated top and bottom compartments revealed only some discarded clothing ¨C no one hidden within. Furrowing his brow slightly, Aiden moved to check the cabinets next. Yet inside those too, as well as under the small bed, Sadie¡¯s presence was nowhere to be seen. Thoroughly searching that compact apartment yielded no results. ¡°Sadie?¡± In growing vexation, Aiden called out the child¡¯s name. No immediate response came. Still, hoping against faint odds for a reply, he raised his voice further. ¡°Sadie, are you in here?¡± ¡°...Uncle?¡± At last, the awaited voice answered. Its source ¨C the very closet Aiden had first checked and found empty. Clearly, she had been present there after all. Before Aiden could ponder that discrepancy, Sadie¡¯s head suddenly popped out from the ceiling above. ¡°Uncle Aiden!¡± Upon spotting him, Sadie beamed brightly. Now he understood ¨C she had been hiding above the ceiling. The aged apartment¡¯s deterioration had caused part of the closet¡¯s ceiling to collapse inward, leaving a gap. Sadie had crawled through that opening into the space between the ceiling and upper floor, evading the zombies undetected until now. Waving her arms excitedly, Sadie clambered down from that dusty refuge, entirely unharmed by any bite wounds. ¡°Safe... and sound.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m alright.¡± At Sadie¡¯s reassuring reply, Aiden finally let out a brief relieved breath. Sadie studied him intently in turn. Their gazes met through the shattered helmet visor. ¡°Did you get hurt, Uncle?¡± Concerned she may have inadvertently placed him in harm¡¯s way. Aiden shook his head to indicate he was fine. He then glanced upward at the ceiling gap Sadie had emerged from before continuing. ¡°How did you know about that hiding spot?¡± ¡°I found it myself, on the very first day we came here.¡± ¡°The first day?¡± ¡°Just like you always said. No matter how safe it seems, always have an escape route prepared.¡± Sadie stated it as if it were obvious. Yes, Aiden had indeed imparted that very lesson to her. In every town they had passed through, whenever securing temporary lodgings. She hadn¡¯t forgotten his teachings, it seemed. Sadie¡¯s admirable reply brought a faint smile to Aiden¡¯s face. ¡°...Well done.¡± He patted her head affectionately. Sadie¡¯s lips curved upward happily in turn. ¡°For now, let¡¯s get out of here. It¡¯s too dangerous.¡± Having confirmed Sadie¡¯s safety, Aiden promptly prepared to evacuate the apartment. ¡°Wait a moment.¡± But Sadie stopped him briefly. The child was gazing toward the bedroom area. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°This wasn¡¯t here before.¡± Sadie showed him some small folded paper note she had picked up from the bed. An innocuous item easily overlooked by Aiden while searching the room for Sadie¡¯s presence. But why did she feel compelled to examine it now? Aiden regarded her quizzically, prompting Sadie to continue. ¡°It says...¡± According to the child, after the zombies had suddenly forced their way inside, a visitor had arrived at the apartment before they did. ¡°That person knocked first, but then just opened the door and came right in. But I couldn¡¯t see their face since I was hiding. Sorry.¡± ¡°No need to apologize. You did the wise thing. So... that person left this note behind?¡± Sadie nodded in affirmation. ¡°Seems they were someone you and Arian knew.¡± Aiden hypothesized it was likely a neighbor concerned for the girls residing here. But Sadie carefully refuted that assumption. ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°That person was looking for you. They even called out ¡®Aiden¡¯ repeatedly.¡± Sadie¡¯s subsequent revelation made even Aiden furrow his brow slightly. Seeking him out personally... at Sadie and Arian¡¯s residence? If so, only one likely possibility came to mind. ¡°...The Mayor.¡± Aiden accepted the note Sadie proffered. Unfolding it revealed an elaborately penned message addressed ¡®To my dear Aiden¡¯. Disregarding the unnecessary preamble, its contents read simply: [Come to City Hall. Or face retaliation.] Aiden frowned slightly at that petty threat. For the Mayor to make a personal visit here, the target of his ¡®retaliation¡¯ was all too obvious. ¡°...¡± So Aiden could only ponder his next move carefully. His original plan had been to remain with Sadie, safeguarding her until LA¡¯s tumult subsided. But if the Mayor leveraged this meeting as a means to threaten Sadie directly, the situation changed. That fiend could command zombies like mere appendages. And currently, innumerable undead rampaged across LA unchecked. By staying with Sadie, Aiden might inadvertently expose the child to unnecessary thread. ¡°Sadie.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Is there anyone trustworthy nearby you can stay with?¡± So Aiden asked that. Truthfully, he didn¡¯t harbor much expectation for a positive reply. But to his mild surprise, Sadie nodded affirmatively. ¡°There is.¡± The name Sadie then provided was one Aiden already knew. * * * Shortly thereafter, Aiden and Sadie arrived at a residential area about 10 minutes away from the rundown apartment complex. A comparatively quieter neighborhood amidst the zombie-induced pandemonium nearby. Aiden knocked on one particular home¡¯s door there. Extra fortifications like steel plating had been added over the original wooden door ¨C giving it a porcupine-like spiky appearance that hinted at the owner¡¯s wariness. A door highly unlikely to open amid such chaotic circumstances. But the moment a young girl¡¯s voice called out from inside, it swung open with surprising ease. ¡°Sadie!¡± The child who emerged was Luna ¨C a face firmly etched in Aiden¡¯s memory as well. And behind her stood her father. ¡°...It¡¯s been a while, Taylor Evans.¡± Aiden had learned from Arian that the Evans family entered LA too. So this reunion marked their first meeting since the small town encounter. ¡°Yeah, but...¡± Taylor couldn¡¯t bring himself to warmly welcome Aiden right away. Not with the decayed flesh visibly peeking through Aiden¡¯s shattered helmet like that. Cautiously, Taylor shielded his daughter Luna behind himself. ¡°...What happened to you?¡± Despite that, Taylor still chose to speak rather than draw a weapon ¨C owing to the debt he owed Aiden for previously aiding his family. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fully aware of this, Aiden calmly responded. ¡°Just as you see.¡± He revealed that he had been a zombie long before even first encountering the Evans. At that, Taylor let out a hollow, mirthless laugh of realization. Now he recalled never once saw Aiden¡¯s full face until this very moment. At the time, he had assumed some reason existed for that concealment. But to think the reason was because Aiden was undead... ¡°I did get the sense you were hiding something. The way you fought was just too abnormal ¨C never seeming to tire and all.¡± For a moment, Taylor regarded Aiden with an accusatory stare. But soon judging this was no time for idle banter, he cut to the main issue. ¡°So what brings you looking for me?¡± ¡°A favor to ask.¡± Aiden requested that Taylor take Sadie into his care for the time being. Taylor was undoubtedly someone he could entrust her safety to. More importantly, by staying with him, Sadie could avoid becoming embroiled in this crisis, at least immediately. The question was whether Taylor would accept this request. Up until moments ago, Aiden would not have doubted it. But now that Taylor knew Aiden¡¯s true undead nature, his refusal would be understandable. ¡°...Will that be alright?¡± ¡°For something like that, of course.¡± So Aiden posed that concern, and Taylor¡¯s unhesitating affirmative reply came swiftly. As if surprised by his ready acceptance, Aiden looked at Taylor questioningly. The man simply shrugged. ¡°If you¡¯d asked me to let you inside my home, even I would have needed to consider it carefully. But taking in a child is no issue at all. Not only is she not a zombie, but more importantly... she¡¯s my daughter¡¯s precious friend.¡± Saying that, Taylor stepped aside. A gesture beckoning Sadie to enter. Sadie briefly glanced back at Aiden, who gave a reassuring nod. Thus, the two children ¨C Sadie and Luna ¨C went inside together. With the kids gone, the two men faced each other at the entrance once more. It was Taylor who spoke first. ¡°Do you know anything about this current situation?¡± For him too, these sudden circumstances must have been equally bewildering. In response, Aiden concisely explained what he was aware of. ¡°The Mayor...?¡± Taylor echoed in evident disbelief. Naturally, such a revelation would be difficult to accept readily. That LA¡¯s Mayor was actually a zombie, and the one instigating this pandemonium. But before long, Taylor seemed to find it plausible, nodding soberly. Aiden inquired as to his reasoning. Because Taylor had placed faith in Aiden¡¯s words alone ¨C something Aiden himself could not have compelled. In answer, Taylor gestured to the radio slung over his shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ve been hearing eyewitness accounts too. About the Mayor leading zombies around, attacking people. Hah, I¡¯d dismissed it as nonsense at first...¡± But now it seemed the Mayor was no longer lurking in the shadows after all. Brazenly marching zombie hordes right through the streets from Sadie¡¯s apartment to City Hall, assailing civilians along the way. ¡°...¡± That information only raised further questions in Aiden¡¯s mind, however. For the Mayor¡¯s actions made no sense to him. His current conduct amounted to willfully abandoning this LA he had painstakingly built with his own hands. Moreover, even amid this chaos, the Mayor still sought Aiden specifically. To that man, Aiden was merely a witness who had uncovered the secret of the sewer zombies he had concealed. But he had gone so far as to leave that threatening note at the apartment, demanding Aiden¡¯s presence. Could the Mayor possibly have another underlying reason for wanting to confront Aiden? If so, what might that reason be? Aiden couldn¡¯t even begin to fathom it. Ultimately, the only recourse was to ask the Mayor directly. Aiden promptly resolved to head for City Hall himself. ¡°In any case, I¡¯m counting on you to keep Sadie safe.¡± ¡°Yeah. Don¡¯t worry about the kid. I¡¯ll protect her with my life if need be.¡± Taylor answered with solemn conviction. Satisfied by that reassuring vow, Aiden turned to leave without further words. Wooooong! Firing up his motorcycle once more, its headlamp illuminated the path toward LA¡¯s downtown. Chapter 205 LA¡¯s northern area, which had been enveloped in stillness until just moments ago, had now transformed into an overt warzone. Boooooom! A thunderous explosion shattered the air. Dozens of artillery shells fired from somewhere pounded the mountain range simultaneously, blasting countless corpses into showers of putrid meat chunks. Overwhelming firepower far beyond mere grenades. Yet the numbers of corpses confronting that barrage were uncontainable by such might alone. Like scooping a cup of water from a river, the holes blasted through their ranks sealed instantly as more undead rushed to fill the gaps. The zombie horde¡¯s vanguard surged forward, clinging to the barrier fencing facing the city. ¡°Open fire!¡± Opposing those creatures were LA¡¯s defense forces. Fortunately, LA¡¯s military had narrowly completed defensive preparations before the zombies could fully marshal their assault. Barely mustering enough troops, they mounted desperate resistance against the invading force. Tadatadatada! Scores of machine guns unleashed torrential volleys simultaneously. Originally designed to pierce body armor, the 6.8mm rounds possessed devastating penetrative power. Raining down like a hailstorm, they effortlessly perforated the zombies in droves. ¡°Kiaaa!¡± With that, the vast majority clinging to the wire fencing were unceremoniously swept away. Yet some managed to endure that onslaught. Brutals, Wielders, Hedgehogs and other massive mutant varieties. While several succumbed to the concentrated firepower with exploded skulls, one Brutal stubbornly persisted until it reached the very fence line. ¡°Gheurr!¡± Its monstrous, gnarled hands wrenched apart the wire mesh in a single heave. The Brutal then advanced toward the temporary barricades the soldiers had just erected beyond. ¡°Stop it!¡± Someone¡¯s voice shouted in vain. But as if fully aware it was the focus, the Brutal deftly weaved left and right, evading the machine gun fire while plowing through the earth. Bang! Abruptly, the Brutal¡¯s massive bulk launched skyward. Abandoning its attempt to breach the barricades directly, it instead intended to simply vault over and trample the soldiers beyond. ¡°It¡¯s coming through!¡± The faces of nearby troops paled at that sight. Some aimed their rifles at the Brutal, but small arms fire would prove futile against that juggernaut. At the very moment the soldiers braced for death- Swoosh! A crimson streak flashed from somewhere, intercepting the Brutal mid-air like a missile just before it could land among them. Thud! The colossal airborne corpse slammed back into the earth with a thunderous impact. ¡°Kwoooohhh!¡± The grounded Brutal bellowed furiously. Accompanying its landing was the figure of a young girl ¨C Arian. ¡°What the...?!¡± Caught between the machine gun muzzles and that monstrous Brutal, the worst possible position. The soldiers reacted with stunned confusion at the girl¡¯s inexplicable appearance there. Unable to protect her or halt the Brutal¡¯s rampage in this state. It was then that the machete Arian gripped began to move. Just what did she intend to accomplish with that meager blade? All those observing her must have wondered as much. This was an active battlefield where explosives and heavy machine guns raged. Surely, that solitary machete could achieve nothing whatsoever against such threats. But in the next instant, their disbelieving awareness transformed into sheer horror. Because that seemingly paltry machete cleanly bisected the Brutal¡¯s colossal frame ¨C a creature that had endured artillery bombardments and shrugged off machine gun fire. Chwaak! The Brutal flopped to the ground, neatly severed from left shoulder to right flank. Having felled the Brutal so readily, the crimson-eyed girl bounded into the air, vanishing from their field of view once more. All that remained were the soldiers, frozen in stunned disbelief as if having just witnessed sorcery. For a moment, they even forgot to keep firing as they stared in the direction Arian had departed. But soon, another anguished scream shattered their trance. ¡°Stay alert! More are coming!¡± Those words finally snapped the troops back to grim reality. Pushing aside that inexplicable phenomenon for now, they forced themselves to refocus on the immediate threat before them. ¡°...This won¡¯t be easy.¡± Arian muttered amid that frantic battlefield. Of course, she had already steeled herself for an arduous fight from the outset. The sheer numbers of zombies too had been fully anticipated. Rather, Arian had underestimated the qualitative aspect of her opposition. The vast zombie horde buried within those mountain ranges. Arian had assumed they would consist mainly of smaller, stealthier undead varieties well-suited for ambush tactics. But unexpectedly, the numbers of larger, more powerful mutant strains intermixed proved far greater than she had expected. Moreover, the perimeter she needed to secure spanned nearly 2km along LA¡¯s unfinished northern border wall gap. An expanse far too vast for Arian to handle alone, by any means. At least LA¡¯s defense forces had arrived in the nick of time, with their armaments proving formidable ¨C a fortunate consolation amidst the adversity. Twack! Continuing her solitary battlefield maneuvers, Arian scanned the combat zone. Factoring in the potential for taking stray gunfire or explosions herself, she systematically eliminated only those mutant types that managed to pierce through the defense line¡¯s massed firepower. Her sole focus was preventing that defensive perimeter from collapsing. But even for Arian¡¯s current efforts, merely maintaining the status quo proved immensely taxing. Not even affording her the luxury of concealing her vampiric abilities. Still, the zombies¡¯ overwhelming momentum persisted, their numbers steadily eroding the troops¡¯ capacity to stem the mutants slipping through. ¡°At this rate...¡± Arian¡¯s expression clouded with dismay. The massive spherical blood construct hovering beside her had already depleted over halfway. Proceed as they were, and either the defense line would crumble, or Arian would exhaust her strength first. Those seemed the only possible outcomes. It was at that dire juncture that a potential lifeline revealed itself. Arian glanced backward, noticing reinforcements had just arrived. Their numbers amounted to several thousand, it seemed. Not an insignificant force, but the commanding officer greeted them with evident irritation instead. ¡°Is this all? Where are the rest?¡± To him, the man who had led those reinforcements explained the situation within LA¡¯s interior. Zombies had also emerged there, compounding the chaos. As a result, part of the forces they had mustered were being diverted to quell those separate disturbances. Overhearing that exchange, a brief pang of concern for her companions surfaced in Arian¡¯s mind. Amid such pandemonium within LA itself, had Aiden managed to reunite safely with Sadie? ¡°Kiiii...!¡± But the next anguished mutant shriek dispelled that fleeting worry. Who was she, to be fretting over others right now? Shaking off that distraction, Arian resumed the battle. Meanwhile, the majority of those newly arrived reinforcements were not career soldiers themselves. It seemed they had been drafted from other civilian occupations due to the severe manpower shortages. Which might explain why, unexpectedly, some familiar faces were among their ranks. Zaid and Linda, who had repaired the train bringing them to LA. Maria, who had jointly handled a contract back in Albuquerque. And part of the group of around thirty that had accompanied Aiden to LA ¨C Sophie¡¯s team and the Miller couple. ¡°Well, with these numbers at least...¡± Those reinforcements were swiftly reorganized and deployed to bolster each defensive sector. The change, though modest, proved dramatic in its effect. Lacking firepower was augmented, greatly reducing the mutant strains slipping through the barrage. Perhaps this would allow them to finally stem the zombie offensive altogether. It was just as Arian glimpsed that faint possibility for optimism that- ¡°Gheurrrrrr!¡± An earth-shaking, thunderous roar erupted from the mountain direction ¨C as if rebuking Arian¡¯s nascent hopes. An ominous bellow so immense it seemed the entire range itself was wailing. A roar painfully etched into Arian¡¯s memory. ¡°Fear...!¡± Arian¡¯s murmured utterance coincided with an aberrant monster finally manifesting at the mountain¡¯s edge. Larger than even Big Foot, more fearsome than any Brutal. The very entity Arian had once failed to put down for good now re-emerged to confront her again. Bang! Though Fear had lost its ability to command zombies, its own primal might remain undiminished. Utterly disregarding gunfire, the creature instantly buckled the fence line with a single heave. Fear then plowed straight through the barricades, crumpling them effortlessly in its wake. ¡°Damn...!¡± Witnessing that display, Arian grit her teeth even as she fended off a Hedgehog charging her position. Her own blood reserves had already depleted. Without more vital fluid, Arian lacked the power to contend against Fear herself. But the defense forces too proved woefully inadequate against that primordial threat. The reinforcements had barely managed to restore temporary equilibrium before Fear¡¯s arrival upended it entirely. More zombies already poured through the breach Fear had torn open. Undead formerly stalled by massed gunfire now engaged the soldiers directly ¨C and the results were catastrophic. Within mere seconds, dozens perished gruesomely before Arian¡¯s eyes. Blood sprayed, screams echoed. At this rate, the defensive line¡¯s total collapse was only a matter of time. ¡°...¡± Her own strength alone would no longer suffice. Having judged that reality, Arian turned her gaze toward the defense forces. It was amid scanning those ranks that another familiar face caught Arian¡¯s eye. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ava. The very woman who should have been confined to a hospital bed due to injuries was instead here ¨C at the vanguard of this battlefield, staring directly at Arian herself. Arian approached Ava. ¡°Why are you here?¡± At those words, the surrounding soldiers¡¯ attention turned toward Arian and Ava alike. None present had failed to witness Arian¡¯s prowess first-hand. Ava too, it seemed, as she carefully chose her reply after a momentary pause. ¡°Under circumstances like these, how could I possibly stay bedridden?¡± Ava briefly flashed a wry smile. One arm bandaged, she gripped her rifle solely with her remaining hand. But quickly regaining her composure, Ava fixed Arian with an intent stare. ¡°More importantly... it seems my eyes didn¡¯t deceive me after all. Just what are you...?¡± ¡°Help me.¡± Arian abruptly made that blunt request of Ava. Though widening her eyes slightly, Ava didn¡¯t refuse. ¡°Help you?¡± ¡°I can convert human blood into power. So I need blood.¡± ¡°...What? What does that even mean?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve seen it, haven¡¯t you? There¡¯s no time for detailed explanations.¡± At Arian¡¯s words, Ava fell silent momentarily. But her contemplation didn¡¯t last long. It couldn¡¯t, with the zombies¡¯ furious roars ¨C led by Fear ¨C steadily drawing nearer as they overwhelmed the defense forces. ¡°If I provide blood, could you fell that monster too?¡± Ava gestured toward Fear as she spoke. Arian nodded with firm conviction. If so, then Ava had no further reason to hesitate. Though she couldn¡¯t begin to comprehend Arian¡¯s bizarre request about blood, and those crimson eyes of hers seemed unnaturally unsettling. If it meant putting down Fear, such trifles no longer mattered. ¡°Alright. What do I need to do?¡± ¡°Persuade the others.¡± ¡°Persuade them?¡± ¡°To willingly give their blood to me. Inflict injuries on yourselves ¨C that will serve as the contract¡¯s symbol. Leave obtaining the blood itself to me after that.¡± ¡°...¡± The words ¡®contract¡¯ and ¡®symbol¡¯ sounded utterly enigmatic to Ava. But the necessary course of action was clear enough. Ava set her rifle down and drew her combat knife instead. Rather than requesting others first, she would demonstrate herself. With that knife, Ava then inflicted a shallow cut along her own thigh. The moment vibrant blood welled forth from that wound, it defied gravity, flowing through the air of its own accord straight toward Arian. ¡°What the...?!¡± That sight understandably stunned not just Ava, but all the surrounding soldiers as well. For a brief instant, they seemed to forget this was even a battlefield at all. The blood stream abruptly ceased flowing as quickly as it had begun. Arian had absorbed the full amount one person could safely provide. ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Ava reassured the concerned soldier beside her. Though she had lost some blood, it wasn¡¯t enough to significantly hinder her immediately. Confirming that for herself, Ava turned toward the other troops. ¡°Won¡¯t you help as well?¡± As a long-serving officer in LA¡¯s defense forces, Ava¡¯s words carried considerable weight. It was precisely why Arian had entrusted this persuasion to her. Yet despite that, the others still wavered in the face of this unfamiliar entity and inexplicable circumstance that seemed like outright sorcery. It was then that another blood stream flowed toward Arian. At its source was... Sophie. Having witnessed Arian¡¯s true nature herself, she didn¡¯t hesitate ¨C slicing her own arm open as she shouted: ¡°Didn¡¯t you all see how that girl fights?¡± Sophie vouched that Arian¡¯s words rang true. Her companion Oliver Smith also cut his arm in turn. ¡°At this rate, we¡¯re all dead anyway! So is a little blood too much to ask?¡± He then reminded them all of the dire reality they currently faced. The paralyzing spectacle had briefly allowed them to forget the crisis at hand. But the zombies¡¯ furious roars now rang clearly in their ears once more. Another blood stream then arced through the air toward Arian. This time, it was the Miller couple. ¡°We¡¯re doctors, you see. Relatively new arrivals, but some may recognize us from the hospital.¡± Logan spoke first. Though his voice wasn¡¯t particularly loud, it carried clearly across this battlefield of thundering ordinance. His wife Medlin continued. ¡°The amount of blood that girl takes is around 300ml ¨C the same as a standard blood donation.¡± ¡°In other words, it¡¯s not dangerous. We doctors can vouch for its safety.¡± Emphasizing their professional credentials as physicians, the Millers reassured everyone that this act posed no risk. Only then did the soldiers finally begin to move into action. One by one, more crimson streams flowed toward Arian ¨C quickly multiplying to scores of them. Painting an almost spider-web-like pattern of red converging upon the girl at the epicenter. The accumulated vital fluid coalesced into another large spherical blood construct hovering beside Arian. Its vivid crimson hue pulsed with an ominous radiance. ¡°This should be enough...!¡± Thanks to the persuasions of Ava, Sophie, and the Millers, Arian now had sufficient blood reserves. She cast an appreciative glance toward those individuals. No words were spoken, yet the emotion conveyed through that shared look required none. Arian immediately took flight, soaring straight toward the rampaging Fear. A meteoric blood mace descended upon the primordial monster¡¯s hulking mass. Chapter 206 Downtown LA. Having just arrived at his destination, Aiden pulled his motorcycle over to the side of the road. His gaze briefly turned skyward. The brightly illuminated nightscape ¨C moon and stars shining overhead, while towering artificial skyscrapers encroached across that celestial expanse. ¡°...¡± Aiden quietly surveyed the area surrounding City Hall. Currently, all of LA was plunged into chaos from the zombies continuously surfacing across the entire city underbelly. The incessant gunfire from battling civilians and moans of the unrelenting undead had resounded vividly until just moments ago. But for some reason, this particular street where City Hall stood exuded a starkly different atmosphere. Unnaturally silent. Not a single human or zombie presence could be detected. The only objects littering the ground were discarded picket signs demanding the Mayor¡¯s ouster. Aiden fixed his eyes on the building¡¯s front facade. A sweeping semi-circular stairway extended grandly toward the arched entrance. Moreover, no obstacles obstructed passage through that portico interior. The doors stood wide open, as if openly inviting guests to some gala event. Observing this, Aiden furrowed his brow slightly. For it was none other than the Mayor himself who had summoned Aiden here. Under such circumstances, setting foot inside City Hall seemed less like infiltrating an enemy stronghold and more akin to willingly entering a trap himself. So Aiden briefly concealed himself on the side first. He then thoroughly armed himself with all the weapons at his disposal ¨C not just standard handguns and rifles, but grenades, flash-bangs, and even specialized anti-material handguns capable of firing depleted uranium rounds. Only after meticulously preparing did Aiden ascend those gray stone stairs. Reaching the top revealed a small paved brick plaza area. Between two short lamp posts stood a black doorway leading further inward. Like the exterior, that inner door hung wide open too in an overtly conspicuous manner. Gripping his pistol cautiously, Aiden proceeded through that entrance. What greeted him inside was an unexpected sight. Beyond that doorway stretched a long corridor. And lining both sides of that hallway stood rows of figures dressed in U.S. military fatigues. ¡°What kind of stunt is this?¡± Aiden muttered under his breath at the sight of those ¡®soldiers.¡¯ Because they were not human at all. Each figure had a desiccated face and limbs ¨C mere zombies outfitted in mismatched uniforms. Some even grotesquely muscular mutant strains included, wielding American flags alongside those ill-fitting fatigues. Was the Mayor flaunting his ability to command zombies with this display? To Aiden, it was a humorless farce lacking any amusement whatsoever. Nor did he have any intention of indulging it. Bang! Bang! The pistol in Aiden¡¯s hand flashed, methodically blowing off the heads of those stationary zombies one by one. Only then did the corpses topple lifelessly to the floor in more befitting undead postures. Baaang! Finally, Aiden¡¯s anti-material handgun barked ¨C its heavy round punching through the skull of the Rhino mutant standing at the very end. A powerfully formidable strain, yet simply standing inertly like a grotesque mannequin resulted in that instantaneous destruction, dropping it where it stood. ¡°Tsk...¡± Clicking his tongue, Aiden reloaded the spent ammunition. Whatever the Mayor¡¯s intent behind this theatric display, Aiden considered neutralizing those potential threats a natural precaution. Who knew when they might have suddenly turned hostile? Proceeding further without any countermeasures would have been suicidal folly. But it seemed that very precaution proved distasteful to someone. Bang! A door further along that corridor burst open with a resounding boom. And emerging from there was a single Brutal. Moreover, for some inexplicable reason, its entire frame was absolutely drenched in blood. It seemed humans had already fallen victim to that creature even before Aiden¡¯s arrival. An unsurprising prospect, really. Because if not, there would be no conceivable reason for this area around City Hall alone to be so eerily silent and devoid of activity. ¡°Kwaaaahh!¡± Unlike the inert zombie ¡®soldiers,¡¯ this Brutal exhibited no such placid behavior. Whether reacting to Aiden¡¯s overt hostility or simply finding that prior display too dull for its tastes. The Brutal charged with maddened, savage fury. ¡°-!¡± In response, Aiden unhesitatingly backpedaled. Ordinarily, a lone Brutal exceeded the threat level he could safely handle unaided. But its reckless, unrestrained charge here proved a fatal blunder for the creature itself. Though opulent by civic building standards, City Hall¡¯s interior was still ultimately just an office complex at its core. So that hallway couldn¡¯t possibly be as spacious as a mall concourse. Nor its ceilings as lofty as a hotel lobby¡¯s atrium spaces. At most, the corridor spanned merely 4 meters wide and 3 meters in height. Confines offering the Brutal insufficient maneuvering room. Thus, its charge lacked the blistering momentum one might expect. And directly opposing it stood the fully armed and equipped Aiden himself. Ever since detecting the anomalies in LA, he had remained in a constant state of combat preparedness back in Huntington Beach. Always assuming the worst, Aiden had anticipated an eventuality like today would eventually arise. What Aiden gripped was an anti-tank grenade. Originally designed to disable armored vehicles, it packed sufficient explosive fury to shred even their reinforced steel plating. ¡°Ooooohhh!¡± The Brutal bellowed as it bore down on Aiden. With a scant 10 meters separating them, Aiden judged this the optimal moment. Savagely ripping out the grenade¡¯s safety pin, he hurled it with every ounce of strength directly at the Brutal. The explosive arced through the air, spinning rapidly. In that same instant, Aiden retreated back through the entrance, taking cover behind the exterior facade. It was precisely as he positioned himself behind that solid barrier that ¨C Booooooom! The thrown anti-tank grenade detonated with catastrophic force. The shockwave tore the doors right off their hinges, and every interior light fixture shattered in the intense blast. Grenade fragmentation even gouged deep scars across the stone stairs and brick paving outside. Indisputably devastating power. As soon as that detonation¡¯s echoes subsided, Aiden switched on his flashlight and aimed his rifle back down that corridor once more. ¡°...¡± The hallway interior, so abruptly bombed, now lay in disarray. Side doors lining the passage had been blasted open, exposing rooms beyond. Sections of fallen ceiling revealed severed power cables sparking erratically. And there, amidst that wreckage... the Brutal, thankfully lifeless. ¡°Seems I got lucky.¡± Aiden muttered, eyeing the shrapnel embedded in its skull. As he had stated ¨C only about half the grenade fragmentation had possessed sufficient velocity to penetrate the Brutal¡¯s densely muscled frame and skeletal structure. But by sheer fortuitous chance, one of those shards had skewered the creature¡¯s brain. Because such a putrid lump of decaying meat to boast defensive capabilities surpassing armored vehicles... This was hardly Aiden¡¯s first encounter against a Brutal, yet their sheer resilience still defied rational comprehension. ¡°Well then...¡± Confirming the Brutal¡¯s death, Aiden turned toward the door it had emerged from. No further movement could be detected from that direction yet. Carefully, Aiden proceeded inward. Beyond lay a moderately sized room. Appearing to be some manner of conference chamber, with a single table situated in the center. However, tucked away in one corner stood yet another peculiar door. One that struck Aiden as highly suspicious at a glance. Not only was its positioning inconsistent with a standard doorway. But it seemed some object had previously been obstructing that area, now cleared away. A concealed, secret entrance of some kind? As Aiden approached, the door slid open of its own accord before he could even touch it. And the one who pulled it ajar from within was, unsurprisingly, another zombie. This one meticulously attired in a crisp suit, who gestured aside deferentially as Aiden neared before offering a slight bow of its head. The semblance of a formal reception host ushering a guest into some grand ballroom suite. ¡°...Going to absurd lengths, I see.¡± Aiden¡¯s words came out almost like an exasperated sigh. He then promptly blew that ¡®usher¡¯ zombie¡¯s head off with his pistol before descending the stairwell beyond that secret door. The staircase proved quite extensive, suggesting it led underground. Furthermore, its construction appeared relatively new ¨C likely built only after the zombie outbreak occurred. Traversing that winding descent, Aiden finally reached the bottom. ¡°This is...¡± His destination was the very same sewer network he had previously discovered teeming with zombies. The stairwell from City Hall had directly accessed this subterranean expanse. However, in stark contrast to Aiden¡¯s initial discovery, that vast underground cavern now stood empty and abandoned. All save for the lone figure awaiting Aiden at the far end who had summoned him here. ¡°We finally meet, Aiden Lee.¡± Ross Preston, the former Mayor of LA, fixed his gaze squarely upon Aiden himself. His eyes lingered momentarily on Aiden¡¯s decayed countenance. Then the corners of his mouth slowly curved into a widening grin, inwardly elated to behold confirmation that Aiden was indeed one of the undead, just like him. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Why did you summon me here?¡± Aiden asked Ross, his tone dispassionate ¨C in stark contrast to the Mayor¡¯s expression. To which Ross replied with that deepening smile: ¡°Why, you ask? Is that not an obvious question? For the same reason you came here yourself, is it not?¡± ¡°...I don¡¯t follow your meaning.¡± Aiden furrowed his brow slightly. He then glanced toward Ross¡¯s flanks. There stood two colossal mutant bodyguards protecting the Mayor. Variants Aiden couldn¡¯t even identify. Similar to Brutals, but grotesquely overgrown with protruding bones piercing through their hyper-muscled hides. And behind them loitered scores of lesser zombies besides. Aiden studied those creatures intently as he continued. ¡°My reason for coming was because of LA itself.¡± ¡°LA, you say?¡± ¡°This city must not be destroyed. So even now, I hoped you would relinquish command over those zombies.¡± Aiden¡¯s presence wasn¡¯t solely to avoid jeopardizing Sadie needlessly. Establishing contact with this Mayor Ross Preston had been a necessity too. Because the current crisis afflicting LA ultimately stemmed from that man himself. So Aiden required this meeting ¨C either to persuade Ross to stand down... Or neutralize him should persuasion prove impossible. However, Ross tilted his head quizzically, as if Aiden¡¯s words were an utterly unanticipated response. ¡°Why would you make such a demand? You don¡¯t even reside within this place, do you?¡± ¡°...¡± Aiden fell momentarily silent at Ross¡¯s perplexed question. The reason, of course, was for Sadie¡¯s sake. But should he really disclose anything about her here? But there seemed little point in concealing it either. Because Ross had clearly already been aware of Sadie¡¯s existence, specifically seeking Aiden out because of her. Having judged thus, Aiden recounted the circumstances that had brought him to LA after receiving a task in Pittsburgh. Upon hearing that, Ross¡¯s previously smug expression froze, his face hardening abruptly. ¡°Impossible. Surely you cannot be joking?¡± ¡°Why would I joke about such a thing?¡± ¡°Because you to have come all this way over something so frivolous and farcical is simply unbelievable.¡± Ross fired back, his voice tinged with a slight tremor of disbelief. Aiden simply stared back at him wordlessly, as if that silence itself conveyed the veracity of his claim. It was then that Ross¡¯s tone adopted a palpable edge of vexation. ¡°Enough with this charade. You came here to find a companion as well, did you not? Just like me ¨C to escape the inescapable loneliness of being one of the undead!¡± Ross¡¯s raised voice echoed that accusation. But this time, it was Aiden who reacted with genuine bewilderment. Because the path this conversation had strayed onto so subtly until now had abruptly veered completely beyond his comprehension. ¡°It seems you are laboring under some misapprehension.¡± Companion? Loneliness? While the former seemed questionable, the latter was an emotion Aiden had not experienced since turning. ¡°Misapprehension...?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know loneliness.¡± At that succinct statement, Ross¡¯s expression froze as if time itself had halted. Only Aiden¡¯s low voice continued a moment later. ¡°It is an emotion I have lost since becoming one of the zombies. But it seems that is not the case for you.¡± Witnessing the gradual transformation of Ross¡¯s face upon hearing those words. He vigorously shook his head in denial, as if refusing to accept such an impossibility. ¡°Nonsense...¡± Ross had begun to protest Aiden¡¯s claim, but his words ultimately trailed off into silence. For Aiden¡¯s unwavering gaze never strayed from him. A plastic, emotionless stare devoid of even a hint of madness ¨C the only aspect distinguishing it from a typical zombie¡¯s. And the more Ross beheld that utterly inhuman look, the more undeniable Aiden¡¯s statement became. ¡°Impossible...!¡± Ross grit his teeth, finally forced to acknowledge his grave mistake. Aiden wasn¡¯t at all the kindred spirit he had anticipated. A complex miasma of emotions flooded Ross¡¯s consciousness in that moment. Disappointment from shattered expectations. Shame from his mistaken assumptions. And an overriding, hollow sense of emptiness eclipsing it all. His lips quivered uncontrollably. In the next instant, that emotional turmoil coalesced into a singular, blazing fury. ¡°I searched for so long. I worked so hard for this. I created this entire LA solely to escape my loneliness ¨C that damned, inescapable feeling.¡± Ross began recounting all his arduous efforts over the years. The culmination of that long struggle only for its purpose to now ring hollow. That despairing realization dripped from his lowered tones like ash settling to the floor. ¡°And today, I finally meet one like myself ¨C my own kind. I thought you would understand me. I thought you could be my companion.¡± His soliloquy reverberated through that subterranean cavern like a mournful, plaintive wail devoid of cadence. Ross leveled an accusatory, resentful glare at Aiden. ¡°But what? You don¡¯t know loneliness? After all my failed attempts, the one I finally encounter is nothing but an unfeeling, robotic husk who can only speak empty words? Hah... it¡¯s not just disappointing, it¡¯s outright infuriating. How dare you mock me like this? How?!¡± That impotent, directionless fury found its target in Aiden as Ross demanded an answer from him. An answer Aiden would ordinarily be unable to provide. Yet Ross hadn¡¯t expected any actual reply from this perceived emotionless undead anyway. But to his surprise, Aiden calmly opened his mouth to speak once more. ¡°Textbook symptoms of clinical depression.¡± The words Aiden uttered were an unsolicited medical diagnosis from his former life as a doctor. A response Ross could never have anticipated, leaving him momentarily at a loss for any retort of his own. Into that silence, Aiden¡¯s voice continued. ¡°As for the details, we¡¯ll have to do an examination to know for sure, but depression generally exacerbates loneliness. So if you were suffering that unbearable loneliness, it would have been better to seek antidepressants rather than finding companions.¡± ¡°How dare you...!¡± Aiden had sincerely offered a solution, but Ross¡¯s face twisted like a beast, thinking he was being mocked. Boom! At the same time, the mutant next to him stepped forward. That was the signal. All the zombies in the vicinity rushed towards Aiden, as if voicing their master¡¯s rage. Chapter 207 In the final hours before dawn broke over LA, some children remained awake inside one particular home. ¡°...¡± From the small bedroom on the second floor, Luna¡¯s concerned gaze fell upon Sadie sitting by the window. Though chaos still gripped LA itself, this residential neighborhood far removed from the downtown and outer wall perimeters remained comparatively quiet. Sadie stared blankly out at that tranquil residential vista. ¡°Sadie...¡± Luna¡¯s murmured call went unanswered, as Sadie focused solely on the sporadic distant gunfire and explosions audible from afar. An outward appearance of her body being present here while her mind wandered elsewhere entirely. Witnessing Sadie¡¯s demeanor, Luna¡¯s expression fell slightly crestfallen. Sadie had maintained this unresponsive state for quite some time now. No matter how Luna tried speaking to her, Sadie would only offer a perfunctory ¡®I¡¯m fine¡¯ dismissal in return. Neither engaging in actual conversation nor retiring to sleep ¨C just silently fixating her gaze toward some faraway unknown. Unable to make any headway, Luna eventually turned an entreating look toward Taylor for assistance. With a brief throat clearing, Taylor approached Sadie, well aware of where the child¡¯s thoughts undoubtedly lingered. At this very moment, her companions Arian and Aiden were embroiled in fierce battles at the northern wall and City Hall respectively. So it was only natural for Sadie to be preoccupied with profound worry over their fates. Taylor had assumed offering some reassuring words would be a simple matter. But no matter how he persisted in that vein, Sadie¡¯s somber expression never brightened appreciably. Because this child proved far more perspicacious than Taylor had given her credit. ¡°...Alright.¡± The astute Sadie didn¡¯t readily accept Taylor¡¯s words at face value. As if perceiving them as baseless optimism, she could only respond with brief acknowledgments and faint, mirthless smiles of her own. ¡°Umm...¡± Seeing his attempts deflected so effortlessly, Luna shot her father a pointed look. As if to say she could have tried those same empty platitudes herself. Withering under that mild rebuke, Taylor cleared his throat once more to speak again. But before he could, Sadie preempted him. ¡°They¡¯re fighting right now... aren¡¯t they?¡± ¡°It would seem so. You¡¯re worried about them?¡± Taylor asked that question in return. Sadie nodded slightly. ¡°But worrying won¡¯t change anything. Because now, all we can do is have faith and wait for them.¡± Since mere reassurances proved ineffective, Taylor tried a different tack to console her. Sadie shook her head firmly, as if to clarify she didn¡¯t doubt their capabilities. ¡°Of course I do believe in them. But...¡± ¡°But what?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to just stay here by myself.¡± That unexpected response gave Taylor momentary pause. Into that silence, his daughter Luna¡¯s voice interjected, tinged with dismay. ¡°You don¡¯t want to be at our home...?¡± Meeting Luna¡¯s crestfallen gaze, Sadie shook her head adamantly. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. I want... to fight alongside them.¡± Hearing those words from Sadie¡¯s mouth, Luna¡¯s eyes went wide with surprise. She could scarcely believe the younger girl was voicing a desire to rush headlong into that zombie-infested warzone. Regarding Sadie soberly, Taylor let out a brief sigh. ¡°But Aiden left you here precisely because he wished to keep you safe. You understand that, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°...I know.¡± ¡°Yet you still want to go?¡± Though her expression clouded, Sadie nodded resolutely in affirmation. A decision to defy her companion¡¯s wishes, no matter how well-intentioned. Taylor studied Sadie silently for a moment. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I too...¡± Sadie¡¯s lips trembled slightly, as if carefully choosing her words. But in the end, she didn¡¯t verbalize her reasoning. Because even Sadie understood, on some level, just how unreasonable her desire truly was. ¡°It¡¯s alright, go ahead and say it.¡± Taylor gently prompted her. Finally, Sadie found her voice once more. What that child wished to convey was her own desire to protect Arian and Aiden in turn. Ever since that task in Pittsburgh, those two had safeguarded Sadie all the way to this LA without fail. Initially, she had simply striven her utmost not to become a burden to them. At first due to the harsh will of her late mother Rebecca¡¯s ¨C that to avoid abandonment by her companions, Sadie must prove her own indispensable worth. But Sadie already knew the truth. Neither Aiden nor Arian would ever discard her simply for being useless. Instead, Sadie merely wished to repay them as they had steadfastly done for her all this time. What began as mere obligatory duty had gradually transformed. Now regarding them as family transcending mere companions, Sadie wanted to play her own role in their well-being too. Perhaps that had been the true intent behind Rebecca¡¯s parting words after all. ¡°You want to...¡± Hearing Sadie¡¯s desire rendered Taylor briefly at a loss for words. He could scarcely have fathomed her contemplations reaching such profundity. ¡°...¡± So at first, Taylor couldn¡¯t find any reply whatsoever. Because Sadie¡¯s words rang with undeniable earnest conviction, devoid of any petulance or caprice. Yet simultaneously, she had acknowledged this wish as an unreasonable imposition of her own. Sadie already understood, as a child, that aiding them directly would exceed her capabilities. But her words had nevertheless moved Taylor¡¯s heart. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to curtly dismiss this remarkable young girl¡¯s heartfelt entreaty. ¡°Then... why don¡¯t we go take a look?¡± ¡°Huh...?¡± Caught off guard by Taylor¡¯s sudden suggestion, Sadie blinked owlishly ¨C her face finally adopting an expression befitting her actual age. A reaction that drew a faint smile from Taylor. Calmly retracing the route in his mind, Taylor determined the path northward should have been reasonably secured by now. The initial zombie emergence had occurred hours ago, with military forces mobilized and redeployed to that northern perimeter some time since. So the majority of troops would likely have concentrated there by now. While the downtown area around City Hall undoubtedly remained hazardous, the path toward Arian¡¯s location at least should pose minimal risk if they proceeded carefully. Having judged the route sufficiently safe, Taylor continued. ¡°I can escort you to the northern perimeter.¡± ¡°Really...?¡± ¡°But on the condition you don¡¯t actually participate in the fighting itself.¡± For Sadie, that qualification merited no hesitation whatsoever. An unexpected kindness she hadn¡¯t even dared hope for. ¡°But... will you be alright?¡± ¡°It means deceiving Aiden, true. But he¡¯ll understand ¨C this was your own decision. And above all else, my vow to protect you both with my life remains unchanged.¡± Taylor stated that with self-assured confidence. In response, Sadie could only nod in silent gratitude, her head bowed slightly. Thus, as dawn¡¯s first light began peeking over the horizon, Taylor, Luna and Sadie set out toward LA¡¯s northern sectors. * * * ¡°Kiaaahh!¡± The battlefield at LA¡¯s northern perimeter where Arian stood vigil. Combat still raged unabated there even now. Bang! Artillery shells and gunfire crisscrossed from every direction. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The number of zombies felled across this area had already surpassed the hundreds of thousands. Causing the very ground to become a putrid, visceral quagmire of decaying remains ¨C the stench alone overwhelmingly nauseating. Yet the zombies¡¯ numbers remained inexhaustible in the most literal sense. The defense forces¡¯ machine gun barrels glowed incandescent red, on the verge of melting from continuous firing. Even their stockpiled ordnance, accumulated over years, had already depleted to the last rounds. Still, the unending undead hordes kept surging forth from those mountain ranges, relentlessly carpeting the battlefield anew. ¡°They¡¯re coming!¡± ¡°Aaahh!¡± Inevitably, the defense forces suffered increasingly catastrophic casualties resisting that onslaught. The stalwart defensive lines they had stubbornly maintained for hours finally crumpled and collapsed altogether. As the defense forces¡¯ rout became imminent- ¡°Ghrooooohhh!¡± Arian charged straight toward Fear ¨C that largest mutant presence dominating this battlefield¡¯s epicenter. Her machete lashed out as that monster reached the shattered barricades. Kwadeuk! Arian¡¯s crimson blade cleaved through something. But it was not Fear itself. Without warning, the onster had flung a Rhino mutant like an improvised projectile to intercept the struck. That hapless creature bisected midflight before it even realized its own demise. ¡°Tsk...!¡± Clicking her tongue, Arian glared at the defiant Fear taunting her from behind the fallen Rhino¡¯s mangled husk. Stabbing her machete into the ground, Arian responded in kind. Kupgugugu! Crimson spikes erupted from the earth, skewering the entire area where Fear had stood moments before. But just ahead of that impalement, Fear had sensed something amiss ¨C leaping backward at the last possible instant. The multitude of zombies occupying that space were unceremoniously shredded into chunks. But Fear alone evaded that lethal strike through her prodigious evasion. ¡°So you are the real thing...!¡± Arian muttered through a furrowed brow, unable to give chase. Because Fear had already fled back toward the mountain range¡¯s vicinity in that brief reprieve. But Arian couldn¡¯t abandon this battlefield herself, even momentarily. If she did, the defensive line she currently shored up would collapse entirely. ¡°It¡¯s coming! Block it!¡± Punctuating that frantic call was the sight of a Big Foot rampaging through the defense forces¡¯ own ranks unchecked. The machine guns meant to neutralize such threats seemed to have their barrels literally melted into uselessness. Immediately, Arian turned her back on Fear to rush toward those besieged soldiers instead. Her crimson blade swept down, decapitating that Big Foot mutant. But no words of thanks or refusals were exchanged ¨C Arian had already moved on to assist other imperiled troops. This had been an ongoing pattern from the very start. Whether recalling its prior defeat or not, Fear adamantly avoided any direct confrontation with Arian itself. Instead, while Arian focused on maintaining the defensive frontline, the mutant would launch sporadic attacks against the opposite flanks in a frustrating hit-and-run guerilla strategy. Though preventing Fear from inflicting catastrophic losses in any one location. Those incessant pinprick strikes only compounded the already tenuous battlefield conditions further. ¡°...¡± Truly, this war had reached its inevitable climax. Having just felled another cluster of mutant strains, Arian surveyed the battlefield with a hardened expression. Her transcendent awareness perceived this cataclysmic situation with perfect clarity. The battle was already decided ¨C only its inevitable conclusion remaining. The defensive line Arian struggled to uphold now encompassed merely a minuscule fraction of the overall frontage. Any hopes of reinforcements stabilizing the other sectors had proved bankrupt ¨C those positions had already been thoroughly overrun by the remorseless zombie deluge. The initial wire fencing existed only as scattered debris underfoot. Most fortified barricades lay breached and shattered. Zombies poured through those gaps had overwhelmed the military¡¯s staging areas within. Disorganized soldiers found themselves cut off, picked apart from all directions in piecemeal sacrifices. At this rate, the undead would soon breach into LA¡¯s city interior itself. Arian regarded that unfolding catastrophe with sorrow. Not from any personal sense of failure on her part. With humanity comprising one half of the defensive equation here, outright defeat had never truly been an impossibility for Arian herself. Evidenced by the sheer magnitude of the ever-expanding blood torrent flowing toward her synthetically. And the gargantuan crimson orb pulsating overhead ¨C now swollen to solar proportions unlike anything she had witnessed since arriving in this zombie-infested world. That prodigious vital fluid volume had finally surpassed even the utmost limits of her ability to accumulate naturally. Enough to scourge this entire battlefield from existence, many times over. But Arian felt no satisfaction from having access to such immense power. Because its existence represented the countless individuals across this doomed battlefield who had willingly sacrificed their very lives to grant her that ability to begin with. This tragic outcome was never something Arian had wished for. For her victory would be achieved not through her own intrinsic power, but by consigning those who entrusted their faith in her as mere sacrificial offerings. ¡°...¡± However, no other recourse remained available anymore. If only to preserve the city those sacrificed souls fought to defend until the very end, Arian¡¯s sole remaining duty was clear. Arian¡¯s irises flooded entirely with vivid crimson hues. From those bloodied eyes, vital fluid streamed like tear tracks spattering across the ground below. Simultaneously, the immense overhead blood construct began dissipating from its apex downward. Like a waning celestial body, that crimson spherical profile gradually shrank and dimmed. And with every fraction it diminished, the exposed moon overhead stained a deeper shade of perverse vermilion. The very moment that crimson moon waxed completely full, a torrential downpour of sanguine liquid rained from the heavens themselves. Shhhhuuuaaaaahhhh- A literal deluge of blood cascading from the sky. The sudden, inexplicable phenomenon drove the few surviving humans into sheer panic. Their already frayed grips on sanity utterly shattered by this eldritch onslaught of sheer, primal terror. Soldiers dropped their rifles, artillery crews clutched their heads in despair cringing on the ground. But their terror paled in comparison to the undead victims of that unnatural monsoon. ¡°Aaaaahhhkkk!¡± Zombies caught in the downpour shrieked in anguished torment. Not the typical vacant wails of a mindless, unfeeling corpse ¨C but agonized howls of sheer, unadulterated torment. Erupting from the undead forms drenched in that viscous, crimson rain were horrific, jagged crimson crystalline shards. Like organic stalagmites composed of solidified blood bursting forth from every orifice. Impaled by those self-manifested lances from within, the zombies¡¯ cries of anguish abruptly choked into deathly silence once more. Suspended in grotesquely contorted postures, pinned by those internally erupted spikes as the animating forces driving their undead existences dissipated. A truly eldritch, unnatural form of obliteration. The few human observers could only gape in sheer, dumbstruck horror at such an aberrant spectacle of carnage. But this was no isolated phenomenon. Whether lesser zombie or monstrous mutant, every single undead presence across that entire battlefield suffered an identical, sadistically gruesome fate. Even the mighty Fear itself, letting out one final, anguished ¡®Uhhhkk!¡¯ before falling petrified ¨C another crimson mineral statue amid that unnatural ossuary. Then, as abruptly as it began, the deluge ceased entirely. When the surviving humans finally regained their senses, the innumerable undead multitudes had vanished completely. Only the shattered remnants of their forms remained ¨C bizarre brittle statues impaled by their own crystallized vital effluence. The only living beings left standing amidst that grisly scene were the traumatized humans themselves. But neither celebration nor victorious euphoria came from those who witnessed this catastrophic obliteration of their undying foes. Chapter 208 ¡°Sa...Sadie...?¡± Regaining her senses, Arian¡¯s eyes snapped open wide. Grasping the situation, she raised her fallen upper body and stared at Sadie¡¯s hand with a look of dismay. ¡°Sadie, this...¡± It wasn¡¯t just the sight of blood flowing from that small hand. Ever since deciding to embark on this journey together from Pittsburgh, Arian had sworn never to drink Sadie¡¯s blood specifically. Regardless of whether by Sadie¡¯s own will or not, Arian had now violated that solemn vow. ¡°I¡¯m alright.¡± Sadie reassured the conflicted Arian. The child¡¯s eyes, a mixture of concern and relief, gazed up at her steadily. ¡°This was what I wanted. So please, don¡¯t worry about it.¡± ¡°Sadie...¡± Hearing those words, Arian¡¯s eyes glistened with unshed tears as she tightly embraced the girl. Though she deeply cherished and doted upon Sadie, there were scarcely any instances where Arian was the recipient of such reciprocation from the child. For neither did Arian herself seek such recompense, nor could this powerful, fearsome vampire truly be aided by a young girl under normal circumstances. So it was with uncharacteristic fervor that Arian stroked Sadie¡¯s head for a few moments before regaining her composure to ask: ¡°But how did you come to be here?¡± Sadie then explained the circumstances that had led her to this battlefield. How Aiden had found her, entrusting her safety to Luna and Taylor before the three of them traveled together to reunite with Arian here. ¡°...I see.¡± Having heard full story, Arian turned her gaze toward the distance behind them. Taylor and Luna, who had escorted Sadie, still lingered at the far edge of the battlefield. Though Arian wished to express her gratitude, the bizarre scene seemed to instill trepidation in the father and daughter ¨C their sights fixed warily in this direction. ¡°So... what do we do now?¡± Sadie asked that question. The implication behind her words was clear ¨C regarding their final unmet companion, Aiden himself. And the answer was self-evident. ¡°Of course, we go to him.¡± Arian rose from the ground where she had been sitting. However, her current state was far from optimal. Even Sadie could see Arian¡¯s legs trembling unsteadily. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Having expended so much of her blood reserves, Arian¡¯s vitality and stamina alike had been depleted. Still, she managed a reassuring smile for Sadie¡¯s sake. Waving off her concern dismissively, Arian turned toward the direction of City Hall where Aiden awaited. ¡°That Mayor... if he prepared something like this here, he undoubtedly has more surprises at City Hall too. Aiden may struggle alone against that. We should hurry.¡± Thus, Arian prepared to step in yet another imminent battlefield. But Sadie firmly grasped her hand to stop her. ¡°Don¡¯t push yourself too hard.¡± The abnormal pallor of Arian¡¯s complexion, the involuntary tremors wracking her legs, the intermittent twitching of her fingers. Even Sadie could understand Arian¡¯s current unfit state for combat. ¡°I¡¯ll try finding someone to help.¡± Saying that, Sadie surveyed their surroundings. But this area had only just concluded its harrowing ordeal of warfare. Casualties were innumerable, injured survivors staggeringly plentiful still. So the scant few individuals regaining their senses only barely managed feeble movements to tend to the aftermath. Moreover, the extraordinary power Arian had just demonstrated would undoubtedly instill profound fear in any observers. ¡°No, there¡¯s no need for that.¡± So Arian gently dissuaded Sadie from that course. Not because she truly lacked any need for aid. But because Arian understood with certainty that no one here possessed any willingness to help her at all. But Sadie shook her head adamantly, positioning herself before Arian. ¡°Please help!¡± The child raised her voice toward the surrounding battlefield. Declaring her need to rescue her unstable companion, pleading for anyone to accompany them to City Hall. Unsurprisingly, Sadie¡¯s call found no willing respondents initially. Rather, those who met the girl¡¯s imploring gaze instead averted their own with visible discomfort. Even so, Sadie didn¡¯t give up. It wasn¡¯t that Sadie failed to comprehend Arian¡¯s perspective, after all. Those present were individuals who had just narrowly escaped the grip of death themselves. How many would heed the entreaties of an unknown child under such circumstances? But despite anticipating such callous indifference, Sadie persisted nonetheless. Because she still recalled words once imparted by a particular survivor they had encountered during their long journey. That someday, Sadie would find her own way to support her companions. And surely, there existed deeds only she could accomplish that they couldn¡¯t. Sadie believed this was precisely that promised time. And this selfless imploration was the sole deed available to her here. So the girl raised her voice boldly, disregarding any shame or impudence. Most initially ignored Sadie¡¯s calls, just as she had expected. For a while, only Arian regarded the child with a sorrowful, sympathetic gaze. But across this vast battlefield, there existed those who couldn¡¯t dismiss the girl¡¯s pleas so readily after all. ¡°Well, well, if it isn¡¯t the little princess.¡± The first to approach with a rasping chuckle was Maria Roberts. Having jointly handled a commission alongside Aiden¡¯s group back in Albuquerque, she readily stood beside Sadie despite an utterly exhausted countenance. Arian stared intently at this unexpected arrival. Seeming slightly awkward under that scrutiny, Maria averted her gaze as she continued speaking. ¡°Can¡¯t say I¡¯ve forgotten how this kid here killed that zombie trying to gnaw on me with a slingshot back then. So... no need to read too much into this.¡± At those words, the corners of Arian¡¯s lips curved upward faintly. For even this sole individual heeding Sadie¡¯s efforts felt immensely gratifying. But Maria was not alone in that regard. A few more figures emerged from behind her as well. Ricardo, Ivan, Camila. And Zaid with Linda too. ¡°You all...¡± ¡°Back then, Aiden told us we owed this girl a debt. Seems we finally get a chance to repay it.¡± Zaid¡¯s words drew nods of affirmation from the others. Each of them had once been indebted to the young Sadie for their very lives at some point. Small, simple acts of kindness she had shown during their travels together. Favors and considerations finally reciprocated in this pivotal moment. One by one, people began gathering to Sadie¡¯s side. Though their numbers remained modest, to Arian it felt as reassuring as being granted a personal army. ¡°Then we¡¯d best get moving quickly. The sun¡¯s already risen.¡± Taylor¡¯s voice rang out, the man having approached unnoticed. It seemed he intended to join their party as well. Regarding that heartening development with appreciative fondness, Arian prepared to set out once more. ¡°Alright then...¡± But then another voice called out from the side. ¡°Over here.¡± It was Ava. The very woman who had already sustained an injury to one arm now sported further wounds to her remaining hand as well. So instead of verbal explanation, she simply gestured with her chin toward one corner of the battlefield. There stood a military transport truck. ¡°I can¡¯t come along, but I can at least loan you that truck. Take it and go.¡± ¡°...Thank you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. You saved my life twice over, after all.¡± Arian didn¡¯t refuse Ava¡¯s kindness. The truck carrying their party then set out, speeding toward LA¡¯s downtown core. * * * Within that expansive underground cavern beneath the sewers, the battle between Aiden and the zombies had just begun. Bang! Aiden first flung flashbang and smoke grenades toward the two mutants charging his position. An intense flare temporarily blinded them before thick, vision-obscuring smoke rapidly filled the entire space. ¡°...¡± Taking advantage of that intermittent disruption, Aiden swiftly maneuvered out of the mutants¡¯ predicted trajectories. Though spacious, this cavern lacked any genuine cover for concealment. So Aiden decided to create his own improvised smokescreen instead ¨C the very tactic he had just employed. ¡°You wretched rat!¡± Ross¡¯s voice echoed out furiously. But Aiden paid it no heed, calmly focusing his senses to detect any surrounding movements instead. The codenames Aiden had assigned these two mutants were ¡®Skulls¡¯. A fitting moniker, as both sported pronounced skeletal protrusions resembling exposed skulls. Moreover, their arms had been evolved into makeshift bludgeoning weapons. One wielded spiked protrusions like a morningstar flail. While the other¡¯s entire limbs had elongated into hooked spear-like lances. Their sheer physical prowess and defensive capabilities already seemed markedly superior to even Brutals. Engaging them directly would be extraordinarily dangerous. As Aiden contemplated alternative strategies to exploit- ¡°Do you truly think you can keep scurrying about like a rat forever?!¡± Ross¡¯s taunting voice rang out once more. But contrary to that blustering tone, Aiden swiftly detected Ross¡¯s voice growing more distant. Was the Mayor truly intending to abandon the zombies here and flee? That contemplation furrowed Aiden¡¯s brow deeply. Because Ross wasn¡¯t someone who could be permitted to escape so readily. So Aiden set his concealed body into furtive motion once more. Fortunately, he had firmly committed this cavern¡¯s layout to memory during his initial discovery. Particularly the fact that only two paths led outward from this subterranean expanse. One of which lay tantalizingly close to Aiden¡¯s current position. If Ross intended to slip away, only that single remaining exit was a sole option. Ping! Aiden pulled the pin from one of his grenades. Then lobbed it unerringly toward that same egress tunnel. Booooom! The grenade¡¯s detonation drowned out Ross¡¯s pained grunt of surprise. So his suspicions had been correct, it seemed. But immediately after, one of the Skulls charged through that billowing smoke straight toward Aiden¡¯s position. It must have pinpointed Aiden¡¯s location from the direction that grenade had flown. Woosh! The Skull that engaged Aiden directly was the one whose arms had elongated into twin bladed lances. Sweeping those deadly points horizontally, they came within a hair¡¯s breadth of impaling Aiden as he twisted evasively ¨C the razored tips instead punching through the solid concrete floor itself. The undead creature¡¯s spears had bored through that surface like compacted sand. Tadatadatada! In that same window, Aiden answered with his assault rifle. The custom armor-piercing zombie rounds he had procured in LA drummed against the Skull¡¯s cranium at over 800 rounds per minute. However- ¡°Kwoooohhh!¡± Even those hyper-velocity armor-piercing incendiaries, potent enough to shred most mutant strains¡¯ ossified muscle and bone, failed to penetrate the Skull¡¯s skeletal density. Only scratches marked its exterior the creature¡¯s bone structure proving astonishingly resilient, deflecting all bullets Aiden poured at it. ¡°Tsk...!¡± With an annoyed click of his tongue, Aiden swapped out the spent magazine. These Skulls were excessively durable, and he lacked the luxury of time required. Already, more zombies stirred within the smoke, converging toward this location. Shhaak! It was then that one of the Skull¡¯s lances lashed out with blinding speed. An unearthly swift, unerring straight impalement strike ¨C far too rapid for even Aiden to evade fully. Pwuk! The creature¡¯s bladed limb skewered straight through Aiden¡¯s flank. Though his expression remained stoic, Aiden felt no pain from that grievous wound. As a zombie himself, such internal trauma held no meaningful debilitation for his kind. Instead, Aiden focused his attention on the Skull¡¯s embedded arm itself. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The hooks attached to thick lances. Originally designed to render even more catastrophic trauma by snagging and tearing apart the impaled victim¡¯s organs and flesh. It was to those very same hooks that Aiden secured his own payload ¨C a brick of C4 military plastique explosive. Woosh! The hooked lance that had just impaled Aiden retracted, now bearing that attached bomb charge back toward its host. Propelling himself away, Aiden struck the ground in a controlled fall as the Skull belatedly noticed the device affixed to its own limb ¨C frantically trying to dislodge it, but far too late. Boooooom! The tremendous explosion consumed the Skull. That C4 charge, designed for breaching even reinforced vault doors, effortlessly shattered the steel-like bone and musculature of the mutant. Its upper body and head disintegrated into shredded chunks raining across the floor. ¡°One down, then...¡± He had neutralized one of those ridiculously formidable mutants in the blink of an eye. But Aiden could afford no reprieve from that small victory. The smoke screen was already rapidly dissipating in effectiveness. Moreover, the explosive backblast had scattered that obscuring haze even further ¨C threatening to leave Aiden completely exposed within moments. His concealed position amidst that cover would soon be laid bare to their sights. ¡°You...!¡± Ross too had spotted Aiden¡¯s figure. Even before Aiden could raise his firearm toward that man, the remaining Skull charged recklessly at him instead. Bang! The morningstar flail attached to its arm glowed threateningly. Aiden attempted to atop its relentless advance through every means, but to little avail. Because not just the Skull, but surrounding lesser zombies converged as well. The sheer numbers overwhelmed his efforts to neutralize any single target. Moreover, Aiden¡¯s own arsenal had already begun depleting rapidly. The excessive ordnance expended against those consecutive formidable mutant engagements left even his backup contingencies and ammunition dangerously low. It was amidst that steadily worsening situation that- Kwaduk! The Skull¡¯s flail finally found its mark against Aiden¡¯s body as he desperately evaded their encirclement. Though not a direct impact, that glancing blow alone pulverized Aiden¡¯s left arm into mangled shards of bone. The same force flung his entire body upward to slam against the cavern¡¯s far wall with bone-jarring impact. ¡°Kuk...!¡± Aiden immediately tried to rise, but his left leg refused to support any weight. Though he could feel no pain, it seemed that collision had badly fractured the limb as well. Losing the use of both his left arm and leg simultaneously. A dire predicament indeed. And toward Aiden¡¯s crippled form the remaining Skull advanced menacingly. Determined not to squander this opportunity for a lethal strike, that wicked morningstar flail descended with meteoric force. Bang! But the only thing that bludgeoning weapon managed to pulverize was Aiden¡¯s now useless rifle. The Skull proceeded to systematically demolish each of Aiden¡¯s handguns and other arm in turn. Until only a single functional arm remained to the utterly disarmed Aiden. ¡°Hah...!¡± It was at that precise moment Ross finally reappeared before him once more. The Mayor regarded Aiden¡¯s prone, defenseless form with arrogant expression. Chapter 209 ¡°...What are you doing?¡± Unable to rise, Aiden addressed Ross with those words. Yet even as he clicked his tongue dismissively, Ross continued speaking. ¡°So what will you do now?¡± Aiden furrowed his brow, unable to comprehend that query¡¯s intent. Why keep him alive only to engage in such idle banter? But Ross¡¯s words didn¡¯t stop there. ¡°In the end, you and I are alone in this world. No matter how thoroughly you scour this entire continent, I alone can be your true companion. Why do you not understand that?¡± ¡°You¡¯re still spouting that nonsense?¡± A derisive laugh escaped Aiden¡¯s lips. Prompting Ross¡¯s expression to harden visibly. ¡°What¡¯s so amusing?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it laughable? Regrettably for you, I already have companions.¡± ¡°What...?¡± Ross echoed in evident disbelief at those unthinkable words. But soon he let out a mocking chuckle of his own. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re referring to those children? Hah, that¡¯s simply not funny at all.¡± Ross approached, planting his foot firmly onto Aiden¡¯s chest as he continued. ¡°Do you truly believe they are still alive? Answer me!¡± That shoe ground down relentlessly, Ross regarding Aiden with utmost disdain. ¡°They¡¯ve already been hunted down and turned into zombies themselves by now, no doubt. Or even if not, what difference does it make? Even if I killed you right here, what could they possibly do about it?¡± ¡°Nothing need be done ¨C it makes no difference to me.¡± ¡°What...?¡± ¡°Because I have never expected anything in return from them.¡± Aiden¡¯s words furrowed Ross¡¯s brow as if he had uttered some nonsense. Observing that reaction, Aiden let out a heavy sigh . As if the Mayor¡¯s attitude struck him as simply pitiable. ¡°Seeing you like this... makes it clear why you don¡¯t have any true friends.¡± ¡°You insolent...!¡± An enraged Ross raised his hand to hit Aiden¡¯s face. But at that precise moment that Tang! A single crisp gunshot reverberated through the cavernous expanse. Both Ross and Aiden instinctively turned toward the direction of that unexpected report. ¡°What the...?¡± Ross¡¯s head swiveled with an audible creak to confront that source. At the bottom of the stairwell descending from City Hall above. A young girl had appeared there. A ten, perhaps eleven-year-old child at most. Gripping a small handgun plainly too diminutive for adult hands. An unimpressive paltry sidearm dwarfed by the firearms Aiden himself had fielded. Byt that minuscule weapon¡¯s muzzle remained pointed at Ross. And over a distance spanning dozens of meters, that pistol had already accomplished its lethal purpose ¨C a single well-placed round punching straight through the Mayor¡¯s skull with grotesque precision. Registering that realization, Ross¡¯s body swayed unsteadily for a brief moment before crumpling lifelessly to the ground, never to rise again. ¡°Kiaaahhhh!¡± The zombies, unshackled from their former master¡¯s control, howled. Amidst those raging undead hordes, figures began to move defensively around one particular corpse. * * * Approximately one month later. Inside one building within LA where reconstruction efforts progressed robustly, two humans, a vampire, and a zombie had gathered together. ¡°Why have you summoned us here?¡± It was Arian who spoke first. She was looking at Ava, who had summoned her, Aiden, and Sadie. Following Mayor Ross Preston¡¯s downfall, Ava had assumed the new role of LA¡¯s primary military leader. It was in that official capacity that she had directly requested this meeting with Aiden¡¯s group today. So Ava began in a businesslike tone suitable for such formal proceedings. ¡°The city government has reached its final decision regarding your... dispositions.¡± At Ava¡¯s words, Arian let out a small, resigned sigh ¨C as if this inevitable moment had finally arrived. Sadie too tensed slightly, regarding the woman with apprehensive anticipation. Only Aiden, his face concealed behind that black helmet¡¯s visor, betrayed no visible reaction whatsoever. Ava first turned her attention toward Sadie. ¡°First, concerning Sadie Lewis herself ¨C her circumstances will remain unchanged. Based on numerous testimonials, it has been firmly established that this child is an ordinary human. She is undoubtedly a recognized citizen of LA itself. So she may continue residing here and attending her regular schooling without issue.¡± A faint smile curved Arian¡¯s lips at that reassurance. Because information regarding Aiden and Arian¡¯s true natures as sapient zombie and vampire had already spread throughout LA. In Arian¡¯s case, far too many had witnessed her prowess on the battlefield directly. While for Aiden, the city government had been obliged to disclose the truth about his role in former Mayor Ross Preston¡¯s downfall and the reasons behind it. So they had worried that there might be disadvantages for Sadie who had been with them, but fortunately, it seemed that wasn¡¯t the case. With a relieved sigh, Arian affectionately stroked Sadie¡¯s head. But Sadie herself wasn¡¯t particularly happy. She hadn¡¯t been very concerned about her own treatment from the beginning. So the girl remained focused as Ava¡¯s next words. Ava was now looking at Arian. ¡°As for you... it has been decided to officially accept you as a citizen of LA as well.¡± ¡°...Really?¡± While Sadie beamed happily, Arian could only echo those words with naked disbelief. But Ava nodded in solemn confirmation. ¡°Yes. Though we do have our reasons, of course. We are well aware of just how potentially threatening an existence you pose to this city.¡± Even now, the crimson crystalline stalagmites Arian had created along the northern perimeter still littered that area as unassailable evidence. So no one could say the miracle they had seen then was a lie, and therefore the current city government had no choice but to officially recognize the existence of vampires. However, they couldn¡¯t ignore the fact that this very vampire had fought tenaciously to defend them all the same. That critical distinction played a pivotal role in determining Arian¡¯s treatment here. ¡°Nevertheless... the fact remains that LA itself has become a far more dangerous place as well. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve taken notice of the zombies¡¯ recent movements?¡± At those ominous words, the gathered group nodded. Ever since Mayor Ross Preston¡¯s death ¨C the same individual who had once exerted control over LA¡¯s undead denizens ¨C zombie numbers had skyrocketed across the surrounding region. Those same zombies he had previously driven into the outlying deserts now streamed back toward populated centers once more, drawn by the presence of living humans. ¡°From now on, we must directly contend with those zombie threats ourselves. Which will inevitably jeopardize securing essential utilities, water, and fuel reserves alike. So we decided to ask for your help.¡± ¡°Help...¡± ¡°In exchange for guaranteeing your residency within LA and providing a sustainable blood supply, we wish to enlist your capabilities as necessary. Would that be acceptable?¡± For a few moments, Arian closed her eyes, lost in thought. To fight according to the commands of others, as a vampire... It reminded her of those who had once tried to subjugate her as a mere weapon before. So Arian added one vital condition of her own to those proposed terms. ¡°If it¡¯s just dealing with zombies, I¡¯ll do it.¡± ¡°And what exactly does that mean?¡± ¡°It means I won¡¯t kill humans.¡± Ava nodded at Arian¡¯s words. LA, who had never intended for her to combat humans in the first place, had no reason to refuse such a condition. ¡°Alright. I accept those terms.¡± With Arian¡¯s circumstances settled, Ava turned her attention finally to Aiden. ¡°Aiden Lee. In your case, however... I regret that your residency within LA has been denied.¡± ¡°Why?¡± It was Sadie who immediately voiced that question. But it was none other than Aiden himself who answered. ¡°It¡¯s only natural. This place should never accept zombies again.¡± He had anticipated this very outcome from the start. An inevitable conclusion, truly. While the vampire Arian posed a threatening existence, her tangible utility couldn¡¯t be denied. Aiden, on the other hand, lacked any comparable indispensable power of his own. Above all, the danger of the zombie virus is independent of Aiden¡¯s will. No matter how fervently they might trust Aiden individually, just as they did Arian, that fundamental existential risk could never be realistically discounted or ignored. As Aiden explained that grim reality, Ava nodded grimly in confirmation. ¡°Exactly as you say. That danger is precisely why the city government refused to permit your residency here.¡± ¡°But...¡± Sadie¡¯s eyes drooped. It meant that she would hardly be able to meet Aiden as she had been doing until now. However, Ava continued her words. ¡°Still... things will be different from how they were previously. Soon LA will officially start trading with the junk dealers.¡± The overriding reason behind this policy shift tied back to those recently increased number of zombies, of course. Thanks to that unchecked undead resurgence, LA had been forced to contract its patrol boundaries and even abandon portions of its previously secured safe zones in certain areas. But the location hit hardest by those same circumstances was none other than Huntington Beach. Those parasitic elements leeching off LA¡¯s protected territory had no choice but to evacuate that now zombie-infested region. To the point that even the notorious Huntington Docks gang had completely dissolved in the upheaval. And this situation wasn¡¯t good for LA either. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For like it or not, the Huntington Docks had served a crucial role solving the most hazardous, complex contracts that ordinary citizens could not. Their presence had undeniably aided LA¡¯s overall security and stability. So to compensate for that void left by the Docks¡¯ disbandment, LA would effectively replace their role directly instead. By sectioning off an entire residential zone within their wall perimeters specifically for junk dealers and outside visitors. One that would be freely accessible to all, without any exceptions or restrictions. ¡°Then...¡± ¡°While Aiden himself cannot leave that designated area, LA¡¯s citizens can come and go as they please. So as long as you wish it, meeting one another would be possible at any time.¡± At those reassuring words guaranteeing their ability to reunite freely, Sadie finally smiled. In contrast, Aiden just let out a short sigh. ¡°Hmm...¡± He understood LA¡¯s intent behind this direct initiative to conduct legitimate trade with junk dealers. But oAiden still had some doubts. No matter how restricted the area he could move around was, if they accepted him, there was still the risk of letting a zombie inside the wall. In the end, it means LA is taking on an unnecessary risk. ¡°It still seems too generous. Is there some particular reason behind it?¡± So Aiden asked that directly. In response, Ava¡¯s lips curved into a faint smile. ¡°You¡¯re quite perceptive. Yes, that¡¯s right. But this can be said to be thanks to Arian.¡± Ava turned her attention toward the vampire as she continued speaking. ¡°Me? How so?¡± ¡°My sister¡¯s diary you retrieved. It contained far more than mere personal journal entries. The data for that vaccine my sister developed was recorded within its contents as well.¡± At those words, Arian¡¯s eyes widened. She did indeed recall handing that diary over to Ava after retrieving it herself. However, Arian, who had no knowledge about vaccines, had no idea such content was there. ¡°Soon, LA will be free from the fear of the zombie virus. When that day arrives... accepting Aiden¡¯s presence within these walls would become a realistic possibility as well.¡± ¡°...¡± This time, even Aiden was speechless. If an effective cure could be developed to neutralize that existential infection risk altogether... It was an outcome he had never dared dream possible. An awkward silence lingered for a few moments before Ava got up, brushing off her seat. ¡°In any case, that covers everything I wished to convey. I¡¯ll be going then.¡± As if this was her only business, Ava left the room. The three left behind traded glances with one another silently before eventually exiting that building. The time was now mid-morning, around 11 AM. The brilliant spring sunshine shining overhead proved pleasantly warm and invigorating. It was amidst those refreshingly ideal conditions for LA that Arian finally spoke: ¡°This turned out really well, right?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Arian and Sadie held hands, rejoicing. They had worried they might not be able to live in LA, or even if they could, they might not be able to see each other. This resolution represented the best possible scenario Aiden¡¯s group could have hoped for. A fact that even Aiden couldn¡¯t deny. Therefore. He finally sensed the end of the long request. ¡°Sadie.¡± Aiden approached the child huddled beside Arian. Sadie¡¯s eyes looked at Aiden with a slight question. ¡°With these terms, the request your mother Rebecca entrusted to me has now been completed.¡± The very same request he had accepted over a year earlier, from the other side of this devastated American continent. To escort Rebecca¡¯s daughter, Sadie, to the safety of a secure community. And finally, Aiden judged that he had completed that mission. But there was one last procedure left for a junk dealer. To receive the client¡¯s acknowledgment and approval that the request had indeed been satisfactorily fulfilled. So Aiden asked Sadie. ¡°Tell me then. Do you acknowledge the success of the request?¡± Sadie stood up straight at Aiden¡¯s words. Because she well understood the solemn significance behind his procedure. And her own answer came without the slightest hesitation. ¡°Yes!¡± Sadie responded with a bright smile as warm and vibrant as the spring sunshine. A warm wind seemed to wrap around them from somewhere. ( THE END ) Chapter 210 Side Story. Arian of the Parallel World [...Accordingly, the start of that experiment...] S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Using the primordial blood... out of 13 discarded test subjects...] [Proceeding with the final test of Subject 14...] In a room of the devastatingly destroyed laboratory, a man in a suit was looking at documents that had been partially burned. "Reporting, Colonel. Laboratory destruction complete. Incineration in progress." A soldier appeared behind the colonel who was examining the documents and completed his report. The colonel continued staring at the documents for a while after hearing the report before speaking. "Sergeant, have all laboratory personnel and all test subjects been dealt with?" "The number of bodies and test subjects matches the reported figures, sir." "We can¡¯t waste any more time. Withdraw quickly." The colonel walked past the sergeant and exited the laboratory. His eyes were particularly cold as he looked at the burning laboratory. "So there are no surviving test subjects." His figure disappeared among the busily moving soldiers. * * * An office of the Exorcist Special Division in a church, filled with all kinds of books and bookshelves. An elderly priest sits among the old desk and numerous file folders. Knock knock "Come in." The priest, who was reviewing a document, granted entry. Creeak- Unlike his own worn priest¡¯s robe, a priest in a neat and tidy outfit appeared. "Your Eminence. The laboratory has been destroyed." "Hmm... which side made the move?" The cardinal asked while putting down his document. The priest immediately handed a report to the cardinal. "Please review the report for detailed information." The cardinal¡¯s eyes lit up as he briefly skimmed through the report he had just received. "We were planning to send our own people to destroy that laboratory anyway, but how is the government reacting?" "It seems they intend to act as if the laboratory never existed." "They have no choice... unless they want to start a war right now." The cardinal sighed after reading through the entire report. "Was there a successful subject among the test subjects?" "We received a final report a week ago that there was one subject nearly complete, but it¡¯s highly likely it was incinerated along with the laboratory." "Did our infiltrated agent in the laboratory escape?" "About that..." The priest¡¯s expression darkened. It seemed the agent had failed to escape. "Please make sure the remaining families are well supported. Any additional matters to report?" "There are no further matters to report, Your Eminence." "The war will become protracted. The government always acts this way. We¡¯ll take our own actions accordingly." "Understood." As the priest turned to leave, the cardinal called out to stop him. "Father Johansson. From now on, our Special Division will begin a war against monsters again after 50 years. Are the preparations complete?" Father Johansson smiled. "Of course, Your Eminence. Everything will be according to God¡¯s will." "Very good." Having said all he needed to say, the priest left the cardinal¡¯s room. In the corridor where the cold winter air seeped in, Click, click Walking down that corridor, Father Johansson was lost in thought. A week ago, the last contact from Nation who had infiltrated the laboratory. [It seems the experiment will soon succeed.] [It¡¯s the primordial blood. You must make the decision to dispose of it before it¡¯s completed.] An artificially created monster, humans were truly foolish. How much more sin did they intend to commit? The church had been fighting monsters hiding in the darkness of the world for hundreds of years. The nobles of darkness, vampires. The rulers of the forest, werewolves. And even the witch entities spreading heresy hidden among believers. Countless exorcists had sacrificed themselves for the holy faith offered to God. To think that the end of those sacrifices would not be the extermination of cursed monsters, but a means to line the pockets of government bastards. The primordial blood is not something easily obtainable anywhere. How on earth did the government obtain the primordial blood that even the church couldn¡¯t find? His thoughts continued to branch out, and before he knew it, he had arrived in front of a room. Creeak- As he opened the door, five priests who had been sitting comfortably here and there stood up and greeted Father Johansson. "Father." "Ah, you¡¯re all gathered." Johansson briefly explained the matter related to the laboratory and concluded. "How is the conflict between vampires and werewolves?" "It seems they noticed our intervention and quickly left the conflict area, hiding their presence." Johansson frowned at the throbbing headache. "They won¡¯t back down easily, so mobilize the hunters as well." "Understood." "It pains me that we have to use these money-grubbing heretical trash, but we have no choice." To Johansson, faithless trash like hunters held little meaning. He had heard that among them were madmen capable of hunting even mid-level monsters, but they were still just heretics. Trash who don¡¯t know God¡¯s will, nothing more, nothing less. Only we, the church, will save those poor lambs and burn to death with holy flames the monsters, the witches obsessed with heresy, and the filthy trash who have no faith in God. We¡¯ve been conserving our strength while watching the government¡¯s nonsense. From now on, we will enter the hell-bound path stained with our own blood. "All of you, prepare yourselves. It¡¯s time to show the power of God we¡¯ve been preparing." "Yes, Father." Except for Johansson, the priests made the sign of the cross and prayed for their faith in God. The government bastards will no longer be able to engage in futile actions. The five branch leaders who have excellently nurtured their power, and the 250 lower-ranking exorcists under their command. They will show the majesty of the great God and the glorious path of light. Having finished his thoughts, Johansson prayed. May God bless the holy war that will now begin in earnest... "Amen..." * * * My name is Frill, a researcher. Right now, I¡¯m running away with the 14th test subject codenamed [Primordial]. To be honest, I didn¡¯t think this escape would succeed. Was the timing good? No, was I lucky? I guess you could think of it that way. Leaving my dummy corpse behind and placing a dummy baby in the experimental tube filled with culture medium, up to this point, yes, it was as prepared. Just, even with these preparations, whether I could escape or not. That was the problem I couldn¡¯t solve... The situation moved quite differently from what I had expected. At that moment, when I was timing as the person on duty in the culture room. Gunshots going off like crazy everywhere, and people¡¯s screams. It was a perfect opportunity for me who was preparing to escape. After all, this laboratory is under government surveillance. The sound of gunfire means there¡¯s something unexpected. I took Subject 14 out of the experimental tube, hurriedly placed the dummy corpse on the floor, and put the dummy baby in the tube. Then I wrapped 14 in a blanket, tied it well with a baby sling, and set fire to one of the culture tanks. This should make them think I set the fire to dispose of the experiment, I thought as I quickly jumped into the hidden escape route in the culture room. "Huff, huff." I ran like crazy. Whatever sounds I heard behind me, whatever light burst forth, I just ran forward. This mountainside is behind the laboratory. Those who might know about the secret passage are already... Anyway, they¡¯re people I don¡¯t know. I had no rapport with them. I didn¡¯t even exchange a single greeting. Why did I save 14... I guess it¡¯s okay to move past such sentiments now. "Awu-a..." I hear 14¡¯s babbling from inside the blanket. Yes, for now, I save it. I run away. If I go just one more hour, there will be a small village. If I spend the dawn there and secretly board the truck I¡¯ve arranged in advance, I should be able to escape. "Ugh!" It¡¯s no wonder I fell after sprinting madly up a steep hill. The moonlight is a small hope, but this is in the forest. Even as I rolled down the hill, I hugged 14 tightly to my chest, afraid it might get hurt. Fortunately, it doesn¡¯t seem like anything is broken. My whole body feels heavy and painful. But I have to get up. I will definitely escape with 14... this child. And... after that... I don¡¯t know. I only planned the escape, I didn¡¯t decide to do anything. Just that feeling of wanting to run away with this child, without any consideration as a scientist, created this situation. I ran for a while longer like that. Fortunately, I¡¯ve come down all the hills and although my body aches, from now on I need to conserve my energy as I go. "Awu~." Hearing the baby¡¯s voice, it doesn¡¯t seem to have any injuries. That¡¯s a relief. I could see a road in the distance, but I can¡¯t go that way. Instead, I walked deeper into the flat forest. "Ha... This is tough." With those words that slipped out unconsciously, I just moved forward. In the forest where I couldn¡¯t see even an inch ahead, my breath was catching in my throat. As I ran aimlessly, finally a small light appeared in the distance. My whole body was so exhausted that I felt like I would collapse, unable to run anymore, but I just ran and ran towards the light. At the edge of the cliff surrounded by trees. I only stopped when I arrived there. And looking at the lights of the small village visible far below, I slumped down. After catching my breath for a while, I gently unwrapped the bundle I was holding. 14 looks at me and smiles. ...I¡¯m done for. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be able to betray that smile. Drip drip. Drops of blood falling continuously from my chin landed on 14¡¯s mouth. 14 licked the falling blood and fussed as if wanting more. "Just wait a little, it¡¯s okay now..." The lights of the small village visible at the bottom of the cliff gave a small sense of relief. My body, which wouldn¡¯t be strange if it collapsed, is screaming. Still, I forcibly got up and headed towards the village. It felt like I moved forward again for over 30 minutes by my estimate. As soon as I arrived at the village with difficulty, I drank water from a well near the village and exhaled deeply. The small lights I saw from the cliff had almost disappeared as dawn approached, and the streets were quiet. "Huff... huff..." After catching my breath for a while, I slowly looked around and headed towards the shabby small warehouse I had investigated in advance. Fortunately, the door of the warehouse was not locked, just like before. For now, I need to rest a little to be able to move. Thinking that, I lay down among the scattered objects. The preparations to escape far away, starting from this rural village I had set as the escape route, were already complete. I mustn¡¯t let my guard down. It¡¯s only a 30-minute drive from the laboratory to this village. If the dummy was discovered, the search will start from this village. When morning comes, a truck will arrive in front of the warehouse. If I can just get on that, the first hurdle will be over. The next challenge will be how well I can hide. I prayed and prayed again that everything would pass without incident. Chapter 211 Finally, morning came. Screech The sound of a truck stopping in front of the warehouse was heard. And after a little while- Knock, knock The prearranged signal was heard. I was so relieved that 14 didn¡¯t fuss or cry. I got up and very carefully opened the door of the warehouse. Various objects were piled up in the back of the truck with its engine running. I climbed into the back of the truck and immediately hid in the innermost gap between the loaded items. Outside the truck, not only the engine sound but also people¡¯s voices echoed, but I held my breath, hoping that 14, who seemed to be asleep now, wouldn¡¯t wake up. Bump, bump I heard something moving or being loaded, and slowly the car started to move. Only then could I let out a sigh of relief. Thank goodness. I thought I could rest until we reached our destination. With the tension easing, I feel my eyes slowly closing. And, hoping that nothing would happen when I opened my eyes again, I lost consciousness like that. * * * [Diary I gave 14 the name . The name of that child who unwillingly left my womb. Is it a habit from my researcher days? I¡¯ve been writing this diary for some time now. Is it for the purpose of record-keeping? Now I just think of it as a way to pass the time. This place where I¡¯m hiding is a really tiny village with a population of less than 30 people. The villagers didn¡¯t ask me anything about my sudden appearance. A mother in her 30s appearing with a child in such a remote place, they must think there¡¯s some story behind it. A countryside far removed from the war, this is a village where people who want to hide from such disturbances gather. With the understanding of Mr. Henderson, the village chief, I was able to cheaply acquire a house at the outermost edge of the village. Well, it has a yard and walls, and I slightly modified the back wall of the house so I could escape immediately if a dangerous situation arose. The modification is just a dog hole, but... But... I was at a loss as to how to raise 14, no, Arian from now on. I¡¯m screwed. Maybe it¡¯s thanks to my major in biotechnology, but. When I heard from Mr. Henderson that there was no doctor in the village and I said I could do simple treatments, at some point I became known as the doctor mom to the villagers. The treatment fees are nothing special. Food items or clothes, and most importantly, blood. Since Arian doesn¡¯t drink breast milk or formula, of course blood was necessary. Come to think of it, I thought it was really fortunate that I played the role of a doctor. I could receive a little blood each time, just saying it was for health checkups, and I had to fill in the lacking parts myself, well. . . . . . It¡¯s been three years since I escaped from the laboratory and settled here. Maybe because it¡¯s a countryside that hardly anyone visits, I¡¯ve relaxed a lot and I¡¯m in the middle of raising Arian as if she were my real daughter. Raising Arian, who is not ordinary, was no easy task. I¡¯m also a novice mom who has never experienced child-rearing. Arian¡¯s growth was the same as ordinary children. Providing blood at every meal, but just like other babies, she has no sense of moderation. Oh, really none. When she woke up at dawn and fussed for blood, I thought I would die from lack of sleep. With the blood already scarce, I had no choice but to use a lot of my own blood to fill it. Thanks to that, I¡¯m losing weight rapidly. It¡¯s ridiculous that the weight that wouldn¡¯t come off even if I died trying in my 20s is coming off now. When I had been raising Arian for about a year, she started acquiring language quickly. Seeing her imitating what I say well, I started teaching her letters in earnest. Oh... she¡¯s quite smart? As expected, her bloodline is different. At about 2 years, she walks well. She walks so well that I wonder if this is right. Still, it¡¯s quite cute how she bumps here and there, not being able to gauge her head well, which is typical of babies. At 3 years, her growth doesn¡¯t seem to be the same. Roughly... she seems to be about 5 years old? Moreover, her strength is considerable. No, ¡¯considerable¡¯ doesn¡¯t seem to express it well enough. She lifts a chair with one hand. ... I can¡¯t think that¡¯s possible! A 3-year-old can¡¯t lift an ordinary adult chair with one hand! The primordial blood seems amazing. It seems to have far exceeded the expected completeness. I think I need to educate her on how to control her strength. . . . . . I heard new news about the war the country waged from Mr. Henderson. It seems to have entered a lull and now they¡¯re just engaging in small attrition warfare. I think the war will end soon. Another news was about the church. All-out war with monsters. This was the biggest news. Although this is a village where people who want to hide from such disturbances gather, I can¡¯t guarantee how long it can be maintained. I think I need to prepare when Arian grows a bit more. . . . . . Arian turned 4 years old. Since there are no young children in the village, Arian receives a lot of love. She speaks well, so at some point it seems all the villagers love Arian a lot. It feels like the love is a bit excessive... . . . . . It¡¯s natural that Arian is different from ordinary children, but I wish she would grow up normally. That¡¯s why I need to explain more to Arian. Who she is, what kind of being she was born as in this world. Also why I escaped with Arian from the laboratory. Of course, I plan to tell her when she¡¯s a bit older. Until then, I hope nothing happens to Arian. I really hope so. Damn it.] * * * On the day I turned 5 years old. Mom told me many stories related to my birth. She also explained in detail what kind of being I am and how I was created. I still remember Mom¡¯s worried expression, wondering if I would be shocked or unable to understand when I heard all the stories. I came to understand well through Mom¡¯s detailed explanation that I myself am a vampire, and that I¡¯m a being on a different dimension from other vampires. Mom consistently gave me many explanations about my power. About the power I would have in the future and how to handle it, based on various materials the laboratory had. The part about handling power came naturally to me. After hearing the explanation, should I say it just happened? It was so easy that I had nothing to say. Mom was so dumbfounded when she saw me handling blood for the first time. Even now, thinking of that expression makes me laugh. And then she told me about other monsters besides me, and about the existence of the church and hunters that I should never meet. That I, as a being, am alone and that the church or hunters are beings impossible for an individual to handle. Slurp, slurp As I was thinking about various things It seems I¡¯ve sucked all the blood from the hunted rabbit. "Ugh! It tastes bad..." As I grew, I needed more and more blood. The amount of blood I used to drink before was far from enough. Is it because I¡¯m in a growth phase? So I go hunting like this occasionally. I learned how to hunt from Uncle Charlson, who mainly does hunting in the village. Should I call it instinct? It seems I¡¯ve become quite good at hunting even though I only learned the basics. The only disappointing thing was that I could only hunt up to deer because of my small size. Ah, I¡¯ve been thinking too much again. If I¡¯m any later, Mom might scold me... I ran quickly towards home, and in an instant, I arrived in front of the house and opened the door, but- "Arian! Where have you been wandering around again!" I heard Mom¡¯s angry voice. Sometimes when I look at her, it seems Mom overprotects me too much. I¡¯m already 5 years old now! "I went hunting to let our mom eat meat!" "Ordinary 5-year-olds can¡¯t hunt!" "Oh really? Hehehe." I know too well that if I smile brightly while holding the hunted rabbit in one hand, Mom can¡¯t say anything more. I¡¯m just happy because I can feel Mom¡¯s heart worrying about me. "I¡¯ve sucked out all the blood~ so Mom just needs to prepare it~" "What¡¯s the use of telling you not to drink just any blood..." "It¡¯s not enough!" When I cut off her words, Mom glared at me fiercely. But when I lifted the hunted rabbits with both hands and smiled, she just shook her head with an expression of disbelief. "Alright, alright, so our daughter has brought daily bread for this loving mom?" "That¡¯s right! That¡¯s it!" "If only you couldn¡¯t speak..." I quickly put the rabbits down on the table set in a corner of the yard and ran away to my room before Mom could say anything more. On top of the bookshelf in my room, there was a small blood transfusion pack. The faintly flowing scent of blood is Mom¡¯s scent. Surely, she must have pushed herself because of my insufficient blood amount. I can feel Mom¡¯s love for me. I wish this happiness would last forever. * * * [Diary The happy times passed quickly. I did my best as Arian¡¯s mom and taught her a lot of knowledge. Recently, Mr. Henderson, who played the role of village chief, passed away. He was someone who especially loved Arian, and he also gave us many conveniences to settle in the village... Since it¡¯s such a small village and there are no cases of people moving in, Mr. Henderson¡¯s death seems like it will be a big blow to the village. We held a modest funeral with the remaining villagers. I took this opportunity to educate Arian about life and death. I hope Arian experiences the sadness of losing someone. . . . . . The village is gradually declining. Five years ago when I first hid here, there were over 30 villagers, but now there are less than 10 left. The blood I can give to Arian is also starting to reach its limit. How much longer can we hold out? Come to think of it, just a week ago, there was talk of suspicious movements around the forest where the village is... I¡¯m getting quite anxious. Should I prepare? Maybe it¡¯s because the past 5 years have been too comfortable. Concerns about survival are starting to sprout again. I think I need to have a meeting with the remaining residents tomorrow evening. About how the remaining people should live from now on. There¡¯s still so much more I want to do for Arian... A sense of unease is creeping in.] * * * Mom said she had something to discuss with some adults and told me to eat dinner alone. The moon was shining so brightly that it felt strange. As I was slowly savoring the blood pack Mom had given me, holding it in my hand and looking at the moonlight- Ominous sounds started to reach my ears little by little. The sound of something breaking. Screams of some villagers. And Mom¡¯s voice, barely audible if I concentrated. -A... Arian... As soon as I heard Mom¡¯s voice, I ran out without thinking. The center of the village I arrived at was truly a scene of carnage. Blood was everywhere, and bodies too disfigured to recognize were strewn about. In the center, a man with glowing red eyes, wearing a blood-stained tuxedo, was visible. And in his right hand, the figure of Mom. "Arian... run... away." Mom¡¯s voice is losing strength. I can naturally feel life draining away. My heart is pounding madly. Crack, crack I feel something breaking inside me. My vision seems to be turning red little by little, or is this an illusion? "Put down... my mom, you monster...!" The monster slowly turned his gaze to me and showed an unpleasant smile. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "To meet a fellow in such a remote place... Hm? Something¡¯s a bit different?" "You, why are you doing this..." "Was this your ¡¯storage¡¯? I¡¯m sorry, being chased by those crazy fanatics, I was short on blood. I happened to discover this place and got a bit excited, that¡¯s all." The words this monster is spewing are getting on my nerves. "Oh, this? I was just about to eat it, adjusting the liver a bit, was it yours? I¡¯m satisfied enough, I¡¯ll give it to you." When I kept glaring at him without saying anything, the monster tilted his head as if puzzled and threw Mom at me. Whoosh- Mom falls into my arms. Slowly... very slowly... to me. I can see Mom¡¯s eyes. Mom with that same gaze that cherishes me more than anyone. And so I held Mom in my arms. Chapter 212 Mom is unconscious. The warmth of Mom¡¯s body in my arms is gradually cooling. I feel something inside me stirring. "You, are you really our fellow?" The vampire in front of me approaches, sneering. When he reaches me, he extends his hand. "You look somewhat unusual, I¡¯ll have to take you..." Slash! The moment I swung my arm to brush off the vampire¡¯s hand. His arm falls off with a thud. "Huh...?" The vampire steps back, seemingly bewildered. Naturally, I use the blood around me. It¡¯s as natural an act as breathing. The blood of the villagers spattered around me moves as if following my will. I put Mom down for a moment and stood up. Then I stretched my hand towards him and naturally moved the blood around. It soon became sharp blades and headed towards the vampire in front of me. "You... what on earth?" The vampire tried to say something more, but I can¡¯t hear it. I only want to tear him to shreds. The moment my outstretched hand clenched into a fist. The sharp blood blades rush at the vampire¡¯s entire body. Without being able to say another word, the vampire is finely, very finely ground up. I just blankly watched that scene. In the emptiness left behind with the sounds of burning surroundings and wind, and the fishy smell of blood. I gathered all the blood around me. Absorbing the spherical blood in front of me into my body, I feel a satisfaction I¡¯ve never felt before. Then I carefully held Mom in my arms and returned home. * * * I made Mom¡¯s grave in a corner of the yard. Then I went around the village that had become ruins, gathered the residents in one place and cremated them. I returned home again and sat at the living room table, spending time aimlessly. I had no idea what to do or how to do it. It all happened in an instant. The same morning scenery, the day I thought would be no different, why did it turn out like this? This reality was like a nightmare, too much for my young self to accept. I¡¯m pondering how to live from now on. No matter how smart I am or how strong I am, I¡¯m just a young child. Should I leave the village? Or should I stay in the village and hide alone? The worries continue one after another, but no answer comes. Then suddenly, the vampire¡¯s words come to mind. -Being chased by those crazy fanatics, I was short on blood. He said that, clearly. There¡¯s only one group in this world that could be called fanatics. That¡¯s the church. This means that the church might find this place while tracing that monster¡¯s tracks. To survive, I had to run away. I had to leave this place. Just as I was organizing my thoughts like that. Creeak- The gate opened. For a moment, I almost said ¡¯Damn it¡¯. The person who appeared opening the door was a man in attire not seen in this village. He was wearing a black robe with a golden cross engraved on the chest. It was the church attire Mom had explained to me. Bad predictions come true too easily. The existence I should never meet and must avoid. The church that I should not have been involved with in any form appeared before my eyes. This is a nightmare. The worst situations that shouldn¡¯t have happened are occurring one after another. "A survivor?!" The church figure who discovered me stopped in his tracks, seeming very surprised. Thinking that there might be other church figures behind him even though it¡¯s just one person for now, I started acting. "Who are you?" I asked in the voice of an innocent child who knows nothing. "I am Father Smith from the Central Church. You don¡¯t need to be afraid." "Fa-Father?" "Yes, I¡¯m a priest. Are you alone right now?" "Yes..." I showed a dejected appearance as much as possible. Then Father Smith showed a pitiful expression. "Oh Lord... to think a young child is left alone in a place like this..." Father Smith made a small sign of the cross and approached me. I deliberately flinched. Then Father Smith stopped and tried to smile with effort. "Don¡¯t be afraid. We¡¯ll protect you." "We...?" "Yes. I arrived first as I was tracking by good deed, but the remaining priests will arrive soon. You¡¯re not in danger anymore. There won¡¯t be any more terrible things happening." To hear he¡¯s not alone is bad news. An alarm rings. I need to run away. If I move with them, I felt like my identity would be discovered. The best method I can take is just one. "Um... then can I bring my bag from inside the room?" When I carefully asked, Father Smith nodded. He looked like he wanted to ask many things, but maybe he¡¯s giving me time to stabilize since I¡¯m still a young child. I carefully got up and went into my room. I took out a small bag and packed some necessary items, Mom¡¯s diary, and the remaining blood transfusion packs. Then I opened the window in my room and went over to the backyard of the house. There was a small dog hole dug there that Mom had prepared. I carefully went through the dog hole without making a sound, and then entered the forest spread out behind the house. After that, I just ran at full speed. Whoosh whoosh- With the sound of cutting through the wind, I run faster than a wolf running freely through the forest. As if bidding farewell to all the memories, scent, and warmth of Mom, I ran faster and even faster. -Arian... run... away. Mom¡¯s last words ring in my ears. As if being bound by iron chains, the phrase that I must run away tightens my heart. I run through the forest faster and faster. As if spewing out my stifling feelings. And as the forest gradually thinned out, a wide plain appeared before my eyes. Only then did I stop. The world is so wide and bright. I take a deep breath. From now on, I¡¯m alone. I will survive. That was Mom¡¯s wish, and it¡¯s my wish too. * * * [Survival Diary It¡¯s been two years since I ran away from the village. It seems like I¡¯ve gained a little breathing room now. All sorts of things happened in between... but anyway, I¡¯m alive. Now I¡¯m hiding in a shelter for orphans. Acting like a good child is easier than eating cold rice. The war and monsters continuously create orphans, and those children who become orphans remain in shelters to live their lives. So far, there have been no clashes with the church. I¡¯ve been running away well, and breaking into hospitals to get blood was easier than I thought. I always ran short because I only stole small amounts to steal blood without being noticed. The shortage... I¡¯m filling it somehow. Many children live in the shelter. Babies younger and weaker than me. Taking care of the children felt really good. Just like the care Mom gave me. The rest is to just stay quiet without standing out and hide well... damn it. I guess my appearance is quite extraordinary. I can roughly tell just by looking at the interested gazes of boys around my age and the gazes of some adults managing the shelter. I think I need to slip out again after staying for a while. Where should I hide next... This is driving me crazy. . . . . . While wandering around various shelters for about 3 years, I coincidentally got to enter as a maid for an old retired hunter. He said he had lived as a hunter alone for many years. So he says he hired someone to take care of his conveniences for his last days. If I just don¡¯t stand out, I might be able to hold out for a few years without problems. The salary isn¡¯t much, but I entered right away when he said he would provide room and board. Will it be okay? . . . . . The old hunter doesn¡¯t tell me his name. Instead, after seeing my physical abilities, he teaches me many things. I guess it showed even though I was hiding it as much as possible. He doesn¡¯t ask anything about my background at all, but just silently teaches me combat skills and hunting. He taught me how to use several weapons, and using a sword was the most comfortable. A sword in an age where firearms are developing more and more, but he says a sword is essential for hunters. Because they often engage in close combat with monsters. . . . . . Time passes well. It¡¯s been two years since I started taking care of the hunter. The old hunter passed away peacefully. I cremated him as per his last wishes. He didn¡¯t tell me his name until the end, but I think I grew fond of him. Especially towards the end, he seemed to have roughly guessed my identity, but he didn¡¯t ask anything. He just told me to survive well, and after giving me a pitiful but warm gaze, he ended his life like that. ... It felt strange. . . . . . After the old hunter died, I left that house. Since then, I¡¯ve been wandering here and there, solving small requests from small villages. Passing one year, then another like that, a lot of time has passed. I went through various villages while hunting low-level vampires that were troubling villages, or werewolves that had strayed from their pack. But, there still hasn¡¯t been any friction with the church. This continent was big and vast, so if I just kept my wits about me, it was okay. I had to be even more careful with my behavior. I heard that conflicts between the church and vampires have been intensifying lately. Werewolves also participated in between, creating a tripartite structure where they check and hunt each other. Since vampires and werewolves are the largest monster forces in scale, it seems they clash often. Recently, I see church figures more often than monsters. Every time that happens, I quietly slip out of the village and quickly get out of their sight. I need to move more carefully. . . . . . My mouth was careless, I¡¯ve been clearly marked by the church. Hunters and fanatics everywhere are searching for me with their eyes wide open. The problem was that I let my guard down when I was short on blood for a moment. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Being caught in the middle of a small conflict area between the church and vampires was also a big factor. I should have noticed earlier that they were there. When I was weakened by the hunger right in front of me, I recklessly broke into a small clinic in the village and was running down the street drinking blood transfusion packs like crazy, I ran into the church doing dawn patrol in the village. A large amount of blood on my face. And the blood transfusion pack in my hand. Without time to say anything, the fight with the church began.] Now I¡¯m in a big dilemma. I don¡¯t hesitate at all to kill monsters like me. But humans are different. Aren¡¯t I a monster who was raised by human hands and loved by humans? Now I can kill them easily. I have blood, though not enough, and all the battle experience has turned into my strength. I was a fool for just subduing them lightly because I couldn¡¯t bring myself to kill them. The church is even more vicious and crazier than I thought. I don¡¯t know how or where they¡¯re looking for me, but whenever I thought I could rest a bit, they appeared out of nowhere and attacked me with their eyes rolled back. Those crazy bastards... I¡¯m sick of them. It¡¯s already been two weeks. The way to cut off this tiresome pursuit was simpler than I thought, but I¡¯m still hesitating. Can I kill people? For now, I drew a little blood from the fainted priests. Well, what can I do, I need strength to run away. I ran at full speed to shake off the church¡¯s pursuit even a little. I need to find a way to throw off the pursuit. Chapter 213 After barely shaking off the pursuit over two days, I arrived at a big city called Charle. And I went straight to the train station bathroom, put on the black dress I had prepared, and wore a wide-brimmed hat. Then I applied light makeup with cheap cosmetics. My current appearance is just like the youngest daughter of a noble family. I carefully headed to the ticket booth at the train station. Hiss- I hear the sound of steam gushing out from the steam locomotive. Fortunately, there¡¯s no sign of fanatics at the train station. Still, I need to be careful, very careful. The church uses their believers, priests, clergy, and even hunters hired with money as their eyes in various ways. Letting my guard down will lead to another tiresome chase. I headed to the ticket booth as naturally as possible. "One for Maven, please." The station worker selling tickets like a machine, with no interest in me at all. This is how most reactions are because hundreds of people come and go here every day. I¡¯m well aware of the coldness of big cities from wandering here and there until now. The advantage of big cities is that there are many people. If you dress well, it¡¯s easy to blend in among people, and ordinary citizens don¡¯t pay much attention to others. And in places with many people like train stations, even the church won¡¯t be able to move recklessly. Knife-wielding or gun-shooting here... those crazy bastards might be capable of it though. Feeling a chill, I quickly entered the platform and boarded the train bound for Maven. So far, there¡¯s been no problem. I sat in my seat and waited for the departure time. From here to Maven is about a 4-hour journey. We¡¯ll pass through two stations in between, and then I should be able to relax for a while. A headache comes with the rushing fatigue. I close my eyes for a moment and quietly wait for the departure time. * * * The train starts to depart. Gradually increasing speed, it leaves the station. I open my eyes and look around for a moment. A happy family going on a trip somewhere, nobles in formal attire, and various people with comfortable expressions. People are moving around a lot, probably because it hasn¡¯t been long since the train departed. I look at them for a moment and then turn my gaze to the window. Out there, the ordinary daily life of the city unfolds. The outside, where the sunset is falling, was so peaceful. Then, I feel a faint killing intent that irritates me. I sighed. ¡¯Really, how persistent.¡¯ Would they cause trouble here where there are many ordinary people? As I stretched a bit and looked around slightly, they seemed to be hunters. Are they planning to attack when I get off at the station? The air is heavy with the tightening tension. Still, the train keeps moving forward, and time passes. Rattle- 30 minutes after the train departed, the door between cars opens and a conductor starts checking tickets. Like that, one by one, the ticket check begins, and after checking the ticket, the conductor whispers something to an ordinary passenger. Then that passenger¡¯s face turns pale, and they carefully get up from their seat and quietly cross over to the car where the conductor came from. As it gradually came closer to me like that, the conductor disappeared into the next car without checking my ticket. "So I walked into a trap myself." As I muttered lowly, the hunters remaining in the train car got up. Two of them. From my position of having to subdue without killing, the narrow train was cumbersome. A big man with scars here and there on his face walks towards me heavily. "Is it because the church bastards couldn¡¯t catch one little monster that they called me? Ridiculous." "I¡¯m over 20, it¡¯s rude to call me little." "Hahaha!" When I stared at him and spoke, the big hunter laughed as if in disbelief. Bang! In an instant, a large hammer swept through where I had been. "My, how rude to swing such a vicious thing at a lady?" I whispered, appearing behind his back. "Hehehe! Interesting! My name is Melkibos! Sedaniel, don¡¯t interfere! This is my prey!" Melkibos swung his hammer again without even looking back. Whoosh! However, that¡¯s not enough to catch my speed. I lightly ducked to avoid the hammer and then threw a punch towards his exposed side. Thud! Bang! Melkibos, hit in the side, crashes into a seat. I held back a bit because using full strength would obviously kill him, but it was enough force that an ordinary person wouldn¡¯t just end up fainting. Thud! He bounces back as fast as he crashed and brings down his hammer. "Oh... your body is quite sturdy, huh?" As I sneered, Melkibos swung his hammer with all his might from various angles. Whoosh! Whoosh! Bang! Bang! Various parts of the train car are being destroyed. "Arghhhh!" S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Melkibos shouts, seemingly unsatisfied, and at that moment. A sharp dagger flies towards the back of my head. Whoosh! I easily avoid it by tilting my head, and the dagger heads towards Melkibos. Ting! But Melkibos lightly deflects it using his hammer. "I said don¡¯t interfere!" "Shut up, boar, time is precious." "Damn bitch!!" Although his words were rough, Melkibos started pushing me harder. And Sedaniel¡¯s dagger flies in, aiming for gaps. It¡¯s not like I can¡¯t dodge her attacks, but it¡¯s annoying. Just as I was thinking of wrapping this up- Clunk! The train car I¡¯m in gets separated. I see the front cars quickly disappearing into the tunnel as the car I¡¯m in also enters the tunnel... Boom!! Suddenly there¡¯s a sound like thunder falling and the train shakes violently. "Those crazy church bastards! Are they trying to kill us too?" "Kyaaak!" I hear Melkibos and Sedaniel¡¯s words and screams as my vision goes dark. The violently shaking train felt like it was floating in the air, having derailed from the tracks. I quickly grabbed the arms of the two hunters, roughly threw them out the window, and then I also jumped out through the broken window. Crash!! As I jumped from the train, I saw the shocked expressions of the two hunters in mid-air, adjusted my posture and landed on the ground. Thud thud thud! Bang! I hear the sound of Melkibos and Sedaniel rolling roughly, and the sound of the train that had flown into the air shattering as it hit the collapsed tunnel. And thick dust settles, making the vision dark. Of course, this darkness doesn¡¯t matter to me at all, but my two eyes glow red as I check my surroundings. "Cough cough!" "Ugh... I¡¯m not dead, right?" The two hunters are alive too. They¡¯re in tatters all over, but with injuries like that, it¡¯ll be hard for them to even get up. "As expected of fanatics, even blowing up the tunnel?" When I spoke a bit loudly, torches start lighting up far away from me. Pitter, patter The sound of stone dust falling, Whoosh And the sound of torches moving. Thud thud thud The sound of at least 10 people walking. On the chest of their black priest robes is a golden cross, and unlike priests, they have all sorts of weapons and even flintlock guns. If you didn¡¯t see the clothes, it would be embarrassing to even call them priests. I spoke with tension at its peak. "Don¡¯t you know moderation?" "This much effort is necessary to catch a monster like you." "Like me?" "Research on vampire manufacturing using primordial blood. The 14th test subject." "..." "Do you think a manufactured monster has any right to survive in this world full of God¡¯s will?" At the priest¡¯s words, the murderous intent I had been suppressing rises. "Should I call you the completed test subject 14, monster?" "The church¡¯s... abilities are really amazing." "Hmph. Even if created in human form, you¡¯re just a monster. Central Church Special Division Exorcist Third Squad Captain Benedicto, 9 squad members, will now dispose of the monster." The moment Benedicto¡¯s words ended, 9 people took a step forward. Then, Sedaniel, who had been groaning in the darkness, started cursing. "You crazy fanatic bastards! You made us get involved too?" "Did you save those two? If you had stayed put, you would have gone to hell with the train." "Shouldn¡¯t you be the ones going to hell?" When I sneered, Benedicto took a step back as if he expected this and said. "The iron hammer of God upon the blasphemous monster..." ""Amen!"" The enemies are approaching. Something deeply seated inside me stirs. Just like when I tore apart the vampire who killed Mom. The red glow in my eyes deepens. I can tell just by their atmosphere. It¡¯s different from until now. My whole body sends warnings. -If you don¡¯t kill, you¡¯ll be killed. It says. For me to live, I must kill. Shing. The 9 fanatics holding various weapons and spreading out in a wide formation approach. "Amen!!" First, three of them rush at me. I take out the short sword hidden on my back and charge as well. Clang! First, the long sword and short sword clash. The transmitted force was considerable. In the instant of power struggle, a mace swings down from the side. Thud! I instantly release my strength, quickly take two steps back, and avoid the mace with a tumble. As if they expected me to fall back, a whip flies in. Whoosh! The whip wraps around my right hand. For a moment it stops my movement, and the remaining two rush in from left and right. "Arghhhh!" With the whip still tied to my right hand, I exert force and roughly pull towards me. Then the priest who couldn¡¯t overcome the difference in strength flew towards me, and I used that momentary gap to slash his neck with my short sword. Splurt! The head of the priest holding the whip flies into the air, and blood gushes out like a fountain. I grab the body of the headless priest and throw it at the priests rushing in. Thud! The priest holding the mace collides with the body and rolls on the ground, but the priest holding the long sword rushes at me regardless. Did they see an opening? But. The blood sprayed in the air gathers around me. And it becomes a shield-like form, blocking the thrusting long sword. Clang! As soon as the long sword bounces off, I scatter the shield-shaped blood like mist. And I change the blood mist into a vortex. Whoosh! "Ugh, arghhh!" As the blood mist vortex starts spinning rapidly, the trapped priest screams in pain. The vortex is tearing his skin and grinding his flesh. Just like that, in an instant the priest becomes a bloody mess. The scent of blood scattered around makes my heart beat even more fiercely and the excitement continues. "Hehe... hehehe... hahahaha!" I laugh crazily and gather the scattered blood around me. "Monster..." The priest holding the mace who had fallen beside me muttered as if dumbfounded. Slash! As I swing my arm, part of the floating blood becomes a sharp blade and slices his neck. "How rude to call a lady a monster." Blood starts to overflow around. And it¡¯s the highest grade blood that emits an exquisite taste, well-trained. "Hahaha! Hey fanatics, are you scared? Are you just going to stare blankly?" When I speak, Father Benedicto gets excited. "How dare a mere monster!!" "What do you mean ¡¯how dare¡¯. I¡¯ll start for real now. The hunt." "Wh-what?" Whether Benedicto is flustered or not, I leap into the ranks of the remaining ones. Scattering a red glow redder than blood. Chapter 214 * * * Should I say it¡¯s like a wolf leaping into a pasture? Or should I say it¡¯s just watching a massacre? As they got used to the darkness, the battle shown through the torches was one-sided itself. The condition of Melkibos, who had fainted and collapsed beside me, didn¡¯t catch my eye. I thought I had been through all sorts of hell during my 10 years as a hunter. "To think we rushed in to catch such a monster..." Just looking at Benedicto¡¯s movements, who had tricked me, I could feel he was stronger than me, but that monster was toying with Benedicto while weaving through the surrounding troops, slowly tormenting them one by one. No, there¡¯s really no other way to express it than ¡¯tormenting¡¯. It¡¯s not a concept of barely holding on. Just toying. Not killing by draining blood, but killing by extracting blood. "Arghhhh!" "Oh Lord!" "Damned monster!!" ...This is hell alright. Damn it. "Get up, boar." I kicked the sprawled out Melkibos beside me with my foot. When that hell ends, it¡¯ll be our turn next, shouldn¡¯t we run away now? "Ugh... ugh..." "Ha, this boar bastard, if you really want to die then stay like that!" Thud thud! When I kicked him roughly, Melkibos finally came to his senses. "I-I¡¯m alive..." "Of course you¡¯re alive, you boar bastard, get up, we need to run away." "Run away...?" "Open your eyes wide and look! If we don¡¯t run away now, we¡¯ll die!" While Melkibos was trying to come to his senses, finally the head of Benedicto, who had been holding out until the end, flew off. "Damn it, we¡¯re dead now." "Aren¡¯t we already in hell?" "Shut up..." While we were like this, the monster slowly approaches us. It sends chills down my spine to see those crimson eyes deeper than blood emitting light. The monster stops walking and extends its hand. Ah, I thought we were dead now, but. The blood scattered here and there around the monster rises around her. Then all the blood is absorbed into the monster¡¯s mouth. Melkibos seemed to be muttering something beside me, but I could only stare blankly at that sight. For a moment, I feel that the blood glistening reflected in the torchlight and the monster absorbing it are beautiful. ...I must be really crazy. * * * "Phew..." After sending Benedicto¡¯s head flying, who was noisily seeking God until the end, only then did my raging heart settle down. I could have come to my senses a few times in between, but I just gave in to the madly burning anger. It wasn¡¯t a bad feeling, but next time I should fight with a clearer mind. My whole body is covered in blood. The fact that I killed humans didn¡¯t really sink in. As if I had killed insects. Only after absorbing the remaining blood around me to my heart¡¯s content did I notice the two hunters trembling in the corner. I approached them. One seems to be unable to control his body, wriggling and babbling something, while the other is staring at me with a blank expression. "Hey, you two?" "Y-yes? Yes?" Sedaniel, was it? A quick answer came from the female hunter¡¯s side. "Are you going to keep chasing me?" Shake shake As soon as I finished speaking, both of them shook their heads. Are they more scared than I thought? Well, it doesn¡¯t make much difference to me whether I kill these two or not. I already had enough blood. And seeing that reaction, it doesn¡¯t seem like they¡¯ll follow me anymore. "Then I¡¯m leaving? Um... you can move on your own, right? I¡¯ll roughly open up the blocked path, so try to survive well." "U-um!" "?" Sedaniel called out to me. What is it? "Do you have something to say?" "What¡¯s your name?" "Huh?" I was taken aback. To ask for a name in this situation? "Ah, it¡¯s Arian." "Arian... That¡¯s a pretty name." "..." What is this human saying? She seemed to be lost in her own world, not caring about my bewilderment, so I quietly stepped back. "Ahhhh! Somehow it feels refreshing." My heart felt lighter. I kill enemies without hesitation. I clear away anything that hinders my survival. But I don¡¯t touch anything else. If I go around killing just anyone, I will truly become a monster. I hated that. Mom allowed me to live. I, who was given that, couldn¡¯t go against Mom¡¯s wishes and become a monster. I arrived at the end of the collapsed tunnel. Small light enters through the gaps in the tunnel. To see that light, I have to break through this damn wall. This cursed wall blocking my way. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "To survive, for me to move forward, don¡¯t block my way!" Bang! Boom! Boom! I created a hammer of blood and completely smashed the wall in front of me. Then bright light pours in. It¡¯s so beautiful that it¡¯s hard to open my eyes right away. I¡¯ll need to grow stronger. To clear away everything blocking me, I have no regrets even if I collapse while continuing this fight to survive. Because I would have tried, no, I will try. Is it okay for me to do this, Mom? * * * The Special Division was in an uproar. It¡¯s shocking enough that the test subject is alive and wandering around, but it¡¯s an even bigger problem that this test subject knows how to use the primordial power. An impossible monster has appeared. Father Johansson was searching for materials in the archives located at the lowest level of the Central Church. He received permission to examine the bookshelves that had been strictly sealed. He thought that the church¡¯s great enemy in the future might not be the stupid werewolves they were facing or the arrogant vampires. He searched the archives for days and nights, and finally found the book he wanted. [There were those called the Primordial Five. As the beginning and rulers of vampires, they were one of the greatest calamities on this continent from the beginning until just 100 years ago. They reigned at the apex of vampires, were called those who conquered the sun, and among their various aliases was also the name Daywalker. As the Kings of the Night could also be active during the day, at the beginning of the continent they ruled, they dominated a huge city, and humans were nothing more than their livestock, it is said. They possessed the technique to freely use blood, and the utilization of blood was infinite. It was an iron barrier that couldn¡¯t be penetrated by ordinary weapons, a sword sharper and stronger than any blade, their bodies had strength ten times that of humans, and their speed was such that it couldn¡¯t be seen by the eye. The fact that there were not one but five such beings was despair itself for humanity. The vampire city grew even larger, and although humanity resisted, it was like a fight that couldn¡¯t be won. Then cracks began to form in their paradise, and the beginning of that was the appearance of werewolves. Various monsters including vampires threatened humanity on the continent, but a large-scale war broke out due to the Original Wolf, the progenitor of werewolves called the natural enemy of vampires. The paralyzing venom generated from the Original Wolf¡¯s sharp claws was extreme poison to vampires. It offset their natural healing ability, and when their saliva mixed with the blood inside vampires¡¯ bodies, it caused a chemical reaction that turned them to ash. Thus, the war between vampires and werewolves was a ray of hope for humanity. At that time, under the blessing of the great Lord who pitied humanity, holy knights were born. They acted as the first generation of exorcists, showing God¡¯s miracles in person. God¡¯s blessing bestowed iron protection upon the holy knights, and the streams of divine light manifested by their prayers could inflict fatal wounds on those monsters. Thus, humanity came to participate in the war between vampires and werewolves under the power of the holy knights. They thought the war with the Primordial Five would never end. The Primordial Five, who couldn¡¯t leave their cities that were gradually being devastated by their 100-year war, lured the Original Wolf into their castle to set a trap, and the Original Wolf forcibly broke through that trap and faced the five alone. It is said that fight split the sky, caused earthquakes, and destroyed everything it touched. . In that fight between the Original Wolf and the Primordial Five, three of the Primordial lost their blasphemous lives, and the remaining two also lost much of their power. Humanity didn¡¯t miss that gap and charged into their castle leading all holy knights and armies. The great primordial holy knight sacrificed himself, burning his whole body in God¡¯s flames, and died heroically with the remaining two Primordials. And he told the remaining holy knights to keep God¡¯s will and inherit the power, and thus the current exorcists were born.] Johansson, who had summarized the contents of the book, was busy organizing his thoughts. According to the records, it was correct to say that the Primordial Five had vanished without a trace. But he couldn¡¯t know how and where the government obtained the primordial blood. Although Johansson thought there must be some secret he didn¡¯t know, that wasn¡¯t important now. First, it was obvious that werewolves were the natural enemy of vampires. Next was another weakness that could kill the monster with primordial blood, which was the holy knight¡¯s flame. These two must be used well to catch the monster. Before the test subject increases its power, and before other vampires know of that monster¡¯s existence, our church must execute that monster. Johansson ended his thoughts like this. And he stood up, shaking off the dust from his priest¡¯s robe. He had to go meet him, the inheritor of the flame, who inherited the power of the primordial holy knight. He wasn¡¯t sure if meeting him was a good idea. He was someone who had crossed a line that shouldn¡¯t be crossed out of hatred for monsters. But, the primordial blood couldn¡¯t be left alone. And he had confirmed the miserable corpses of the Third Squad¡¯s captain and members at the scene. This power is one that shouldn¡¯t be left alone. A monster was needed for a monster. And a thoroughly crazy monster at that. Below the archives, there is a space for repenting those who are heretics, those who don¡¯t understand God¡¯s will, and those who oppose the church. Passing through there and going even deeper, there is a thick iron door. There, the inheritor of the flame is repenting. Thud thud The locks on the iron door fall off one by one. Johansson¡¯s heart is heavy. But he steeled his heart and unlocked all the remaining locks to open the thick iron door. Creeak It¡¯s the first opening in 10 years. The pitch-black interior without a single light greets Johansson. Johansson lit the torches hanging on the wall one by one. As the interior gradually became visible. A priest in a worn-out robe was kneeling with his body bent, offering prayers. It seems like muttering sounds can be heard, but they¡¯re too faint to be audible. Johansson approaches him. "Father Michael." "..." It seems like he¡¯s saying something, but it¡¯s not audible to Johansson¡¯s ears. "Father Michael. Your faith in God is needed." Only then did his muttering seem to stop. "Outside, a calamity that began from ancient times is sprouting its seeds." "Aaaaaargh!!" Father Michael raises his head and screams. Then his whole body is enveloped in golden flames. Johansson unconsciously stepped back at his overwhelmingly powerful force. "Hehe, haha! Hahaha! Oh Lord! This lamb goes to spread Your will. I will burn and kill the blasphemous and cursed beings! Everything according to Your will!! Lord!! Watch over this lamb!! I will offer everything to You! I will burn everything!! Those lowly sins that go against God¡¯s will!! Please watch over me!!" Michael¡¯s madness is visible. His golden flames grow stronger. Johansson felt a chill. He was overwhelmed by the agony of whether it was right to release those flames into the world. He could only make the sign of the cross. "Lord... Please watch over us, Amen..." Chapter 215 [Diary After the tunnel fight the other day, I¡¯ve been wandering around the continent, continuously evading or annihilating the church¡¯s pursuit. Camping has become not just familiar, but comfortable now. At some point, my luggage increased too. My backpack is full of camping equipment. At the invitation of a werewolf, I¡¯m now camping deep in a forest in one part of the continent. I miss a soft bed. On my way here, I also encountered vampires. Since I¡¯ve been fighting the church like crazy, there¡¯s no way they haven¡¯t heard about me. Noble-class vampires, not low-level ones, came looking for me. They seemed to want to ask me various things, curious about my identity. But thanks to a werewolf attack, they couldn¡¯t say much. It seems noble-class vampires don¡¯t move around much, the werewolves were really going all out to attack. In the midst of that, the church¡¯s pursuers also appeared. To be precise, they were hunters. From their perspective, it must have been a gold mine. Werewolves basically only show hostility towards vampires and don¡¯t often attack humans, they say. Maybe that¡¯s why a 2 vs 1 fight broke out, and I found this situation annoying so I quickly dealt with the few that rushed at me and left the place. I didn¡¯t like the look in the eyes of one vampire who glanced at my fighting. Was it some kind of disgust? That kind of look. I never intended to mingle with vampires in the first place, so I just hope they don¡¯t bother me. The crazy fanatics alone are more than enough of a nuisance. When I was running hard after leaving the battlefield, one werewolf appeared. It startled me because it appeared suddenly, but it didn¡¯t seem to have any intention to fight. After glaring at me for a while, it threw a scrap of paper and disappeared. When I gently picked up the paper, it had the location of some area written on it and that they wanted to talk. ...Are these guys idiots? I¡¯m a vampire, you know? I thought with a sigh. It felt like I was going to get involved in something troublesome. Still, it¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve received such an invitation, so I ran hard to get here. I¡¯ll have to think about what happens next when the time comes] Crackle crackle The campfire is giving off warm heat. I finished writing in my diary and collapsed on the blanket. "Ahhh, I miss a bed so much..." I didn¡¯t know if meeting with the werewolves was the right thing or the wrong thing to do. I just couldn¡¯t help but have some expectation that there might be one new possibility. If they wanted to kill me, they wouldn¡¯t have gone through the trouble of doing this, they could have just put in full force during the vampire attack and killed me along with them. It¡¯s a bit stuffy because I can¡¯t see the sky since it¡¯s such a dense forest. Awooo The sound of a wolf howling comes from deep in the forest. And then with the sound of wind, one werewolf appeared. "Making a grand entrance, aren¡¯t you?" To my question, the werewolf approached the campfire without saying anything. Crackle crackle The height over 2 meters, large build, and body covered in fur with a huge wolf face and claws gradually reduced. Then he, who had become the appearance of an ordinary person, put on the coat he was holding and sat down heavily. "Are you that famous Primordial?" The werewolf knows too. Then that means the vampires aren¡¯t unaware either. I thought the reason they tried to meet me last time was because I had the primordial blood. "Looks like you don¡¯t just live in the forest." "We¡¯re different from those vampire bastards." "That¡¯s true, if you can freely change your appearance, you could easily hide in human society too." "You¡¯re quite sharp." I couldn¡¯t tell what role this werewolf played in the pack, but he didn¡¯t seem to be a low-rank. "The introduction is too long, get to the point." "You¡¯re impatient too? I¡¯m trying to get friendly here." "A werewolf with a vampire? Don¡¯t joke too much." When I snorted, the werewolf sighed. "Let me introduce myself first, my name is Vincent." "I¡¯m Arian." "...Usually vampires hide their true names, you really are unusual." "I¡¯m very different from them." Vincent took out a bottle from his chest, opened the cap and gulped it down. Judging by the smell, it seems to be wine, but I¡¯ve never drunk it. "I¡¯ve come to deliver the clan¡¯s intention to Arian who likes the main point." "Say it." He put down the bottle and took out a paper glowing blue from his chest. When I tensed slightly in case of any situation, Vincent waved his hand. "Whoa whoa, it¡¯s not a threat, it¡¯s just a contract paper. Listen first." Vincent who said that starts reading the paper. [This is a proposal. O you who were born with the primordial blood. If you help us kill some vampires, we will give a little help to your journey. The vampires we want to kill are as follows: S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Noble of the Red Rose. The Noble of the Thorn Tree. The Noble of the Red Moon. These three. Will you accept the contract?] Vincent¡¯s words ended. ...In my view, the wolves aren¡¯t good with their heads. I¡¯m a vampire, you know? I don¡¯t know what they¡¯re thinking. "Hey. Are you werewolves in your right mind?" "Hmm... Of course we are." "I¡¯m a vampire, you know, but you think I¡¯ll kill my own kind?" Vincent giggles to himself at my words. This feels really bad? "Ah, I see what you¡¯re thinking. But, what if the vampires try to kill you? Then wouldn¡¯t you consider cooperating?" "Kill me? Why?" "That¡¯s simple. They¡¯re losing the current war and want more powerful strength. And just then, stories about you started circulating from the church side. We and those bastards both have spies planted in the church, so we can get such news quickly." "So?" "They¡¯re thinking of killing you and absorbing your blood." Ah~ I can easily understand what he¡¯s saying. They¡¯re not trying to bring me to their side. But to absorb my blood. Oh, so that¡¯s why that look in their eyes was like that back then? "What¡¯s the basis for that?" Vincent took out a bundle of papers from his chest again and gave them to me. "You¡¯ll see if you look at that. It¡¯s a document those bastards delivered to low-level vampires." The document has a rough sketch of my face, and says to capture me alive and bring me to them, and if capture is impossible, to identify my location and report it. "It¡¯s the height of stupidity to think they¡¯ll get stronger by drinking my blood." "That¡¯s right, vampires have to be a bit stupid. Anyway, in this state, you have to deal with both the church¡¯s pursuit and the vampires¡¯ pursuit." "So you want to appeal that the enemy of my enemy is my friend?" "That¡¯s right." "What can I gain by helping you?" "We¡¯ll disrupt the pursuit of the church and vampires." "Disrupt?" "We have quite a lot of groups we¡¯ve infiltrated. As you see, we¡¯re very used to transforming into human form. Through the process of disrupting eyewitness information about you and delivering wrong locations, we can throw off a considerable amount of the church¡¯s pursuit. And for the vampires, their information will naturally weaken once those three die anyway." ...It was an extremely tempting offer. I really missed a soft bed anyway, and most importantly, I wanted to wash with warm water. "It¡¯s a good condition, but. How do you plan to kill three vampires?" "It¡¯s simple. We¡¯ll launch a preemptive attack, and you¡¯ll infiltrate and deal with them in that gap." "It sounds too simple?" "It won¡¯t be that simple. Those three vampires are real monsters who have lived for over 200 years, you know." So they¡¯re different from the low-level vampires and fanatics I¡¯ve met so far? But I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll lose. And their proposal was attractive enough to think it¡¯s worth taking this level of risk. "Okay, I¡¯ll accept." "Then sign this contract paper." Vincent took out a pen and gave it to me. There were two sheets of contract paper. I signed without hesitation. Then the blue light glowed more strongly and soon, the blue light disappeared and Vincent handed me one of the papers. "Contract paper... It¡¯s my first time seeing it. What happens if you break the contract?" "You¡¯re asking that now?" "It could happen." "Haha! It¡¯s nothing much. Just that the location of the party who broke the contract is marked on the paper." Aha? So that means you can follow and torment the contract breaker to the ends of hell. Not a bad story. I didn¡¯t intend to break the contract anyway. "Is this all wrapped up now?" "That¡¯s right. We¡¯ll proceed with the preparations on our side, and you just need to wait in the village below." "Is that okay?" "That village is our territory. If you go to the inn there, you¡¯ll be able to rest comfortably." "I... really like that? Thanks for being considerate." "?" "What?" It seems my words of thanks were strange. "You¡¯re just like a human." "Hmph, I may be a vampire, but I¡¯m trying to live as a human." "Haha! Good, good. Anyway, rest comfortably. The preparations won¡¯t take long." With those final words, Vincent disappeared into the dark forest. I stared blankly in the direction Vincent disappeared, then started to pack up the campsite. "Bed! Bath! Ahhhh I¡¯m so happy!" Before I knew it, I was humming a tune. A bath after two whole months. I can¡¯t help but be excited. My hands became urgent. I packed up the blanket and organized several items needed for camping into my bag, then threw dirt onto the campfire. Sizzle After confirming that the campfire flames had died down, I sprang up from my spot. Every minute and second was precious. I need to run quickly! * * * Even though it was quite late, the lights of the inn were bright. As soon as I arrived, the innkeeper handed me a room key and asked if I needed anything. It seems everything had been arranged already. Werewolves, they¡¯re quite capable, aren¡¯t they? "A bath! Clean clothes!" When I said without hesitation, the innkeeper looked a bit flustered. But she soon smiled and said she would prepare bath water, and since clothes couldn¡¯t be obtained at this hour, she would prepare simple sleepwear for now. Good sense, isn¡¯t it? I hurried to the room. Creak I opened the door of the room and roughly threw my bag. And immediately dove onto the bed. This softness! It¡¯s happiness itself! While I was rolling around on the bed for a while- Knock knock "The bath water is ready." I quickly ran to the bathroom. As I lay in the warm bathtub prepared in the bathroom, I couldn¡¯t help but say this is happiness. After warming up my body properly, I could recall the werewolf¡¯s request. Among the information I gathered while wandering here and there, there was also the current situation of the werewolves, and they are in quite a difficult situation. It¡¯s because they¡¯re being outnumbered by vampires. Both are monsters that become stronger at night. However, unlike werewolves who live scattered in groups here and there, vampires can make low-level vampires as much as they want as long as there are humans, so if they push with numbers, even werewolves couldn¡¯t do anything. And, the vampire nobles are quite strong. It must have been hard for werewolves to withstand the vampires¡¯ wave-like attacks both qualitatively and quantitatively. "Primordial blood..." They said they¡¯re after my blood. Looking at various situations, this alliance seemed like it would be a great benefit to me. Chapter 216 Last night¡¯s bath and soft bed were so good. I¡¯m now earnestly rolling around on the bed while sipping on a blood pack that I had saved as a spare. The sunlight coming through the window felt so good. It felt like the fatigue in my whole body was melting away, after who knows how long. Knock knock "It¡¯s the innkeeper. Are you ready to come down?" I¡¯m called from beyond the door. Since all preparations were finished, I stepped out without hesitation. Creak When I opened the door, the innkeeper was waiting for me. "Shall we go down then? I¡¯ve prepared a carriage in front of the inn." "Let¡¯s go." I followed the innkeeper out. As we came down from the 2nd floor room to the 1st floor, the innkeeper opens the door for me. I gave a word of thanks. "Thank you. I was able to rest comfortably thanks to you. I hope I can come again." "I¡¯m glad you think so. Please come again." Leaving the innkeeper¡¯s smile behind, I stepped out the door. In front, an old cargo carriage was standing. The coachman was Vincent. Seeing me, he greeted me cheerfully. "Did you rest well, Arian?" "I rested comfortably for the first time in a while. Did you prepare well?" "Of course, we¡¯re betting our lives on this job too." I climbed onto the cargo area. "Don¡¯t people usually sit next to the driver?" "I want to go with my legs stretched out comfortably." "Well, do as you like. Hya!" The carriage slowly started moving. Vincent talked a lot about this and that, as if curious that I was just quietly looking at the sky without saying much. If I had any questions, how their preparations were going. I asked about the Red Rose, the first target. "What¡¯s the Red Rose¡¯s ability? Does it make flowers bloom or something?" "The reason it¡¯s called Red Rose is because of the title given for growing roses with human blood, and as for ability... well, there¡¯s nothing known about its ability. In the first place, vampires have degraded a lot like us, so I heard that compared to several hundred years ago, many of their blood utilization techniques have disappeared. So those bastards are hiding their abilities as much as possible and focusing on producing low-level vampires." "Pushing with numbers. A simple strategy." "That¡¯s right, but we don¡¯t go that far. If friction with the church intensifies too much, we¡¯ll lose our place to live, you see." "Since there¡¯s no compromise with vampires anyway, you¡¯re trying to avoid friction with the church by limiting your population, is that it?" "Vampires and us have a thousand years of built-up grudges, but humans are different." "I understand that part too, there¡¯s no need to needlessly provoke, the church is persistent after all." "Yes, to survive without going extinct." "Our goals are the same then, to survive." With those words, I closed my mouth. I hear Vincent¡¯s laughter from the driver¡¯s seat. "We¡¯ll make good allies. In about 30 minutes, we¡¯ll reach the campsite. Rest until then, Arian." I didn¡¯t answer and closed my eyes. And so the carriage rushed towards the campsite. * * * When we arrived at the campsite, it had become a dark night. I felt a tense atmosphere. Beyond the campsite, a collapsed castle was visible in the distance. That seemed to be the residence of the Noble of the Red Rose. Without even lighting a campfire, about a dozen werewolves were visible. They looked similar, but their fur color, build, and facial structure were different. They were looking at the castle without saying a word to each other. I too had no need to talk with them separately, so I was just waiting. Then Vincent approaches me. He is in werewolf form, having transformed from human form as soon as he arrived. Black fur covering his entire body. And yellow glowing eyes. An impressive appearance. "The battle will start soon. I¡¯ll leave the infiltration timing to you." "Alright. Have you identified the Red Rose¡¯s location?" "There¡¯s a garden behind the castle. The Red Rose will be there." "Are you sure?" "Of course I¡¯m sure." Good. I don¡¯t care how they conduct their battle. My only concern is to deal with the Red Rose quickly. "Start whenever you¡¯re ready." "Will do." Vincent stepped to the front of the pack. Awoo! When Vincent howled first, the other werewolves also made rough howling sounds. The wolves¡¯ howls echo across the field. Is this a declaration of war? Is it okay to throw away the advantage of surprise so easily? They ran forward like mad. Reaching the castle¡¯s main gate in an instant at considerable speed, they easily jumped over the castle walls and entered inside. "I should get going too." I too reached the castle wall in an instant. And using my speed, I kicked off the ground and jumped up. Having soared too high over the wall, I could see the battlefield situation well. In the center, Vincent and 5 werewolves were fiercely fighting dozens of vampires. And centered on Vincent, two werewolves on each side were blocking approaching vampires, and the remaining one was guarding an escape route behind them just in case. "They fight well." I turned my gaze to look at the collapsed castle. One part was severely damaged, and it seemed I could infiltrate through there. As soon as I landed on the ground, I approached the castle stealthily and quickly. One side of the wall had completely collapsed, and entering through there, the interior was an empty ruin with nothing inside. There was no sign of low-level vampires inside the castle, and I could find a door leading to the back garden from inside the castle. Creak Opening the large door and coming out to the back of the castle, there were bright red roses filling the entire garden. The sight of roses that were completely red from leaves to stem made me feel bad. And the scent coming from the roses was not the scent of ordinary flowers, but a strong smell of blood. I briefly covered my nose at the terribly strong scent of blood and headed towards the center of the garden. In the center of the garden was a round table for four, and there was a woman wearing a red dress. As I gradually approached, that woman turned her gaze to look at me. Her eyes, red like mine, looked at me once and then showed a look of contempt. "A lowly insect has entered." This time I¡¯m treated as an insect, huh. Maybe being treated as a monster would be better. This rudeness befitting the title of a noble. "You who covet the blood of such an insect, what are you, a maggot?" "Hohoho, you speak so rudely, insect." "Yeah, you too." I don¡¯t intend to lose in a war of words from the start. Should I go for a preemptive strike? Or a light greeting? The thought wasn¡¯t long. I took out my short sword from behind my waist and kicked the ground. Bang! Slash. The sword I swung down as soon as I rushed in only cut the chair. Faster than expected. The Red Rose, who avoided my sword in an instant and stepped back a few steps, seemed annoyed and threw a fit. "You insect! Who do you dare to attack?" "Ah sorry, I thought I needed to teach some manners to a maggot." No more words were necessary. I increased my speed and thrust my sword towards the front of the Red Rose. Swoosh The Red Rose lightly avoided the thrusting sword, widened the distance, then took out a huge club covered in thorns and attacked. Bang! The club smashes the ground, raising thick dust. "The primordial blood has walked into me on its own, now all that¡¯s left is for me to become king." "...Lady, are you sick somewhere?" "Eek!" Bang bang!! Encouraged by my provocation, the Red Rose attacked fiercely. Isn¡¯t the pattern too simple? Doesn¡¯t she intend to use any other power? "If all you can do is simply swing down a club, it¡¯s too easy, you know?" When I provoked again, a red aura spewed out around the Red Rose¡¯s body. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "It¡¯s too much for a lowly insect, but I¡¯ll show you!" When the Red Rose raised her hand, I felt the roses in the garden squirming. "My lovely children! Dance!" Then the rose vines in the garden instantly extended and rushed at me like whips. I swung my short sword sharply and cut down the approaching vines. Is this the ability to control roses made of blood at will? Werewolves or ordinary hunters would be captured in an instant, unable to do anything against the vines. "As expected, a noble is a noble. But." When I first entered the garden, I saw blood spattered here and there on the ground. They must have given blood instead of water, if so, then there¡¯s no reason for me to lose. As I continuously cut the approaching vines and concentrated, the blood spread throughout the entire garden becomes tiny droplets floating in the air. "It¡¯s been a while since I used this, shall I imitate too? Now! Let¡¯s dance!" As I shouted, the small droplets became blades and started their dance. Chapter 217 The scattering blood blades instantly cut through the roses. The sound of them being torn apart by the storm-like blades seemed like a terrible scream. "Wh-what is this?" The Red Rose stares at me blankly, as if dumbfounded. "Did you really think you could kill me with just this? You underestimated me too much." "Is this the primordial power...?" "Well, you guys should know better than me how much stronger the original was, don¡¯t you think?" "...Damn that Thorn Tree! You deceived me! You deceived me! This son of a bitch, me! How dare you! It was almost time! I could have received their recognition!" I don¡¯t know what she was deceived about, but it¡¯s time to end this now. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I ran at top speed right in front of the Red Rose. And. Swoosh- Slash! My short sword sends the Red Rose¡¯s head flying. Splurt! Blood gushes from the Red Rose¡¯s neck. The blood falling like rain begins to dye my entire body. I absorbed the pouring blood, replenishing my depleted strength. Bang! The castle door leading to the garden opened roughly. Vincent appeared, covered in wounds all over his body. "Looks like you had quite a struggle, Vincent." I said dryly. "It was easier than I thought." Vincent looked back and forth between the fallen body of the Red Rose and me. "If you don¡¯t smash the heart too, it¡¯ll revive again." "Really?" Stab! I thrust the short sword deep into the Red Rose¡¯s heart. Then I twisted the blade, shredding the heart and pulling it out. "Is this enough to kill it?" "It should be. Anyway, good job." "What do you mean good job, honestly I was a bit disappointed." "Disappointed?" "Yeah, disappointed. It was much weaker than I thought." "It¡¯s just that you¡¯re unbelievably strong. Even with my power, I¡¯m no match for the Red Rose." Certainly, dealing with vampires was easier for me than dealing with humans. Since I had no mental reservations, I could use my power comfortably. "How are the casualties on your side?" "Four died. It wasn¡¯t easy as some who weren¡¯t low-level joined in the middle." "...It must have been tough." I had nothing to say. After all, I was just in a contract relationship and didn¡¯t need to care about the deaths of the werewolves. "Thanks to you, we¡¯ve crossed one small mountain. I express my gratitude." I received Vincent¡¯s thanks, but some uneasy feeling wouldn¡¯t go away. "Hey, who¡¯s the leader of the vampires?" "There¡¯s no king ruling over them specifically. There are just those of a different level." "Who are they?" "Let¡¯s talk about that after we leave this place. For now, retreating quickly comes first." Vincent must be very tired. Since there were some quite deep wounds visible, I followed Vincent out of the castle for now. Outside the castle, the remaining werewolves were tending to each other¡¯s wounds. Judging by the missing legs, missing arms, or wounds torn and split here and there, it seems there really was a fierce battle. Vincent gave some instructions to the remaining werewolves, and they started to disperse, supporting each other. I also followed Vincent towards the cargo carriage. "I¡¯m not in a state to drive the carriage, could I ask you to do it?" "Where should I go?" "Just follow the road you see there. Just until I recover a bit." "Alright." I climbed onto the driver¡¯s seat and waited for Vincent to settle in the cargo area. Then I quietly moved the carriage and slowly advanced along the road. For another fight with vampires. * * * [Diary The church¡¯s pursuit caught up. Although we moved quietly, there¡¯s no way the church would miss a fight of this scale. But it was a bit different from before. It seemed like they were trying to identify my location, but they didn¡¯t attack recklessly like before. What¡¯s going on? I have a bad feeling about this. Isn¡¯t it normal for those crazy bastards to go mad when they see me and charge like boars while repeating dozens "amen amen"? Speaking of boars, I briefly remembered the two hunters I had a fight with on the train before. I wonder if they survived well? Anyway, we went round and round quite a lot to shake off the church¡¯s pursuit. We abandoned the carriage midway and used hidden paths that only werewolves use. When I asked if it was okay to reveal this to me, they confidently said that even I would find it difficult to find this path again. Sorry but... I¡¯m quite amazing, you know? I¡¯ve already seen and memorized all the hidden marks you use. . . . . . Camping in the forest has started again. Originally, we should have moved comfortably by carriage, but those damn fanatic bastards aren¡¯t helping. I organize the information I received from Vincent about other vampires that I asked about at the Red Rose¡¯s castle. Five nobles of ruler class. Their locations are unknown. According to werewolf records, they have existed since about 500 years ago. They showed themselves externally 100 years ago. No additional information on why they are trying to increase the number of vampires. Only high-ranking vampires are connected to them, they say. The ruler class manages the high-rank, and the high-rank manages the middle and low-rank. They say they haven¡¯t shown themselves even in all-out war with humans. The werewolves have identified about 20 high-ranking vampires, all of whom were participating in the war with werewolves and humans, so they could be identified. The 3 vampires the werewolves are targeting were playing important roles in the current war with werewolves. The Red Rose was increasing the number of low-level vampires. The Thorn Tree was gathering information. The Red Moon is engaging in direct combat. This is all the information I received. Come to think of it, I realized I was just living well without knowing anything. The force I was most wary of was the church anyway, and I didn¡¯t really have any reason to clash with them. Well, I did take requests to deal with low-levels, but those were just small fry troubling small villages. They say the information about me leaked thanks to the tunnel incident. It was quite severe that those crazy fanatics blew up the tunnel with explosives. There was a fierce information war about what the church was trying to kill, and as a result, I, who have the primordial blood, was exposed. As expected, the church is the problem. Damn them. . . . . . The battle with the Thorn Tree was more difficult than with the Red Rose. He was an extremely cunning bastard, who had turned the basement of an apparently very normal mansion (and in the city of Midnegal, at that) into almost a dungeon. Traps popping out every block you pass. So many rooms that I had to open all the doors here and there, and it was so vast that it took 3 days just for the search. As my irritation built up, I took it out on the vampires that popped up here and there. I ground them up a bit too harshly... The expression of Vincent looking at me with a disgusted look at that time was also irritating. After making me go through all that trouble, the Thorn Tree was weak. Too! Weak! He called himself a brain type, a sage of darkness, and even the greatest existing military commander. He talked so much I almost bled from my ears. This guy must have had some kind of mental attack. I got so annoyed for a moment that I showed him the taste of a large hammer made of blood. I remember Vincent¡¯s look of disdain as he watched from the side. What! What can I do! Vincent collected various documents that the Thorn Tree had kept. There must have been some quite useful information. He was looking at the documents like crazy with an excited expression, so I left him alone and just came out. The way back was too long again and my irritation built up. Should I just smash everything? I held back because there was a possibility the basement would collapse if I did that. Ah, the more I think about it, the more annoyed I get. I should have tormented him more before killing him. Now only the Red Moon is left. It seems there was information about the Red Moon among the various information the Thorn Tree had. His detailed location, number of troops, and even his montage were there. Thanks to that, I returned to the inn expecting the next journey to be a bit more comfortable. . . . . . Vincent returned after 4 whole days. Meanwhile, I¡¯m writing in my diary and fully enjoying the comfort of a big city after a long time. Still, I guess I¡¯ve built up some friendship with Vincent while continuing the journey. I was glad to see Vincent appear. The next departure is in two days. It was an appropriate time to enjoy civilized life. Two days passed without any pursuit from the church or friction with other vampires. The cargo carriage appeared from early dawn. This journey will take a whole day by carriage, they say. But isn¡¯t it too much to leave at dawn? They lack consideration. As expected of wolves, they¡¯re rough. This is the last request now. What will happen after this, it feels like I¡¯m riding some big flow... Am I going to ruin everything at this rate?] * * * "What are you writing so intently?" "A diary." "A diary?" "Yeah, a diary." Vincent looks at me with an expression of disbelief. "You know how to write such things?" "What, can¡¯t you read?" "That¡¯s not what I meant..." This time I looked at Vincent with an expression of disbelief. "It¡¯s just like a trace of how I¡¯ve lived. I want to leave something behind." "I see. You¡¯re certainly different from them." "Of course, there can¡¯t be a vampire as excellent and virtuous as me, and did you think I¡¯m the same as those stupid monsters?" Vincent¡¯s expression seems to be souring more and more. "Now that I realize it, you have quite a nasty personality." "What did you say?" When I glared at him, Vincent shrunk back a little. He knows well that he¡¯d obviously lose if we fought. That¡¯s because he saw me vent my anger a bit in the Thorn Tree¡¯s dungeon. "This Red Moon will be nothing short of a head-on battle." I could feel Vincent hastily getting to the main point. "You said he¡¯s a complete combat type. Then there¡¯s no other way, that¡¯s right." "That¡¯s right, we¡¯ll focus on supporting you, Arian. We¡¯ll block all the low and middle-rank ones from the front." "How many are participating this time?" "We have information that the Red Moon¡¯s forces have grown even larger this time. They say he turned all the residents of nearby villages into vampires." "Haah... This is really tiring. Then there¡¯ll be over 100 at least?" "Probably so, and there¡¯s a possibility the church might intervene too." Those damn fanatics... Was their just identifying the location until now for the purpose of intervening in this fight? From their perspective, they¡¯re probably trying to get the benefits by intervening when we¡¯re fighting each other. "We¡¯ll have to fight keeping that possibility in mind. I¡¯ll have to focus on preserving as much strength as possible while fighting the Red Moon." "We¡¯re planning to have about 20 people participate this time too. Please understand, this is really scraping the bottom of the barrel." "I¡¯ve heard enough about your circumstances until now to know how many sacrifices you¡¯re making." I felt sorry for the werewolves as I listened to their circumstances from Vincent all this time. Unlike vampires who indiscriminately attack humans and crave blood, werewolves think of themselves as beings close to a disease. They didn¡¯t become werewolves because they wanted to, they didn¡¯t gain reason because they wanted to. They just became werewolves after being infected by someone. Of course, they said they also engaged in indiscriminate slaughter in the distant past, but now they¡¯re just living to protect their pack. It was the vampires who provoked that, and that¡¯s why they have no choice but to fight. "We¡¯ve arrived now. This time it¡¯ll be urban warfare." I can see small-scale villages burning here and there. And I could see werewolves setting up camp and waiting a bit away from the village. The start of a fierce battle was approaching before our eyes. Chapter 218 I arrived at the werewolf pack with Vincent. The village where the Red Moon has settled is burning. I can feel high tension from the werewolves. Vincent also seems very tense. "Vincent, thank you for everything so far." I said with all my sincerity. "Arian, I too won¡¯t forget that you fought for us." "Let¡¯s try to survive." "Yes, let¡¯s do that." We shook hands lightly. I slowly walked towards the village. The werewolf pack moves together following my lead. Is it because of the blazing flames? The moon in the sky looks red. As I reached the entrance of the village, I could see a group of vampires on the opposite side, easily over 100 in number. In front of them stood an elderly gentleman neatly dressed in a suit. ¡¯That must be the Red Moon. He has a different atmosphere from the ones I¡¯ve dealt with so far.¡¯ I strode up to him and stopped one step in front. "Nice to meet you, I hear you¡¯re called the Red Moon?" "Ho ho, and you must be the test subject with the primordial blood?" "That¡¯s right, I have a separate name but I don¡¯t particularly want to tell you." "Your name isn¡¯t important, I¡¯m only curious about the blood inside your body." I snorted at his words. "You believe such rumors? Are you not very smart despite your appearance?" "Kuk kuk, you¡¯re skilled at provocation. What I¡¯m curious about is just the desire to extract your blood and experiment with it. I have no intention of eating you. Maybe it¡¯s because I¡¯m old, but eating defective products gives me indigestion easily." "Ah~ Are you some kind of mad scientist? I heard you were a combat type, are you actually a brain type?" "I¡¯m a bit of an all-rounder." As soon as I heard those words, I quickly thrust my short sword. Screech! My short sword is bound by something like a thin string and can¡¯t move anymore. "Damn it!" I drew a dagger with my left hand and swung a quick slash. Slash! As the string breaks, my short sword becomes free. Then the Red Moon wraps both his hands. I could see ten rings on his fingers, and thin strings reflecting in the torchlight were shimmering from them. Screech! Slash! The Red Moon swings his wrapped hands quickly. Then his weapon moves in waves. Swish swish! Clang clang clang! I swung my short sword and dagger continuously, cutting down the strings and stepping back a few steps. "You¡¯re strong?" "So are you." With these compliments to each other, the werewolves standing behind me rush in. Awoo!! Then the vampires behind the Red Moon also rush at the werewolves. -Kill them! Awoo! A desperate battle breaks out as they shout at each other. Bang! Boom boom boom! Things around are breaking, tearing, and blood is splattering everywhere. One request I made to Vincent before starting the attack. That was to spill as much of the enemies¡¯ blood as possible. The werewolves are fulfilling my request very well. The blood scattered around soon becomes my power. The Red Moon and I glare at each other for a long time. "This is the second time my weapon has been cut so easily." "Ah, that¡¯s a shame, it should have been the first time." I was the one who moved first. Swish! The Red Moon takes a defensive stance. I put away the short sword in my right hand and grip the dagger in my left hand in reverse, then condense blood in my right hand to create a blood blade on the edge of my hand. The conditions are not yet sufficient to use the power of blood strongly. The blood I¡¯ve absorbed alone is not enough yet. Clang clang clang!! The Red Moon blocks the quick slashes of my dagger with crazy hand movements. The strings he controls are gradually taking on a red glow, lightly deflecting my dagger. That must be the Red Moon¡¯s ability. Clang! Clang! Swish swish swish! We deflect each other¡¯s attacks at a speed almost invisible to the eye. This won¡¯t end like this. I glance around quickly. The werewolves are indeed continuing a difficult fight as they¡¯re outnumbered. It seems there aren¡¯t just low-level vampires, as I can see Vincent fighting desperately, bound by one of them far away. ¡¯At this rate, the werewolves will be annihilated!¡¯ I focus more power on the blood blade formed on the edge of my hand. The blood blade has superior cutting power compared to ordinary short swords or daggers. Clang clang clang! One step, two steps, three steps, I approach the Red Moon while swinging my hands like crazy. Then the Red Moon¡¯s weapon emits an even stronger red light. It seems his speed and power have been enhanced. As further advance becomes difficult, I slightly changed my method. Bang!! I increased the size of the red blade and slammed it down on the ground with all my might. Thanks to the fast speed and power, the ground breaks and a big cloud of dust and wind blows. In the meantime when visibility is blocked even for a moment, I leap into the group of low-level vampires and swing my blade in all directions, cutting their waists in half. Slash! Then the blood they spew soaks the ground thoroughly. Now this power... Slash! The Red Moon¡¯s weapon flew towards my back. Rather, I leap forward even more to avoid the Red Moon¡¯s weapon. Rip! I heard the sound of vampires behind me being cut to pieces. And even werewolves. ¡¯Is he attacking regardless of friend or foe!¡¯ But thanks to that, I gained a moment of time. I turn the blood around me into droplets and float them in the air. "Hey old man, shall we start round 2?" Bang! I see the Red Moon flying towards me as he kicks off the ground strongly. "Good! Very good!! More! Make me go even wilder!" The Red Moon¡¯s expression becomes tinged with madness. That old man is excited. I change the floating blood droplets into arrow shapes. Then I point at the Red Moon. Swoosh swoosh swoosh!! The blood arrows rush towards the Red Moon. Clang! Clang clang clang clang! The Red Moon blocks the arrows by swinging his weapon from mid-air. But it seems he couldn¡¯t block them all, as wounds appear here and there. I turn the remaining blood arrows in all directions. And I start shooting them at the low-level vampires. -Argh! -Wh-what is this! I hear the enemies¡¯ screams. More, spill more blood on the battlefield. While doing so, I continuously receive and deflect all of the Red Moon¡¯s attacks. I was gradually getting used to his attacks now. He did have quite strong power, but it wasn¡¯t enough to match me. Of course, it¡¯s quite an interesting fight, but as I thought from before, the current vampires don¡¯t know much about the abilities that the primordial blood possesses. Once again, I swing a big attack to deflect all of the Red Moon¡¯s weapons at once and shout. "Vincent!! Everyone get away!" Hearing my shout, the werewolves frantically leave the battlefield. I immediately start gathering the scattered blood in the air. The blood that gathered in an instant formed a huge sphere. It was like a small blood moon. I looked at the bewildered Red Moon. "I¡¯m going to end this now, it¡¯s not fun anymore." "Oh! Ohh!! Is this the power of the primordial blood!! Amazing!! Glorious!! More! Show me more of that power!" The Red Moon emits even stronger madness. "Well then, goodbye." As I lower my hand, red rain starts falling from the sky. It becomes a fierce downpour that can pierce even steel. Swoosh! -Kyaaaa! -What is this!! S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Vampires die all over the place with holes pierced through their entire bodies by the red rain. The Red Moon is frantically waving his hands, but his weapons also become tattered and eventually disappear without a single string left. In the end, his entire body also became ragged. Swoosh In an instant, the surroundings became quiet. The Red Moon was kneeling with holes pierced through his entire body. I approach him like that. "Huhu... huhuhuh this is the primordial blood..." "Are you satisfied?" When I ask, he barely raises his head to look at me. "Not... enough..." "I don¡¯t intend to show you anything more, just die now." At the moment I was about to cut off his head, a sun appeared in the sky. For a moment I was dazed and looked up at the sky, there was a golden sun rising as if burning. And a chunk of that sun plunges down towards the Red Moon. "Arghhhh!!" The Red Moon¡¯s entire body is burned by the golden sun chunk. His entire body turns to ash and disappears. Although the Red Moon turned to ash, the golden flames don¡¯t go out and continue to burn. "What on earth..." Before I could finish speaking, priests appear here and there in the village. Damn it! I had forgotten for a moment. That the church might appear. The timing was exquisite. I had used up almost all the remaining blood too. "Arian!" I hear Vincent¡¯s voice from far away. They weren¡¯t surrounded because they had fled far away at my shout. After confirming they were safe, I looked up at the sky again. "The golden sun..." That sun was slowly, very slowly descending to the ground. Looking at the descending sun, I could see a man wearing golden priestly robes staring intently at me in the center of the light. As he descended to the ground, the golden light disappeared. He was a man with strong features. His eyes were fierce and his eyebrows were thick. He didn¡¯t look like a priest. Such a man came right up to my face and looked down at me, thrusting his face close. I looked back at that face without avoiding it. "..." This man... is crazy. Completely crazy. Just looking at his golden eyes, he seemed like a top-tier madman even among crazy fanatics. Such a man started speaking to me without changing his expression at all. "Lord... Oh Lord! I have finally found it! Everything is according to Your will, Lord! I have finally met this blasphemous monster! Everything is according to Your will!" "What... are you saying, you madman?" "Hehehe! Hahahaha!! Lord, did you see this mouth full of filth!" "Your breath stinks, so could you move your face away now?" "Hahaha!! Hahahahaha!!" Wow... He really is a madman. Someone approaches from behind the madman. "Father Michael. Shall we begin?" "Haha!!! Hahahaha!!!" Michael? That name doesn¡¯t suit him at all. Still, I couldn¡¯t move easily. The golden flames he used to attack the Red Moon. My reason seems to whisper that I shouldn¡¯t touch that carelessly. Clap! The madman suddenly clapped his hands. That sound is disgustingly loud. "Now! Brothers! It¡¯s time to show God¡¯s judgment! We¡¯re going to burn these sinful, blasphemous, and impure monsters!" ""Amen!!"" "I will deal with this monster! Brothers! Please take care of all the monsters approaching!" ""Amen!!"" Damn it, my whole body is telling me to run away. My heart is pounding. "Now monster! It¡¯s time to go to hell!" "Go... away!" Thud! I threw a punch at his face. But he doesn¡¯t move his head. He looks down at me again in that same state. "Huhuhuhuh!!! It¡¯s good! Yes! Very good! The way you¡¯re squirming! It¡¯s excellent!" "Haa... you damn..." When I tried to pull away, he was already firmly gripping my wrist. "Where are you trying to go? The fun time in hell starts now!" "I¡¯ll pass!" Thud! I tried kicking his thigh, but he doesn¡¯t budge at all. Rather, his golden eyes seem to shine even more. Ah... This is a bit dangerous, isn¡¯t it? Chapter 219 He let go of my wrist. With my body free, I widened the distance from Michael and scanned the surroundings. I could see some of the priests surrounding us chasing werewolves in the distance. The werewolves are in a tattered state from fighting the vampires. At this rate, they¡¯ll be annihilated. I¡¯ve never seen anything like this in my life so far. The blood inside my body feels like it¡¯s churning. It seems to be screaming that I should run away. "Hoo..." I took a deep breath. The priests surrounding me are the church¡¯s forces I¡¯ve dealt with so far. Breaking through them is possible even for me who has used up a lot of blood. It¡¯s just those eyes. Those mad eyes that don¡¯t turn their gaze anywhere else and only look at me prevent me from moving carelessly. "Arian! Run away!" I hear Vincent¡¯s shout from far away. I want to run away too... The werewolves are gradually being pushed back and attacked by the priests. There was no more time to delay. Swish! I quickly retreated backward and leapt towards the priests. "Block it!" Someone shouted as I jumped in. I kneed the jaw of a priest in front of me and grabbed his neck to bite it. Slash! And I instantly absorb his gushing blood. I immediately drew my short sword and swung it towards another priest... Clang! "?!" Michael, who had appeared at some point, grabbed my sword with his hand wrapped in golden flames. Sizzle The caught sword melts and breaks in two. Not stopping there, the flames were traveling down the remaining blade towards the handle. I quickly threw away the sword and threw a dagger at Michael¡¯s head. It was at a speed that shouldn¡¯t even be visible to the eye, but I shuddered at the sight of Michael catching the dagger this time too. "Isn¡¯t the monster you, not me?" Michael attacked with flames wrapped around both hands without saying anything to my provocation. Boom boom! Sizzle The weight of power in each hit is no joke. I¡¯m barely avoiding them by a paper-thin margin, but the moment I graze the flames, my flesh starts burning. "Ugh!" The pain was no joke. To think such a monster existed in the church, it¡¯s on a completely different level from what I¡¯ve been dealing with so far. There wasn¡¯t even a chance to extend my hand to attack. ¡¯I need to create an opening.¡¯ Michael¡¯s attacks seem to be random swings, but the flow of all attacks was fatal. When an attack aimed at the head seems to miss, it attacks the legs, and at the same time, a fist flies towards the stomach. I¡¯m avoiding them, but my attacks don¡¯t work, while the opponent¡¯s attacks cause damage even if they just graze me. The only fortunate thing is that the other priests can¡¯t participate in the attack. If they had participated too... I didn¡¯t want to think about the latter part. As the pain intensifies, it¡¯s becoming increasingly difficult to avoid. Thud! "Ugh...!" I took a strong punch to the abdomen. I thought I had avoided it, but my body didn¡¯t follow. Bang! I flew and crashed into a wall. The stomach hit by the fist is burning. "Argh!" It feels like my whole body is twisting in pain. I¡¯m barely holding onto consciousness, but now it might really be the end. Michael slowly approaches me like this. The expressionless face he had maintained since appearing breaks into a broad smile full of madness and ecstasy. I tried to get up, but it wasn¡¯t easy. "Damn it..." "Is the little performance all over now? Hahahahahahaha!!" Whoosh! Michael¡¯s entire body, who had been laughing for a while, is covered in golden flames. The strongly shining flames seemed like they would blind me. Michael put his hands together in a prayer posture. "Lord, I shall burn evil with holy flames..." The flames approach me. * * * Vincent thought the timing was really exquisite. It¡¯s not that they hadn¡¯t thought about the church¡¯s intrusion, but they didn¡¯t know Michael would appear. "Damn it! Retreat! I said retreat!" This kind of meaningless death wasn¡¯t what Vincent wanted. The fight against 100 vampires was by no means easy. Even dealing with just two mid-level vampires with Vincent¡¯s own abilities felt like death had come right up to his nose. "Where are you running, beasts!" "These crazy fanatic bastards!" At least no exorcists above the captain level from the church side had appeared other than Michael, so Vincent was breaking through an escape route in cooperation with the remaining werewolves. "Vincent! At this rate, we¡¯ll be annihilated! I¡¯ll open a path, use that chance!" "Damn it! Lennon! No!" Before he could stop him, the werewolf called Lennon jumps into the middle of the church¡¯s ranks. In both his hands were two sticks of dynamite from who knows where. "Go! Brothers!" Boom!! Thanks to Lennon, who carried out a suicide attack in the middle of the enemy, a big hole was created in the enemy¡¯s ranks. Vincent roughly shouted to the remaining werewolves. "Go! Now¡¯s the time! Get into the forest!" Thanks to the visibility blocked by dust, the remaining werewolves quickly fled into the forest. And Vincent turned his body right there and started running back towards the village. Anyway, the church¡¯s personnel are all focused on blocking them. If not now, he won¡¯t be able to bring Arian out. He knows. Who Michael is, he thought he would never appear again, but that nightmare-like monster in human form appeared before their eyes in exactly the same appearance as back then. He has to save Arian. Because she¡¯s their ally? To be precise, it¡¯s a contract relationship. Because affection has built up over time? No way, if it weren¡¯t for this contract, they wouldn¡¯t even have met. Because it reminds him of when he was human? He can barely remember how many decades ago that was now. Then why is Vincent running to save Arian? Without finding the answer to that, Vincent ran into the village. And he heads towards the central square of the village where Michael had appeared. From far away, he hears the continuous sound of something breaking. It means their fight is still continuing. Thinking that Arian must still be alive then, Vincent¡¯s feet moved even faster. And in Vincent¡¯s eyes as he arrived at the square, he sees the sight of Arian writhing in pain buried in one side of a wall. At the same time, he sees Michael spewing out a laugh of madness while looking at Arian like that. He sees Michael putting his hands together as if praying. Vincent knows. How dangerous that is. He had no time to hesitate. He rushes straight to Arian. And holding Arian in his arms, he fled at full speed in the opposite direction of Michael. Woong! Whoosh! He hears something resonating, and Michael¡¯s golden flames instantly grow larger. And it turns everything around to ash. Its size grows even larger and its speed is fast too. It catches up right behind Vincent¡¯s back. Sizzle "Ku... kueeeuk..." Vincent¡¯s entire back started burning up. But still, he runs without letting go of Arian. If they can enter that forest, there¡¯s a prepared escape route, so there¡¯s a way to escape. "Vin... cent..." Arian barely speaks. But Vincent had no leisure to answer. "Why... me..." Vincent himself doesn¡¯t know. Why he¡¯s saving Arian. Why he has to do this. The forest is just ahead now. He runs. Just runs. We have to live, we have to survive, it¡¯s too sad to die here now. Thinking like that, Vincent ran endlessly into the forest. * * * I woke up to find Vincent unconscious in a forest where I couldn¡¯t tell the location at all. Even though we might be in a situation where pursuit continued, to be unconscious... When I barely opened my eyes and raised my body, the surroundings were a dense forest, and it was full of tranquility. "You¡¯ve come to..." Vincent spoke with difficulty. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "We¡¯re both a mess..." I answered. With those words, Vincent and I didn¡¯t say anything for a while and were just dazed. I sat leaning against a tree. I really almost died. If it weren¡¯t for Vincent, that place would have been my last. I raised my body with difficulty. If I¡¯m alive, there are things I need to do again. "Vincent, can you get up?" "...I have no choice but to get up. Kuugh..." Vincent raises his body. His entire back was full of burn wounds. It¡¯s amazing that he can even get up. "There was no... pursuit." Vincent struggled as if in pain every time he spoke. "Still, we have to go. We can¡¯t stay here forever." I too have burn wounds all over my body. Even though I¡¯m lacking blood right now, the recovery of the wounds is too slow. Is it even recovering at all? Anyway, I went to Vincent¡¯s side and supported him. "I¡¯m sorry..." "Don¡¯t mention it." Vincent gives directions and I support him, we support each other as we walk through the quiet forest. It seemed like I should think about what to do next after getting out of here and recovering our bodies a little. So we walk for a long time. "Thank you. For saving me." "Don¡¯t mention it... Haha... Hahaha! Cough cough." "Don¡¯t laugh, wolf." "It¡¯s my heart, vampire." That¡¯s how we survived. * * * [Diary We returned to that inn from before. In the middle of escaping the forest, some werewolves who had escaped from that battle found us. We were carried by them to this place, and there was no pursuit from the church. Is that fortunate? No, why didn¡¯t they pursue? First, I needed to recover my body. The innkeeper cried terribly when she saw us being carried in on stretchers. To be precise, when she saw Vincent. It didn¡¯t seem like an ordinary relationship. The innkeeper who brought me to the bed first brought me several blood packs. I don¡¯t know where she got them from, but I felt grateful. I immediately tore open and drank the blood pack, but it feels like water with coal burned in it. Ugh... It¡¯s the first time blood has tasted bad. . . . . . Recovery is too slow. I¡¯ve rested for two straight days and drank several more blood packs, but whether my natural healing ability has decreased or if it¡¯s because of the golden flames, healing isn¡¯t progressing smoothly. I casually asked the innkeeper about Vincent¡¯s condition, and she said Vincent is also recovering from injuries too slowly, just like me. Golden flames. Michael. Damn fanatic crazy bastard. I make a deep promise to myself that I will definitely grind him up and drink him. While resting, the innkeeper brought an old book, saying Vincent asked to give it to me. That book had the church¡¯s organization, the scale of the Special Division, and the personal information of exorcists called holy knights written in it. Michael¡¯s personal information was also written there... This crazy bastard is too much. I knew he wasn¡¯t in his right mind from the first time I saw him, but this is really... I can¡¯t bring myself to write it in my diary. It¡¯s content that¡¯s quite bad for mental health. . . . . . Golden flames. It is the purifying flame possessed by the primordial holy knight. According to old records, it¡¯s said to be a fatal power to vampires, werewolves, and all existing monsters. It is said to burn all blasphemous beings, and give healing blessings to those with faith in God. Monsters touched by the flames couldn¡¯t even exert their original power and crumbled to ash, they say. ...It¡¯s a natural enemy, isn¡¯t it? I remembered Michael¡¯s crazy eyes looking at me. ...It seems like I¡¯ve been targeted wrongly no matter how you look at it. My head hurts.] Chapter 220 Misfortune always rides a rapid current and comes crashing in like a tsunami. Like the tsunami of misfortune that made me lose my mother and leave the village in my childhood, now too my misfortune came rushing in rapidly and relentlessly. A cliff that looks dizzyingly high. Below, rough waves crash violently. And in my eyes, I see a group of fanatics gathering, shouting "Amen". Heavy rain pours down. The village visible below the cliff is already in a state of total destruction. From far away, I hear screams and the sound of something collapsing. The sound of wolves howling echoes from somewhere in the village. A huge golden flame burns in the center of the village. I cut down the fanatics who rush at me like mad as I stand on top of the cliff. As if they¡¯ve become moths drawn to the light, they run endlessly towards death. I absorb all the blood they spew out. I can¡¯t waste even a single drop. I see the golden flames that were burning endlessly now turning towards the cliff. Slowly, very slowly, as if trying to end the gathering, it¡¯s coming towards me. I laughed. Though it was buried under the sound of heavy rain, I still laughed. Laughing, I continued killing the fanatics. It¡¯s time for the final battle. * * * Rewinding time to a few hours earlier. I rested for a whole week. I rested for so long that I wondered if I had ever rested this leisurely except in my childhood. Recovery is finally over now. The ugly burn scars on my body have disappeared, and thanks to the innkeeper¡¯s consideration, I was able to consume blood consistently, so my condition was quite good. Vincent also crossed death¡¯s door several times, but in the end, he too safely entered recovery. That was fortunate. If he had died, I would have had to experience the death of a benefactor who saved me once again. I didn¡¯t want to experience that a second time. From the moment I became somewhat mobile, I wrapped my whole body in bandages and went out for walks in the village. At first, the village elders and children looked at me curiously. I could feel glances looking at me furtively, but since they weren¡¯t glances filled with hostility, I walked comfortably. As I went for walks like that for a day or two, at some point children started approaching me and talking to me. [Where did you come from?] [Big sister, you¡¯re pretty.] [Your face is so white.] [What¡¯s the big city like?] [Sister, marry me when I grow up!] I sit on a bench with the chattering children and laugh and talk all day long. When I¡¯m talking with the children, adults appear, add a word or two, and then disappear. [Oh my, such a pretty young lady in our village?] [How about my son? Wait just 10 years! He¡¯ll become very handsome.] [Young lady, when you¡¯re all better, come have a meal with my daughter.] [How do you like our village? It¡¯s comfortable, right? It may be rural, but it¡¯s a good place.] Certainly, this rural village was full of warmth. Most were pure and without malice. It really is a good village. If no one comes looking. If this tiresome fighting ends. I imagined that it might be happiness to return here and spend a quiet retirement. But not now. Having finished my recovery, I entered the inn room that now felt like my own room. And somehow, in the time I had gone out and come back, several blood packs were placed on the table, and a black dress with added glamour was placed in front of the mirror. I put on the dress and packed the blood packs, organizing my camping bag. I felt grateful for the innkeeper¡¯s delicate consideration. And I took out the stationery and pen I had asked for from a villager, and started writing letters to Vincent and the innkeeper. With content expressing my gratitude with all my heart. To Vincent, I wrote that I was worried about Michael and had an uneasy feeling that he would find me soon, and that I should leave the village now to avoid harm coming to this rural village, and that we should meet again alive. Since his treatment wasn¡¯t completely finished yet, it seemed right to part like this. I gently folded the stationery, packed my bag, and left the room. Somehow... I feel like I¡¯ll miss this room a lot. I left the inn room and headed down to the counter. The innkeeper was waiting for me there. "Are you leaving now?" "Yes, I have to go. I don¡¯t think I can stay forever." "I see... You¡¯ll come again, won¡¯t you?" The innkeeper asked carefully. I spoke with a soft smile. "Come to think of it, what¡¯s your name?" "Huh? Ah... It¡¯s Meryl." "That¡¯s a nice name... I¡¯m Arian." "I knew that, but it¡¯s nice to hear it directly." "I¡¯ll... come again. And one is for Meryl, the other is for Vincent." When I handed over the letters, Meryl¡¯s eyes widened as if surprised. "Well then, take care Meryl." "Please come again, Arian." With a lighter heart, I stepped out of the inn door. The midday sunlight was warm, and a pleasant breeze was blowing. As I crossed the square towards the village entrance, the children, who must have spotted me at some point, clung to me and greeted me. I liked the bright appearance of the children who followed me to the very end of the entrance and waved their hands. "It really is a good village." I waved to the children and slowly walked along the road. * * * Having moved quite far from the village, I left the road and entered the forest. I was needlessly afraid of the gazes of unfamiliar people I might encounter if I walked on the road that people use. It was because of the anxiety that they might be connected to the church in some way, and that they might be watchers. Was it because of such anxiety? As I entered the forest after leaving the road, an indescribable strange feeling kept approaching me. Steadying my anxious heart, I ran through the forest path towards the train station. At my fast running speed, 10km takes less than 20 minutes. I frantically rushed through the forest path and reached the train station. For a moment, I calmed my breath and slipped into the train station. Although I moved carefully to be as inconspicuous as possible, there were no church priests in sight. But I couldn¡¯t relax my tension as there might be hunters here. I carefully walked to the center of the train station. Murmur murmur People were gathered, talking about something earnestly. I quietly approached a nearby bench without catching the eyes of such people, put down my bag, and concentrated my hearing to listen. [So, doesn¡¯t that mean Nuxen village is a den of monsters?] [What? Nuxen village? That¡¯s just a small village that does farming.] [Didn¡¯t you see earlier? The priests from the Central Church were going around digging into Nuxen village with fire in their eyes.] [So you¡¯re saying I¡¯ve been eating rice made by monsters all this time? Damn it! Am I becoming a monster too?] [Hey you! What are you saying to make people anxious!] [Anyway, since the Central Church priests went out in droves, it¡¯s over for Nuxen village, over.] [I¡¯ve never seen so many priests in my life, I thought it was an army.] [Has it been over an hour since they left? With those sturdy horses, that place must be a wasteland by now.] "!!" I almost cried out without realizing. Nuxen village... Right, that was the name of the village I was in. -You¡¯ll come again, won¡¯t you...? -Big sister! You must come back! -I believe you¡¯ll come back! The voices of Meryl and the children echoed in my head. -Arian, I too won¡¯t forget that you fought for us. -Let¡¯s try to survive. -Yes, let¡¯s do that. My conversation with Vincent also comes to mind. "These damn bastards!!" I was so angry that I forgot there were people around. Anger? No, hatred. These fanatic bastards I want to tear apart have invaded the village. My power goes berserk with the hatred pouring out enough to make me lose my mind. My eyes flash with a mad red light, and a red aura spews out around my body, causing a whirlwind. -Kyaaaa! -Mo-monster!! -It¡¯s a vampire!! -Run away!! -Aren¡¯t there any hunters!! -The church!! The area around the train station instantly becomes a state of pandemonium. But this is no time to care about such things. Bang! Boom! I kick off so strongly that the ground breaks, and instantly leave the train station. Did I go wrong when entering the forest? Was this what the ominous feeling was talking about? If I had left the village a little earlier, no, if I hadn¡¯t gone to the village in the first place. Thoughts of self-blame strangle my mind. I run and run again. Please don¡¯t be too late, please be alive. My speed gradually increases. At some point, dark clouds have started to thickly cover the sky in the distance. As if predicting what¡¯s to come. * * * Vincent raises his body. "Huu... Do I need to rest a bit more?" He hasn¡¯t recovered his body yet. He is not the legendary Original Wolf. He¡¯s just a degraded, pitiful beast unfortunately infected with the disease. Just an old, useless, worn-out hunter. This level of injury was the first since ¡¯that day¡¯. The thought that Michael is indeed a crazy monster made Vincent shudder. Creak The door opens and Meryl enters. She brought medicine for Vincent and carefully handed him the medicine bottle. "Drink it, it¡¯s still far off, but the pain is still there, right?" "That¡¯s right, by the way, what about Arian? Is she still resting?" "You seem to worry about her quite a bit?" A smile forms at the corners of Meryl¡¯s eyes. Maybe she wanted to play a jealous joke on Vincent. "Don¡¯t tease me, Meryl. You know what I mean." "Tch, you should play along with this kind of joke sometimes." "Huhu... I¡¯m always sorry, it feels like I¡¯m always imposing on you." Vincent tightly grasped Meryl¡¯s hand. The two have been together for over 10 years now. Both are infected with the cursed disease. And, those who have committed unforgivable sins. That¡¯s why they were like trees that could lean on each other to rest. "Take this, Arian said to give it to you before she left." "I thought she might just leave suddenly, so it was today. But a letter? That¡¯s unexpected, it doesn¡¯t seem like her at all." "I was a bit surprised too. She gave one to me as well." Vincent opens his eyes wide as if even more surprised. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And then he slowly started reading the letter Arian left. [. . . . . We said we¡¯d survive, didn¡¯t we? So let¡¯s definitely meet alive next time too. When that time comes, I think everyone will be able to live smiling. ¡ªYour comrade-in-arms, Arian] The last part of Arian¡¯s letter stayed in Vincent¡¯s heart. In the past, he thought he no longer had the right to live because of his cursed disease. But now, Vincent had to live for the things he needed to protect. He carefully folded Arian¡¯s letter again and handed it to Meryl. "Could you put this in the inside pocket of my jacket, Meryl?" "Seems like you liked the contents of the letter quite a bit." "It was just telling me to live well." "She left similar content for me too." "And she said to meet again, Arian... It reminded me of that day, what I did in the past... Maybe that¡¯s why I cared more." Meryl gently grabbed Vincent¡¯s shoulders, laid him down on the bed, and covered him with a blanket. "Don¡¯t worry, Vincent. You said Arian is strong. So rest well now. You need to get better soon." "That¡¯s right... Thank you always, Meryl." With those words, Vincent closes his eyes and falls asleep. Meryl, who had been watching him like that for a while, closed the door without making a sound and left the room. Some time passes like that. In his sleep, Vincent felt like he heard some noisy sound. That sound gradually became clearer and louder. Bang! "Vincent!!" Vincent¡¯s eyes flew open. Chapter 221 I trembled with the rising murderous intent. While running like mad, what I saw was burning farmland. And the sight of some farmers dying in agony as they burned. I saw some fanatic bastards setting fire to the remaining farmland. I rushed at them just like that. Slash! I rushed in at a speed they couldn¡¯t react to and bit off their necks one by one. And I drank their blood. Mercy? Minimal conscience? I don¡¯t have such things now. Right now, I¡¯m just a monster. So I simply kill. I advanced like that, biting and tearing everything I saw up to the village entrance. I hear the sight of the burning village everywhere and screams for help at the same time. These crazy bastards were massacring the villagers. I flew right into the middle of the enemies. Thud! As soon as they saw me suddenly appear in the middle, they started to go berserk. The crazy bastards who were killing villagers and offering prayers become mad dogs who have found prey and rush at me. As I exert my power, the blood scattered throughout the village answers my call. And then I condensed it. More, even more deeply and thickly. And that blood became a sword. "I¡¯ll kill you all, become my strength." It¡¯s my fault. It¡¯s because I was here. The misfortune that started from me has infected everyone. So, I¡¯ll become a monster and kill them all. Awoo! "!!" This howl is Vincent. He was still alive. Looking in the direction the sound came from, it¡¯s the center of the village, the square. I ran towards there. I ran at full speed, crazily cutting down the fanatics blocking my way. -Block it! -Amen! It seems they brought over 100 people just to catch me. So while they might be sufficient in quantity, their quality was significantly low. The ones blocking my way couldn¡¯t even block one of my sword strikes. And when I arrived at the square, there was that crazy monster bastard standing in a prayer posture, and in front of him, Vincent was kneeling and breathing heavily with difficulty. Swoosh! Without saying anything, I charged and swung my blood sword at Michael. Then in an instant, Michael¡¯s entire body was wrapped in golden flames. Sizzle I hear the sound of the blood sword evaporating as it¡¯s blocked by the flames. But it doesn¡¯t matter. The villagers¡¯ blood is spread all over the village. I quickly reconcentrate as much as is consumed. "You crazy bastard!!" "I knew you would come. God¡¯s guidance is gracious! Oh behold!! This lamb will not escape now! For Your great glory! Uahahahaha!!!!" Sizzle sizzle I didn¡¯t stop the sword. Michael just lightly blocks my sword with both hands. I stepped back a few steps and supported Vincent to stand up. "Vincent! Are you okay?!" "You stupid... Why did you come..." "That¡¯s not important right now! What about Meryl!" "Trying to... protect... the children..." Vincent couldn¡¯t continue his words. I couldn¡¯t bear to hear the rest. "You son of a bitch!! What did this village do wrong! Even innocent people..." "Innocent, you say? Those heretics in that blasphemous village hid monsters like you! How deep a sin is that!" "Those people didn¡¯t know...!" "You¡¯re saying ignorance is not a sin? Ignorance is also a sin! That¡¯s why I ordered repentance! So they could pay for that sin with death!! They will understand that it¡¯s to burn monsters like you! Because they¡¯ve all returned to God¡¯s embrace!!" While Michael was spewing his crazy words Vincent and I were surrounded. Even at a glance, there seem to be over 80 or 90 people. "Damn it! Vincent, can you move?" "Huhu... huhuhuh! Arian, it seems this is where I¡¯ll die." "What nonsense are you..." "When I give the signal, run Arian..." Vincent tells me to run away in a small voice. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Damn it! Then I¡¯ll die here too! Kill at least one more of these bastards! Kill that crazy bastard too!" As I vent my frustration, Vincent whispers in my ear in an even smaller voice. "There are... villagers we evacuated. We need to get them far away from here..." So that¡¯s what it was? Are there still survivors? If so, there¡¯s no need to hesitate. Even if the villagers survive and later resent us, no, me, they had to be saved. "My body condition isn¡¯t as bad as I thought. But, if you break through the front and run, I¡¯ll take care of the rear and follow. Draw in many enemies, that¡¯s how we¡¯ll lead all the enemies out of the village." "Okay, let¡¯s do it." The conversation with Vincent ended in an instant. What¡¯s left is to cause as much chaos as possible. Draw that crazy bastard towards me. I looked at the cliff visible beyond the village. A suitable place to deal with them. "Vincent!" As I called his name, I left Michael and started attacking one part of the encirclement. And Vincent follows behind me, dealing with the wounded enemies. I glanced back in that state, but for some reason Michael didn¡¯t move, and instead showed a bright, broad smile. ¡¯Crazy bastard!¡¯ As I pushed forward, one part of the encirclement started to break. I ran straight ahead without looking back. At a speed they could follow. "Hahahahaha!! Hahahahaha!!! You¡¯re using cheap tricks!! It¡¯s fun! So much fun! Priests! Chase them! All of you! Everyone goes! Don¡¯t fear death! We are those who receive God¡¯s will! We are purifying the blasphemous monster with God¡¯s holy flames! Go!" I could hear that crazy bastard¡¯s words even as I gradually moved away. Of course, I thought Vincent would be right behind me... He was watching me move away. "Ee... eek!! Vincent!!!" When I shouted, Vincent just raised his hand. Vincent, who had been looking at me like that for a moment, turned his back towards Michael. "Go!" I hear Vincent¡¯s loud shout. The church bastards at the rear stop and look at Vincent. But when Michael gestures to them, I saw them leaving him behind and running towards me. I had no choice but to run towards the cliff. Because I had to draw all those enemies towards me now. Awoo!!! I hear Vincent¡¯s wolf howl from behind. I could tell that howl would be the last one I could hear. * * * "Two remain." Vincent and Michael. Only the two of them remained in the burning village square. All the remaining church personnel followed Arian. Vincent¡¯s body wasn¡¯t well enough to follow Arian. So, he had to do what he needed to do here. "I know what you¡¯re up to. Monster." "Tch! Whether you know or not doesn¡¯t matter, monster. I¡¯ll just be satisfied if I can land one punch on that annoying face of yours." "Mm mm. Mm mm! Ex~~~cellent!!! Very excellent! I like that attitude very much! I¡¯ll accept it!!" Vincent thinks he¡¯s going to die anyway. Plus, Meryl is gone too. Vincent remembered her desperately taking the church¡¯s spears and swords with her body to protect the children. Her face smiling faintly at him even in that pain. Awoo!!! Vincent howls as loudly as he can. And even though his whole body was creaking, torn, split, and burst all over, he rushed in with all his might. Just to land one punch. Whoosh! His fist flies towards Michael. In that very short moment, Vincent thought. No, he was seeing. He sees himself as a hunter who became useless in an instant when he lost one leg. He remembers the face of his wife who cared for him and loved him unconditionally when he returned to his hometown after retiring as a hunter. He also remembered witnessing his wife¡¯s death. No. He remembered himself in werewolf form, biting and tearing at his wife while growling. He also remembers his wife¡¯s face as she caressed Vincent¡¯s face, saying she was fine and closing her eyes with a smile, asking him to live. He had lived until now because of that one request to live. His wife¡¯s words became a curse that kept Vincent alive. Time kept flowing like that for decades. Vincent¡¯s fist is about to touch Michael¡¯s face now. Thud! Michael didn¡¯t budge at all. He just keeps smiling. Seeing Michael like that, Vincent smiled too. He laughed like mad. Michael grabbed Vincent¡¯s wrist. Whoosh! Then Vincent¡¯s entire body starts to be engulfed by golden flames. Still, he kept laughing. As if satisfied that he had punched Michael in the face. "Hey." "?" In tremendous pain, Vincent called out to Michael. "You don¡¯t remember me, do you?" "Why would I remember a monster like you?" "Huhuhu... Hahaha!! Yeah, I thought so. I thought you wouldn¡¯t remember. Hahahaha!" Vincent no longer felt pain. His voice no longer came out. He felt his body, his soul disappearing. And as he does, he remembers. The greetings he exchanged with Arian. The children who excitedly followed him when he came back from hunting with meat. The village youths and elders rejoicing over that year¡¯s good harvest while sharing a drink. His comrades who fought fiercely together against the vampires. And, Meryl¡¯s smile. "..." Michael was blankly staring at Vincent turning to ash and disappearing. Should I say it was quite impressive? To think he could smile so brightly in the face of death. "It was an impressive punch. However, I really don¡¯t know who you are. In any case, I hope you¡¯ll be reborn as an excellent believer blessed by God in your next life. Amen." For the first time, Michael prayed for a monster. But his essence remains the same. That monsters are evil that have no right to exist in this world. Now he looks at the distant cliff. Probably, the monster he must kill will soon show itself. He felt like it was a fate given by God. When he first saw Arian, he strongly felt that that monster shouldn¡¯t exist. As if he felt this was the reason God had given him the flames. "Oh Lord, I praise You. I glorify You. The fate You have given me. This lamb will burn the monster! Amen!!" As his prayer ended, Arian¡¯s figure appeared on the cliff as a tiny dot. Michael smiled. He smiled endlessly. And his entire body started to emit even more intense golden flames than before. * * * Drip drip When I arrived at the edge of the cliff, it started raining lightly. I can see the village beyond the cliff. Even from my view, I couldn¡¯t see Vincent. I wonder how it was? His last moment. If I hadn¡¯t helped him, if he hadn¡¯t come to ask me for help, maybe this situation wouldn¡¯t have happened. Drip drip drip drip swoosh The rain intensified. The wind is blowing too. Rumble! Thunder strikes. Perfect weather for dying. It¡¯s such fantastic weather that it makes all the days I struggled to survive seem ridiculous. I could feel them approaching. One, two, and ten, dozens came to kill me at the edge of the cliff. But I can¡¯t die to such low-level bastards. Rather, I intend to kill every single one of them. Now, let¡¯s begin. Chapter 222 Slash! Swoosh It¡¯s the spectacle of a fountain of blood spraying in the air and the downpour washing it to the ground. I bite and tear the necks of those rushing at me, rip off their legs and use them to bash their heads. I¡¯ve given up fighting as a human. It¡¯s truly a monster¡¯s battle. I use the power of blood minimally, saving and saving more. "Arghhhh!" I shout towards the sky. This damn world was too painful. If they had just left me alone, I would have blended in with humans and lived an ordinary life. Was I careless? Did I stupidly run out of blood and go berserk, getting caught by the church? Is just being alive the problem? "Did I want to be born?!" I vented my frustration. Humans created me. Humans are trying to kill me. Humans let me live. "Damn you humans!!" Slash! Bang! Thud! I tear apart and kill the crazy bastards rushing at me. I smash them to death. It¡¯s just time for killing. Now. Suddenly, their attacks stop. Swoosh Only the sound of rain remains on the cliff. I looked up at the sky. "You¡¯re finally coming, huh?" As if mocking the rain clouds covering the sun, a new sun rose below the clouds. The golden flames approach me as if showing off their majesty. "You¡¯re so relaxed even when your subordinates are dying like dogs." Michael looks at the priests below the cliff without looking at me. "Everyone." All the priests look up at him. "The prayers of our brothers who made noble sacrifices will burn that monster. Our brothers have returned to the Lord¡¯s embrace. They are excellent and proud." ""Amen."" "You¡¯ve worked hard. Brothers, leave the rest to me and withdraw now." As Michael¡¯s words end, the priests disappear one by one. Some priests collect cross necklaces from among the corpses before leaving. Like the tide going out, they disappeared in an instant. And Michael, who had been floating in the sky, came down in front of me. "I felt fate. The fate that you and I would face each other like this." "My type is slim men, I don¡¯t want to feel fate with a crazy muscleman like you." "Huhu... huhuhuh!! When the Lord gave me this power, I became His flame and burned heretics and monsters. Because this was the mission given to me." "A priest giving confession to a monster, I knew you were crazy from the start, but to think you¡¯d be this mad." Michael keeps talking as if he¡¯s not interested in what I¡¯m saying. "Now I know. That my mission given by my Lord is to burn you. That you are the great sin that will push this world into the abyss of evil! Huhuhuh...!! Hahaha!! Now, monster!! Make your last struggle!" "...I¡¯m really sick of this. I just wanted to live. You crazy bastards are the ones who ruined that!" I unleashed the power of blood at full force. The blood of the priests I killed on the cliff floats in the air. I turned all of it into blades and concentrated my attack on Michael. Sizzle! Swoosh! The blood blades evaporate lightly against Michael¡¯s flames. But I didn¡¯t stop my attack. Along with the blood blades, I create blood arrows and pour them towards Michael¡¯s front. Swish swish swish! Ignoring all attacks, Michael starts approaching me step by step. I stopped all attacks and turned all the blood scattered on the ground into a blood moon in the air. I wrapped all the blood I absorbed around my body. And I too approach Michael. Now there are no techniques. There¡¯s only physical attacks. Whoosh! Thud! Sizzle We swing fists and feet at each other. My fists that strike quickly and retreat for speed and Michael¡¯s heavy fists that ignore them pour out attacks without rest. Swish swish swish! Attacks too fast for his muscular build pour down on me. Every time his entire body wrapped in flames touches me, the blood surrounding me evaporates. And every time I attack him surrounded by blood, his flames are chipped away little by little. "Good. Excellent!! You¡¯ve degraded a lot from the Primordial I know, but you¡¯re stronger than those stupid noble monster bastards now!" Michael flies back far. I immediately take a stance to chase and attack. Then, Michael emits strong golden flames and takes a prayer posture. "Amen." Golden flames rush in. This was that technique from when Vincent took me and ran away. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There was no time to wonder if I could block it or not. I quickly erected the blood moon I had raised in the air in front of me. "Uahhh!!!" "Ahhhhh!!!men!!!!" Boom!! "Huff... huff..." I used all the blood I had. It all evaporated, but I was barely able to block it. I didn¡¯t even have the strength left to move a finger. If I¡¯m like this, then surely Michael too... "As expected, you blocked it. Amazing, truly amazing that there¡¯s a vampire in this era who can block this miracle kuhahaha!!" Did he use up all his flames too? There didn¡¯t seem to be any flames left on his body. But Michael doesn¡¯t show any sign of fatigue. "I poured everything I had, you should at least block that much..." Suddenly Michael howled towards the sky. "Huhuhuhuh... Lord!! Please watch over this lamb!! Ameeeeen!!!!!" I hadn¡¯t even noticed when the rain stopped. But, the rain clouds are clearing. Then sunlight comes down through the gaps in the clouds. Michael spreads both arms to bask in the sunlight, then puts his hands together and takes a prayer posture. "Oh... Lord..." He sheds tears as he offers his prayer. Whoosh! Golden flames burst out from Michael¡¯s entire body once again. "Ha! What is this...?" Is this really a miracle? So the Lord this bastard talks about is doing this to protect his little lamb? Just to kill me? "I really hate this damn world." As if all preparations to kill me are complete, the word "death" strangles my neck. "Come to think of it, you kept howling that you had to keep living or something, huhuhuhuh you¡¯re under a big misunderstanding." "?" What nonsense is he spouting? "From the beginning, there was no reason for you to live. You¡¯re a foreign substance! In this world prepared by the Lord, a foreign substance like you shouldn¡¯t exist at all! Huhuhuh!! Hahahahaha!!!!!" "...!" "It¡¯s boring. So boring, those useless thoughts about living or whatever. Primordial blood? Were you created? Did you want to be born? What does any of that matter! You monsters just! If the Lord! If we! Tell you to die, you die, and if we tell you to live, you should crawl like maggots to live!" Michael calms the flames he was emitting and comes right up to me with his bare body, grabs my neck and lifts me up. "Kuk!! Kuuuk..." Michael moves me to the edge of the cliff in that state. "This is the end. Monster, I¡¯m thinking of burning you and reducing the number of remaining noble bastards to less than half. Everything will be accomplished according to the Lord¡¯s will." "Th-that... idiots... not my... business... kuk." "Huhu, huhuhuh how about it? Want to try offering a prayer at the end?" I painfully clenched my fist and held it up in front of his eyes. And I extended my middle finger. "Go... to hell." Whoosh!! My entire body burst into flames. "Amen..." Swoosh Michael threw my burning body off the cliff. I closed my eyes. I¡¯m falling. Down, endlessly falling. They say your life flashes before your eyes when facing death, but I didn¡¯t have any thoughts. I don¡¯t feel any pain either. Crack crack! Shatter! The sound of something cracking and breaking brushes past my ears. Swoosh! I should have fallen into the sea or disappeared into ashes, but I felt like I was passing through something. I opened my eyes in confusion. The flames that were burning my body had disappeared, and emptiness spread out all around. [What is this?] [What is this?] [What is this?] My words echo in the emptiness. [Is this hell?] [Is this hell?] [Is this hell?] Or not? My body seemed to be floating. Shatter! Once again I heard the sound of something breaking, and an unknown crack appeared before my eyes. Swoosh! And it sucks me in. My body, unable to resist, was sucked into the crack. And. Thud! My back hit a hard floor. "Ugh!" Pain swept through me as if my back was going to break. "D-damn it, what is this...?" The world is spinning. My whole body felt like it was being torn apart to the point where I couldn¡¯t even move a finger. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and exhaled. How much time passed, the pain gradually disappeared, and the dizziness started to fade. And I opened my eyes and looked around. A room somewhere? A laboratory? What is this? It seems familiar, but the style of the building is different from what I knew. And it¡¯s like ruins, things are broken here and there and there are bloodstains on the walls. Clatter "Who¡¯s there?" I tensed up and forcibly raised my body. "Um... are you human?" It was the voice of a young girl. I barely managed to get up and sat on a worn-out chair nearby. "I should be... human?" When I said that, I saw a child peeking her face through the gap of a shattered door. "Who are you?" "I¡¯m Sadie..." "I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on, but I won¡¯t hurt you, so can you show yourself?" When I spoke carefully, Sadie revealed herself. She was a grubby-looking child in torn and worn clothes I¡¯d never seen before, looking like she hadn¡¯t washed well. Was she over 10 years old? "Are you... okay?" When Sadie asked, I finally looked over my body. Well, yeah, I¡¯m a mess too. The strange thing is that there are no burn marks. What¡¯s going on? No, before that. "Um, sorry, but Sadie, could you help support me?" Relying on Sadie carefully supporting me, I stood up. "Can we look outside?" "Yes!" Sadie supported me and took me to the window. The wind blowing through the broken window brushes past my head. What spread out before my eyes was... Tall, big buildings I¡¯ve never seen before, and the sight of a ruined and shattered city. Things that look like corpses are walking on the streets. "Is that...? Undead?" "Huh? No, those are zombies." "Zombies??" Another world...? "Sadie? Where is this?" "Here? This is Pittsburgh..." It was a completely unfamiliar place name. ...I really don¡¯t know. As I stood still with a blank expression of disbelief, Sadie spoke to me. "If you have nowhere to go, do you want to come with me? I¡¯m heading to LA." I didn¡¯t understand anything, but I felt like I should follow her. And... somehow the child seemed familiar. Have I seen her somewhere? I asked the first thing I was curious about. "Is there... a church here?" "A church? I haven¡¯t seen one, but they say there used to be big ones long ago. Now, I don¡¯t think anyone cares about such things?" Ah, so there were some but not anymore. Well then... that¡¯s fine. For now, I¡¯m alive and wherever this is, there¡¯s no church. Looking at the state outside, it doesn¡¯t seem like it¡¯ll be easy, but I didn¡¯t want to leave this child. I knelt slightly, breaking away from Sadie¡¯s support, looked at Sadie¡¯s face and smiled. And I held out my hand. "Nice to meet you Sadie, my name is Arian." "Arian! That¡¯s a pretty name! Nice to meet you." Sadie grasped the hand I extended. Then, a man wearing a doctor¡¯s gown and some kind of black helmet I¡¯ve never seen before appeared in my mind. Who is it? Is it someone I should know? "Sadie, let¡¯s find just one more person before we leave, that... what did you call it?" "LA! They said survivors are gathered in LA! But who are we looking for?" "I¡¯m not sure either, but it feels like there¡¯s someone I need to find!" "But... outside is full of zombies..." "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll protect you. Don¡¯t worry about anything." Without realizing it, I hugged Sadie. Feeling Sadie¡¯s warmth, my heart calmed down. As if I had come home. Side Story. Arian of the Parallel World [End] Chapter 223 Side Story. The Beginning of the Zombie Outbreak For Aiden, that day started as an ordinary morning like any other. The loud alarm woke him up, he got out of bed, washed up, ate cereal, and drank coffee while watching TV - that kind of routine. The only difference was the serious content flowing from the news. "An epidemic..." The nonstop emergency broadcast reported unsettling news that all of New York was being designated as a quarantine zone due to an unusual epidemic, and that it might spread across the entire United States. Aiden lived in Pittsburgh, not far from New York, so he frowned as he drank the rest of his coffee. If the New York mayor sent out a request for medical volunteers or manpower, he would inevitably be drafted. Worried about whether he could refuse if the city sent a dispatch request, he knew today would obviously be a hectic day with many people who had escaped from New York to nearby Pittsburgh visiting hospitals in anxiety. ¡¯Will my vacation plans be ruined?¡¯ He was planning to travel to Europe with his girlfriend Jane, so the current situation was unwelcome. Aiden gulped down the remaining coffee and hurried to prepare for work. Thump thump thump! Just as he finished preparing and was about to leave the house, someone roughly knocked on the front door. Since there was no one who would visit his house early in the morning, Aiden opened the door with a puzzled expression. When he opened it, he saw Jane with a pale face. "Jane? What¡¯s wrong all of a sud-" Before the question could finish, Jane roughly hugged Aiden and tried to drag him out of the house without any explanation. Aiden gently grabbed Jane¡¯s hand. "Jane, what¡¯s wrong?" Jane¡¯s pale hand was trembling. Aiden held her shaking hand tightly and made eye contact, trying to reassure her by conveying warmth. Jane seemed to feel a little better from Aiden¡¯s warmth and spoke slowly, not as urgently. "Aiden, can I explain the details as we go? We need to move right now." Aiden got into Jane¡¯s car parked in front of the house, following her. As soon as he got in, Jane roughly stepped on the accelerator. Screech- "J-Jane, calm down!" Aiden hurriedly put on his seatbelt in surprise. Jane took a deep breath and started explaining. "Aiden, there¡¯s something you need to know about the epidemic." She said that the spread of the disease had already far exceeded the quarantine zone and was rapidly spreading in Pittsburgh. And that it¡¯s an incurable disease for now, and the administrative system is so broken that even the mortality rate couldn¡¯t be tallied. The symptoms that appear when the disease develops were beyond imagination. It starts with the pupils dilating and showing minor seizure symptoms, she said. Eventually they lose their reason and can¡¯t understand human speech. Extreme aggression appears, and only the instinct to bite and eat humans remains. "That¡¯s... like zombies from movies?" "That¡¯s right, Aiden. Zombies." Hearing those words, Aiden was shocked. But he couldn¡¯t dismiss Jane¡¯s words lightly. Jane works at a pharmaceutical company related to the government, and her job is developing new drugs and researching vaccines. She has a job that requires her to respond to diseases faster than anyone. But Aiden couldn¡¯t continue speaking. Zombies? What an unrealistic thing to say. When Aiden fell silent, she didn¡¯t explain any further. Because there was no need to. They were just about to enter the city center from Aiden¡¯s house located slightly outside the city outskirts. Jane was driving at a speed faster than anyone else. Far ahead, a person was blocking the middle of the road, swaying. "We, we should slow down..." Aiden couldn¡¯t continue his next words. The person reflected in his eyes had a terribly mangled appearance even from a distance, with half of the upper body, from the collarbone to the waist, completely caved in as if crushed by something, leaving no internal organs or spine intact. Aiden is a doctor. A very skilled one at that. Even to his eyes, that person¡¯s body condition was as good as dead while standing. Yet it¡¯s moving. Flailing its arms as if craving something. Suddenly, that corpse-like person saw the approaching car and started charging madly like a bull rushing at a matador. "Jane! Stop!" Despite Aiden¡¯s shout, Jane rather increased her speed and drove straight towards that person. Thud! Bang! The car shook violently with an impact that felt like twisting, and that person flew backwards, splattering blood on the windshield. Aiden quickly looked back. Jane had hit a person. No, can it be called a human? Because in Aiden¡¯s eyes as he looked back, he saw the completely shattered lower body trembling and trying to get up to chase their car again. "What is this...!" Jane was silent. She just kept driving endlessly towards somewhere. Aiden now began to realize that what Jane had said was true. And as he looked forward again, he witnessed the miserable reality. As they entered deeper into the city center, the roads were a complete mess with stopped cars. The beautiful streets that were once the symbol of this city were littered with corpses, and on top of them, bodies that were people until just moments ago were rushing at other people. There were also police. The desperate shouts and gunshots of those trying to evacuate citizens while shooting at approaching zombies from barricades made of police cars echoed in his ears. The stores lining the streets were all burning or had their doors smashed, the glass walls were completely shattered, and it was a total mess as if looted. Aiden thought. That the New York he knew would no longer exist. That it had become a hell where only two options remained: being eaten or surviving. Blocked by wrecked cars, they could no longer drive. "From now on, you need to follow me closely Aiden, okay? Aiden? Can you hear me?!" Jane shook Aiden. He shook his head vigorously. "Y-yeah Jane, let¡¯s go." As Aiden seemed to come to his senses, Jane took out an iron pipe and a metal baseball bat from the back seat and handed one to him. "We need to go to the laboratory, there... I¡¯ll explain why I¡¯m doing this Aiden so... trust me and follow me." "Alright, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll follow you no matter what happens." Aiden steeled himself at Jane¡¯s worried gaze. The two carefully got out of the car and walked into an alley that seemed less populated. Jane running forward through the alleys with Aiden following behind, the countless screams of people and the roars of zombies echoed in their ears from behind them. "Wait!" Jane suddenly stopped and halted Aiden in a low voice. "What..." "Shh!" As Jane quickly lowered her body, Aiden followed and lowered his body too. And when she pointed ahead, Aiden¡¯s gaze moved following her hand. There, they saw a zombie tearing apart a corpse. The zombie didn¡¯t seem to notice them and was endlessly tasting the corpse. Crunch crunch They tensed at the chilling sound. As Jane was about to raise her body as if she had decided something, Aiden grabbed her shoulder. "I¡¯ll, I¡¯ll do it Jane." The Jane he knew wasn¡¯t someone to handle this kind of thing. Because she was infinitely kind and loved meeting people, Aiden couldn¡¯t make her do such a cruel thing. He knows. From the B-grade zombie movies he had watched for fun before, and the knowledge from his profession as a doctor, how to silence that zombie. Grip Aiden tightly gripped the golden bat and quietly approached behind the zombie. Inhale! Thud! The strike was instantaneous. Aiden doesn¡¯t hesitate for even a moment. If he makes a mistake here, the consequences of that mistake will directly affect Jane too. -Gu, guuuh!! The zombie that was hit hard on the back of the head writhes and gets up. Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Aiden swung the bat down with all his might again and again. Brain matter and blood splatter everywhere. Still, Aiden didn¡¯t stop the bat. Thwack!! Thwack!!! Jane grabs Aiden¡¯s shoulder as he swings down as if he¡¯s lost his mind. "Aiden, it¡¯s over now..." "Huff! Huff!" Jane pulled Aiden, who had become dazed, to sit down. The two felt each other¡¯s warmth without saying anything for a very brief moment. They move through the alleys even more quietly but quickly. The two who had avoided countless deaths under the name of luck finally arrived at the closed research facility. Leaving the tightly locked main gate behind, Jane holds her keycard to the emergency exit for employees installed on the side wall. Beep. The lock on the iron door was quietly released. Jane looked back before entering the iron door. She thought of the countless screams they had heard on the way here, the people who must have struggled to survive. Jane wondered if someone had discovered them and followed, but only zombies who had lost their reason had found and followed them. The two pass through the iron door without a word. Thump! Thump! From outside the closed iron door came the sound of zombies pounding on it, unable to do anything. Jane closed the additional inner door and firmly locked it. The two looked at each other without saying anything. The realization that they had survived gradually filled their hearts. Then, Jane burst into tears and fell into Aiden¡¯s arms. Aiden endlessly patted Jane¡¯s back. After some time passed. Jane, seeming to have finally calmed down, broke away from Aiden¡¯s embrace and grabbed his hand. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I¡¯m sorry, Aiden. I should have explained more, anything. I¡¯m so sorry for dragging you along unilaterally." "No, it must have been very hard for you? Thank you Jane. You did it to save me." Aiden looked at the sniffling Jane, and only then examined the surroundings of the research facility. "Are there no more people left here?" "No, everyone evacuated the day before." "Everyone? But there was no official announcement... Oh..." The government and research facility know the starting point of this whole situation. They must know. That the origin of the zombie outbreak happening outside right now is this very research facility. Did they think it could be controlled? Or did the situation start without time to think? Yet everyone fled without any warning. Aiden couldn¡¯t ultimately say the words rising from the bottom of his heart to Jane. No, he couldn¡¯t. He¡¯s not that cold-blooded person, and besides, isn¡¯t she the person he loves most? Aiden swallowed the words that kept coming up in his mind. [Jane, are you also one of the culprits who created this situation?] Chapter 224 Aiden and Jane. After entering the research facility and taking some time to calm down, Jane made a proposal to Aiden. "Aiden, let¡¯s make a vaccine." "A vaccine?" "Yes, a vaccine. You and I might be able to do it." Jane spoke confidently. Rather than worrying about the future and feeling anxious, Jane seemed to be thinking about the core problem. Instead of preparing weapons to fight against the zombies surrounding them, or making concrete escape plans, she meant to develop a vaccine to overcome the virus itself. Aiden shook his head. "That¡¯s impossible, Jane. There are only the two of us here now, and we don¡¯t even know how long we can hold out, let alone develop a vaccine without manpower in this situation." Aiden couldn¡¯t help but be pessimistic. Even though he¡¯s a doctor, his knowledge of vaccine and new drug research theory is only at a very basic level. And that¡¯s just what he learned briefly in college. Of course, Jane did work on making vaccines at this research facility, but she wasn¡¯t a veteran nor someone with years of experience in this field. Could Jane, who had only worked for 3 years, conduct the research? "There¡¯s no guarantee that it will work well, Jane." Aiden¡¯s thoughts were natural. To make a vaccine, you obviously need samples. That means you have to directly contact zombies and collect samples. It was too dangerous an idea. "That¡¯s why we have to do it, Aiden. Trust me." Jane didn¡¯t back down from her assertion. She said that as soon as this situation occurred, she immediately thought of returning to the research facility. She was worried about whether she could bring him back here in the chaotic situation outside, but she actively explained to Aiden that coming back was lucky, and that they should use that luck. "Just follow me for now, Aiden. I have a lot to show you." She led Aiden around various parts of the research facility. While doing so, she showed him various instruments installed in the research facility, numerous drugs prepared for conducting research, and also showed food for their survival and emergency power facilities operated by solar energy. From what Aiden could assess, the interior of the research facility had supplies stocked to last at least two months, and seeing Jane¡¯s strong determination to definitely succeed, Aiden also began to think there might be a possibility. And anyway, even if Aiden himself didn¡¯t agree, Jane would conduct the research alone. "Alright Jane, I believe in you. I think it¡¯s better to pursue a dream-like goal with you than to live day by day without any hope." "Thank you Aiden!" Jane fell into Aiden¡¯s arms. In Aiden¡¯s eyes looking at her, a light of love and hope sparkled. * * * Before officially starting the vaccine research. The two organized the supplies that were messily placed here and there in the research facility. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The research facility consisted of 3 floors in total. They organized perishable food items in the refrigerator of the cafeteria located on the 1st floor. They couldn¡¯t carry the refrigerator to the 3rd floor, and since perishable items would be consumed first for now, they sent canned food items with long shelf lives to the 3rd floor. From the security guards¡¯ night duty room on the same floor, they gathered various clothing and shoes, items necessary for living, and weapons left behind by them. The 2nd floor was the researchers¡¯ personal office space. From there, they gathered books necessary for vaccine research, PCs, and items left behind by researchers. The 3rd floor was the laboratory. It¡¯s where all the machines and instruments needed for vaccine development were gathered. The reason for moving all items to the 3rd floor was simple. It was in case of an unforeseen situation where zombies might take over the 1st or 2nd floor. Since the 3rd floor is a laboratory, it can be self-isolated, so it was Aiden¡¯s intention to make the 3rd floor their last stronghold. And fortunately, there was plenty of water. There were more than 5 water purifiers on each floor, and there were quite a few spare water tanks for using those purifiers. The two spent two days organizing all items and checking the conditions necessary for survival. And Aiden inspected the weapons brought from the 1st floor. Two MP5 submachine guns and 4 magazines. Three Glock pistols and 2 magazines. Two bulletproof vests. One military knife. When the full-scale research begins, they¡¯ll have to go outside to secure samples. Aiden has no practical experience. What shooting would a doctor do, it¡¯s just that because the world is dangerous, he had bought a gun for his own safety and only shot it at a shooting range. Still, having weapons would be a great help to Aiden and Jane. It was the 5th day since the zombie outbreak occurred. Preparations were roughly finished. * * * To conduct full-scale vaccine research, the two started zombie research, that is, observing zombies from the rooftop. The reason was simple. The wall they hit was not a lack of knowledge, nor the difference between theory and practice, but a very basic and simple problem. They needed a sample of the virus, that is, a person infected with the zombie virus. However, that ultimately meant that either Aiden or Jane would have to open the door and go outside the research facility, and bring a zombie into it as if hunting. Jane said it wouldn¡¯t matter if the sample subject died, but there was no need to explain how terrifying such a task would be. That¡¯s why zombie research began at Aiden¡¯s suggestion. It started with simple observation. There were several zombies visible to the naked eye around the research facility from the rooftop. Aiden and Jane gave each zombie an experimental name based on the clothes they were wearing or physical characteristics, and began tracking their behavior according to day and night, and date. Among them was a zombie wearing a suit. "Robert..." Jane explained to Aiden that he was an employee of the bank near the research facility that she often visited. Robert usually wandered around the buildings near the research facility, but he only showed such behavior during daytime. During the day, he would wander around that area for hours, but when the sun set and night fell, he was no longer visible from the research facility. But still, he would invariably appear again the next morning. "It¡¯s like he¡¯s commuting to the bank, is there a fixed pattern?" Aiden speculated that it might be memories remaining from when they were human. However, as time passed, they could see that the patterns of some zombies like Robert began to simplify, indicating that those memories don¡¯t last long. So, when the data from Aiden and Jane¡¯s observations was organized, they moved on to the next step. This time, they directly stimulated the zombies to observe and analyze their reactions. Initially from the rooftop, then from the 2nd floor of the building, and finally from inside the iron bars of the windows on the 1st floor, they played various sounds or shone lights in the middle of the night to zombies approaching the building. What they learned from this was that while some zombies had hearing and vision worse than when they were human, most maintained a level similar to humans. Also, it seemed they couldn¡¯t distinguish sounds specifically, as they showed the same reaction to human voices and animal cries. So this time, Aiden suggested to Jane that they try a bolder method. "Aiden, don¡¯t you think directly showing yourself on the 1st floor is too dangerous?" Aiden held Jane¡¯s hand tightly. "The iron bars are so sturdy, and the windows are made of material that can¡¯t be broken under normal circumstances. Don¡¯t worry, Jane." "Then I¡¯ll come with you." "Jane, haven¡¯t you watched zombie movies? When you say things like that, something always happens. Haha!" "Still... I¡¯m worried." Jane knew that Aiden was trying hard to act cheerful. But because she knew that even this behavior was his way of trying to reassure and protect her, Jane also forced a smile. Jane firmly resolved that with Aiden, they would definitely develop a vaccine and survive. "I¡¯ll be back, if you¡¯re really worried, you can secretly watch from the stairway leading down to the 1st floor." "Alright! Don¡¯t forget to come up without looking back if it seems dangerous!" "Okay!" Aiden went down to the 1st floor with a bright smile. Without making a loud noise, he carefully moved to the window one step at a time. Beyond the window, a zombie was blankly staring at the sky. "Phew... It¡¯s really sturdy, right?" Aiden thought it would be safe because there were iron bars on the window, but he couldn¡¯t help feeling uneasy. Knock knock. Aiden tried stimulating the zombie using sound. -Uuuuh? The zombie slowly turned its body. Then, the zombie¡¯s gaze fixed on Aiden. -Kieee!!! Bang bang bang! The zombie frantically strikes the iron bars. It looked like a wild beast growling at its prey. It endlessly strikes and bites the iron bars, spewing madness like crazy. Fearing that all the zombies in the area would rush in at this rate, Aiden turned and ran into the 2nd floor. "Aiden! Are you okay?" Jane rushed out in surprise seeing Aiden¡¯s pale face covered in cold sweat. -Kieeek!! The zombie¡¯s roar echoes behind Aiden. "L-let¡¯s go up for now." Aiden tightly held Jane¡¯s hand and went back up to the 3rd floor. After a short while, the zombie¡¯s roars and the sound of striking the iron bars could no longer be heard. Jane looked worriedly at Aiden who was breathing heavily, but Aiden kept recalling the face of the zombie that had rushed at him. That terrifying face full of madness only wanting to bite and eat. Aiden kept shaking without realizing it. As a doctor, he had seen countless horrific corpses and many patients struggling with serious injuries, but this kind of fear was a first. Jane approached and gently hugged Aiden like that. "It¡¯s okay, Aiden. It¡¯s okay..." Jane¡¯s expression was full of tears. "Jane... Can we survive? Can we make a vaccine? Are terrible things still happening out there right now?" "Yes, we can do it. We¡¯ll make a vaccine, we¡¯ll survive, and we¡¯ll be able to save everyone with the vaccine we make." Aiden¡¯s trembling body gradually calmed down as he stayed in Jane¡¯s arms for a long time like that. "Let¡¯s stop the experiment here for today, Aiden. Let¡¯s eat something and rest a bit, everything will be okay if we do that." "Yeah, Jane. We need to rest today. Let¡¯s try to cheer up again tomorrow." The two finished a simple meal as if nothing had happened. And that night. Aiden couldn¡¯t sleep. Jane quietly sleeping in his arms. Hoping that this warmth would continue tomorrow and in the future, Aiden sought God, whom he usually didn¡¯t seek. Pleading for both of them to be able to survive. Chapter 225 Two weeks had passed since the zombie outbreak. Aiden was taking deep breaths to calm himself in front of the door leading outside. The purpose was to procure food and secure samples. It wasn¡¯t that they were out of food right away, but because their reserves were clearly diminishing, and to assess the food situation in the surrounding area in advance, and because vaccine research had hit a wall. Research conducted without samples had clear limitations. Thanks to analyzing zombie behavior patterns and physical and intellectual abilities over the past month, Aiden and Jane had enough theory to deal with zombies. However, it was still just theory, and when it came to actually putting it into practice, it was inevitable to feel fear. But Aiden had a reason why he absolutely couldn¡¯t back down. "Should I go after all?" "No, it¡¯s okay." Jane seemed to want to go herself, as if she had no fear. But that was something Aiden could never allow. "Jane, we¡¯ve been lucky so far, but that luck will eventually come to an end. That¡¯s why I have to go. Eventually, a situation will come where one of us has to open this door and go outside. If so, it¡¯s right that I go." Aiden couldn¡¯t send Jane outside. Just as it would be for Jane, Aiden also had no confidence in surviving this zombie world without Jane. He checked his equipment one last time. In one hand he had a submachine gun, on his thigh a pistol, and tucked into his waist was a police baton that the security guards had used. His body felt so heavy it was as if he was carrying sandbags all over. However, this level of armament was, if anything, somewhat insufficient for going outside now. He wanted to take more emergency submachine guns and pistols, but this weight was just the right compromise. Any more would hinder movement, and if Aiden took the emergency weapons too, there wouldn¡¯t be any weapons left for Jane to protect herself. "You have to be careful. If it¡¯s dangerous, run back without looking back. Did you pack everything? You know zombies are sensitive to sight like humans, so stay out of sight first, right?" "I know, Jane." "And when you get here, knock on the door as promised? Three knocks in a row, then two." "O-of course I know that." Aiden seemed to have forgotten that part due to nervousness. The research facility¡¯s door is a thick iron door, so you can¡¯t see outside. But there¡¯s no separate doorbell either. There are only two ways: either you have an employee keycard or someone inside opens it for you. Aiden couldn¡¯t take the keycard with him. Because there might be unforeseen circumstances. Aiden glossed over the fact that he had forgotten and took a deep breath. "Don¡¯t worry too much, Jane. I¡¯ll be back quickly." "What are you saying! How can you not worry if you were in my position?" With those words, Jane hugged Aiden. "If you die, I¡¯ll be left alone. So, you absolutely can¡¯t die. Absolutely not. I don¡¯t care about food or samples..." "Yes, I feel the same way, Jane..." Aiden, breaking away from Jane¡¯s embrace, opened the iron door slightly. Creak Aiden opened the iron door slowly bit by bit to make as little noise as possible, and looked at Jane one last time. "I¡¯ll be back." "Be careful." "Yeah..." Thud The iron door closed. Although they chose this spot because there were the fewest zombies right in front of this iron door, Aiden tightly gripped the submachine gun and moved along the planned route as he once again faced the sight of ruins, corpses, and zombies scattered everywhere. There¡¯s a large 8-lane road like a plaza in front of the research facility, but going that way would be the same as going to die. So, he moved towards the side of the research facility where there were low commercial buildings. This area had many abandoned cars and was easy to move while hiding. Additionally, from what they had confirmed from the rooftop, this direction had the fewest zombies. Aiden¡¯s first destination was a convenience store about 2 blocks away. First, to see if there was anything that could be used as food there. The second goal was to bring back parts of zombies in the vicinity that were severely damaged or unable to move as samples. Aiden maintained a very low posture and moved about 1 meter using damaged cars as barricades. Then, he looked at the rooftop of the research facility. Jane¡¯s figure could be seen there. It was a kind of observation post to monitor the outside situation. Soon her OK signal came down, and Aiden quickly moved to the next cover spot. Pitter-patter "Huff... huff..." Although Aiden had been doing exercises he usually didn¡¯t do in preparation for this day, perhaps because he was too nervous, those efforts seemed meaningless as he was already out of breath. Aiden caught his breath for a moment and slightly raised his head to look across. There didn¡¯t seem to be any zombies visible in the situation he could see. -Grrk uhhh Aiden quickly lowered his head. A voice that sounded like human vocal cords mangled beyond recognition. Without even looking, it was a zombie¡¯s cry. The fact that it was audible to him meant it was quite close. He looked at the research facility rooftop again, but there was no particular gesture from Jane. That means zombies aren¡¯t visible in Jane¡¯s view either. "Phew... This is why practice is difficult." Aiden shouldered the submachine gun and slowly raised his head again to look across. As expected, no zombies were visible. Inside a building? Or is there another blind spot? In any case, the location where the sound was coming from now was right in front of the commercial building, which meant that if he went beyond this car and turned the corner right ahead, there might be a zombie. Aiden¡¯s hands holding the submachine gun were full of sweat from the intense tension. They had composed countless simulations based on their observations of zombies so far to prepare for when they would face them. However, Aiden¡¯s mind went blank now. He just moved forward. Aiden, who had been breathing heavily until just a moment ago, forgot even to breathe as he shouldered the submachine gun more tightly and walked towards the corner. Clang! Was it a problem that Aiden had walked looking only ahead without thinking? He kicked a can that had been abandoned nearby. -Grr? Aiden was terrified. ¡¯You damn stupid idiot!¡¯ He berated himself. Scared of zombies that hadn¡¯t even appeared before his eyes, he had forgotten the basics of observing his surroundings carefully and advancing cautiously. Thinking about how Jane would look at him from the rooftop, whether she would find him pathetic, Aiden felt anger rising. And immediately, there was a sound of something moving. Aiden quickly turned the corner. "Hup!" As soon as he turned, a zombie appeared right in front of him. The zombie¡¯s reaction was unimaginably fast. -Graaah! The zombie immediately grabbed Aiden¡¯s shoulders with both hands and thrust its face forward to bite his neck. "Ahhh!!" Aiden struggled. In this state, he couldn¡¯t use the gun. But when life is in danger, do people exert superhuman strength? He kicked the zombie away with all his might. Crash -Grah!! The zombie was pushed back and fell. In that brief moment, Aiden instinctively raised the gun muzzle towards the zombie¡¯s head. The zombie¡¯s weakness is the head, precisely its brain. Zombies can move without a heart or internal organs, but they can¡¯t move or live without a brain. Bang! Splat! The bullet from the submachine gun he fired in single shot mode hit the zombie¡¯s head directly. With a brief twitch, the zombie¡¯s movement stopped. A headshot with just one shot, Aiden couldn¡¯t hide his surprise. But he couldn¡¯t be happy about the situation. Aiden drew the dagger from his waist, immediately cut off fragments of the shattered head and put them in an experimental bag, then put it in his backpack and got up to look around. Other zombies might have been stimulated by the sound of his gunshot. He had to quickly get away from this position. Aiden quickly turned the corner and waved his hand towards the rooftop where Jane was. To signal that he was safe, that there was no problem yet. After signaling like that, Aiden started running. Aiden wanted to calm down the emotions full of excitement. In this state, he could easily lose his life. Calmly, more calmly, Aiden tried to calm down by breathing deeply. He couldn¡¯t die here leaving Jane behind. Aiden steeled himself, thinking that he must return alive no matter what. * * * It was fortunate that he had moved quickly away from where he killed the zombie, as Aiden arrived at the convenience store without any particular problems. He was more worried about the way back, but he thought it was fortunate that he had secured a sample and arrived safely. What was even more fortunate was that there were no zombies inside the convenience store. "This is unusable... and this is inedible." Aiden thoroughly searched the inside of the convenience store. Fortunately, he was able to find some canned goods, and he found some items needed for daily life and swept them into his bag. And he was able to find the most important item, which was a portable map. Having a map that can be used portably will be a great help for future survival. While doing so, he looked for traces of any survivors, but no such traces were visible. There were just dried-up corpses, and corpses that had been zombies with traces of being eaten strewn about. The interior of the convenience store was a mess, but more than that, the blood splattered on the walls or drying on the floor made Aiden¡¯s skin crawl. "First goal, second goal, both well accomplished. Well done, Aiden." Aiden praised himself. He even smiled for a moment, thinking that he could show Jane the image of a dignified man. But he couldn¡¯t waste any more time. "I need to go back before it gets later... I wonder if I can return by the same route..." S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The gunshot from the first zombie fight would have rung out loudly. The zombies sensitive to sound would surely have gathered there. Aiden took out and unfolded the portable map he had picked up earlier. "If I detour around here... this way might be dangerous because it¡¯s a big road, so then..." Aiden looked at the map and quickly drew routes here and there with his hand. "Okay, let¡¯s get going slowly." It hadn¡¯t even been an hour or two, but his whole body felt as heavy as a wet cotton ball. Considering the significant physical exertion, from now on he had to move quickly unless it was a really dangerous moment. So Aiden left the convenience store and moved in a different direction from the planned route. He moved using wrecked cars as cover, but this time he ran, quickly passing between the cars. And fortunately, without encountering any zombies, he arrived one block in front of the research facility. If he just passes the corner ahead, the research facility will be visible, and when he shows Jane on the rooftop that he¡¯s arrived right in front, she will prepare to open the door on the first floor. "Huff huff... huff huff!" He took a deep breath before turning the corner. And he poked his head out to check the research facility. "Damn it..." In front of the iron door he needed to enter, four zombies were standing guard. Chapter 226 ¡¯Damn it...¡¯ Rather than the number of zombies visible in front of him, Aiden tried to stay calm because he couldn¡¯t predict how many zombies would rush in due to the battle about to unfold. When he looked at the rooftop, Jane waved her hand. He could see Jane moving vigorously, as if very worried. Aiden sent Jane the pre-arranged signal. Then Jane was seen quickly coming down from the rooftop. ¡¯Can I do this?¡¯ Aiden ran a simulation in his head. They¡¯re not clustered together but maintaining distance. First, approach the closest one by surprise and smash its head with the baton. If lucky, he could take it out with one hit. Then rush in and strike the next zombie¡¯s head, and use just two bullets on the zombie rushing at him to minimize noise. "Phew... Let¡¯s go." There was no time to hesitate. The sun was already setting. And his stamina was already as good as depleted. Hoping Jane wouldn¡¯t rashly open the door, Aiden took out his baton. Whoosh. Extending the baton, Aiden ran towards the nearest zombie. Thwack! The zombie, not yet noticing Aiden, fell to Aiden¡¯s swinging baton. Without time to check if the zombie was dead or alive, Aiden immediately ran towards the next zombie. -Grrrr! The remaining three zombies noticed Aiden and started rushing at him. But faster than their reaction, Aiden swung the baton at the next zombie. The second zombie also fell. Click. Bang! Bang! Aiden shouldered the submachine gun and pulled the trigger. Partly because he didn¡¯t take proper aim, but also due to Aiden¡¯s lack of marksmanship. The bullets that grazed the zombie¡¯s head hit the innocent wall of the research facility. Still, thanks to the zombies hesitating, Aiden was able to stand in front of the research facility¡¯s iron door. "Damn it!" He saw the two zombies hit by Aiden¡¯s baton also getting up. The zombie that the bullets missed also started rushing at Aiden, spewing its maddened gaze and cries. Bang! Bang! Bang! He pulled the trigger in succession, but it was difficult to aim for the heads of the rushing zombies. Perhaps thanks to the bullets penetrating their bodies, the rushing zombies fell and writhed. Now noise wasn¡¯t the issue. If he couldn¡¯t deal with the zombies in front of him right now, his life would be in immediate danger. Additionally, the cries of zombies and the sound of something rushing in started to be heard from all around. "Huff...! Huff...!" Bang bang! Bang bang! After catching his breath, Aiden fed bullets into the heads of the fallen zombie and the one hit by the baton, then looked at quite a number of zombies rushing towards him from afar. Now there really was no time left. Thump thump! Thump thump thump! Aiden knocked on the iron door. Clank clank! Creak The iron door opened and Jane¡¯s urgent voice was heard. "Come in!" Thud! Aiden took refuge inside the research facility. Bang bang! -Grrrr! Grrrr!! Thud thud thud!! The iron door shook violently as if it would fall off. Even after closing the additional door and engaging all locks, Aiden and Jane had to keep watching the shaking iron door for a while. After some time passed, the research facility became quiet. Aiden and Jane sat down simultaneously. "Haah..." "I almost died..." Jane¡¯s sigh and Aiden¡¯s grumble came out at the same time. "You idiot!" Jane rushed into Aiden¡¯s arms. "I¡¯m sorry... I came back alive." Aiden could feel Jane trembling in his arms. Hugging Jane tightly like that, Aiden felt grateful to be alive. Relieved to have survived, the two felt each other¡¯s warmth for a while. "You got a sample?" As Aiden was organizing the few supplies he brought back, he seemed to remember belatedly and handed Jane the bag containing zombie fragments for samples. "You should have shown me something so important first!" Aiden just smiled, finding Jane cute as she spoke as if sulking. "Now we can start full-scale research." "That¡¯s right, Aiden! This is the real beginning." Jane¡¯s appearance, even humming as if so pleased, was loveliness itself. Aiden suddenly remembered the first day the zombie outbreak occurred. He thought that if he hadn¡¯t known anything and was preparing for work, if he hadn¡¯t found Jane and gone to the hospital, what kind of hell would have unfolded, he probably wouldn¡¯t have been able to do anything and would have ended up like the zombies rolling around outside. "Jane, thank you for finding me first." "...You are the most precious person in the world to me." "I love you." "I love you too." * * * A month had already passed since the zombie outbreak occurred. It was very difficult to increase the progress speed of vaccine research. Even though Aiden was a doctor, he didn¡¯t have specialized development knowledge, so Jane had to handle a lot on her own. But they didn¡¯t give up and kept adding progress. Aiden went outside the research facility from time to time to obtain additional samples and supplies, and now he could hunt zombies quite easily. Meanwhile, hoping there might be survivors, Aiden roamed quite far around the research facility¡¯s radius, but while there were very small traces, he didn¡¯t meet any survivors. During her daily routine, Jane turned on the radio and tuned to various frequencies. It was because of the thought that large groups like the government or military might come to their senses and broadcast for their citizens. However, the radio was completely silent. They couldn¡¯t grasp at all what the state of other cities outside New York was like, and even when Aiden roamed around the research facility, all he saw were zombies. They thought there must be a group of survivors somewhere in this huge city, but they couldn¡¯t find them right now. So the two silently continued their vaccine research. Time was just flowing like that. "There are no more supplies in this area now." Aiden muttered with a serious expression. A map was spread out on the table, with X marks here and there. Now they had to go beyond at least a 1km radius. What was fortunate was that they found a gun shop and were able to acquire a large quantity of bullets there. If they don¡¯t recklessly go around shooting zombies to death, they won¡¯t need to worry about bullets for a while. But food is gradually running out. Thud. Aiden marked an area with a pen. "Walmart..." It¡¯s a mart located about 3km away from the research facility. It¡¯s also the most common mart you can see in America, and you can expect abundant supplies including various groceries, clothing, and shoes. Of course, it was either someone had already looted it, or because it¡¯s a place where many people gather, there might be an unimaginable number of zombies occupying it. A round trip of over 6km, if the route gets twisted, it¡¯s a place you have to go at least 10km. Leaving early in the morning, arriving, finding supplies and returning could take more than a day. Aiden couldn¡¯t help but hold his head. At that moment, Jane, who had just woken up, appeared. "Why are you looking at the map with such a serious expression?" "Ah Jane, did you sleep well? How¡¯s your condition?" Jane had a slight fever from the day before. She must have accumulated fatigue from continuing research too hard. What was fortunate was that both of them had constitutions that were healthy without frequent minor illnesses, so they could save on over-the-counter medicines. "I¡¯m fine. I guess people really need to sleep well." "That¡¯s good, even a small illness could be dangerous in this situation." "Oh~ Dr. Aiden? You¡¯re looking quite cool right now." "Don¡¯t tease me, Jane." Aiden laughed at Jane¡¯s playful manner. As he turned his head and looked at the map with a serious face again, Jane also looked at the map together. "Walmart, huh?" "Yeah, we¡¯re running low on groceries." "I guess it¡¯s about time, I feel bad for making you go out alone all the time." S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jane looked at Aiden with a regretful expression. She couldn¡¯t not know how much Aiden struggled every time he went out where death lurked. "Should I go out this time?" "Jane! Don¡¯t even joke about that, how could I possibly send you to that place full of zombies?!" "Aiden?" Aiden started getting agitated rapidly. "Out there is hell, Jane, the never-ending cries of those zombie bastards, and corpses everywhere, it¡¯s hell itself! I can never send you there!" "Aiden, calm down, look at me." Jane gently caressed Aiden¡¯s face. Only then did Aiden seem to calm down a bit and took deep breaths. "S-sorry, I got too excited..." "No, I¡¯m more sorry, Aiden. You must have been suffering the most, I was short-sighted." Aiden¡¯s eyes trembled. Not knowing he would get so emotional himself, he kept apologizing to Jane. "I¡¯m going to the rooftop for a moment, I want to get some fresh air and check something." Saying that, Aiden turned and headed for the rooftop. Jane saw Aiden¡¯s back trembling very slightly and just watched quietly with a gloomy expression. "Haah... That wasn¡¯t like me, pull yourself together Aiden, what are you doing getting shaken up?" Aiden, who had come up to the rooftop, berated himself as he headed for the railing. He was thinking about the map now, trying to figure out the direction where Walmart was located. For the past month, he had thought there might be survivors here and there, including occasional gunshots heard. Whether he was lucky or unlucky, he hadn¡¯t encountered survivors yet, but where there¡¯s a mart means there are supplies, and survivors might be gathered around there. It¡¯s uncertain whether those survivors would be beneficial or harmful. Disasters always tend to drive humans to madness. In this lawless situation now, everyone you meet needs to be treated with caution. As he was contemplating while roughly assessing the route with his eyes, at that moment. The rooftop door opened and Jane approached Aiden. "Were you checking the route to Walmart?" Jane asked carefully. Aiden nodded and pointed in the direction of Walmart with his finger. "Roughly in that direction, about 3km away, Walmart should be located. The problem is whether we can make a round trip in one day or not." "You shouldn¡¯t push yourself... Ah, there are no more supplies left in this area, right..." Even without any particular explanation from Aiden, Jane quickly caught on. "I think we¡¯ll have to go, Jane. In this state, it¡¯ll be difficult to last even a week." Aiden explained that if they conserved the remaining supplies, Jane could last about 2 weeks. But considering everything from vaccine research to sample collection, they needed to be in good physical condition, so it was an unavoidable choice. "It¡¯ll be... dangerous. And maybe, we might meet survivors, and we don¡¯t know if those people are safe." "But you¡¯re going, right?" "I¡¯ll maintain weapons today, look for routes a bit more, then leave tomorrow." Aiden nodded. Even if he couldn¡¯t help much with vaccine research, he thought his biggest role was to ensure Jane could live without discomfort. "I¡¯ll definitely come back, I won¡¯t leave you alone." Jane held Aiden¡¯s hand. She just held his hand tightly without saying anything, not letting go. Chapter 227 The next day. Early dawn. Aiden left for the mart to gather supplies. Jane remained alone and started vaccine research. The zombie cells viewed through the microscope were truly incomprehensible. Certainly, there was a beginning. Jane remembered the first zombie virus this research facility had. Although Jane only participated in the early research, it was certain that this virus¡¯s initial purpose wasn¡¯t like this. Zombies, they said they were making a vaccine for treatment. Of course, government officials frequently came in and out of the research facility, and there were quite a few secret meetings Jane couldn¡¯t know about, but the initial results of closely observing and researching the zombie virus showed an aggressiveness that couldn¡¯t be considered for treatment purposes at all. Beep. Jane turned on the voice recorder. "10th infiltration reaction result. The infiltration speed is still beyond imagination, even cells injected with vaccines 25 and 50 couldn¡¯t slow down the speed." The combinations of vaccines the research facility had among existing vaccines were running low. From the start, they were struggling just to understand the basic structure of the zombie virus. "We need to abandon the virus characteristics identified in the 9th experiment and try a different approach." Beep. Jane, who turned off the voice recorder, collapsed onto the desk. "I can¡¯t give up... but it¡¯s a moment when I want to give up." Jane desperately missed coffee. And very strong at that. In a situation where even available supplies are running low, thinking about coffee, she needs to control such luxurious thoughts. Jane got up and headed to the rooftop. After doing experiments non-stop from morning to noon, her whole body felt stiff, and she thought she could regain her senses if she got some outside air. A chilly wind brushed Jane¡¯s face. Wondering how far Aiden had moved by now, if he was safe, looking outside actually made her worry more severely. Jane stood at the rooftop railing and looked down. New York outside the research facility was still the same. Only zombie cries or gunshots from unidentifiable locations echoing through the quiet New York. There must be survivors somewhere, where did they all go? Just as Jane was thinking this. About 2-3 blocks away from the research facility, she saw something moving busily. "Is it Aiden? That can¡¯t be?" It wasn¡¯t time for him to return yet. !@%^&&* She seemed to hear shouting voices. "Survivors!" Jane was startled. To think that the survivors they had been trying so hard to find all this time would appear at this moment when Aiden was gone. She saw a few zombies leaving the vicinity of the research facility and heading towards an alley. And soon, Jane¡¯s sight caught a woman running while carrying a child, followed by a man appearing, and they were heading towards the research facility. Jane didn¡¯t hesitate and immediately came down from the rooftop. And she instantly ran down to the 2nd floor, shouldered the submachine gun, and ran to the 1st floor. After running frantically to the iron door, Jane hesitated for a moment. She wondered if it was right to go out and save them, if she could save them. What would Aiden have done? But Jane didn¡¯t ponder any longer. She took a deep breath, checked the submachine gun¡¯s magazine once. Then she opened the additional door¡¯s lock, and immediately opened the iron door. Jane, who came outside, didn¡¯t close the iron door right away but left it slightly open and shouted towards the approaching survivors. "Over here!" The survivors seemed to hear Jane¡¯s voice immediately and changed their direction from running towards the research facility¡¯s main entrance. Jane raised the submachine gun and pulled the trigger towards the zombies chasing behind the survivors. Bang! Bang! There were no zombies around the research facility as Aiden had cleaned up the area over time. So she didn¡¯t hesitate to shoot. Thud thud! The zombies fiercely chasing behind the survivors started falling as they were hit by bullets. The woman running in the lead came right up to Jane, with the man following right behind. Jane shot a bit more, slowing down the zombies¡¯ advance, and they entered the research facility following Jane¡¯s hand gestures. Thud! As all the survivors entered the research facility, Jane also jumped inside and quickly locked the door. "Phew... My hands are all shaky." Jane, who took several deep breaths to calm her heavily pounding heart, only then approached the survivors. They were hugging each other tightly and trembling. She felt she should say something, but Jane only then could think about how recklessly she had taken them in. But seeing the two adults, who looked like a couple, trembling while hugging the child, she had no words to say. "They... won¡¯t be bad people, right? They have a child after all... Haha..." Jane, keeping her hand on the submachine gun¡¯s trigger just in case, waited for them to calm down. * * * Aiden was taking cover between cars across the road where Walmart was just visible. Getting here wasn¡¯t easy. The number of zombies he killed on the way already exceeded double digits. Thanks to the experience of consistently going out to collect samples and killing zombies for over a month, he was now able to attack them more easily, allowing him to come this far with his body intact. However, the scene of Walmart visible before his eyes was utterly bleak. The number of zombies visible in front of the main entrance alone seemed to exceed twenty, and inside the store windows, zombies could be seen roaming around. The area around the mart and the interior was quite miserable. Quite a few corpses with their heads blown off were visible here and there, the mart¡¯s windows and doors were all broken and shattered, and the interior visible from outside didn¡¯t look good either. Had someone already looted it once? The bullet marks visible here and there seemed to show that there had been a fierce battle. Although Aiden wondered if he could obtain supplies even if he went inside, he had no choice. He was able to collect small supplies by stopping at small marts or convenience stores on the way to Walmart, but this wasn¡¯t nearly enough, so he had to force his way into Walmart. "It would be nice if I could sneak in through the back. There¡¯s not much time left." Aiden, who had left at 5 AM, arrived at Walmart at 1 PM. Looking at the watch on his wrist, Aiden thought he needed to leave for the research facility by 2 or 3 PM at the latest. Aiden, who started moving towards the back of the mart, moved with his body lowered as much as possible. He couldn¡¯t just focus on the zombies at the main entrance because zombies could pop out from anywhere. Maintaining tension, Aiden was able to come to the back of the mart easily by slightly circling around and passing between damaged vehicles. Was he quite lucky? The door at the back where supplies come in was open and no zombies were visible. Aiden quickly entered the mart interior through the back door. "I¡¯ve been lucky so far..." Aiden slowly walked around the interior. Unlike what was visible from outside, there were no zombies in the innermost part of the mart, allowing him to search for supplies easily. He looked for supplies without letting his guard down, but so far there wasn¡¯t much worth taking. It was certain that someone had looted this place first. Still, he was able to get a few 500ml bottles of water and some canned goods. However, Aiden couldn¡¯t proceed with the search any further. While the back door area of the mart was almost free of zombies, the main entrance area was different. A considerable number of zombies were gathered there, and as he already knew, quite a number of zombies were occupying the area outside the main entrance. Aiden checked the supplies he had obtained so far. "This much... Even if we save, it¡¯ll barely last a week." The greed to get just a little more crept up, but any more would be too much. At least he had cleared the zombies on the way here, and thinking that it wouldn¡¯t be difficult a second time since he had come once, Aiden headed back to the rear door. At that moment. Vrooom! Ratata!! Ratatata!! The sound of a car engine and gunshots at the same time. It was from the main entrance direction. "Survivors?!" Aiden took cover in a direction where he could see the main entrance and observed the situation. -Grrrr!! -Uahhh!!! Uohhh!! The zombies¡¯ roars spread noisily as they ran frantically towards the main entrance. Aiden, who carefully poked his head out to look at the main entrance, could faintly see the survivors who had fired guns. Dudududu!!! Ratatatatat!! Three people in the trunk of a fairly large pickup truck were frantically pouring bullets at the zombies. Meanwhile, the pickup truck wasn¡¯t standing still but moving back and forth wildly, sweeping away the rushing zombies with its large wheels. "Impressive, are they former soldiers or something?" Aiden quietly admired their quite skilled appearance. They seemed quite excited as they massacred the zombies. Aiden, who was quietly watching that scene, rather slipped away through the back door. "It¡¯s dangerous, they¡¯re equipped with professional weapons, and the fact that they can waste bullets like that means they¡¯re not ordinary people." Still, Aiden could feel a little relieved knowing that survivors were armed and resisting the zombies. If they dealt with the zombies while rampaging like that, it meant that Jane and his research facility could be a little safer. "If they barge into the research facility, that¡¯s a different story though." Aiden hurriedly started heading towards the research facility. He needs to discuss this with Jane. Thanks to them drawing all the zombies¡¯ attention, Aiden thought the way back would be easier as gunshots continued behind him. * * * "Have you calmed down a bit?" "Yes, yes..." The man answered. "I¡¯m Jane, and you are?" "Ah... I¡¯m Sean. This is my wife, Lyla, and our daughter, Liv." As Jane had guessed, they were a family. Certainly, if they weren¡¯t family, there would be no need to run around with a child in a place full of zombies. "Where did you come from?" Jane immediately asked what she was curious about. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Um... If it¡¯s alright, could we possibly get even just a glass of water? Or at least something for the child to drink..." Lyla pleaded to Jane with a pitiful expression. Only then did Jane realize that Liv looked very exhausted. "Ah, I was thoughtless. Let¡¯s go to the 2nd floor." "Are you alone?" Sean asked. Jane tensed slightly at those words and unconsciously fiddled with the submachine gun. "Ah, ah! That¡¯s not it! I didn¡¯t mean to threaten you! I was just wondering how a woman could be here alone..." "I¡¯m not alone, he¡¯s out gathering supplies right now." Jane subtly emphasized to Sean that her companion was a man. "I, I see. Anyway, thank you so much for helping us! It was really... really hard." "Let¡¯s talk about the details upstairs. I have a lot I want to ask too." Jane held out her hand to Liv, who was looking at her with anxious eyes, buried in Lyla¡¯s arms. "Liv? It¡¯s okay, you can relax." When she smiled brightly, Liv hesitated and looked at Lyla. "It¡¯s okay, Liv." When Lyla said that, Liv reached out her small hand and grasped Jane¡¯s hand. "Thank you, Liv. Then let¡¯s go up to the 2nd floor. Come on. Sean, Lyla. Please go up first with Liv." "Thank you." Sean and Lyla went up to the 2nd floor, expressing their gratitude. Jane watched their backs and let out a small sigh so they couldn¡¯t hear. "What should I say to Aiden...?" Chapter 228 Aiden was only able to arrive in front of the research facility late in the evening. Although the return journey was smooth, he took a slightly detoured route to find more supplies. Thanks to that, he was able to obtain about two days¡¯ worth of supplies. "With this, we should be able to hold out for an additional 2 weeks, right?" There would be even fewer supplies around than now. The reason was simple. Because he had seen the appearance of armed survivors at Walmart. With that level of armament, they would soon advance to the area where the research facility was located, then supplies would gradually disappear more. -Uhhh... A faint zombie cry was heard in front of the research facility¡¯s iron door, where darkness had deeply set in. Click. Aiden quickly shouldered his submachine gun. "I¡¯m sure I cleared the front of the research facility?" Aiden, who quickly hid his body, quietly looked at the front of the research facility¡¯s iron door. The darkness concealed the zombies, but vaguely, the swaying movements of 4 or 5 zombies could be faintly seen. However, darkness doesn¡¯t just conceal zombies. Moving quietly and stealthily, he took out his dagger and plunged it into the head of a zombie slightly separated from the group. Thud The blade of the dagger, extremely sharpened to pierce a zombie¡¯s head in one go, shows its effect perfectly. Like that, Aiden slowly hunted the zombies one by one in the darkness. After dealing with all the zombies in front of the door, Aiden exhaled the breath he had been holding for a long time. "Phew, seeing how this has become natural, maybe my true calling was something else." After neatly cleaning up the surroundings, Aiden knocked on the iron door. Thump thump! Thump thump thump! After a moment, the sound of the iron door¡¯s lock being released was heard. Creak The iron door opened carefully and Jane poked out just her face. "A-Aiden! You¡¯re back?" ¡¯Ah, that¡¯s Jane¡¯s expression when she¡¯s done something.¡¯ Aiden stared at Jane¡¯s face. Finding it cute, Aiden smiled slightly. "I¡¯m back, Jane." "Yeah!" Thud! The iron door closed firmly and all locks were locked again. "There wasn¡¯t much of a haul, but I found survivors." Aiden said as he put down his bag. Then Jane looked at Aiden with a very troubled face. "Th-that! I also... found survivors...?" "Oh? But why is the last part a question?" "Haha... hahaha. Shall we go to the second floor first?" Jane picked up the bag and headed for the second floor. As Aiden followed Jane up to the second floor, a thought suddenly crossed his mind. ¡¯Could it be...?¡¯ The first thing that caught Aiden¡¯s eye when he arrived on the second floor was a small girl lying on the sofa. And next to her, a man and woman who looked like a couple were looking at Aiden with anxious eyes. Seeing the couple and child, Aiden instantly grasped the situation. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And he stood in front of the anxious couple. "Nice to meet you. I¡¯m Aiden." Aiden extended his hand first. "I¡¯m Sean." "I¡¯m Lyla, his wife. And this is our daughter, Liv." Sean shook hands. Then Jane, standing behind, added: "They came from Brooklyn." "Brooklyn?" Aiden couldn¡¯t help but be surprised because there was quite a distance from Brooklyn to Queens where the research facility was located. Their meager luggage was placed next to the sofa, and there didn¡¯t seem to be any weapons visible. It was amazing that they had arrived here alive. "Why here of all places..." "Apparently, quite a number of survivor groups had gathered in Brooklyn." Jane began to explain what she had heard from Sean and Lyla. After the zombie outbreak started, Brooklyn faced the worst situation, they said. It had the second-largest population in New York and high density itself. Therefore, the rate of infection was the fastest, they said. Just a week had passed, but countless zombies were wandering around residential areas and roadsides to tear apart living humans. The police had established the Barclays Center as the final line of defense and accepted survivors, they said. In a way, it was like Brooklyn¡¯s last stronghold, but supplies were always scarce due to the countless survivors pouring in, they said. After barely holding out for about a month like that, the Barclays Center collapsed instantly from the inside. Survivors who had hidden being bitten by zombies transformed simultaneously. It was dawn. The catastrophe that started from the center of the field spread quickly like fire, and they couldn¡¯t offer any significant resistance, they said. Sean and Lyla¡¯s couple were located closest to the center¡¯s entrance, so they escaped the center along with others nearby. Afterwards, they headed to Brooklyn College where another survivor group was said to be gathered, but half of their number was sacrificed to zombies while moving, and after many twists and turns, the college they arrived at had already become hell due to zombie attacks. Like that, they barely moved from Brooklyn towards Queens, clinging to life. They said they arrived in Queens the day before. Sean¡¯s family and some survivors met a group of survivors armed with guns and trucks after arriving in Queens, but Sean¡¯s couple felt an inexplicable fear at their appearance and refused to join, while the survivors who had fled together moved with them, they said. Then, chased by zombies, the place they arrived at was here. That is, the research facility. "There might be far more survivor groups than we thought. And that armed group seems to be the one I saw at Walmart today." That was the first thing Aiden said after hearing Jane¡¯s explanation. They were just continuing research for a vaccine inside the iron-clad research facility, and even going out was only around the facility. "Really? Did you talk to them?" "No, Jane. I saw them from afar, but I didn¡¯t get a good feeling." "If Aiden says so, it must be true. Anyway, um... I¡¯m sorry I accepted these people without any discussion." Jane couldn¡¯t hide her apology. Looking at Jane like that, Aiden could only smile. "No, there¡¯s a child too, I can fully understand Jane¡¯s feelings." "Thank you!" Jane finally smiled. Aiden, looking at Liv who had fallen asleep at some point, said to Sean: "For now, rest today. I¡¯d like to have a serious talk about the future tomorrow." "There¡¯s an empty research room over there with a bed, so please rest there." Jane said, pointing to the remaining room. Sean and Lyla thanked Aiden and Jane and entered the room carrying Liv in their arms. After watching Sean¡¯s family for a moment, the two went up to the third floor. They needed to have a conversation just between the two of them. "Was there some harvest?" "No, I barely found enough for the two of us to last about 2 weeks, but with additional people, I can¡¯t guarantee." "Haah... Is this not a situation where we can focus only on vaccine research?" "Still Jane, you focus on the research. I¡¯ll somehow manage the rest." "But... I¡¯m always leaving dangerous tasks to you." "Don¡¯t worry, Jane. I won¡¯t overdo it." The two talked for a long time. The problem of increased numbers. Future policies. Other survivor groups. What to do if someone else comes here. They spent the night discussing such topics. * * * After Sean¡¯s couple joined. Aiden and Jane¡¯s daily life changed greatly. It was no longer just getting up in the morning, having a simple meal, and being cooped up in the lab doing vaccine research. Aiden and Sean go out to search for supplies in the morning. Then Lyla takes care of Liv while looking at the city situation from the rooftop with Jane and selecting places where supplies might be through the map. And in the afternoon, Jane goes into the lab for vaccine research, and Lyla and Liv take care of Aiden and Sean who have returned. At first, when they told Sean¡¯s couple about Jane¡¯s vaccine research, they were surprised. But Aiden and Jane honestly said they hadn¡¯t figured out anything yet and that they would continue research steadily until their lives were in danger. Hearing this, the couple said they would help as much as they could and became members of the research facility. Also, Aiden hid the location where weapons were stored from Sean and Lyla. He agreed with Jane¡¯s words that they should have trust, but he couldn¡¯t give them weapons. He just told Sean that the weapons he and Jane currently had were all, and there were no others, not disclosing the spare magazines stocked. He seemed to understand to some extent. In a zombie situation like this, finding weapons wouldn¡¯t be easy even in America. Still, the research facility that had been lonely and quiet brightened up thanks to Sean and Lyla¡¯s daughter, Liv. At first, she was shy during the day, but she soon seemed to adapt, often sticking close to Jane and Aiden, and singing songs she had learned in kindergarten. Time passed quickly like that. * * * 5 months had passed since the zombie outbreak. It had been about 3 months since Aiden, Jane, and Sean¡¯s couple started surviving together. Supplies around the research facility had long run out, and occasionally other survivor groups visited the facility for barter, and the initially chaotic zombie situation began to show some stability. However, that didn¡¯t mean humanity¡¯s problems were solved. Zombies were still dangerous beings, and due to the lack of electricity caused by the destruction of power plants, and the shortage of various supplies, survivors were decreasing even more than before. The biggest problem was the absence of hospitals and doctors. Even small illnesses that could have been treated if there were just hospitals or medicine now became fatal deaths for survivors, and if they caught a serious illness, they were immediately expelled from survivor groups and became food for zombies in the current situation. Like that, humanity was gradually walking the path of decline. Aiden was able to obtain information by going around various places to search for supplies with Sean and meeting survivors. New York Queens seemed to be currently composed of 3 groups. The first was, of course, themselves at the research facility. The research facility was guaranteed safety unless a tank came to attack, and it was thoroughly equipped with defense facilities to the extent that it couldn¡¯t be easily invaded. It seemed like many survivors would come and go because of the research facility¡¯s strong defense, but surprisingly, it was a place survivors avoided, they said. The second was the armed group located in eastern Queens. They call themselves simply Survivors and are said to have the strongest military power among the existing Queens groups. It¡¯s said to be a group formed by former military and police personnel. The third is the Plaza group in western Queens. This is a survivor group located at Queens Plaza station, an ordinary group that continues to survive using the subway station. And between these two groups, excluding the research facility, the emergence of a job called junk dealer, who receives requests and handles various tasks on behalf of others, also occurred. Aiden was interested in this newly created job of junk dealer, but judging that they could be dangerous beings close to drifters if looked at easily, he avoided contact. Based on the information obtained like this, the Queens area was showing signs of stabilization. Even so, they wouldn¡¯t be able to return to their previous lives, but some sort of system was being established. However, the day that would take everything away from Aiden was approaching silently. Chapter 229 It was an ordinary morning for Aiden. The now routine search for supplies, assisting Jane¡¯s vaccine research, light meals and conversations with Sean¡¯s family and Liv in the afternoon. It was one of those everyday routines that ended the day. He was even feeling at ease about the frustration of not knowing when the vaccine research would be completed. Occasionally junk dealers or some survivors knocked on the door, but the research facility members had decided not to let in any more people, so they coldly turned them away. The area around the research facility had become quiet. Queens seemed to be becoming more and more stable, to the point where one might think the zombie outbreak would end like this. The number of rampaging zombies seemed to be decreasing gradually, and it felt like they could relax now. However, the uneventful day began to shatter with Liv¡¯s crying. At first, it was a slight fever. Seeing her coughing a little, Aiden thought it was a cold and gave Liv some cold medicine from their supplies. Like that, one day, two days, and a week passed, but Liv¡¯s condition kept getting worse, and only then did Aiden realize the seriousness of the situation, but it was the worst-case scenario. "Aiden, is our Liv going to be okay?" Aiden couldn¡¯t easily answer Lyla¡¯s question. Frequent coughing, low-grade fever, and a lethargic appearance as if much strength had left her body, and a gradual decrease in weight. It was undoubtedly the early symptoms of tuberculosis. "It looks like... tuberculosis." "Tuberculosis?" Tuberculosis is a disease that can be treated in modern society. But it¡¯s a disease that can only be cured when taking antibiotics steadily and with continuous management. There was no way the research facility would have antibiotics for tuberculosis. "We need to go to a hospital. If there are antibiotics left there, that would be fortunate, but..." "Then let¡¯s quickly find a hospital...!" "I¡¯ve already found one. But... it¡¯s quite far away." Sean and Lyla looked ready to rush out immediately. Aiden showed them a map, pointing to the closest hospital to the research facility. "It¡¯s about 8km away. Even though zombies have decreased a lot lately, it¡¯s not an easy journey." "But we have to go! What parents would sit still when their child is sick!" "Let¡¯s go." Jane, who had come down from the third floor at some point, said to Sean and Aiden. "Jane? What are you saying?" "I was just thinking I needed to go to the hospital too, Aiden. I need more various medicines and equipment." Aiden was flustered. "Aiden, let¡¯s prepare right away. We need to move quickly." Sean urged Aiden. Without giving time to organize thoughts, Jane and Sean were preparing to go outside. "What kind of nonsense is this...!" As Aiden was about to shout something, Lyla grabbed his hand. "Aiden... Please. Please help us..." Aiden couldn¡¯t shake off Lyla¡¯s hand. "Haah... Take good care of Liv. Make her drink small amounts of water consistently, and there should be clean blankets left. Cover her body well with those." "Thank you, Aiden..." Only then did Lyla let go of Aiden¡¯s hand. Aiden hurriedly armed himself and went down to the first floor. In front of the iron door were Jane and Sean, fully armed and packing bags. "Jane...!" "Aiden! I know what you¡¯re going to say, but I have to go now too." "Damn it!" Sean mediated between Aiden and Jane. "Aiden, I know how you feel. I¡¯ve been with you and Jane until now. But please. Time is of the essence." Aiden knows too. Tuberculosis will spread quickly. It¡¯s unknown how fatal it might be for young Liv. "Aiden. There¡¯s no time for arguments. You know well that I¡¯m not someone who just receives care from Aiden." "...Let¡¯s go." Aiden had nothing to say. Because Jane was right. Creak The tightly closed iron door opened. Like that, Aiden, Jane, and Sean headed for the hospital. * * * Thanks to moving without hindrance all morning, the three were able to arrive in front of the hospital around 2 PM. Strangely, no zombies were visible, and although there was an ominous feeling like the calm before a storm, they had no energy to pay attention to it. Not knowing how many supplies might be left, the three entered the hospital. The inside of the hospital was even quieter. Even as they slowly examined the first floor interior and went up to the second floor, not a single zombie was seen. "Did the zombies move? Or did someone wipe them all out?" But there were no zombie corpses left either. "At this rate, it seems okay for us to split up and search for medicine." Aiden divided the search areas. "Sean, since you won¡¯t know the types of medicine at all, just gather anything that looks like medicine, and if there are injections or other clean medical supplies, bring them all." "Okay, everyone be careful." Sean moved first, and after telling Jane where medicines might be, Aiden moved to the 5th floor. Aiden, who came up to the 5th floor, first threw some objects into the corridor. Clang! A harsh sound hit the floor, but no sign of zombies was felt. It was even more suspicious. What on earth happened in this hospital? For now, Aiden started searching the 5th floor interior. There weren¡¯t many types of medicine. Still, he could find clean syringes and other medical supplies. "As expected, there wouldn¡¯t be many supplies left... Some common cold medicines and digestive medicines are left. Should I be thankful even this is left?" But he couldn¡¯t find the crucial tuberculosis antibiotics. Hoping to find them downstairs, Aiden looked out the window for a moment. Being on the 5th floor, the surrounding scenery came into view. At that moment, Aiden saw something strange. "Huh? What¡¯s that?" Roughly estimating, a black wave? No, some kind of swarm was moving at quite a distance. Its speed was quite fast. It was a swarm whose end couldn¡¯t be seen, as if it was wrapping around all of Queens. Aiden opened the window and looked more intently. "W-what is that?!" It was zombies. And not just a group of zombies, but a wave of zombies itself. Hundreds, no, thousands of zombies were approaching. Aiden, startled out of his wits, ran mindlessly. From all their observations and research so far, zombies don¡¯t form groups. And they don¡¯t move in such an orderly fashion towards one point. Something was wrong. They couldn¡¯t handle such a wave of zombies. Pitter-patter! "Jane!! Sean!!" Perhaps because of Aiden¡¯s urgent cry, Jane and Sean quickly came running. "What¡¯s wrong?" "What¡¯s the matter?" S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Aiden urgently took them to the window. "Look there...!" "!?" Sean and Jane were terrified. In the short time since Aiden had seen them, the zombie horde had already come within 1-2km. -Kieeeee! The cries of zombies were getting closer. "A-Aiden, what¡¯s going on?" "I-I don¡¯t know either, we need to flee to the research facility first!" "But! The antibiotics still...!" "Damn it! Show me what you¡¯ve brought!" Sean hurriedly opened his bag. The area he was in charge of seemed to have quite a lot of medicines, as there were many different types of drugs. Aiden rummaged through the bag, checking the names of the medicines. "Rifapentine...!" Aiden, having found that name, pressed the medicine bottle into Sean¡¯s hand. "You must keep this. Understand?" "Y-yes! Can this save our Liv?" "It should at least help her hold on for now! We don¡¯t have time! We need to escape! Let¡¯s go, Jane!" They came down to the first floor. Boom boom boom boom!! The sound shaking the earth was heard nearby. They just ran without thinking. Aiden knew the fastest route back, so he took the lead and ran. Inevitably, Jane started falling behind due to physical limitations. -Graaah!!! Zombies were chasing at tremendous speed behind them. "They¡¯re running?" Aiden, who briefly looked back to check Jane¡¯s condition, was surprised. Because until now, their observations hadn¡¯t revealed that zombies could run like this. Aiden slowed down a bit and stood next to Jane. "Jane, don¡¯t look back, just keep running forward no matter what. Sean! Adjust your speed!" Sean, who was running ahead, looked at Aiden. "Huff huff...!" His eyes looked anxious. Sean didn¡¯t slow down but rather ran even faster. "Se-Sean! Together...!" Aiden was about to call him louder but stopped. Because he knew why he was running faster. It¡¯s not that he doesn¡¯t understand Sean¡¯s feelings; he needs to survive to deliver the medicine to Liv. Of course, it¡¯s more likely due to the primal survival instinct to stay alive. He knows that if he matches the slow Jane, he¡¯ll be in danger too. He turned his body in a different direction from the return route and ran like crazy. Aiden and Jane could only watch his back quickly disappearing. Regardless of Sean¡¯s situation, Aiden and Jane were in danger at this rate. Aiden quickly scanned the surroundings. It was to find a place where they could hide. Then, he saw a two-story commercial building. "Follow me, Jane!" "O-okay!" Aiden grabbed Jane and entered the commercial building. Crash! Aiden hurriedly started setting up a barricade with broken objects in the first-floor store. Then he went up to the second floor and haphazardly spread broken furniture and bookshelves in front of the stairs. They caught their breath for a moment. And they went to the end of the wall and sat down. "Huff huff, Jane, are you okay?" "Aiden... Can we survive safely?" "What are you saying, Jane. Of course we have to survive!" "But... I never imagined this, a horde of zombies... Something¡¯s wrong." "Yeah, yeah, it¡¯s strange, but let¡¯s just think about surviving and returning to the research facility for now." Boom boom!! Grrrr!! They could feel the zombies getting closer. Aiden and Jane covered their mouths to not let out even a breath of sound, waiting for the zombie horde to pass by, hoping they would pass safely. Boom boom!! Crash!! The sound of something breaking, a roar as if the earth was splitting. The sound of furniture they had blocked on the first floor breaking, and the sound of zombies pounding on the second-floor stairway door. Tremendous vibrations continued. It seemed like the zombies were rummaging through various buildings as if looking for surviving people. Crack! Thump thump!! Crunch! The sound of the second-floor stairway door breaking grew louder. Aiden gripped the rifle he was holding tightly. And he took out his pistol, checked the bullets, and put it down where he could reach it immediately. He shouldered the submachine gun and quietly turned the muzzle towards the door. Screams, roars, and the shaking of the earth. Just when it seemed like all of that would never end. The noise started to decrease. The zombies that had been rummaging through the commercial building seemed to have left, as there were no more sounds of things being broken. "Have they passed?" Jane asked. Aiden carefully poked his head out the window as quietly as possible. Only the road, more destroyed and desolate than before, was visible, and no zombies were seen at the moment. "It seems they¡¯ve passed, Jane." Just in case, Aiden spoke very quietly. And he very carefully started clearing away the furniture in front of the door one by one. Like that, although it took time, they were able to clear all the furniture and come down to the first floor. Only then did they check the time: 6 PM. The sun was setting. Without saying anything, the two headed for the research facility without delay. Hoping desperately that the research facility would remain safe. Chapter 230 The streets were filled with zombies as much as when the zombie outbreak first occurred, or perhaps even more. Queens, which had been finding some stability, turned into hell again. Endless gunshots, zombies running towards the sound. Hell unfolded once more. Aiden and Jane ran. Zombies relentlessly pressed their mad cries and disgusting teeth towards the two heading for the research facility. The two pulled the trigger incessantly towards the rushing zombies. The zombies¡¯ life or death didn¡¯t matter; they just shot at the zombies blocking their way and fed bullets to those closely following behind. Due to the constantly rushing zombies, the two¡¯s stamina was already starting to hit rock bottom. They planted bullets in the zombies rushing in front of them and shook off the following zombies with all their might. After running for a while, the two, having shaken off the pursuing zombies, entered a building where no zombies were visible to catch their breath. "Huff... huff..." "Seems like we¡¯ve come about halfway... phew." Aiden quickly assessed their current position. Jane was breathing heavily as if she might pass out. "There are too many zombies, Aiden." Jane said, barely catching her breath. "We have no choice but to break through..." Crash! Click! Something fell over and entered the building. Aiden instantly raised his gun muzzle to pull the trigger, but the fallen something hurriedly spoke. "It¡¯s, it¡¯s me! Aiden! It¡¯s Sean!" "Sean?" Aiden lowered his gun. "You¡¯re alive?" "Sean, I¡¯m glad you¡¯re safe!" The two were glad to see Sean, but they couldn¡¯t approach him. Even in the dark state, Sean¡¯s condition was a mess. The wounds visible through the gaps in his torn clothes. Because they didn¡¯t look like wounds just from falling. Aiden slowly raised his pistol. "Sean, I¡¯m really sorry in this situation, but... were you bitten?" "N-no! These are wounds from crawling through small gaps in collapsed buildings while running for my life!" Jane, hearing Sean¡¯s words, tried to approach to check his wounds, but was stopped by Aiden¡¯s hand. "Aiden? Why?" "Wait, Jane." Sean spread his arms wide as if feeling wronged. "L-look! If I had been bitten, I wouldn¡¯t be fine now, would I?" That was true. Quite some time had passed since they separated from Sean, and if he had been bitten during that time, the mutation would have already occurred. But strangely, Aiden couldn¡¯t easily let go of his suspicion. "Haah... Sean, the situation is really bad right now. You understand, right?" "I know well that you can¡¯t help but be suspicious. I was hiding in a corner of the opposite building watching the situation, and when I saw you enter here, I followed." Only then did Aiden lower his pistol. "I¡¯m glad you¡¯re alive, Sean." Jane welcomed Sean once again. "Sean. We need to return to the research facility as soon as possible. Can you move?" Although he had let go of his suspicion, Aiden¡¯s voice was stiff. Because he couldn¡¯t forget the sight of Sean¡¯s back as he ran away, abandoning the two. He knew he might have done the same in that situation, but once can easily become twice. They had caught their breath for a moment and rejoined with Sean, so they had to head straight for the research facility. Aiden stepped out to the building¡¯s entrance first. And he looked around, but it was difficult to clearly assess the outside in the dark state. Trying to detect if there were zombies around by sound as much as possible, there seemed to be no sign of zombies nearby. "Let¡¯s go. Jane will take the lead. Sean, please stay in the middle. I¡¯ll follow you two from the very back." Seeing the two nod, Aiden gestured. Jane started first, then Sean behind her, and finally Aiden closely followed the two. The three ran side by side on the dark night road. In between, some zombies that sensed human presence rushed in, but since Aiden had picked up a sturdy iron pipe in the building, he easily dealt with one or two zombies. It was almost there. If they ran a little more, the research facility would be visible. Jane, who had been running for a while, stopped and raised her hand to stop the two. "Shh!" Sean was about to say something, but quickly closed his mouth at Jane¡¯s appearance. Aiden passed by Sean and stood next to Jane, looking in the direction she was gesturing. "...!" The rooftop of the research facility was visible. And the lights on the visible floors below were still shining, but the problem was the movement visible inside. ¡¯Zombies... are inside the research facility!¡¯ Aiden groaned. Then Sean pushed Aiden aside and looked towards the research facility. "...! La-Lyla! Liv!" Sean pushed the two aside and ran. "Sean!" Jane called out to stop Sean, but he didn¡¯t seem to hear. Then Jane suddenly ran after him. "Jane?! Damn it!" Aiden had no time to stop her. He could only follow her. As Sean ran shouting madly, zombies around the research facility started rushing in. Not just one or two, but at least 10 or more zombies. "Sean! Wait! Sean!" Jane struggled to follow Sean and grabbed his shoulder. "Let go!!" Sean roughly shook off Jane. And he committed an unimaginable act. Thud. He strongly pushed Jane into the zombies rushing at him. "Sean?!" Jane is pushed away. The zombies rushing behind her flash their teeth. Aiden was watching all of this. As if in slow motion, he sees Jane being caught by the zombies. Jane¡¯s face was visible. In that situation, Jane looked at him. And then, she smiled. "Ah... Ahhh!!!" Bang bang bang bang! "Jane!! Jane!!" Aiden fired his gun like crazy. Changing magazines, he poured out bullets. Aiden killed all the zombies that had crushed Jane. And he rushed in and started clearing away the zombies. "Jane...! Jane...!!" Aiden couldn¡¯t come to his senses. What on earth was happening? Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After clearing away all the zombies, Jane¡¯s terribly bitten and torn appearance was visible. "Ai...den." Jane called Aiden with difficulty. Aiden grabbed her hand with trembling hands and caressed her face. "Jane... What is this. You, you can¡¯t leave me, Jane...!" "...Ai...den. Kill... me. Before... I... bite... you..." Jane spoke, struggling to hold onto consciousness. Aiden just shed tears endlessly. "Ple...ase... Aiden..." "This is... too cruel, Jane... Why on earth...!" Aiden felt like he was going crazy. It was instantaneous. He didn¡¯t even have time to do anything. Aiden felt Jane¡¯s touch. "Cough! Ple...ase..." Jane looks at Aiden, coughing up blood. Her whole body started to writhe as if she was beginning to mutate. "I¡¯m sorry, Jane... I, I just can¡¯t..." Jane¡¯s mutation is nearing its end. "Urrgh... uh... Ai... uhhh." She raised her body. Black liquid flowed from the red blood on her body torn here and there. Jane embraced Aiden. And. Chomp! She bit Aiden¡¯s neck. He painfully aimed the gun so that his and Jane¡¯s heads overlapped. "I love you... Jane." Bang! Thud. The two collapse. Embracing each other. Aiden¡¯s consciousness fades away. His life as an ordinary doctor, the happy days spent with Jane, the days they struggled together in the research facility after the zombie outbreak occurred, all flash by. And Aiden¡¯s consciousness darkened. * * * Darkness was engulfing Aiden¡¯s vision. Time passes. It¡¯s impossible to know how much time has passed. Aiden suddenly thought he might be in the afterlife. ¡¯I¡¯m thinking?¡¯ Aiden realized that he was thinking. ¡¯Can I open my eyes?¡¯ As soon as Aiden thought that, he was able to open his eyes. The world was visible. He tried to raise his body. "Ah..." Jane¡¯s corpse was visible in his arms. However much time had passed, parts of the body were rotting. Aiden gently placed Jane aside and looked at his hands. Skin that looked discolored, with a greenish hue. It was the skin color of a zombie. "Did I... become a zombie? But my consciousness?" Aiden shook his head and looked at Jane¡¯s corpse again. He couldn¡¯t think of anything. He just thought that the person he loved had become a zombie corpse lying there. Aiden stood up and looked around. Some zombies pass by him. They glanced at him moving, but just passed by indifferently as if dealing with another zombie. The ruined appearance of the research facility was also visible. He carefully picked up Jane¡¯s corpse. He hardly felt any weight. He couldn¡¯t understand at all what state his body was in. "A zombie with consciousness? Was there such a type?" Aiden just trudged to the research facility carrying Jane¡¯s corpse. The first thing he did was bury Jane¡¯s corpse in a place right next to the research facility. He spent a long time making a grave and placed Jane¡¯s corpse there. "I love you, Jane." After covering the grave with soil, he then entered the research facility. Several zombies were wandering inside the research facility as well. He went up to the second floor. -Kuuuh. Sean was visible. He had become a zombie too. Anger should be rising, but Aiden himself felt nothing. "Emotions... don¡¯t seem to be felt." Even if he felt no emotions, he had to do what needed to be done. Looking at the broken bookshelves nearby, he found a sturdy-looking piece of wood. Swing swing Thwack! After swinging it a few times, Aiden swung it right at Sean¡¯s head. Just one hit. Sean¡¯s head exploded. Has his strength increased? To explode in one hit, Aiden was puzzled. And after looking at Sean¡¯s headless corpse for a moment, he went up to the third floor. There, his white coat worn for research and a name tag with his full name ¡¯Aiden Lee¡¯ along with his photo, the hospital name ¡¯Pittsburgh Medical Center¡¯ and his specialty as a surgeon were placed on the desk. Aiden went to the bathroom where there was a mirror, put on the coat, and hung the name tag around his neck. And he looked at his face. As decomposition had started while he was collapsed, a hideous green-skinned zombie with rotting flesh falling off was visible. "This is... me now." Aiden didn¡¯t have any particular impression of his appearance. Just the thought that he was a zombie with consciousness, that¡¯s all. After tidying his clothes, Aiden looked around the third floor. Zombies were still visible around, but what he was looking for wasn¡¯t there. Finally, he went up to the rooftop. Only then did he see what he had been looking for. The appearance of a mother and daughter who had quietly embraced death in each other¡¯s arms. The pistol placed at her feet seemed to explain the situation at that time. Aiden left them as they were and came back down to the second floor. And stopping by the room where weapons were stored, he gathered some weapons and a sturdy iron pipe and started dealing with the zombies inside the research facility. After disposing of all the zombies, Aiden started sealing off the inside of the research facility. He didn¡¯t get physically tired and his strength had increased, so he could easily lift heavy objects. He blocked the broken glass walls with various furniture and strongly blocked the entrance leading to the third floor. Like that, it took a full day to block all entrances leading to the inside of the research facility, and then he stood blankly outside. "Now... what should I do?" Jane is gone. Only the primal worry about having to continue living remained. He slowly walked around the research facility. Anyway, with nothing to interfere, he slowly organizes his thoughts. Thud A motorcycle, slightly damaged but in fairly good condition, was visible at his feet as he walked absentmindedly. And the key was in it. Aiden easily lifted the fallen motorcycle. And he tried starting it. Vroom! It starts well. Zombies reacted to the motorcycle¡¯s engine sound and approached him, but they just stared at him without attacking. Aiden looked around the motorcycle. Seeing a helmet with a visor and all black in color scattered around, he picked it up and pulled it tightly over his head. "For now... shall I return to Pittsburgh?" Vrooom! The motorcycle roars with a rough engine sound as it speeds away. Putting aside for a moment his worries about what kind of life he should live now. He heads towards Pittsburgh where he lived. To find a way to live as a zombie in this world that has become an apocalypse. Side Story. The Beginning of the Zombie Outbreak [End] Chapter 231 Side Story. And They In the Los Angeles City Government conference room. The newly formed city council after Ross Preston¡¯s death was in quiet silence, as if waiting for someone. Crash! Clatter! The conference room door opened hurriedly and a woman in a white coat rushed in. "We-we¡¯ve succeeded! Mass production of the vaccine is now possible!" Woohoo!! The entire room erupted in cheers. Now, LA had reached the starting point of completely escaping the danger of the zombie virus. While people were hugging and cheering with joy, Ava, LA¡¯s military commander, secretly wiped away tears. Because they could finally fulfill the wish her sister had so desperately hoped for. One year after Ross Preston¡¯s death. In what could be considered a short time, they had fiercely battled zombies coming over from the desert. Before mass production of the vaccine, countless trials and errors were undergone to complete the vaccine. The most important experiments could be completed thanks to the sacrifice of soldiers who directly signed up for dosing. Without their sacrifices, the completion of the vaccine would have been delayed even more, and the current mass production would have been possible only after several more years. Ava stood up and calmed the excited people. "Everyone! The results of all of LA¡¯s hard work have finally shown hope. Until we gained this hope, for the sake of the soldiers who showed noble sacrifice while protecting LA with the sole intention of protecting their families, how about we take a moment to honor them?" Everyone became solemn at Ava¡¯s words. Following Ava¡¯s words, they honored the soldiers with a moment of silence. Then everyone sat down and began discussions for the vaccine production schedule, distribution, and LA¡¯s future plans. * * * LA was enveloped in a festive atmosphere for several weeks. This was because the city government had officially determined the success of vaccine production and the distribution date. Everyone was excited with the hope that the daily anxiety due to the fear of zombies would disappear and that humanity could finally escape this apocalypse. While everyone was in high spirits, one area inside the wall was quiet. This was Beyond, the arela for junk dealers and outsiders. Aiden, living in an old apartment located in the corner of the area, was looking at the hopeful interior of LA. It had been well over a year since he settled and lived here. During that time, he had become an important figure among LA¡¯s junk dealers, handling various difficult requests as a veteran junk dealer of Beyond. Recently, requests had decreased considerably, so he was only doing light work like patrolling the surroundings. Everything that had happened in LA passed in an instant, and time was spent busily for city restoration. So he felt grateful for this leisurely time. Moreover, today was the day to meet Arian and Sadie. Although not possible frequently, they make sure to meet twice a month to share their stories. "Why are you spacing out?" Arian appeared. And a gentle, bright voice popped out. "I¡¯m here too!" It was Sadie. "You¡¯ve come." "Of course we came." Arian replied gruffly. Aiden was rather satisfied with Arian¡¯s unchanged demeanor. "Have you been well?" "Of course." Aiden thought Sadie looked even brighter than before, which was nice to see. After greetings, the three sat in chairs placed in the living room and chatted about various trivial matters. Of course, most of the conversation was Sadie, while Arian and Aiden were just listening intently. After talking enthusiastically for a while, Sadie excused herself momentarily to bring drinks. "How¡¯s the situation beyond the wall?" Aiden asked Arian. "If things continue as they are now, I think we might be able to reclaim all of LA within a year. The vaccine is complete, and the material shortage will gradually be resolved. The problem is the fanatics and the mutants." "I see. I heard from other junk dealers that the fanatics are growing in power, but is the problem very serious?" For Aiden, mutants were just monsters that were tricky to deal with. They were beings that could be killed. Moreover, the military had Arian. If enough blood is supplied, even grotesque mutants are no match for Arian. However, the fanatics are beyond just being tricky. Their atrocities that he had seen on the way to LA were beyond imagination. "Those madmen are hiding even inside LA, so it¡¯s not easy to root them out, but I heard they¡¯ve started full-scale activities by building a wall near Bakersfield." "Bakersfield? It¡¯s about 100 miles from LA... It¡¯s certainly a potential threat. Does the city government have any countermeasures?" Arian shook her head. "The opinion is that nothing can be done right away. They¡¯re busy reclaiming all of LA, producing vaccines, and the number of incoming survivors keeps increasing." "Hmm..." It¡¯s inevitable to keep worrying about the fanatics, but Aiden thought it wasn¡¯t something he could step up for. "What are you talking about so seriously?" "Huh? It¡¯s nothing, Sadie. Come to think of it, didn¡¯t you say you were learning something these days?" Sadie asked as she put down the cups in her hands, but Arian brushed it off. "I¡¯m learning combat skills these days!" "Huh? What?" "Um..." Arian and Aiden seemed quite surprised. Of course, Sadie couldn¡¯t always be under others¡¯ protection, but they couldn¡¯t help but be surprised. "Why is Sadie learning that?" "Of course, because I want to be helpful too." "I mean, there are many ways to help, but why combat skills specifically?" When Arian asked pressingly, Sadie¡¯s face turned slightly red. "Th-that¡¯s because I want to be helpful to Aiden and Arian too." "Huuuh?" Arian made an expression of even less understanding. With a look that said "What is this kid thinking?", just as she was about to say something more, there was a knock on the door. Knock knock. Aiden looked at Arian. "A soldier?" "Seems so." Aiden pulled on the casually tossed motorcycle helmet and opened the door. "Hello." A soldier with just a combat cap pulled low, without any weapons, greeted. "What¡¯s the matter?" "I understand Arian is here as well. Military Commander Ava has requested a meeting." "Both me and Arian?" "All three of you." "Sadie too?" "That¡¯s correct. She asked to relay that she¡¯d like you to come right now if possible." Aiden seemed to ponder for a very brief moment before nodding. "We¡¯ll prepare and head over. We¡¯ll be as quick as possible." "Understood. Then." The soldier gave a light salute and disappeared. Aiden returned to the living room and looked at Arian. "You heard everything, right? Shall we go?" "Of course we should go, but why is Sadie asked to come along?" "Me?" Arian was bothered by Sadie¡¯s somewhat awkward expression, but didn¡¯t say anything. Aiden put on the newly issued white doctor¡¯s coat, hung the doctor¡¯s name tag around his neck, and pulled the helmet down low as he said: "Let¡¯s hear the details first." Arian just nodded and followed Aiden along with Sadie. * * * Arriving at the checkpoint connecting Beyond and LA¡¯s civilian area, Aiden¡¯s group was able to move quickly to the military headquarters by jeep, as if they had already been informed. Some soldiers watching Aiden¡¯s group pass by saluted Arian. Watching this, Aiden made a comment to Arian. "You¡¯ve been promoted." "Shut up!" Seeing the two, Sadie giggled quietly behind them, and the group soon arrived at Ava¡¯s office. Arian knocked on the door. Knock knock "Come in." As Aiden¡¯s group all entered the office, Ava stood up from her desk and offered a handshake to Aiden. "It¡¯s been a while, Aiden." "Has it? Why did you call us?" Aiden went straight to the point while accepting Ava¡¯s handshake. Ava smiled with her eyes at Aiden¡¯s still emotionless demeanor. "Let¡¯s sit down first. The conversation might get a bit long." Sadie, Aiden, and Arian sat in that order on the quite spacious sofa, and Ava sat across from them. "Do you need anything to drink?" S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I¡¯m fine." "Don¡¯t need it." "I¡¯d like just a glass of water..." When Sadie requested water, Ava told the duty soldier to bring water, and the soldier immediately brought it. "Now let¡¯s get into the main discussion." Ava started by talking about the current progress of mass vaccine production. The production volume hasn¡¯t been able to keep up with enough to cover all the people inside the LA wall, she said. This was because acquiring materials wasn¡¯t as easy as thought. The military was doing its best to secure materials by continuously distributing material-related requests to junk dealers. But Aiden knew well the difficulty of material procurement because junk dealers and the military had already swept up almost all resources to the extent that it could be said they had searched all of LA. Ava¡¯s explanation that followed was rather positive. The situation would improve because soldiers had cleared zombies from multiple directions in quite wide areas, enough to move to Santa Barbara or Santa Clarita, she said. Then, she also explained about the issue of fanatics. This part was rather simple. The government¡¯s policy was to leave them alone for the time being if they don¡¯t threaten LA, she said. However, as the military commander, Ava herself knew that unstable elements like fanatics could drive the situation to the worst at any time, so she added that she would steadily gather information and remain vigilant. "For what you called the main discussion, there doesn¡¯t seem to be a core point." "Of course, the really important talk starts now. Our government wants to entrust you and Arian with the task of delivering the vaccine to the government of Las Vegas." "Hmm..." Aiden looked at Arian. "This is the first I¡¯m hearing of this too." "Is that so." Seeing Arian¡¯s reaction, it seemed she really didn¡¯t know, so Aiden looked back at Ava. "You¡¯ll need more explanation. A quite large survivor group has formed in Las Vegas, though not on the scale of LA." Ava continued to explain that Las Vegas was one of the cities with an extremely high number of zombies until just two years ago. However, due to the incident a year ago, a large number of zombies rushed to LA, and as a result, the number of zombies in Las Vegas decreased. Naturally, small groups joined forces to survive, and now they have become a large group, gathering survivors in a role similar to an administrative district like LA, and protecting them. "So, the representative of the Las Vegas group has sent a request for cooperation to LA. For the future survival of humanity, we are in a position where we cannot ignore their request as we will strive to create a world where people can live again by continuously cooperating with intact groups." As if her throat was dry, Ava took a sip of water and continued speaking. "And because we can also exchange supplies with Las Vegas." "Then is our role to take a few of the developed vaccines, show them the efficacy of the vaccine, and then get a promise of material exchange?" "That¡¯s right." "...The compensation?" "Priority provision of the vaccine for Sadie. And accepting you, Aiden, as a citizen of LA." Chapter 232 "...Will that be alright?" Aiden asked back. No matter how much the vaccine is distributed and they escape from the fear of zombies, the fear of zombies is still deeply rooted in people¡¯s minds. To accept someone like him as a citizen? "Of course, I know what you might be thinking. But didn¡¯t I already say that if people can accept the fear and time passes, they¡¯ll be able to accept you?" "I see. I¡¯ll accept the request. However, I want Sadie¡¯s vaccine to be provided in advance before we depart." "Think of it as an advance payment. Alright, departure is in one week. I¡¯ll have Sadie¡¯s vaccine prepared before then. I¡¯ll send the detailed request file through a subordinate." Since all the information about the request had been conveyed, Aiden was about to stand up. "Ex-excuse me!" Sadie suddenly raised her hand. "I want to participate in this request too!" "Huh?" Arian¡¯s expression soured. "What did this kid eat wrong today. Sadie. This is adults¡¯ business." "I¡¯ve already talked with Ava about it!" "What did you say?" Arian¡¯s head whipped around. Ava flinched and averted her gaze from Arian¡¯s terrifying glare and murderous aura. "Wh-what are you going to do if you look at me like that!" "Calm down, Arian. Ava, please explain." Aiden mediated. Ava seemed to be sweating as she wiped her forehead with her hand. "Isn¡¯t it perfect evidence to show the efficacy of the vaccine!" "You¡¯re... treating Sadie like evidence?" Arian¡¯s murderous aura, which had subsided, flared up again. "Sa-Sadie requested it first!" "...Would you explain in detail? Arian, stop glaring." "Tch...!" As Arian¡¯s murderous aura disappeared again, Ava heaved a deep sigh. According to Ava¡¯s explanation, she had been helping with combat skills training at Sadie¡¯s request. As soon as she said that, she had to receive Arian¡¯s murderous aura with her whole body again, but thanks to Aiden calming her down once more, she was able to continue her explanation. After the announcement of mass vaccine production, the government decided to deliver the vaccine to Las Vegas after a meeting, she said. There was a lot of discussion about the transportation, but since it was impossible to move the military carelessly in the current situation, it was agreed to hire the most trustworthy junk dealer. Since Ava, the military commander, had the highest point of contact with Aiden¡¯s group, she became responsible for matters related to the transport mission, and naturally asked about Aiden¡¯s schedule through Sadie. "Then Sadie attached the condition that she would participate herself." "I see. It seems the conditions of the request are changing." "Sadie?" Sadie was grinning sheepishly. "To be honest, I wanted to do something together with you two again." "You know the level of danger in this job, right?" Aiden said, staring at Sadie. "Of course." "You¡¯ve thought about it a lot?" "Yes!" "Then let¡¯s go together." When Aiden gave permission, Sadie beamed with a broad smile. Ignoring Arian clutching her head in agony, Aiden looked at Ava and said: "The vaccine¡¯s effect is certain, right?" "Of course, we¡¯ve completed all human trials." "Good, we¡¯ll make our own preparations, but I have one request." "I¡¯ll send my adjutant separately tomorrow regarding armaments. You can request what you need then." Aiden nodded at Ava¡¯s words. "Then we¡¯ll take our leave. Seems like I need to talk with these two." "Alright, do that. Let¡¯s meet at the wall gate in a week." As Aiden¡¯s group opened the door and left, Ava sank into the sofa as if drained. "Phew... Arian is scarier than zombies." Ava wiped her cold sweat and caught her breath. * * * As soon as they returned to the apartment in Beyond, Arian glared at Sadie. "Sadie?" "I¡¯m sorry!" Arian made a dumbfounded expression at Sadie¡¯s quick apology. But only for a moment, Arian patted Sadie¡¯s head. "Next time, discuss these things in advance. Understood?" "Yes!" "Oh my, I won¡¯t live to my natural lifespan." Though she said that, Arian seemed to recall their journey when the three traveled to LA together. She seemed to remember the dangerous moments, and how proud she felt of Sadie for enduring steadfastly in such situations. "What kind of training did you receive?" Aiden asked Sadie. "Pistol and rifle marksmanship. And combat techniques using terrain and objects." Sadie answered Aiden¡¯s question without hesitation. "How was Ava¡¯s evaluation?" "She said at this level, while not as good as soldiers, I¡¯m good among civilians." After that, Aiden asked about the types of guns Sadie could use. Although Ava would have trained her well, considering the importance of this request, it was necessary to understand all of Sadie¡¯s capabilities. Because the situation was very different from before. "Alright, I understand. I¡¯ll make preparations on my end. Arian, do you need anything separately?" "How long do you think this journey will take?" "I¡¯ll have to calculate that, but since we can get a vehicle, I estimate we¡¯ll arrive within 2-3 days." "Then I¡¯ll prepare the blood I need to drink on my own, I can request it from the military." "Okay, then let¡¯s depart at 7 AM in a week." Like that, the three talked a bit more about what they needed, and when it got late, Arian took Sadie and left. Left alone, Aiden opened the window and kept watching the backs of Arian and Sadie until they disappeared from view. * * * For a week, Aiden spent his time busily for the first time in a while. The next day, he immediately went to the pub where junk dealers gathered and started buying up all information about Las Vegas and the route there. Thanks to this, rumors spread that Aiden was heading to Las Vegas, but since he didn¡¯t reveal what the request was, people asked if he was changing his base to Las Vegas, and Aiden just shook his head. The situation in Las Vegas that he bought from various sources was similar to what Ava had told him. Although not as big as LA, it had established itself on a large scale enough to reclaim part of Las Vegas¡¯s territory, and because it had cleaned up some unstable elements around it, it had become a stable request area for some junk dealers, they said. And regarding the route to Las Vegas, various information came out, but the best information was that the number of zombies had decreased enough to be able to drive on the highway to some extent. However, he was also able to obtain information that although the number of zombies had decreased, a considerable number of mutants coming through the desert were spread around various places. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Aiden was rather relieved about that part. If they could bring enough blood for Arian to drink, it might be easier to deal with mutants one by one than with a large number of zombies. Like that, by buying various information and requesting necessary equipment from the military, the preliminary preparations for the request were being completed. And on the morning of the request day, Aiden arrived at the gate first. There was a jeep modified for military use, which seemed to have been prepared in advance. In the back trunk were four 40-liter fuel cans and various weapons and magazine cases that Aiden had requested. And on one side of the trunk was a quite large ice box, which Aiden opened to check. It was maintaining a low temperature like a mini-refrigerator, probably modified by the military, and there were many blood transfusion packs packed tightly inside. It seemed Ava had taken special care, so Aiden closed the box with satisfaction. Then he examined the bulletproof vest and MP5 submachine gun for Sadie to use. The condition of the gun was quite good, as if it had been well-maintained. Still, Aiden carefully checked for any malfunctions or defects, and prepared two spare magazines in advance, setting them on the side of the bulletproof vest. Then he serviced the M16A4 rifle and Remington Model 1100 12-gauge shotgun he would use, adjusting the sights to ensure accuracy, while waiting for Arian and Sadie. 10 minutes before 7 o¡¯clock, Arian and Sadie appeared with Ava. While Arian looked comfortable as if going for a walk in the park, Sadie¡¯s eyes were red as if she hadn¡¯t slept due to nervousness. After roughly receiving greetings from the two, Aiden first received the suitcase containing the vaccine from Ava. "I¡¯m counting on you, Aiden." "Thank you for preparing all the requested supplies without missing anything." "This mission is important, so it was the mayor¡¯s order to spare no support. Thanks to that, we were able to send you off fully equipped." "Hmm, then we¡¯ll be going." "Yes, have a safe trip." Ava shook hands with Aiden, then lightly greeted Arian and Sadie before moving away. Before departing, Aiden unfolded the prepared map and briefly explained to Arian about the journey. "We¡¯ll move towards San Bernardino, and if there¡¯s no major problem, we plan to travel on the highway towards Las Vegas passing through Barstow. Although we¡¯ve received ample supplies, we can¡¯t know the external situation perfectly, so I intend to move with sufficient caution. The estimated arrival time is... about 3 to 4 days." After continuing the explanation for a while, Aiden asked Sadie if she had received the vaccine well. "Yes, I got the injection two days ago." "Any discomfort?" "Um... I felt a bit dizzy at first, but now I¡¯m fine." "I see, if you have any discomfort, tell me immediately. I¡¯ve heard about the vaccine¡¯s side effects from Ava." "Yes!" When all the talking was done, the three got into the jeep. Like before, Aiden took the driver¡¯s seat, and Sadie and Arian sat in the back seat. Just as they were about to depart, Arian said something. "It reminds me of when we first headed to LA, doesn¡¯t it?" "It doesn¡¯t seem like such a good memory though." When Aiden pointed that out, Arian awkwardly patted Sadie¡¯s head. "Well, anyway, I¡¯m a bit excited that the three of us are doing a request together again." "Me too! I¡¯m scared and nervous, but also thrilled." "The situation outside is always accompanied by danger. Be careful not to get too excited." Aiden started the car. Vroom! As the gate slowly opened fully, Aiden stepped on the accelerator and left the gate. The road stretched out clear, as if the military had cleaned it up to some extent. "...The situation is much better than back then." "What?" "Nothing." Arian couldn¡¯t have missed Aiden¡¯s muttering, but she just slightly opened the window and smiled faintly while feeling the incoming wind. Chapter 233 During the move to San Bernardino, no major dangers appeared for Aiden¡¯s group. Zombies were visible here and there, but not in a state to worry about much, and no mutants were spotted, so the journey was becoming more comfortable than expected. The road maintenance seemed to be somewhat completed, as it wasn¡¯t to the point where they couldn¡¯t move, and if this state continued, Aiden thought they might arrive in Vegas within 2-3 days. Feeling relieved at the small number of zombies, Aiden arrived at a fairly large medical center in San Bernardino. "We should look around and prepare for camping, Arian." "Alright, I¡¯ll check the exterior near the hospital." "I¡¯ll look around inside the hospital, it seems fine from the outside. Sadie, follow me." "Yes!" As the sun was beginning to set, Aiden parked the car in the medical center¡¯s front parking lot and entered with Sadie. Befitting its name as a medical center, the interior boasted quite a large scale. Aiden looked at the guide sign in the hospital lobby and first searched for places where medicines might be stored. "We have enough supplies to get to Vegas, but it¡¯s good to stock up on anything. A hospital this size probably doesn¡¯t have supplies left, but let¡¯s check and if there¡¯s no problem nearby, we¡¯ll spend the evening there." "Okay." Sadie¡¯s voice became small, as if she was nervous. Aiden briefly put his hand on Sadie¡¯s shoulder to help her relax. "It¡¯s been a while since you¡¯ve been out, so it¡¯s natural to be nervous. Follow me while breathing slowly." At Aiden¡¯s words, Sadie nodded lightly. Her breathing started to stabilize as if she had relaxed a bit. The two arrived at the area where medicines were stored. No zombies were visible inside, so Aiden first searched for a place where the group could rest. Fortunately, they could find a room with beds where they could rest. It looked like a room for doctors or nurses on duty. After confirming once again that there were no zombies around, the two started looking for supplies. "What should I gather?" "For now, bring any medicines or instruments that look intact. I¡¯ll let you know if they¡¯re needed or not as we look." "Okay." Just as Sadie was about to move, Arian appeared. "Arian!" Arian smiled at Sadie, who welcomed her. "I saw some zombies a bit away from the hospital, but the inside is quiet. Seeing traces of combat, it seems the zombies inside have been dealt with." "I see, understood. We¡¯re looking for some medicines." "Medicines? Do we need those now?" "I want to show Sadie medicines and supplies she can use for emergencies." "Ah? Good idea. Then I¡¯ll go with Sadie." "Please do. I¡¯ll bring food and water from the car." Arian and Sadie moved to find items. Aiden returned after gathering simple supplies from the military jeep and started preparing to spend the evening. The medicines and instruments Sadie gathered were indeed few in quantity. Thinking this was natural, Aiden spent the night explaining to Sadie one by one the uses of the medicines and how to use the instruments. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Meanwhile, Arian took out a modified machete slightly longer than her forearm and carefully sharpened the blade to avoid making loud noises. Sadie, who had been listening to explanations for a while, started nodding off as if tired. Arian laid Sadie on the bed and stroked her head as she slept comfortably. Then, looking at Aiden who was organizing the necessary medicines and instruments, she asked a question. "Aiden, hasn¡¯t the number of zombies definitely decreased?" "Analyzing based on information from junk dealers, they say the east had an abnormally high number of zombies a year ago." "And now?" "There are traces of some groups of zombies that Ross Preston controlled moving west after scattering." "The west? Why suddenly?" "The reason is unknown. There¡¯s only speculation that something might be happening in the west, given that there were quite a few sightings of Fear." "Hell must be unfolding there too..." The two couldn¡¯t say anything for a while. Then suddenly Arian¡¯s eyes lit up. "Someone¡¯s coming, two people. They¡¯re coming this way?" Aiden quickly drew his pistol and checked outside the room. Thump thump Aiden quietly took out a flashlight. Arian gripped her machete in reverse and was ready to spring out at any moment. Looking at Arian like that, Aiden nodded once, and Arian nodded back. In an instant, Aiden turned on the flashlight, illuminating the face of the approaching figure, and said: "If you make any foolish moves, I¡¯ll blow your head off immediately." "W-wait! We¡¯re not looters!" The man with a thick voice shielded his eyes from the dazzling light and shouted urgently. At that moment. "Drop your weapons." Arian¡¯s chilling voice was heard from behind him. The gleaming blade of a machete flashed at the man¡¯s neck. He dropped the pistol he was holding to the floor in surprise. "Ah, uh, Arian?" "Huh?" The reason Arian deliberately put her machete to the neck of the man who wasn¡¯t part of their group was because the figure standing behind him looked like a young child, but she turned around in surprise at hearing her name called. "Huh? Luna?" At Arian¡¯s words, Aiden also lowered his flashlight and approached the two. "You, Taylor?" "J-junk dealer? You¡¯re alive?" "It is Taylor." Aiden, who had suddenly come close to Taylor¡¯s face, confirmed his identity. Arian also withdrew her machete. "Sorry, Taylor. Are you okay?" "I¡¯m fine, whew, I thought I was going to die for a moment." "Let¡¯s go inside first." Aiden guided Taylor and Luna into the room. Sadie, who had woken up from the commotion, looked at Taylor and Luna with surprised eyes. "Sadie!" "Luna?!" The two hugged each other and cried. Sadie had already given up, unable to find Luna even after a long time had passed since arriving in LA. With Luna appearing before her eyes, she couldn¡¯t hide her joy. While the two were hugging and crying, Aiden, Arian, and Taylor began to talk about the situation in the meantime. "How did you end up coming towards LA so late?" "So many things happened..." After Aiden¡¯s group left. He says he made up his mind to prepare for a trip to LA with his daughter after hearing Aiden¡¯s advice. But he couldn¡¯t move irresponsibly with a young daughter, so he went through a lot of trouble to obtain as many supplies and a car as possible. Then, while preparing to head to LA, he headed to Phoenix, and at that time, he discovered Fear leading a large group of zombies into Phoenix, so he quickly changed direction and set out towards Mexicali. However, the journey to Mexicali wasn¡¯t easy either, he says. The biggest threat wasn¡¯t zombies or looters, but the threat of fanatics. They approached Taylor, who was traveling with a young daughter, pretending to show kindness, but their purpose was Luna. Taylor, who felt something was off about them, sweated profusely trying to escape from the fanatics late at night carrying Luna on his back, he says. Even after that, it took a long time to shake off their pursuit, and he was barely able to shake them off when entering the survivor group camp in Mexicali. Aiden couldn¡¯t help but nod at Taylor¡¯s words that the fanatics¡¯ target was young children. Although he couldn¡¯t understand what they were thinking, targeting young children was one of the pieces of information he had bought from LA¡¯s junk dealers. He strongly felt that friction with the fanatics would be inevitable even after the vaccine spreads in the future. And then, while Taylor and Luna were preparing to depart for LA after gathering enough supplies in Mexicali, they learned about what LA Mayor Ross Preston had done, and heard stories from junk dealers that LA had become a mess, he says. Taylor thought that even though Ross Preston was dead, LA¡¯s situation without a central figure wouldn¡¯t be good, so he had to spend more time in Mexicali for the time being. Mexicali also saw many zombies disappear after the LA incident, he says. Aiden, thinking it was because the zombies Ross Preston had scattered in the desert and east had headed to LA, just quietly listened to Taylor¡¯s story. Fortunately, after a year, he was able to hear through junk dealers that LA was recovering about half as much as before, if not to the level of previous life. He says they finally hurriedly set out for LA just a week ago after hearing this. "I¡¯m glad you¡¯re alive." "I can¡¯t die easily leaving Luna behind. My story is over, so won¡¯t you tell me your story? How have you been?" Aiden told him about the LA incident caused by Ross Preston as concisely as possible. A few important details were omitted, but he thought they weren¡¯t necessary to mention, and now they were curious about whether LA was habitable or not, regardless of Ross Preston, so they told Taylor various news about LA. As the night deepened, Sadie and Luna had fallen asleep. Taylor didn¡¯t have a body that didn¡¯t need sleep like Aiden or Arian, so he was also about to rest, and Aiden handed him a blanket and told him to rest before going outside the room to stand guard. Across from Aiden, Arian was quietly sitting with her eyes closed, leaning against the wall, and the two spent the night without saying anything. The next day. The morning sun rose, but Sadie, Luna, and Taylor couldn¡¯t get up easily, probably because their fatigue hadn¡¯t lifted. Arian stretched and said to Aiden. "It¡¯s strange." "What do you mean?" "I was looking back on our journey, and I wondered if there was anyone we met again?" "...That¡¯s true." Aiden also suddenly thought that their previous journey was just a frantic one to survive and bring Sadie to LA. "I wonder how the others are doing." "I don¡¯t know." "Well, there are some people we can never see again, but I¡¯m curious how it would be to see some people again." "If we can meet them." While the two were talking about various things, the door of the room opened and Sadie came out. "Did you rest well?" "Yes, I slept well. Did Sadie sleep well?" "Yes! I feel so good too." Arian seemed to be in a good mood at Sadie¡¯s bright appearance. While the three were gathered and stretching to prepare for departure, Taylor and Luna came out. "Did you rest well?" "Ah, of course. It feels like I slept deeply after a long time." Luna came out following Taylor, rubbing her eyes, and everyone packed their belongings and came out of the hospital. Aiden¡¯s group, who had organized the items gathered from the hospital in the trunk in front of the military jeep, explained the current situation in LA in detail for Taylor and Luna. The part that surprised Taylor the most was about the vaccine. Unable to hide his excited and joyful feelings, Taylor hurried, saying he should arrive in LA as soon as possible. Aiden and Arian told Taylor that when they arrive in LA, if he gives their names to the soldiers, they will provide convenience. He expressed his gratitude to the two, and Aiden explained the route they had taken with the jeep, telling him the safe path. Meanwhile, Sadie and Luna were saying goodbye once again. But this time, it wasn¡¯t a farewell without promise, so although there was regret, they greeted each other with bright smiles without showing tears. Aiden¡¯s group, watching the backs of Taylor and Luna fading into the distance, got into the jeep and resumed their journey to Las Vegas. Chapter 234 Aiden¡¯s group¡¯s journey was more peaceful than ever before. There was no shortage of supplies, and zombies that popped up or blocked the road in between were quietly dealt with by Aiden or quickly handled by Arian, so no major problems occurred. And the fact that no mutants appeared on their path also played a role. Before long, a rusted signpost appeared in front of the group. [Welcome to Las Vegas] Entering the entrance of Sin City, the city of entertainment that was bustling with people all year round, Aiden¡¯s group increased their speed and drove non-stop to the survivor camp located in Enterprise. By early evening, they stopped in front of the gate of a fairly large camp, though not as big as LA. "Stop! Stop!" Armed soldiers at the gate stopped Aiden¡¯s group¡¯s jeep. As a group of three soldiers approached the driver¡¯s side, taking defensive positions, Aiden lowered the window and handed the soldier the vaccine delivery order he had received from Ava. "!!" S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The soldier, who had been staring at the order for a while, seemed quite surprised and slowly examined the group sitting in Aiden¡¯s car. "Are you Aiden Lee, the junk dealer?" "That¡¯s right. Is there a problem?" There shouldn¡¯t be any issues since Ava¡¯s written order contained information about the junk dealer Aiden wearing a black helmet, and a brief description of Arian escorting Sadie, the vaccine recipient. "No, I was just trying to confirm. Pass through the gate and park the jeep you came in at the checkpoint inside the wall." "Understood." The gate opened and Aiden¡¯s group parked the jeep at the internal checkpoint. Murmur murmur People inside the wall could be seen murmuring among themselves as they looked at Aiden¡¯s group. Sadie seemed nervous, her face lowered, and Arian had an unpleasant expression, as if something was bothering her. Leaving the two like that, Aiden took out the suitcase containing the vaccine samples and left visible armaments like rifles in the jeep. Meanwhile, a soldier appeared in front of them. "The camp leader of Las Vegas is waiting for you." As if there had been an order to guide them politely, the soldier used honorifics and guided Aiden¡¯s group. Following the soldier, Aiden¡¯s group could slowly look around the inside of the camp. Although inferior to LA, it was a fairly good camp in its own right. The expressions of people who looked like ordinary citizens seemed comfortable, and it seemed that public order was being well maintained. While following the soldier, Arian spoke to Aiden in a low voice. "It seems the rumors about LA¡¯s vaccine are spreading quickly?" "Is that so." With Arian¡¯s hearing, she would have been able to hear in detail what people around were saying. "So that¡¯s why they were murmuring about us." While Aiden and Arian were talking quietly about the atmosphere of the camp, a building that looked like a government office came into view. "Let¡¯s go in." The door of the government office opened and they went inside. It seemed they could use some electricity as the interior was bright, and there were people bustling about, a mix of soldiers and civilians. "Second floor." Guided by the soldier, Aiden entered the office on the second floor and came face to face with a blonde man with a full beard. "Welcome. I am Randy Rayfield, currently in charge of the camp." Randy unhesitatingly offered a handshake to Aiden. "I¡¯m Aiden, the junk dealer in charge of delivering the vaccine sample." Aiden shook hands lightly with Randy and showed him the suitcase. "Can¡¯t you take off that helmet?" "I have my reasons. I hope you understand." "Is that so? Alright." Randy and Aiden¡¯s group sat on the sofa. Arian and Sadie briefly introduced themselves, and Randy showed great interest in Sadie, who had received the vaccine. Then Aiden immediately opened the suitcase to show the vaccine sample and handed related documents to Randy. "Hmm, I see. So that child has received the vaccine, and these are the related documents." Randy observed Sadie intently. Perhaps his gaze was burdensome, as Sadie turned her eyes to Arian. "Haven¡¯t you looked enough?" Arian was on the verge of losing her temper, perhaps because Randy¡¯s gaze was quite unpleasant. Then Aiden spoke up. "Our request is to deliver the vaccine sample and show the health condition of that child who received the vaccine. That¡¯s all. If you¡¯ve confirmed, please proceed with what LA requested right away." "Hmm... Do you know what LA requested?" "Not interested." "Is that so? We¡¯re also taking time to prepare." "How long do you think it will take?" Randy stroked his bushy beard, seeming to ponder for a moment. "It will probably take two days. We¡¯ll provide accommodation for your stay." Aiden nodded and stood up. Arian and Sadie also got up, following Aiden. "Marvin! Is Marvin here!" Randy shouted loudly. Startled, Sadie tightly grabbed Arian¡¯s hand. With a crashing sound, the office door opened roughly, and a thin, simple-looking Marvin appeared. "Yes! D-did you call, sir!" "These are guests from LA. Guide them to their accommodation." "LA?" "Yes! Hurry up and guide them!" As Randy shouted irritably, Marvin quickly took Aiden¡¯s group and left the place. Left alone after everyone had gone, Randy took out a vaccine sample from the suitcase and looked at it intently. "...So this is the vaccine, you say?" His eyes turned cold. * * * The accommodation Marvin guided them to was a hotel not far from the government office. Marvin, who had shown them to a room on the second floor of the hotel, gave a light greeting and quickly disappeared. Aiden made a simple hand sign to Arian. ¡¯Check if there¡¯s anyone around who might be eavesdropping.¡¯ Receiving Aiden¡¯s hand sign, Arian maximized her hearing and started checking the surroundings. Sadie was quietly watching this. "There¡¯s no one. It¡¯s safe." "Haa... I¡¯m so tired." Sadie sighed. Although she couldn¡¯t say much and just watched from the side, she had been even more tense because Randy¡¯s gaze on her was quite unsettling. "Something¡¯s suspicious, right?" "Did you sense something?" Arian¡¯s eyes lit up at Aiden¡¯s question. "That Randy person, not only was his gaze on Sadie strange, but there¡¯s a faint scent from his body that keeps bothering me." "Can you remember what kind of scent it is?" Arian tried to recall her memory. "It¡¯s a scent I¡¯ve smelled before, definitely on the unpleasant side." "We have time, so why don¡¯t you think about it slowly?" Even at Sadie¡¯s words, Arian didn¡¯t stop pondering. Leaving Arian thinking seriously, Aiden opened the window curtain and slowly examined the inside of the camp. Sadie must have been quite tired, as she fell asleep at some point. After a short while had passed like that, Arian suddenly stood up. "Fanatics." "Hm?" "The fanatics¡¯ ritual. Aiden, do you remember? That ritual-like thing those crazy guys were doing. It was the scent I smelled there." "Are you sure?" "Of course, there¡¯s no way I could forget such a unique scent." "So suspicion has arisen that the camp¡¯s leader might be a fanatic." "This has become troublesome." Aiden pondered for a moment. "For now, our priority is to complete the request we¡¯ve been given. Moreover, we can¡¯t accuse recklessly without physical evidence, especially as we¡¯re just outsiders." "That¡¯s true..." "I¡¯ll go out for now, to the place where nearby junk dealers receive requests." "You¡¯re trying to get information, right?" "That¡¯s right. Arian, stay by Sadie¡¯s side." "Alright." Aiden left the hotel room and started slowly wandering around the inside of the camp. As it had become evening, some people looked curiously at Aiden walking around in a black helmet on the dark streets, but that was all. Aiden was able to find the pub where junk dealers receive requests by asking a few people. Despite the late hour, about a dozen junk dealers were scattered around tables or at the bar inside the pub. As Aiden sat in an empty seat at the bar, a woman sat next to him. She glanced Aiden up and down once, then spoke abruptly. "You, are you perhaps Aiden?" "Do you know me?" "If you¡¯re the junk dealer who was in Huntington Beach a year ago, it would be strange not to know you. I¡¯m Lois." Lois introduced herself. After Huntington Beach became a den of zombies a year ago, some junk dealers remained in LA, but quite a few also left to find other camps. Lois says it¡¯s been six months since she left LA and started working in this camp. Thinking this was a good opportunity, Aiden was able to ask Lois in detail about the camp¡¯s situation. The biggest piece of information was that zombies, including mutants, which once flooded all of Las Vegas, had largely moved eastward. Surprisingly, multiple Fears, not just one, were sighted and they blindly moved eastward, leaving Las Vegas behind. Thanks to this, fewer zombies remained in the Las Vegas area than before, and the number of mutants also decreased significantly, allowing the camp to become active, she says. Aiden was reminded of the LA incident at this point, but he refrained from speaking as it was something he couldn¡¯t judge carelessly. Then, what Aiden intensively asked Lois about was the existence of missing persons. Of course, after the zombie outbreak occurred, missing persons were everywhere, but if missing persons occurred periodically in such a stable camp, it could be inferred that fanatics conducting human sacrifices were present in this camp. On this point, Lois thought about the missing person search requests she knew of, but said they were not regular and the time differences were quite large. Aiden told Lois he needed more information related to missing persons, and informed her of items he could trade from the supplies he had, asking for additional information sharing. As it happened, Lois was thinking of moving to LA after hearing rumors about the vaccine, so she said it could be a good deal and left her seat, saying they should meet again tomorrow evening. After Lois left, Aiden quietly organized his thoughts. He felt that the vaccine delivery request for bridging LA and Las Vegas was becoming complicated. However, there was nothing Aiden could do right away. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t believe Arian¡¯s words, but they couldn¡¯t accuse this camp¡¯s leader without any evidence, especially as they were just outsiders. For now, Aiden decided to gather as much information as possible and quickly relay the Las Vegas camp situation to LA. Aiden left the pub and headed to the hotel. Chapter 235 At the time Aiden was heading to the hotel. Randy, the camp¡¯s leader, appeared at an old container warehouse isolated at the outermost edge of the camp, without anyone knowing. He went to the innermost part of the warehouse, where a person with a hood on could be seen tied to a chair, and next to them, sturdy men were standing quietly in a reverent posture. Behind them was a wall filled with unknown symbols and a red altar with something like a large bowl placed on it. As Randy appeared, a man approached him, knelt down, and said: "Elder." "Is the preparation complete?" Randy asked, looking only at the tied-up person without paying attention to the kneeling man. "Yes, Elder." Randy slowly approached the person tied to the chair. "Peter. Do you know why you¡¯re in this state?" The person called Peter shook violently. "Why did you go around poking your nose everywhere?" Randy removed Peter¡¯s hood. "Mmph! Mmph!" With the hood removed and a gag in his mouth, Peter made unintelligible sounds. Peter seemed terrified at the fact that Randy was in front of him, turning pale. Regardless of Peter¡¯s pallor, Randy took out a wire saw, a dagger engraved with strange patterns, a hammer, and thick nails from the bag he had brought and placed them in front of Peter. Then, in a praying posture, he muttered to himself before looking at Peter¡¯s face, grinning and saying: "Let¡¯s begin the service." "Mmph!! Mmph!!" Peter struggled. Randy picked up the hammer and thick nails. The cold touch of the nail met Peter¡¯s instep. Bang! Squelch! Bang! Squelch! "Hehe!! Hehehehe!!" Randy¡¯s maniacal laughter and the sound of the hammer striking the nails filled the container box for a while, showing no signs of stopping. * * * As soon as morning broke, Aiden left Sadie with Arian and went out. Looking around near the pub he had visited in the evening, he saw the junk dealers¡¯ request office, and from early morning, several junk dealers were actively moving around to find suitable requests. Aiden had no intention of sitting still waiting for Lois¡¯s information, so he looked at the request board. Various requests were listed, but there were no missing person-related requests that Aiden was looking for, so he looked for someone who seemed to be running the request office. Then he saw a man sitting at a table in a corner of the request office, organizing scraps of paper with an unlit half-cigar in his mouth. Aiden immediately approached him. "Aiden, a junk dealer from LA." "Huh? What¡¯s with the sudden self-introduction?" "Are there no missing person-related requests?" The man, looking at Aiden who abruptly got to the point, frowned and slowly looked him up and down. "Your aura is not ordinary, Aiden, you say? I¡¯m Chad. Chad Pierce. Annoyingly, I¡¯m in charge of this request office." "Nice to meet you. So, are there no missing person requests?" "Huh, this guy lacks social skills. Tsk." When Aiden didn¡¯t budge even at his sarcasm, Chad took out a bundle of request forms from the cabinet next to the table. "Here, these are the missing person request forms. If you¡¯ve been a junk dealer for a long time, you¡¯d know that finding missing persons in this era is not an easy request, so they¡¯re piled up like this." The bundle of request forms Chad put down seemed quite substantial even at Aiden¡¯s glance. "May I take a look? There certainly are a lot." "Do as you please." Aiden sat down comfortably and started organizing the requests by the date they were filed, examining them one by one. After looking at the request forms for a while, Aiden sorted out a list worth investigating. January XX, Dennis Oh Missing at James Regional Sports Park April XX, Tiffany Struthers Missing at Nevada Trails Park June XX, Kane Houston Missing at Cougar Creek Park Mixed in different periods, it would have been hard to find a peculiarity unless specifically looking for it, but Aiden was particularly interested in the location of disappearance being ¡¯parks¡¯. This was because, in a situation like now, with no supplies and difficulty in hiding, how could someone go missing in a park? Moreover, all of them were parks located in Enterprise. Aiden pulled out these three missing person request forms and handed the rest back to Chad. "I¡¯ll take these three requests." "Are you really planning to take on missing person requests?" "If not, I wouldn¡¯t have looked for them separately." "I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re thinking... but it¡¯s not my business. Request acceptance confirmed. I wish you luck." Aiden just nodded once and left the request office without lingering, heading to the checkpoint where he had parked the jeep. Being a military checkpoint, there were no signs of anyone tampering with the equipment inside the jeep. Aiden started gathering some equipment, including the rifle. "Are you Aiden Lee?" A soldier approached Aiden and spoke to him. "That¡¯s right." "There were instructions from above to leave you alone whatever you do. And this." The soldier handed Aiden something similar to a military dog tag. "You can consider it an entry pass for the gate. If you show this when entering or exiting the gate, you¡¯ll be allowed to pass immediately without separate inspection." Aiden silently received the pass handed by the soldier and hung it around his neck. The soldier was staring intently at the doctor¡¯s name tag hanging on his neck rather than the pass. "Do you have something more to say?" "Are you a doctor?" "A junk dealer and a doctor." The soldier was silent for a moment, as if thinking. Aiden packed spare magazines, leaving the soldier like that. "My name is Tom. My father is in poor health, but he refuses to move to see a doctor." "Is that so?" "Yes, if you have time, could I ask you to examine my father?" "If it¡¯s a request, I¡¯ll accept it. I¡¯ll examine him within two days." When Aiden answered without hesitation, Tom¡¯s expression brightened. "Yes. Thank you, Aiden. Then please find me at the gate when you¡¯re done with your business." "I will do that." Tom saluted Aiden and left. Aiden, who had been quietly watching his retreating figure, finished packing his equipment and headed to the hotel. * * * "So you¡¯re saying the cause of the disappearances is due to the fanatics¡¯ rituals?" S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Thinking about the characteristics of the guys we¡¯ve encountered so far, they consistently showed signs of performing something like rituals." "That¡¯s true. So you¡¯re going to investigate outside? And I¡¯ll investigate inside." "What about me?" Aiden and Arian looked at Sadie simultaneously. Sadie was pouting, seemingly displeased about being left out of the work. Aiden and Arian fell into contemplation. Sadie must have made a lot of effort to be helpful to them, both for this request and otherwise, and they couldn¡¯t keep ignoring her will by always seeing her as just a child. "Sadie, what would you like to do?" Arian asked, reversing the question. Then Sadie thought for a moment and raised her hand, saying: "How about I listen to what the staff are saying inside the government office?" "That¡¯s a good idea." Aiden agreed with Sadie¡¯s thought. Arian also looked at Sadie with a proud expression. "Then, let¡¯s gather information after doing what we can each do." "Yes!" "Alright." "What you need to be sure of is not to overdo it. We¡¯re passing on useful information to LA, which wants to trade with this camp, to prevent harm." The two nodded at Aiden¡¯s words. "I won¡¯t interfere much with your actions. Discuss well and move accordingly. I¡¯ll look for traces of fanatics while solving the missing person requests." "Be careful." Aiden nodded lightly at Sadie¡¯s words and immediately got up and left the room. As Aiden left, Arian and Sadie put their heads together, starting to ponder as if planning a strategy. * * * "Is it possible to borrow a motorcycle?" As it was cumbersome to take out the jeep, Aiden moved to the front of the gate and asked a soldier. "Follow me." Aiden had honestly thought he would be refused and was just asking anyway, but at the casual offer to lend a motorcycle, he forgot what to say and followed behind the soldier. Following silently behind the soldier, Aiden arrived in front of a large warehouse that seemed to be a vehicle storage managed separately by the military. "Please wait a moment." The soldier went inside the warehouse, and after a short while, he came out pulling a mountain bike that seemed to be somewhat maintained. He handed the key to Aiden and then left without any further words. Aiden was curious about Randy¡¯s intentions, but since he couldn¡¯t know for now, he started the mountain bike. Vroom! Vroom! The characteristic ripping exhaust sound of the mountain bike resonated. Aiden got on the bike without hesitation, pulled the accelerator, and instantly headed to the front of the gate. As if it had been arranged in advance, the gate¡¯s barrier was raised, so he rushed out of the gate without hesitation. Woong!! Woong!! The rough engine and exhaust sounds echoed through the empty city of Enterprise. Some zombies heard the sound and ran towards Aiden¡¯s direction, but they couldn¡¯t catch up with the bike¡¯s speed. The first place to investigate was Cougar Creek Park, the closest to the camp. As he had roughly memorized the map in his head, Aiden was able to arrive at the park entrance in just a few dozen minutes. Aiden turned off the bike¡¯s engine and took off his helmet. Unless he encounters a mutant, no zombies would rush at him now. There might be some that occasionally rush at him, but not enough to worry about. Entering the park, a wide expanse of vegetation-covered park interior spread out. This park was originally used a lot as a walking trail for citizens, but now trees and grass had grown densely. Zombies visible here and there were wandering aimlessly. They showed slight reactions whenever Aiden moved, but since Aiden¡¯s outward appearance was unmistakably the same as their own zombie selves to anyone who looked, they just flinched a bit without any other movement. Aiden took out the request form he had prepared. June XX, Kane Houston Missing at Cougar Creek Park First sighting information confirmed by wanderers searching for supplies nearby. Wearing a green baseball cap, wearing torn jeans all over, and a brown checkered shirt, they say. Request to confirm survival status and retrieve belongings if deceased. Requester: Jane Foster (cohabitant) Reward: 10L of gasoline, food supplies, 50 rounds of 9x19mm Parabellum ammunition Aiden read the request form once more, then started carefully observing one by one along the park¡¯s walking path. After walking along the path for a while, suspicious traces finally caught Aiden¡¯s eye. It was a trace of dried blood stretching from the walking path into the grass thicket. "It¡¯s a trace of something being dragged. Is it heading towards the center of the park?" Aiden thought about the information board at the park entrance. It was a place with a small playground for children to enjoy and a separate exercise area. "Being hidden by the grass thicket, it would be an ideal place to do something." Aiden crossed through the grass thicket towards the center. There were more zombies wandering in the grass thicket than Aiden had thought. "Should I reduce their numbers a bit in advance?" Aiden drew his dagger. And he advanced, plunging the dagger into the heads of zombies he encountered in the grass thicket. Chapter 236 Before Aiden reached the center of the park, he had dealt with a considerable number of zombies. After dealing with at least 10 zombies and emerging from the bushes, he saw artificially cleared surroundings and simple play equipment like slides made for children to play on. And around them, a significant number of zombies were standing still as if nailed to the spot, blankly. Aiden ignored the zombies glancing at him and started investigating the surroundings more. Having found traces on the walking path, Aiden looked in the direction the traces led. There was something like a small igloo-shaped play equipment, and the traces led inside it. Guarding the surroundings once more, Aiden approached the entrance of the play equipment and carefully entered inside, watching his surroundings. "Hmm... This is worse than I expected." While it¡¯s impossible to know what color the inside of the play equipment originally was, the entire wall was dark red. And in the center was a large bowl containing rotting internal organs and various viscera, and behind it was something like an altar with a severed human head placed on it. On the back of the altar, symbols of unknown meaning were drawn on the wall, and small pieces of human body parts were hanging. Aiden looked around with a disgusted expression, and saw items that appeared to belong to the missing person, Kane Houston. "I¡¯ll need to gather something to complete the request." Aiden collected a few items and once again stared intently at the altar. "It will be certain if I check the other two places as well." They create such altars in multiple places as if marking their territory. If the remaining two places were in the same state as this one, it would mean that the Enterprise camp was the fanatics¡¯ territory. However, it was still inevitable that questions remained. The fanatics¡¯ tendencies are extreme and cruel. Simply put, they¡¯re just madmen, but no traces of them could be found inside the camp. And if it were a camp occupied by fanatics, an atmosphere like the current one couldn¡¯t exist. According to information provided by a wanderer who had dramatically escaped after being sent as a fanatic¡¯s laborer in LA: They are thoroughly monitored, perform hard labor, and are strictly divided into believers and laborers under strict rules. Laborers. They say it¡¯s labor in name only, no different from slavery. They are in a state where they don¡¯t know when they¡¯ll be dragged to the altar and lose their lives, receiving food worse than slop, living in hell. In contrast, the believers live relatively normally, regularly conducting crazy rituals in the name of worship. Aiden still doesn¡¯t know what being they believe in and conduct rituals for. Honestly, he had been avoiding contact with fanatics as much as possible and wasn¡¯t interested in the first place. After fully grasping the internal situation and gathering all the belongings, Aiden came out of the play equipment. The zombies were still standing blankly in place without moving. ¡¯Zombies staying in one place without moving? What on earth are the fanatics up to?¡¯ Aiden ignored the zombies and quickly left the park. Starting the bike immediately, Aiden set off towards the remaining two missing locations. * * * Meanwhile, Sadie was freely wandering around inside the camp. Among them, she poked her face into a group of children playing together. "Hi kids! I¡¯m Sadie." "Hello!" The children greeted energetically. "What are you playing?" "We¡¯re just making sand castles." Sadie watched the children making sand castles and casually asked various questions. First, she asked about what kind of life they were living in the camp. "Us? It¡¯s nothing special. The adults say they¡¯re busy every day, so we just gather and play like this." The girl who seemed to be the leader of the group answered as if annoyed. Wondering if they hadn¡¯t established any proper educational institutions, Sadie asked another question. "Then, aren¡¯t you attending anything like school?" "School? We don¡¯t go to school, but we go to church every weekend." "Ah... You attend church?" "Yes! Pastor Randy leads the service!" "Pastor Randy? Not the leader?" "He is the leader, but he¡¯s the pastor at church!" Sadie just smiled and nodded at the children¡¯s innocent appearance, but since she, Aiden, and Arian were suspicious of Randy, the fact that he was the church¡¯s pastor was a significant point. Just as Sadie, thinking there wasn¡¯t much more to hear, was about to get up and leave, saying goodbye to the children, one child grabbed her skirt. "Sister, do you have anything to eat?" "Huh? Food?" "Yes! I¡¯m hungry." "Ah... I don¡¯t have anything with me right now, what should I do?" "It can¡¯t be helped... These days, they don¡¯t give us much food at church either. They used to give us a lot of snacks before..." Thinking there might be a problem with the rations, Sadie comforted the children for now, said goodbye, and left. Sadie didn¡¯t immediately return to the hotel, thinking she should look around the inside a bit more, and quickened her steps. As she walked around busily, the sun was setting and night was approaching. * * * Night is Arian¡¯s time. The optimal conditions to maximize a vampire¡¯s characteristics. That is night. During the daytime when Sadie was out, Arian had climbed to the highest point of the camp, imprinting the interior of the camp in her mind. She slowly observed everything from people¡¯s movements, irregularly created alleys and roads, to the locations of main buildings managing the camp¡¯s affairs. The sun that had been setting eventually disappeared, and darkness slowly began to show its face. Certainly, this camp¡¯s situation isn¡¯t as abundant as LA¡¯s. The electricity supply doesn¡¯t seem smooth either, as darkness began to spread everywhere. As it happened, with many clouds covering the moon, it became even darker. The best condition for people moving ominously. The same goes for Arian. But Arian didn¡¯t move right away. A little more, when the darkness settles in deeper, that¡¯s when Arian plans to move in earnest. Quietly exhaling, she suppressed her presence. Thus, the night hours slowly passed. How much time had passed? Arian¡¯s two red eyes sparkled. The first place she appeared was the government office where they first met Randy. On its rooftop. Arian maximized her hearing, trying to sense the presence of people around as much as possible. Inside the building, she could sense the voices of people chatting and the presence of people quietly scribbling something, as if some were working overtime. Among them, Arian concentrated repeatedly to find Randy¡¯s voice or presence. But Randy didn¡¯t seem to be in the government office. She quietly opened the iron door leading down from the rooftop. Even if he wasn¡¯t there, his traces would remain intact in the office, so there was nothing to worry about. It seemed electricity wasn¡¯t flowing smoothly inside the government office either, as darkness was spread here and there. She deeply blended with the darkness and moved her steps towards Randy¡¯s office. Click Arian carefully turned the doorknob, but it was firmly locked. That wasn¡¯t a problem for Arian. A little blood flowing from Arian¡¯s fingertips entered the keyhole, and the lock was lightly disengaged. Creak Click Arian, who had entered very quietly, locked the door. After quietly checking the surroundings, Arian confirmed no one was nearby and comfortably rummaged through the office interior. "There doesn¡¯t seem to be anything unusual..." Arian, who first checked the documents on the desk, couldn¡¯t find anything special. There was nothing much besides simple administrative documents, supply status, current situation of zombies spread throughout Las Vegas, and so on. Arian put the documents back in their place and started searching through the drawers. "Hmm... Is there nothing in the office?" Hoping to find something, she touched here and there inside the drawers to see if anything was hidden, but again, there was nothing special. "Damn, this is getting annoying." Thinking she might have to go around the camp interior from now on to find traces of Randy, Arian, who was investigating the desk, noticed the jacket hanging on the chair. "No way..." But she hit the jackpot. Searching through the jacket pockets, Arian discovered a necklace. The necklace had a pendant made with an unfamiliar pattern and a silver chain. She looked at the pendant shape as closely as possible to remember it. Then she put the necklace back in the jacket and left Randy¡¯s office. There was nothing more to look for. Arian instantly climbed back to the rooftop. "Phew... What should I do, look around more? Or go back?" Arian thought it would be better to follow Randy directly rather than digging into his background from the start. She decided to stop here for today and quickly headed to the hotel. * * * "Th-thank you... sob." Jane, the requester who rushed over as soon as Aiden reported completing the request, burst into tears immediately upon receiving Kane Houston¡¯s belongings that Aiden had brought. "I¡¯ll receive the reward through the request office. I hope this brings you some comfort." When Aiden said that, Jane couldn¡¯t stop crying and just nodded. Leaving Jane behind, Aiden approached Chad. Chad, who noticed Aiden approaching, greeted him with a surprised face. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "It¡¯s amazing that you really solved this, all three requests at that." "I¡¯ve arranged to receive the reward through the request office. I¡¯ll come back tomorrow." "Alright, anyway... thank you. It feels like a weight has been lifted off my mind." When Chad expressed his gratitude, Aiden simply nodded silently. "Is there something you want to ask?" Chad asked as Aiden didn¡¯t leave. "Are there any junk dealers who have found traces of fanatics around?" "Fanatics? Are those madmen settled somewhere in Las Vegas?" "I thought you would have the most information here, but I guess I was mistaken." "Hmm... Of course I have a lot of information, but honestly, there¡¯s been nothing coming in about fanatics. Did you find some traces?" Aiden hesitated for a moment. If the fanatics had moved this thoroughly in hiding, he worried that unnecessarily sharing information might create an unfavorable situation, and he pondered whether this person could be trusted. "It¡¯s just that LA is wary of fanatics too, so I was checking if there was any information about them here as well." Aiden decided not to share the information. "I¡¯ve heard rumors that they¡¯re growing in power, so LA is keeping an eye on them too, huh." "That¡¯s right. Anyway, I¡¯ll come back tomorrow. Please take care of the reward." "Sure, don¡¯t worry, see you tomorrow." Aiden left the request office without any particular farewell. As he was slowly walking to the hotel, Arian appeared beside Aiden. "Aiden." "You¡¯re here. Any harvest?" "Well, I¡¯m not sure if it should be called a harvest, but let¡¯s go back first." "Let¡¯s do that." Having joined up with Arian, Aiden headed to the hotel where Sadie would be waiting. Chapter 237 The group gathered at the hotel shared all the information they had collected during the day. Especially, Aiden explained about the altars in the three parks and expressed the opinion that the presence of fanatics might be established within the camp. This opinion was confirmed after Arian drew the pattern of the pendant she found in Randy¡¯s coat and showed it to Aiden. "I looked around various parts of the camp to find out Randy¡¯s reputation." According to Sadie, most people evaluated Randy as just an ordinary person, neither here nor there. He was said to be proficient in administrative work, but not outstanding, and when it came to having the charisma to lead the people, that too was ordinary. However, when Sadie informed Aiden and Arian about the information she heard from young children that he was running a church, Arian¡¯s expression soured. "Damn church. It¡¯s sickening." As Aiden and Sadie had heard many stories about Arian¡¯s past, that is, about the other world, they could understand Arian¡¯s reaction. "Certainly, if he established this camp in the early days as a pastor, it¡¯s quite possible for him to become the camp¡¯s leader." Aiden summarized the current situation. -Randy is likely to be a fanatic. -Judging from the traces of altars around the camp, there¡¯s a high possibility that fanatic forces are hidden within the camp. -If Randy started as a pastor and became the leader, why didn¡¯t he make this camp a fanatic force from the beginning? -What is the purpose of the fanatic forces? Nothing was clearly revealed. Aiden had to make a decision here. Stop the investigation? Continue the investigation? However, it was ambiguous for Aiden¡¯s group to dig deeper. Their request was just to deliver the vaccine sample anyway. If they returned to LA and ended the request, no one would say anything. Moreover, Sadie was with them. There was no need to stir things up unnecessarily. It was dangerous. Aiden ended his deliberation. "Let¡¯s stop the investigation. No matter what we find out, it will only bring us useless danger. Let¡¯s quietly return to LA." Arian also agreed with Aiden¡¯s opinion. It was a clear answer that they didn¡¯t need to step forward and do anything themselves. As the two agreed, Sadie nodded as well. "Let¡¯s prepare well for our return to LA. There¡¯s no guarantee that the journey back will be as comfortable as when we came." "Alright." "Understood!" After finishing the conversation and checking the time, it was already 1 AM. Sadie immediately lay down on the bed and fell asleep. Arian said she wanted to get some fresh air and went up to the roof, and Aiden, who remained, just sat by the window and stared intently at the dark camp. After getting sufficient rest, Aiden¡¯s group was killing time while staying at the hotel. Nothing much happened except for Aiden briefly going to the request office to receive the reward. Knock knock Someone knocked on the hotel room door. Aiden put on the helmet he had taken off and opened the door. In front of the door stood Marvin, who had previously guided them to the hotel. He bowed to Aiden and informed him of Randy¡¯s summons. Aiden told Marvin that they would finish their departure preparations and come right away, but Marvin conveyed that they were to meet not at the government office, but in front of Aiden¡¯s group¡¯s jeep, and informed them of the meeting time. "Alright. Then we¡¯ll finish our preparations and go at the appointed time." Aiden closed the door and started preparing to leave the camp with his group. After a short while, when all preparations were complete, the group immediately moved towards the checkpoint where the jeep was parked, and on the way, they encountered Lois. "Hey Aiden! What happened to meeting last evening like you said!" "Ah, sorry. I was preoccupied." "Damn, do you know how many hours I waited? I brought some information about missing persons you requested. Are you still interested?" Aiden pondered for a moment. "Hmm, no. You worked hard. This is compensation for being stood up." Aiden gave Lois some of the supplies he had received through the missing person requests. "Huh? You¡¯re just giving this to me? Is it okay to accept?" "Of course. We have enough supplies, so it doesn¡¯t matter. Are you leaving for LA right away?" Lois seemed quite pleased as she checked the supplies Aiden had given her. "No, I need to make some preparations too, gather people to go with me. Are you leaving right away?" "We¡¯re planning to leave today." "Is that so? Then I¡¯ll see you in LA. I hope you arrive safely." "You come to LA safely too. If we see each other, we¡¯ll greet." Aiden¡¯s group parted with Lois and headed to the checkpoint without delay. In front of the jeep stood Randy, and Marvin, who seemed to be assisting him, holding a bag. "Welcome. Did you finish your preparations well?" Randy greeted as Aiden¡¯s group approached. Aiden felt uneasy but accepted his greeting. "Thanks to the good accommodation provided, we were able to rest comfortably. We express our gratitude." "Is that so? I received a report that you solved missing person-related requests here. As the camp¡¯s leader, I want to express my thanks." "It wasn¡¯t a big deal. I just did what needed to be done." Randy grinned at Aiden¡¯s words. Then, after looking over Arian and Sadie once each, he handed the bag to Aiden. "Please deliver this well to LA." Aiden silently received the bag. "Then, we¡¯ll be on our way now." Arian and Sadie got into the jeep, and Aiden grabbed the handle to open the driver¡¯s side door. Thunk Randy briefly blocked the driver¡¯s side door with his hand. "I hope you return safely." Aiden didn¡¯t like the look in Randy¡¯s eyes visible through the visor. However, Aiden ignored Randy staring at him and opened the car door. Then he immediately started the engine, headed towards the gate, and left the camp. "I don¡¯t like it." Arian said. "What do you mean?" When Aiden asked back, Arian was silent for a moment. Sadie also stared at Arian, seemingly curious about what she would say next. "He looked full of schemes. That Randy guy." "I know. But our request comes first." Aiden was bothered by Randy¡¯s last words. The words "return safely" somehow felt like they meant to make sure they couldn¡¯t return safely. However, he thought there wouldn¡¯t be much of a problem anyway. It wouldn¡¯t be something to worry about for him and Arian. Thus, Aiden¡¯s group, having left the camp, began to leave Enterprise without stopping. The jeep drove on enthusiastically. There were a few zombies that rushed towards the car here and there, but they passed by lightly ramming them. This much was no problem for the military-modified jeep. Without any particular incident, they entered the Las Vegas Freeway. They thought they could drive on without any worries as it was a place where there had been no problems when they came, but in front of them on the highway they had been driving on for a while, quite a large group of zombies was occupying the road. The number of zombies occupying the road was not small enough to ignore and rush through. Aiden, who stopped the car at a distance, looked at Arian. "I¡¯m not sure if we can break through." Arian leaned out to check the number of zombies. "There are too many. There certainly wasn¡¯t a group of zombies this large when we came, can something like this appear in just two days? Hmm... moreover, I think I can see Vomiters and Brutals at a glance?" "Are you saying they¡¯re in the middle of the road in broad daylight?" It was common knowledge in this era that mutants move at night. "I can¡¯t understand it. It¡¯s hard to say this is a trap prepared by Randy, by the fanatics." Does this mean there¡¯s someone with abilities like Ross Preston in the fanatic forces? It was impossible to know, but the current situation outside was beyond common sense. Arian took out a few spare blood packs stored in the ice box. "Aiden, is there a way for us to turn back and go another way?" "There¡¯s a way to move through the national road, but we¡¯d have to take quite a detour." "Phew... then there¡¯s no choice. Let¡¯s deal with this in one go. Cover me." "Understood." Arian got out of the car. Holding a machete as long as her stride in her hand, she drank the blood packs she was holding. Aiden opened the driver¡¯s side window, used the door as a shield to the end, and took out his rifle, aiming at the zombies. "I can help too." Sadie took out her submachine gun and attached the magazine. "Then aim at the zombies that react to the gunshots and come running." "Yes!" "Slowly, breathing, with the feeling of hitting one by one in single shots." "Understood!" Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sadie also took a position using the car door as a shield. Far away, the zombies seemed to have noticed Arian¡¯s figure and suddenly started rushing in with shouts. "Aiden! I¡¯m going to run straight and deal with the Brutals first. I¡¯m going!" Bang! With a sound like air exploding, Arian stretched out. Bang! Bang! Bang! Aiden and Sadie pulled their triggers towards the zombies on both sides of the direction Arian was running. Arian arrived in front of the group of zombies in an instant and swung her machete while continuing to run without stopping. Swoosh! Slash! Limbs of zombies were scattered in the air by the machete swung at a speed invisible to the eye. Arian¡¯s machete, rushing towards the Brutal visible right in front, was enveloped in a red light and swung up from below. "Die, you bastard!" The Brutal discovered Arian and swung its arm, but in that swung state, the arm flew behind the Brutal. Grooooar!! Ignoring the Brutal¡¯s roar, Arian sprayed the red light of her machete towards the surrounding zombies. Through the gap of zombies instantly split in half, Vomiter fluid flew. The Vomiter fluid seemed to be spewed not by a single one, but from both sides of Arian. Sizzle! As Arian instantly sprang forward, the fluid that touched the surrounding zombies melted them. The Brutal didn¡¯t miss this gap and pounced on Arian. However, Arian used the force of her spring to jump high. Arian, who jumped high over the Brutal, used the falling force to slash down the red-glowing machete in a straight line. Slash!! The Brutal split in half, spraying blood around. Bang bang! Thud thud! And bullets fired by Aiden towards the Vomiter¡¯s head were embedded. Arian utilized the moment created by Aiden to swing her machete at the Vomiter, instantly blowing away the heads of two Vomiters. Sadie was quite surprised by the battle that unfolded in an instant. Although she had heard about Arian¡¯s combat abilities here and there, this was the first time she had seen such power, and she could feel anew why the zombies in LA couldn¡¯t run rampant with Arian around. Aiden carefully embedded bullets into the heads of zombies rushing towards Sadie, one by one. They had received enough ammunition in case of any situation, so it was sufficient to deal with the swarming zombies. Thanks to Arian¡¯s efforts, the number of zombies, which had been so many, was greatly reduced. At this point, it seemed possible to break through even with the jeep. When Aiden was about to raise his voice to call Arian, an ominous sound was heard from behind. Thump! Thump! Crash!! Aiden quickly turned around. There, he saw four Brutals running madly, aiming for the back of Aiden and Sadie. Chapter 238 "Damn it, Sadie! Get in the car!" The pressure from the four Brutals running non-stop was considerable. Sadie, extremely startled, hurriedly got into the car, and Aiden immediately sat in the driver¡¯s seat, started the engine, and pressed the accelerator deeply. Screech! The tires screamed as they rushed forward. Arian, who had been watching the situation on Aiden¡¯s side, jumped straight into the oncoming car and entered through the inside of the window. Thump thump thump! Grooooar!! Along with the Brutals¡¯ roars, vibrations strong enough to shake the road were felt even inside the running car. "Is this right?" "Four Brutals is a bit much." Aiden answered dryly. "Did Randy do all this? Can you believe it? Or what, can the fanatics control zombies?" "...I don¡¯t know. The only thing certain is that the zombies and mutants on the road were targeting us. Otherwise, there¡¯s no way Brutals would have come from behind with such good timing." Aiden was feeling flustered for the first time in a while. On average, mutants are more intelligent than ordinary zombies, but they don¡¯t engage in group activities. And the zombies on the road were clearly waiting for the group, anyone could see that. If Arian hadn¡¯t been there, they wouldn¡¯t have been able to avoid death. "For now, I¡¯ll drive at full speed towards LA." "Ha... Alright, I¡¯m going to rest a bit." Arian sighed and then buried her face in Sadie¡¯s lap. Sadie took out a towel and wiped Arian¡¯s face and head. "Sadie, it seems we won¡¯t have time to rest." "Yes, I know. Don¡¯t worry." Aiden, without saying anything more, pressed hard on the accelerator. * * * After passing the Las Vegas Freeway and leaving the damaged highway to enter the national road, Aiden¡¯s group was able to arrive in Barstow after driving for 5 straight hours. The sun was already setting. As it was unreasonable to force a march in the darkness, Aiden¡¯s group didn¡¯t enter the interior of Barstow city, but following the national road line, they were able to find an abandoned gas station. Arian first entered the gas station convenience store to deal with the zombies, and Aiden, watching the surroundings, parked the jeep close to the building entrance. "Sadie, could you prepare things inside first so we can rest?" "Yes!" While Sadie was preparing for rest inside the convenience store, Arian looked for Aiden. Aiden was circling the exterior of the convenience store building, dealing with the few wandering zombies. When Aiden, who had dealt with all the zombies around, was checking the back door of the convenience store, Arian approached him. "It felt quiet for a while, but now it feels like we¡¯re being swept into a whirlpool again." "Is that so." Aiden turned around to face Arian. "Will LA be in danger?" "It¡¯s difficult to give an answer in the current situation. Fanatics have always been dangerous. Their ideology is also largely unknown and tends to be closed off and extreme. They remain threatening even after the death of their leader, who could be considered their central figure." "They¡¯re even crazier than the madmen I¡¯ve seen all over the world." "Maybe so, they¡¯re even more dangerous because they¡¯re madmen who go around setting fires with their eyes rolled back. If they target LA, it would turn into a big war then." After finishing his words, Aiden entered the convenience store with Arian. "Sadie, rest well with Arian. I¡¯ll keep watch in the car. We¡¯ll leave early in the morning." Sadie and Arian nodded, and Aiden went into the car to spend time. When morning came, they immediately headed towards LA without delay and were able to arrive in LA quickly. The soldiers at the gate immediately reported to Ava when they saw Aiden¡¯s group¡¯s jeep. Ava, who rushed to the gate as soon as she received the report, welcomed Aiden¡¯s group. "You¡¯ve returned safely. Good job." "First, take this. It¡¯s the item you requested." Aiden handed over the bag he received from Randy to Ava. Ava immediately passed the received bag to another soldier, and the soldier quickly disappeared with the bag. "How was Las Vegas?" "It¡¯s not good to talk about it here." Ava immediately took Aiden¡¯s group to her office. "It doesn¡¯t seem like there will be good news." Ava, sensing that the atmosphere was not ordinary, spoke first. Aiden organized his thoughts for a moment and then opened his mouth. "First, we completed all the requested missions. However, Randy, the leader managing the camp, seems to have some issues." "What kind of issues?" Aiden hesitated for a moment. "It¡¯s not certain, but judging from several situations and pieces of evidence, the leader Randy might be a fanatic." "What?" Aiden and Arian alternately informed Ava about the traces of fanatics they had found. And even about the attack they received after departing for LA. Ava listened to Aiden¡¯s story to the end with a frown, and then seemed to fall into deep thought. "We judged that we couldn¡¯t move freely in their camp, so we quickly came over to LA to report the situation." "I think it was a good judgment. Unnecessarily stirring things up could have led to irreversible consequences. Let our government worry about the rest. You¡¯ve worked hard. Aiden, Arian, Sadie, we¡¯ll prepare the reward for the mission soon." Aiden¡¯s group left the office, leaving behind Ava who was lost in thought. "I¡¯m thinking of returning to Beyond. What about you?" "Really? I¡¯m thinking of taking Sadie back and then stopping by the military for a bit." "I see. Sadie, you¡¯ve worked hard." "Yes! Aiden, you¡¯ve worked hard too!" Thus, Aiden parted ways with Arian and Sadie and headed towards Beyond. Feeling something unsettling, Aiden didn¡¯t return to his lodgings but turned his steps towards the place where junk dealers gather to trade in Beyond. Murmur murmur Many junk dealers were bustling about busily for trades or requests. When Aiden appeared, some junk dealers who recognized him greeted him, but Aiden just nodded lightly and passed by them to find one particular junk dealer. "Joseph." "Oh, what, Aiden? When did you get back?" Joseph is a junk dealer who has spent quite a long time in LA. He also had excellent skills to survive from the time of Huntington Beach until now. "I just got back. More importantly, I have some information I want to buy." "Whoa whoa! What¡¯s the rush? What kind of information do you need?" "Fanatics." Joseph¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. "Out of all the information, fanatics? Well... do you know their name at least?" "I do. It¡¯s EL, isn¡¯t it?" "That¡¯s right. Then the conversation will be faster, so, what¡¯s the payment for the information?" "Is there anything you need recently?" Joseph scratched his head and then gestured for Aiden to come closer. When Aiden came close, he whispered. "A blind date..." "What?" "Ah, no, not that, you know that friend Arian who goes around with you? There¡¯s a friend in her unit named Natalie..." Aiden stared at Joseph in disbelief. "Ha... I¡¯ll ask." "Really? Haha! Uh... it¡¯s a secret, okay?" "Alright..." "Well, ahem! What information do you want?" Aiden sighed for a moment and then opened his mouth. "Anything is fine. The current situation of the fanatics, or recent sighting information, or if there¡¯s any peculiarity that has occurred, that too." "Hmm... I see." Joseph took out a notebook from his pocket and started flipping through it. "You probably already know from hearsay that the fanatics are currently growing their forces enormously, and the place showing the largest scale is right..." Saying that, Joseph took out a small map and showed it to Aiden, starting his explanation. "Bakersfield in the north. This is the most recent sighting information, and they say they¡¯ve attacked all the surrounding survivor camps and looter camps and occupied 1/3 of the city." And then he pointed to the south. "San Diego, there¡¯s information that they haven¡¯t been able to grow their forces much here yet, and the reason is that they¡¯re being pushed back by force by a survivor camp of considerable size." Joseph put down the map and flipped through his notebook again. "There¡¯s also information that their ideology has split." "What kind of split?" "To put it simply, it can be seen as extreme and moderate. The extremists are trying to grow their internal forces more, push out the moderates, and start some new crazy things, something like that." While Aiden was pondering for a moment, Joseph continued. "EL itself is full of crazy guys, so they do a lot of crazy rituals and set fires and such, but recently they say the number of times they kidnap people or attack to perform rituals has increased. It¡¯s the extremists who are doing this." "I see. Thanks for the information." Aiden thought he had gotten the necessary information and was about to leave, but Joseph grabbed Aiden¡¯s shoulder. "And, this is a bonus, there¡¯s word that strange things are happening." "Like what?" "They say that after they perform their rituals, zombies always appear and stand still as if nailed to the spot around that area." Aiden was reminded of the park he had checked. "Thanks, Joseph. That was helpful." "Yeah? Then I can count on you for the payment, right?" Aiden just nodded as if he was too bothered to answer and quickly left the place. As Aiden was returning to his lodgings, he suddenly remembered Randy¡¯s look as he observed the vaccine and Sadie. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If they¡¯re trying to artificially gather and control zombies, the existence of the vaccine could become a big obstacle to their future actions. Although he couldn¡¯t know what EL was thinking, Aiden recalled Ross Preston. If they knew about the incident that occurred in LA a year ago, they probably thought that the zombie army that Ross Preston showed at that time would be the best weapon for them. That¡¯s why the vaccine would be a big threat to them. The fact that you don¡¯t turn into a zombie even if bitten means that the fear of infection disappears. They would be able to deal with zombies more easily than now, and if there¡¯s an army without personnel loss, they could concentrate firepower to hunt even mutants. Complicated thoughts followed one after another. Aiden returned to his lodgings, thinking that he should convey the information and conclusions he had to Ava. * * * Munch munch Several zombies were tearing apart and eating something that looked like a person. Randy was watching this scene from the second floor of a building. "They¡¯re eating well." "The effect of the vaccine seems certain." Marvin approached Randy and carefully reported. "Did they escape?" "Yes, Bishop." Randy¡¯s expression crumpled as if in disbelief. "A Brutal was split in half, and the limbs of all those zombies were severed. Does this make any sense now?" "That... I¡¯m sorry." Marvin looked uneasy, unable to raise his head. "Send the pursuing Brutals back to their original positions, and prepare well for the great event." Marvin retreated backward, head bowed, unable to say anything. Randy turned his gaze to the window, taking in the view of the camp visible before his eyes. "Soon, the purification of the holy flame will begin. To save the foolish masses... hehe... hehehehe!!" Chapter 239 A week had passed since Aiden arrived in LA. For a while, he had been investigating information about fanatics, patrolling the surroundings, and looking for traces of fanatics, but he couldn¡¯t find any particularly noticeable traces. Just when Aiden was starting to turn off his attention to the Las Vegas incident, thinking there was no gain and no major problems, there was a summons from Ava. "You¡¯ve come, Aiden." "Did you call to give the reward for the Las Vegas job?" Ava handed Aiden an envelope of documents. "Your conversations are always quick, which is convenient. Take it. It¡¯s the citizenship we promised." "Hmm." Aiden ignored the small documents inside the envelope and took out the card-type citizenship. "I don¡¯t plan to go inside for the time being, but if I end up residing inside, where should I report?" "For now, tell me when it¡¯s decided. I¡¯ll handle everything from housing to most other matters myself." "I understand. Is this all the business?" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ava picked up a document from her desk and handed it to Aiden. "I want to assign you a request." "Is that so." Aiden read the document. "Couldn¡¯t you just send the military?" "For various reasons, we can¡¯t deploy military personnel at the moment." "Reconnaissance and exploration of Riverside City College, is it? The scale is quite large, so it won¡¯t be easy to explore alone." "You don¡¯t need to scout the entire interior of the college buildings. And this request is possible because it¡¯s you." "Why is that?" "The city¡¯s goal is to secure a foothold for the recovery of the entire Riverside, but a considerable number of zombies are spread around the college, making it difficult to grasp the internal situation. It¡¯s hard to enter without sacrifices. But you, Aiden, are different." "I see." Ava also knew that zombies don¡¯t attack Aiden. As she said, no one but Aiden could successfully complete the reconnaissance perfectly. "The reward?" "What do you want?" Aiden pondered what he needed right now. Living in LA, he was receiving requests relatively stably and supplies were good, so he didn¡¯t particularly need any items. "Weapons or ammunition might be enough, I think." "Is that so? I¡¯ll try to handle it within the possible range." Anyway, weapons and ammunition were always necessary resources as a junk dealer. Since it wasn¡¯t a difficult request for him, he could easily accept it. Aiden checked the request deadline written on the document. "The request period is one week? There¡¯s plenty of time." "Because there¡¯s no rush." Aiden nodded. "By the way, is there anything decided separately about the fanatic issue?" "Since Arian is quite busy now, you probably haven¡¯t been able to talk with her." Ava scratched her head as if troubled. "There was a clash in Santa Clarita. Those EL bastards even made flags?" "Flags?" "Yeah, as if it¡¯s some medieval crusade war, they were walking around with flags with flame shapes on them and wearing strange helmet-like things." "Santa Clarita is not far from LA, does this mean we can consider that they¡¯ve advanced that far?" Ava sighed. "Hah... They looked like a reconnaissance team, but when we caught and interrogated them, we were only able to confirm that they¡¯ve taken control of Bakersfield and turned their gaze south towards LA." "So you¡¯re saying a war with the fanatics could break out soon... Ah, that¡¯s why you¡¯re looking at Riverside. In simple terms, as a retreat rally point." "A person in charge must consider the worst-case scenario." Aiden understood. "So that¡¯s why the military is inevitably busy, strengthening the northern border of LA and deploying personnel?" "Well... I can tell you since it¡¯s you, we¡¯ve started stationing troops based on personnel who have been prioritized for vaccine treatment at the route coming down from Santa Clarita. One-third of LA¡¯s forces are there." LA is in a state where a considerable number of zombies have disappeared due to the consistent and active activities of soldiers. As it¡¯s possible to secure stable supply routes, it was also fully possible for the military to be stationed. "The city is handling it well. I¡¯ll proceed with the request with peace of mind." "It¡¯s thanks to the information you and Arian provided." Aiden felt there was no need to worry anymore. It seemed the city was preparing well, so it seemed he just needed to prepare to handle the assigned request without worry. Aiden and Ava shook hands once and parted. Returning straight to his lodgings, Aiden threw off his helmet and spent time preparing for the request. A day passed, and Aiden, as always, put on his doctor¡¯s gown and hung the doctor¡¯s name tag around his neck. Then he put on the black helmet and packed his weapons. He also packed a few grenades in case of unexpected situations. While ordinary zombies were no different from standing sandbags from Aiden¡¯s perspective, the appearance of mutants could not be predicted at any moment. Even though Riverside was near LA, there could be looters or wanderers. If unlucky, he could even encounter fanatics, so Aiden had no choice but to arm himself well. Aiden went down to the first floor and stood in front of his bike covered with a waterproof tarp. As he removed the dust-covered tarp, a black naked-style bike was revealed. This bike, which he had accidentally discovered in a warehouse during a request, had become Aiden¡¯s beloved steed and now was the item he cherished the most. As soon as he inserted the key and started the engine, a powerful engine sound filled the air. "Well then, shall we go? Riverside... I hope nothing happens." Aiden set off for Riverside without hesitation. * * * Until leaving LA, quite a comfortable ride was possible. This was because the soldiers had roughly maintained the roads as they passed by, and there was little chance of encountering zombies. After riding for a while, the Santa Ana River appeared before Aiden¡¯s eyes. Cross the river and it¡¯s right to Riverside. Having left early in the morning, he could arrive within the morning hours. Aiden stopped briefly to unfold the map of Riverside and check the location of the college. "I should be able to arrive within two to three hours." After confirming the location, Aiden turned the accelerator again and quickly crossed the river. After crossing the river, Aiden first turned off the engine and looked for a place to hide the bike. From now on, it¡¯s not LA¡¯s territory, so anything could appear, and a bike making loud engine noise would be a good target for either zombies or humans. Looking around, Aiden hid the bike well near the ruins of a half-collapsed building. Then, after checking his weapons, he immediately moved quickly towards the college. The interior of the city was more severely destroyed than the cities he usually passed through. "Did a herd of Fear pass through? The traces of destruction are not ordinary." The traces of Fear visible here and there made it look like this city had been hit by Fear herds more than once or twice. The fact that a herd of Fear had passed through meant that there were also a considerable number of zombies left behind. While this might not matter to Aiden, it was not a good situation from the perspective of the LA military. Aiden, who had been walking for a while, took off his helmet for a moment. "As expected." This was because he could see a considerable number of zombies occupying the path in front of him. Zombies that no longer had anything to eat were standing blankly or sprawled on the ground. When Aiden, with his helmet off, appeared in front of them, some zombies that sensed movement looked at Aiden, but they just stared for a long time without rushing at him. Aiden ignored the zombies and continued forward. Just as he was about halfway to the college, he thought he heard human voices from afar. Aiden quickly put on his helmet. Then, drawing his pistol, he moved forward little by little towards the direction of the sound, taking cover between abandoned cars. "So, sis, I¡¯m telling you this direction is dangerous!" "Shut up, lower your voice. If not this direction, where should we go? You¡¯re not going to cross the river, are you?" "Oh, come on!" "I said be quiet!" Aiden slightly raised his head from his cover to look in the direction of the sound. There, about 6-7 people were advancing in formation, watching their surroundings. Aiden, who had been quietly observing them, saw a man and woman bickering while guarding the front, and rose from his cover. "Stop!" The woman at the front seemed to have spotted Aiden and stopped the formation with a hand signal. Aiden put away his pistol and spread both hands to the sky to show he had no hostility. Then he slowly approached them. "Huh? Junk dealer?" "Aiden?" Two people who recognized Aiden called his name. Then they asked the people behind them to lower their guns and approached Aiden. "It¡¯s been a while. Mia, Oliver, you¡¯re alive." Aiden greeted them first. Mia and Oliver immediately offered handshakes to Aiden. "You too, you¡¯re alive." "The children who were with you? Are they alive?" Aiden accepted their greetings and answered their questions. "Arian and Sadie are currently residing in LA. I¡¯m here for a request." "To think we¡¯d meet here... It¡¯s good to see you. Really." Aiden didn¡¯t expect to see the siblings he had met in Fort Wayne here. However, the siblings were originally three; James, who was the second, was not visible, but Aiden didn¡¯t ask about it. He just thought to himself that they must have gone through a lot of hard times. "The area behind here is quite dangerous. It¡¯s too much to break through with all these people. Let¡¯s find a place to hide nearby, I¡¯ll show you another route." "Alright. Oliver, bring the people." Aiden and Mia checked the surroundings and entered a relatively intact building first. Oliver immediately approached the people in the rear, explained the situation, and followed Aiden with the group. Aiden confirmed that everyone had entered and then unfolded a map. "In LA, the number of zombies is significantly reduced due to the military¡¯s efforts. Once you cross the river, easy movement is guaranteed. However, if you move along this route following this path, you can cross the river within 1-2 hours, but I¡¯ve confirmed that quite a large number of zombies have settled on this route. It¡¯s not easy to break through." Aiden gave detailed directions to Mia¡¯s group so they could proceed in a different direction. He also said he would lead the way to help the group. Mia expressed reluctance, saying they didn¡¯t have the luxury to pay a reward right now, but Aiden said to accept it as a gesture of goodwill to commemorate meeting alive. The siblings, knowing Aiden¡¯s skills well enough, reluctantly accepted his proposal. Everyone decided to take a short rest and then depart, since they had already entered the building. While everyone was resting for a moment, the siblings approached Aiden and began to ask about the events of the past year. Chapter 240 Aiden explained the situation in LA in detail to the siblings. The two were particularly surprised by the talk of the vaccine; to people in the West who didn¡¯t know the situation in the eastern United States, the existence of the vaccine came as a great hope. The two told Aiden the reason why they were heading to LA. They said that Springfield scattered after the radiation danger was announced. Several groups gathered and started moving, and the siblings, along with more than 10 people, began moving westward while avoiding large cities in the southern region as much as possible. Their life-risking journey headed towards Nebraska. Fortunately or unfortunately, the siblings weren¡¯t attacked by looters or fanatics, but they said they were driven to the worst situation as they were surrounded by countless zombies. When they finally arrived in Lincoln, Nebraska, they were even more discouraged because countless zombies were wandering around the city of Lincoln, so they had no choice but to move endlessly westward without properly obtaining supplies. They said they struggled fiercely on the Great Plains of Nebraska and moved to Denver. There, they entered a survivor camp with vigilantes, and just as they thought their hellish journey was over, within a few months, the worst situation unfolded with the appearance of a new mutant. In the process of the camp suffering catastrophic damage, James, the second of the siblings, died. He chose death by becoming bait himself to save Mia and Oliver. And the siblings heard definite information that LA¡¯s camp actually existed from the surviving people, and they concluded their story by saying that they were moving towards LA with the survivors. Aiden comforted the siblings who were reminded of James¡¯s death, and then called together the other resting people. "A vaccine for the zombie virus has been developed in LA." Everyone stirred at Aiden¡¯s words. "Is that true?" Aiden immediately nodded and provided additional explanation. "Although distribution hasn¡¯t started yet, they plan to start vaccinating LA citizens soon, and based on military power, they¡¯re on the verge of recovering the entire LA area." "Oh God..." "Is the terror ending?" Seeing hope begin to fill people¡¯s eyes, Aiden unfolded a map and instilled explanations about the route that could go directly to LA. He gave Oliver two of the grenades he had brought, telling him to use them in emergencies. He told Mia that when they arrive at LA¡¯s checkpoint, if they mention his name and Arian¡¯s name, they would be allowed to pass easily. The siblings expressed their gratitude to Aiden for caring until the end. "Thank you, Aiden. Sincerely, you... have you changed somewhat?" "Is that so?" "Yes, the last time we saw you, it seemed like you just handled requests and didn¡¯t think about others..." "People change. I¡¯m no exception." "That¡¯s right? Really, thank you Aiden. You said you¡¯re on a request now, right? Are you returning to LA right after the job is done?" Aiden nodded. "It will take 2-3 days, but I plan to return immediately." "Then, I look forward to safely reuniting in LA." As Mia and Aiden exchanged greetings, the remaining people, including Oliver, each gave words of thanks to Aiden, and the Mia¡¯s group began moving towards LA. Aiden watched their retreating figures closely, preparing for any situation, and only when their figures disappeared did he start moving towards the college to proceed with his request. * * * Riverside City College. The excellent college, which was rated as the best short-term college before the zombie outbreak, was now so devastated that it was hard to find traces of its former glory. Aiden was observing the interior of the school from the entrance. It seemed that a considerable number of zombies had settled inside the school, and the number of zombies wandering around the outskirts was not small either. If the military were to enter in this state, they would consume a considerable amount of supplies. Aiden took out an axe from his bag, which he hadn¡¯t used for a long time. "I can provide cleaning service within the possible range." After that, Aiden was unstoppable. Entering the school, he swung his axe at the heads of visible zombies. The zombies, with no reaction, were sandbags themselves. Some zombies flared up and rushed at the sound of Aiden moving vigorously, but the moment they saw his face, they became docile again, repeating this pattern. Aiden massacred the zombies near the entrance in an instant. Now what remained was the interior of the buildings. As Aiden was walking along the internal roads, he saw the gymnasium. Seeing that the size of the gymnasium was quite large, Aiden entered the gym without hesitation. Except for four zombies spinning in circles in the center of the gym, the state of preservation wasn¡¯t bad. This seemed excellent for storing supplies or using as temporary accommodation. After finishing his check, Aiden left the gymnasium and slowly explored the interior of the college, arriving in front of the largest-looking building. Aiden felt eerie as he looked at the door of the building labeled Information Services Building. Despite it being daytime, the dark appearance visible through the glass door exuded an ominous aura. Aiden turned on the flashlight attached to his rifle. Then he switched the sight to single shot mode and pulled the bolt. Click! Aiden slowly opened the glass door of the building. Creak The sound of the glass door opening echoed inside the building. Aiden shouldered his rifle and slowly examined the interior of the first floor through the flashlight as he moved forward. Fortunately, there wasn¡¯t much problem on the first floor. He immediately headed to the second floor. There wasn¡¯t anything special on the second floor either. There were broken walls and furniture here and there, but no traces of zombies or corpses. Aiden heightened his tension and headed to the remaining basement. The basement had a structure where a corridor stretched straight as soon as you came down the stairs. From walls with cracks everywhere to the ceiling, there were unstable cracks. ¡¯There¡¯s a risk of collapse.¡¯ Aiden moved towards the end of the corridor. There was a room that looked like a conference room, which was large enough to accommodate 40 people. Aiden, who shone his flashlight on the center, was momentarily stunned. "A mutant...?" In the center was a huge flesh-colored spherical mass whose identity was difficult to grasp. Hiss- Hiss- The huge spherical mass was tall enough to reach the ceiling and had a body that seemed to be 8 meters wide. And there were holes all over the mass, from which came sounds like heavy breathing. ¡¯It doesn¡¯t seem to react to light, should I approach?¡¯ As he couldn¡¯t know what kind of mutant it was, Aiden was even more careful. He couldn¡¯t carelessly stimulate it. Aiden walked carefully step by step towards the mutant. Then, to see if it reacted to sound, he picked up a stone lying on the floor and threw it beside the mass. Clank clank! The moment the sound of hitting the side wall of the sphere was heard. Swoosh! Bang! Tentacles shot out from inside the holes of the mass towards the wall where the sound came from and smashed the wall. ¡¯This is... dangerous.¡¯ Aiden checked the holes of the mass, and there weren¡¯t just one or two. There were more than 10 holes visible in front of him. As the tentacle that smashed the wall went back into the hole, the mass convulsed. Thud thud thud! Crackle! Sensing danger, Aiden immediately distanced himself. After vibrations that seemed like the ceiling would collapse continued, the middle part of the mass writhed geometrically and then tore open with a ripping sound. And a huge eye appeared and stared at Aiden. Feeling sudden danger, Aiden switched the rifle¡¯s sight to automatic and pulled the trigger. Ratatatatata! Clank clank clank clank clank! In an instant, a magazine of thirty rounds was emptied, pouring into the mass. The bullets seemed to hit, but it didn¡¯t seem to cause much damage to the mass. Rather, it moved its large body even more. Crackle! Swoosh! Tentacles came out of all sorts of holes in the mass. "Damn it!" Aiden immediately took out a grenade, quickly removed the safety pin, threw it at the mass, and ran back aimlessly. Boom!! With a loud explosion, the basement ceiling began to collapse. Aiden ran with all his might towards the first floor stairs. Bang! Thud thud thud! Aiden, who barely reached the first floor stairs, ran frantically towards the first floor. Boom! Aiden, who barely made it to the first floor, looked at the collapsed basement. "Is it dead?" Rumble rumble!! Thud! Bang! As soon as Aiden¡¯s words fell, the basement shook terribly. The entire building shook, and Aiden, sensing danger, escaped outside. From the continuously shaking building came sounds that seemed like something was exploding continuously. Thud! Bang! Bang! Bang! "It seems like it¡¯s trying to come out." Aiden took a stance and waited for it to come out. Zombies from around also gathered due to the loud noise. There was no need to worry about the zombies, but Aiden hid his body. Bang! Boom! As soon as he hid his body, with a tremendous sound, one side of the building burst open, and the spherical mass revealed itself. The creature seemed to have quite a few wounds from the grenade explosion and falling building debris, as it was torn and shattered all over, dripping black blood from its entire body, and swinging its tentacles as if flaring up. The surrounding zombies that gathered due to the sound were wrapped in the mass¡¯s tentacles, then lifted and began to be absorbed into the creature¡¯s holes. Squish Squish squish Sounds like zombie bodies being compressed were heard as they were all absorbed into the creature¡¯s body. Then, the wounded body of the mass began to recover. Aiden finally understood why there were no zombies inside the building. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡¯It was a type that absorbs zombies.¡¯ Feeling that the danger level of this new mutant was more dangerous than other mutants, Aiden unhesitatingly attached a grenade launcher to the underside of the rifle barrel. Click! Aiden, who immediately loaded a grenade, aimed and then pulled the trigger. Thump! At the same time, he took out a hand grenade and immediately threw it at the mass creature. Whoosh! Bang! Boom! In the sound of continuous explosions, Aiden kept pulling the trigger towards the mutant without rest. Ratatat!! Ratatatatata!! Although thick dust obscured the view, Aiden, who was firing relentlessly towards the mutant, urgently threw his body. Swoosh! Whack! Crack! The mutant¡¯s tentacle flew at the tree where Aiden was hiding and broke the large tree. If he had hesitated even a little, he could have been cut in half along with the tree. Aiden, who barely got up, checked the mutant¡¯s condition. It seemed to have been hit directly by the grenade, with 1/3 of the mass blown away, and shrapnel from the hand grenade embedded all over its body. Thinking that he could kill it with just a little more attack, Aiden ran alongside the mutant while pulling the trigger. The mutant seemed to have taken out all the tentacles from its remaining holes, swinging them roughly and attacking Aiden. Continuous attacks from the tentacles followed, and Aiden¡¯s legs, as he was running, were wrapped by a tentacle. "Huh!" In an instant, Aiden¡¯s body was dragged towards the mutant. Aiden, being dragged in without a chance to resist, didn¡¯t lose his coolness and took out the last remaining hand grenade from his pocket. Chapter 241 In an instant, as Aiden was about to be sucked into the mutant¡¯s hole, he pulled the safety pin of the grenade. Just as he was about to reach the entrance of the hole, he unhesitatingly stuffed the grenade into the mutant¡¯s hole and used both arms to resist with all his might to avoid being sucked in. Bang! As he heard the sound of the mutant¡¯s interior exploding, Aiden felt the force of the tentacle sucking him in weaken. He grabbed the tentacle wrapped around his leg and created a gap. Then, he immediately pulled his body out and approached the mutant¡¯s eye. Aiden took out his pistol and relentlessly poured bullets into the eye that was glaring at him, while the creature was spewing hissing wind sounds as if its interior had been almost destroyed. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! The mutant shuddered once and then went limp, showing no further movement. Only then did Aiden sit down. "If soldiers had faced it, would it have ended more easily?" Aiden thought that if various weapons were poured from a long distance, it might be easily neutralized, but he soon shook his head. It was only because he was much stronger than ordinary people that he could withstand the force of the tentacles and not be absorbed. If it had been an ordinary soldier, who knows what would have happened. Moreover, because the noise was considerable, the number of zombies gathering was not small. Aiden realized that it was only because zombies didn¡¯t attack him that he could focus solely on the mutant without worrying. Aiden had poured a considerable number of magazines into the creature, so from now on, he had to refrain from using his gun as much as possible. Thinking that if another mutant appeared, he might have to retreat without hesitation, he got up. Aiden checked the status of his remaining weapons, picked up his rifle that was rolling on the ground, checked its condition, and then began reconnaissance of the remaining buildings. In other buildings, some zombies were waiting with glittering eyes in the darkness, but Aiden snorted and lightly crushed their heads as he walked around. The reconnaissance of all buildings was completed two hours after killing the mutant. "Riverside certainly has a lot of zombies, is it night already?" Aiden sighed as he looked at the sky that had already turned to night. Thinking that if he could have brought Arian on this request, he would have finished the job faster than now, Aiden picked up the helmet he had left at the entrance of the university and entered the gymnasium, which he had cleared first. As the probability of mutants roaming around increased at night, he couldn¡¯t move easily. Aiden entered the gymnasium, settled in the most secluded corner, and quietly leaned against the wall, waiting for morning to come. * * * Arian, who was on guard at the Griffith Observatory in LA, was not happy with the current situation. Two days ago, despite the movement of a group presumed to be fanatics somewhere in Los Feliz visible below the observatory, the man who was the platoon leader of the army said to watch a little longer. ¡¯Should I just go in alone and sweep them all away?¡¯ Arian grumbled as if struggling to contain her boiling anger. Tyrone, who was on duty with her, was fidgeting and sweating as Arian¡¯s appearance became increasingly fierce. "Hey, Tyrone." "Yes? Yes!" "If I go down right now and bring back all the suspicious guys tied up, what do you think the platoon leader would say?" "What?!" Tyrone¡¯s eyes widened. "I don¡¯t necessarily have to follow the platoon leader¡¯s orders, right? I¡¯m not even a soldier. Right?" "Is, is that so?" Unable to say "Then why are you standing guard here if you¡¯re not a soldier," Tyrone could only give an awkward smile. "Even standing guard, I¡¯m a mercenary, a mercenary. Shouldn¡¯t you soldiers be good at guarding? Why are you making me do this annoying thing too?" "Haha, hahaha... I guess so?" Tyrone was terrified of Arian. Although he knew that Arian was the one who saved his life during the incident a year ago, he felt an inexplicable fear as her alien killing intent and atmosphere, and those red eyes darker than blood stared at him. Tyrone glanced at Arian, trying to say something more. But Arian¡¯s expression had become serious, and her eyes shone sharply as if focusing on something. "Is something wro-" "Quiet." Arian cut off Tyrone¡¯s words. After a brief moment of silence, Arian whispered to Tyrone. "Don¡¯t move from here, hide and keep watch around, if you don¡¯t want to die." With those words, Arian¡¯s figure disappeared as if buried in the darkness. "Wh-what?" Tyrone was flustered by Arian¡¯s sudden disappearance, but because her expression was not ordinary, he loaded his rifle so he could fire at any time and lowered his body. Arian, blended with the darkness, quietly entered the interior of the observatory building. ¡¯The smell of blood...¡¯ A sweet smell of blood vibrated in her nose. However, the interior of the observatory was calm and quiet. Arian checked her wristwatch. ¡¯3 AM, a good time for an attack.¡¯ Clatter. There was a faint sound of something moving. Arian instantly clung to one side of the ceiling and looked down. Soon, two people wearing strange helmets and wrapped in black robes appeared. They were holding daggers with slightly longer blades, which were covered in blood, dripping blood on the floor. ¡¯Fanatic bastards...¡¯ Arian could immediately identify their identity. ¡¯These two can¡¯t be all of them.¡¯ Arian raised all her senses. ¡¯Two on the first floor, three on the second floor.¡¯ As soon as Arian confirmed the number, she quietly drew out the machete from her back. And the moment the two fanatics headed for the second floor, she approached them silently from behind and slit their throats. Before the blood spraying from their necks could touch the body of the fanatic in front, Arian stabbed the other one¡¯s neck. Squelch Arian¡¯s machete penetrated the back of the fanatic¡¯s neck. Gurgle gurgle Croak croak The fanatic spewed blood foam from his mouth without being able to scream. Arian checked the presence of the remaining three once more and then quickly ran towards the second floor. One fanatic keeping watch in front of the stairs on the second floor discovered Arian coming up and tried to shout. But Arian¡¯s speed was faster than that. Slash! Arian, who instantly blew off the fanatic¡¯s head, ignored the fanatic falling while spraying blood and roughly kicked open the door of the room where the platoon leader was resting. Bang! As the door opened, the sight of the platoon leader trembling with a dagger stuck in his heart and two fanatics searching the room appeared. "Damn it!" One of the fanatics who discovered Arian entering roughly quickly drew a pistol and pulled the trigger. Bang! The fanatic who pulled the trigger saw his hand holding the gun flying into the air. Before the fanatic could come to his senses, not knowing when she had appeared and cut his hand, Arian stabbed her machete into his heart and twisted it out. Squelch! The remaining fanatic also quickly drew a pistol, but lost the gun to Arian¡¯s kick. Arian unhesitatingly kicked the fanatic¡¯s chest. Thud! Bang! The fanatic who flew to the corner of the room with one kick painfully raised his face. Arian immediately removed the helmet the fanatic was wearing and whispered softly in his ear. "Got you, you bastard." Arian¡¯s face moved away from the fanatic¡¯s ear, and the fanatic felt terror in Arian¡¯s deep red eyes. "Rather than being captured and tortured, de-death!" The moment the fanatic tried to bite his tongue, Arian¡¯s fist hit his face. Thud! The fanatic immediately fainted, and Arian sighed, stood up, and looked at the tragic scene before her. The platoon leader had taken his last breath and was slumped on the field bed. "Damn, it¡¯s become a mess." Arian dragged the unconscious fanatic down to the first floor and roughly threw him in a corner. Then she opened the door of the guard post where the soldiers were resting on the first floor. There were only the corpses of three soldiers, all covered in blood as if they had been stabbed in the heart and neck. Arian came out of the building and called Tyrone. "Tyrone! Come out now!" After a moment, Tyrone appeared, fidgeting. "What happened?" "The platoon leader and three unit members are dead. Radio the main force for support request, and tell them to send an interrogator too." "Ah, understood!" Tyrone hurriedly entered the building, and then a "Ugh!" sound was heard. Arian clicked her tongue once and fell into thought with a complicated expression. ¡¯What were those guys looking for? It¡¯s giving me a headache, damn fanatic bastards. I¡¯d rather deal with zombies or mutants, it¡¯s easier on the mind.¡¯ Arian entered the building, feeling the thick smell of blood. * * * "Is it morning?" Aiden opened his eyes and slowly got up. During the early morning hours, he wondered if he would hear the sound of mutants roaming around or noise from looters or wanderers, but surprisingly, he greeted the morning quietly. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Come to think of it, I wonder if the siblings broke through well." Aiden thought he should check on the way and left the university. The path to the hidden bike wasn¡¯t difficult. Rather, there were some zombies, so he dealt with them as he saw them for later, to the extent that there were no variables. "For a city of this size, there should be more than one mutant, but there¡¯s no trace." Aiden carefully looked for traces of mutants, but so far, Riverside only had many ordinary zombies. At this rate, Aiden thought that it would be possible to break through with the army¡¯s power, and he took out the hidden bike and started the engine. When the rough engine sound of the bike was heard, some zombies crawled out from somewhere, but Aiden pulled the accelerator without paying attention. Vroom! Aiden crossed the Santa Ana River without hesitation. Then, he drove the bike towards the path he had told the siblings about. After riding for a while, Aiden noticed some dead zombies around and slowed down the bike¡¯s speed. Although he had an ominous feeling, Aiden silently followed the traces of battle, and ahead, he saw the siblings and two other people being chased by two zombies. Vroom! Aiden roughly pulled the bike¡¯s accelerator and instantly passed the zombies, then pulled the brake. Screech! And immediately shouldered his rifle and fired one bullet each neatly into the zombies¡¯ heads. Bang bang! As the zombies fell with a thud, Aiden got off the bike and approached Mia. "Are you alright?" Mia, who had been catching her breath for a while, barely answered. "I thought we were going to die." Behind Mia, Oliver and the other people were also catching their breath, panting heavily. "The number has decreased. Was there an attack?" "Huff... Zombies suddenly rushed in from all directions. While fleeing, we used up all our bullets, and we were just running away in a daze. We received help again. Thank you." Aiden silently looked over Mia and her companions, then handed a canteen to Mia and said, "It will be a bit easier from here. I¡¯ll move with you." At Aiden¡¯s words, Mia looked at him with a relieved expression, and belatedly, Oliver and the survivors approached and offered their thanks. Aiden quietly nodded, accepting their greetings, and set off for LA with Mia¡¯s group. Chapter 242 Aiden and Mia¡¯s group arrived smoothly inside LA. Aiden, who vouched for their identity, gave a brief farewell greeting and immediately went to find Ava. However, upon hearing that Ava was currently absent, Aiden had no choice but to head to his lodgings. As Aiden was leaving the military headquarters and heading towards Beyond, a soldier blocked his path. "Hello, Mr. Aiden." "Who are you?" "I¡¯m a unit member working with Ms. Arian." "Is that so? What¡¯s the matter?" "There¡¯s a message from Ms. Arian. You can look at this." The paper handed over by the soldier had a simple one-line request from Arian written on it. [Come to the observatory right away] Aiden looked alternately at the brief note and the soldier. "Do I need to move with you?" "You can go separately or move with us." "I¡¯ll go alone then." "Understood." Aiden immediately headed to his lodgings. As soon as he arrived at his lodgings, Aiden immediately started packing spent ammunition and some equipment. He thought that if Arian, who normally didn¡¯t need to find him, was calling, it might not be an easy task. Once the preparations were roughly complete, Aiden immediately set off for the observatory. * * * "You¡¯re coming here too?" Arian was surprised to see Ava arriving with her escorts. "Of course I have to come, it¡¯s an issue I need to handle." Ava spoke as if it was nothing unusual. She stared at the neatly arranged corpses of fanatics in front of the observatory. "Didn¡¯t you say you don¡¯t kill people anymore?" "Those guys aren¡¯t people. They¡¯re monsters worse than zombies." Arian said with flashing eyes. Ava flinched at the alien aura Arian was emitting. "I still can¡¯t get used to it. How about calming down your excitement?" "Innocent soldiers were sacrificed because of those crazy bastards." S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Arian, who exhaled deeply, gathered her aura. "I caught one of them intact inside, so I¡¯ll leave the interrogation to you." "I express gratitude on behalf of the sacrificed soldiers." Ava stood in front of the soldiers¡¯ corpses loaded on a military truck. "Attention! We will not let their deaths be in vain. Everyone! Moment of silence!" Ava and all the soldiers bowed their heads in silent tribute. "At ease! From now on, we¡¯ll start the interrogation. Where is that bastard?" "Yes! Commander! I¡¯ll guide you to the first floor guardpost." As Ava was about to enter the observatory, Arian spoke to her. "Are you going to do it yourself?" "If I don¡¯t do it myself, I don¡¯t think my anger will subside." Arian let Ava go. And she blankly watched the back of the departing military truck. Just as the truck disappeared from view, the sound of a motorcycle engine was heard from afar. And soon, the figure of Aiden appeared, wearing a white gown that didn¡¯t match his black bike and black helmet. Aiden¡¯s bike quickly passed the entrance of the observatory and stopped in front of Arian. "You came?" "I did." "Are you planning to wage a war or something? Your armament is incredible." Arian said, looking at Aiden¡¯s armed state as if in disbelief. "I thought it wouldn¡¯t be an easy task if you were urgently looking for me." "As expected of Aiden." "So, what¡¯s the matter?" "It¡¯s not good to talk about it here, let¡¯s move to another place first." Arian took Aiden to the back of the observatory. "I killed fanatics." "I see..." "I caught one, and now Ava is interrogating him herself." "So Ava was here." "Did you have business?" "I was assigned a request." Arian seemed to understand and didn¡¯t ask about the request, continuing with the story of the fanatics. "They were searching through military documents. I think there might be some full-scale movement soon." "They have been quite quiet for a while. Searching for documents... It gives me an ominous feeling. So, why do you need me?" "It¡¯s simple, let¡¯s go to Bakersfield." Aiden pondered for a moment. "You mean just the two of us? What are we going to do there, are you thinking of waging a war against the fanatics with just the two of us?" "No, just as they scouted us, we¡¯re going to scout them. We need to figure out what they¡¯re trying to do. And only you and I can perform that role without sacrifices." "I see. Let me think about it for a moment." Aiden fell silent in thought for a while. Arian left Aiden alone and admired the moon that was just rising, looking at the sky. "Let¡¯s move after hearing the content of Ava¡¯s interrogation." At Aiden¡¯s words after finishing his deliberation, Arian smiled brightly. "As expected, I thought you¡¯d say that." "Is that so?" "That¡¯s right." Aiden then entered the observatory building with Arian. Frequent crashing sounds could be heard from inside the guardpost, indicating that the interrogation was rough. Aiden and Arian didn¡¯t show much interest and calmly brought chairs to wait blankly for Ava nearby. Thud! Crash! With the sound of something being smashed and broken, Ava came out of the guardpost. Ava, with her face flushed red, was panting and then noticed Aiden and Arian. "Ahem! Ah, Aiden, is the request already finished?" "The request is completed." "I see. Then let¡¯s talk in detail. Tyrone!" "Yes! Commander." Ava called Tyrone, who came out of the interrogation room with her, and told him to prepare a place on the second floor. He immediately went up to the second floor. After a short while, Tyrone reported that the second floor was ready, and the three gathered on the second floor to start their conversation. "First, what¡¯s the situation in Riverside?" Aiden immediately reported on the interior of Riverside city and the situation of the college he was requested to scout. "So the city interior is heavily destroyed. You said you think it¡¯s traces of Fears?" "That¡¯s right. I expect that not just one Fear, but at least two Fears have appeared." Aiden explained the situation of Riverside city in more detail. He reported that ordinary small buildings were destroyed to the point of being almost in ruins, and while larger buildings were still standing, their interiors were a mess. When Ava asked why he thought there were two or more Fears, Aiden said that the number of zombies remaining in Riverside city was abnormally high. The number of zombies that one Fear drives around ranges from hundreds to thousands at most, but because they constantly move, the number of zombies left behind is not as high as one might think. However, the number of zombies in Riverside was so high that it was difficult to consider it as the number left behind by a single Fear. They were settled all over the city, and he added the opinion that it was fortunate they weren¡¯t crossing over to LA. "I see. Were there any mutant discoveries?" "It was difficult to find traces or appearances of mutants in the city. However, I discovered and dealt with one new mutant inside the college." "A new mutant? What kind was it?" Aiden explained the new mutant to Ava in detail. The mutant¡¯s appearance, combat method, characteristics, and seemingly weak points¡ªeverything. Ava frowned as if getting a headache, as there were already mutants they hadn¡¯t grasped, and now another new mutant had appeared. "It must have been dangerous, dealing with a mutant... I express gratitude on behalf of the military." As Ava gave a short bow, Aiden said not to worry about it, and rather, if the military had tried to deal with it, many soldiers¡¯ lives might have been lost. "Anyway, I¡¯ve cleaned up the interior of the college to some extent. If a unit enters Riverside together, there will be many fights with zombies on the way to the college, but if it¡¯s a unit that has almost completed vaccine administration, there should be no problem at all." "Thank you, Aiden. The request is completed. It was excellent information." "Hmm." "Now it¡¯s my turn, right?" As soon as the conversation between Aiden and Ava ended, Arian spoke up. "Aiden and I are planning to go on a reconnaissance to Bakersfield." "Hmm... The reason?" "The reason is that we can¡¯t just sit still. They¡¯re scouting our side and eyeing us. But we can¡¯t send soldiers, it¡¯s too dangerous. LA is a place where hope has taken root on the American continent. It needs to stand firm. I don¡¯t want to make people risk their lives for uncertain results." "That¡¯s true, but isn¡¯t it too dangerous with just the two of you?" "Don¡¯t worry about that. If it¡¯s me and Aiden, we can return safely." At Arian¡¯s words, Aiden added one more thing. "We¡¯ll scout them and return as soon as possible. We¡¯ll handle it well, but I hope LA will be well-prepared." Ava sighed deeply. "Haah... I understand what you mean. Don¡¯t you need compensation?" Aiden shook his head. "We don¡¯t need anything like compensation." "I see. Compensation isn¡¯t important. I¡¯m counting on you. Is there anything you need help with?" Aiden thought for a moment. "If so, I¡¯d like to request a night vision device and a sniper rifle." "Alright, I¡¯ll have them prepared right away. Are you planning to return inside the barrier first?" "No, we¡¯ll depart from here right away. I¡¯ll need some blood." Ava nodded at Arian¡¯s request and called one of her escorts, relaying Aiden and Arian¡¯s requests and telling him to deliver them quickly. "Now then. I¡¯ll share the content of the interrogation with the fanatic." "Ah right, I forgot about that." Arian scratched her head. Ava stared at Arian. "Didn¡¯t you say you caught him intact?" "Huh? That¡¯s intact enough." "Well... anyway, I couldn¡¯t find out much." Ava then explained the process of interrogating the fanatic. The fanatic kept muttering incomprehensible prayers, and to Ava¡¯s questions, he only repeated the phrase ¡¯Everything will be purified by flame!¡¯ over and over. In the meantime, one of the passing remarks was ¡¯Soon now¡¯ and ¡¯All preparations are complete,¡¯ she said. And then, unable to bear the sight of him just muttering prayers again, Ava said she lost her temper and handled him a bit roughly. "¡¯Soon now,¡¯ and ¡¯preparations are complete,¡¯ is it? And flame... They do like to go around setting fires, but it might be that they¡¯re preparing for large-scale arson. And LA is the target." "..." The three fell into silent thought. "In any case, it¡¯s clear that we need information about what they¡¯re going to do. We¡¯ll depart as soon as the preparations are complete." Aiden and Arian got up and headed to the first floor. Ava also followed them down to the first floor and got into a jeep with the restrained fanatic. "In a little while, my aide will come with the requested items. Rest until then. I¡¯m counting on you." Ava said that and headed towards the barrier. Aiden and Arian unfolded a map to grasp the route to Bakersfield, predicting places the enemy might use as bases, while waiting for the supplies. Chapter 243 Aiden, who arrived at Green Field in Bakersfield only at dawn, found a tall building and hid himself on the rooftop. Expecting that there wouldn¡¯t be much movement now as it was time for rest even for the crazy EL fanatics, Aiden started scouting the surrounding environment from the rooftop first. Aiden looked around with night vision binoculars, while Arian took advantage of the night to roam around the building, looking for traces of fanatics. After peering through the binoculars for a while, Aiden began searching for exploration areas on the map of Bakersfield. During this, Arian appeared on the rooftop. "The number of zombies is small, and while there are some traces of mutants, it seems there aren¡¯t any around. As for traces of fanatics, they¡¯re scattered here and there." "Good work. We¡¯ll be able to examine the surroundings in more detail once it¡¯s daylight. Let¡¯s rest for now." "Alright. As expected, it¡¯s comfortable going around with you." "Is that so?" "It is." Arian plopped down next to Aiden and closed her eyes. Aiden glanced at Arian and then spent time slowly examining the surroundings through the binoculars again. After looking through the binoculars without moving for a long time, Aiden called Arian. "Arian." Arian, whose eyes snapped open, looked in the direction Aiden was pointing. "The visibility isn¡¯t good enough to confirm, but what kind of movement was it?" "What I briefly saw was a light." "A light, is it? Just a moment." Arian concentrated and stared intently at one spot. "It¡¯s a bit far, so it¡¯s difficult to confirm." "Should we move?" Aiden asked for Arian¡¯s opinion. But Arian shook her head. "The sun will rise soon. If we move now, we¡¯ll only expose our movements. There¡¯s no need to take unnecessary risks. During the day, let¡¯s observe the surroundings thoroughly, and if there¡¯s nothing unusual, we¡¯ll move at night." "Alright, let¡¯s do that then." Aiden deliberately asked Arian for her opinion. If this reconnaissance were to be considered a request, it would be a request where Arian should take the lead. Still, he was somewhat satisfied to see that Arian had developed a lot compared to when they first met. "Do you have any other opinions?" "No. I intend to follow your lead for this reconnaissance." "Huh? What¡¯s the occasion? Are you sick?" "Do I look like I have a body that could get sick?" "Hehe. That¡¯s right, neither of us has a body that could get sick." As Arian laughed frivolously, Aiden turned his head and picked up the binoculars again. Arian, who plopped down again, looked at the sky and said to Aiden. "Is it easier to deal with zombies or humans?" "There¡¯s no need to even consider it, zombies are easier." "That¡¯s right, isn¡¯t it?" Even though fanatics are inhuman madmen and monsters, they are still humans with life. Having experienced the incident with Ross Preston before, she had said she didn¡¯t want to kill people, so he could imagine what kind of emotions she might be feeling now. "You have, no, we both have something we want to protect." "Huh?" "We both know the pain of losing something precious, so I won¡¯t mention that, but if there¡¯s something that needs to be protected, it¡¯s not too late to think about it after protecting it." "Oh... Aiden, do you know this is the longest you¡¯ve spoken recently, excluding talk about requests?" "I know." "Hahaha! I understood well what you wanted to say. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t do anything I¡¯ll regret." "I see." Arian felt good about the sincerity Aiden conveyed. After that, the two fell into their own thoughts without any further conversation. And then, morning came. * * * "Bishop Randy. It¡¯s time for you to move." "Is it already that time? What about the gate?" "The gate closure is complete. We¡¯ve also instructed the believers not to leave their positions in case of any unexpected situations." Clap! Randy clapped his hands. "Now we can finally see the purification of the greatest flame. Good, very good! Hahaha!" Randy laughed loudly as he got into the prepared car. The car he boarded quickly left the Enterprise camp. Then, it arrived at their nearby prepared gathering place. As soon as Randy got out of the car, he immediately headed to the rooftop of the gathering place. From there, the Enterprise camp was visible at a glance. A believer who followed him greeted Randy politely. "Bishop. We¡¯ve also completed the preparation of the zombies." "Good, then start one by one." "Yes." As the believer disappeared, Randy burst into a laugh tainted with madness. "Hahaha!! Hahahaha!! Behold! This is the holy flame of Eternal Fire!" Bang! Bang! Bang! Explosion sounds were heard sequentially from inside the camp. Those explosions turned into huge flames and began to sweep through the interior of the camp. And mixed with the explosion sounds, people¡¯s screams and howls echoed together. The flames spread quickly, quickly, engulfing the buildings and people in the camp. People could be seen breaking the gate to survive. But they wouldn¡¯t know. The beings that would greet them beyond the gate. Grrrr Uuuuuh Graaah At some point, one or two zombies started appearing near the gate. Then, the number of zombies grew from one or two to over ten, over twenty, and in an instant, more than a hundred zombies densely filled the area in front of the gate. Crack!! With the sound of something breaking somewhere, the firmly closed iron gate slowly collapsed. Thud! People who survived the flames rushed out recklessly through the broken iron gate. And. The zombies who had been watching this scene intently surged in like a wave. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Kyaaah!! Fire behind, zombies in front. Hell had descended. * * * Aiden and Arian could confirm the active movements of the fanatics. As the sun rose, they appeared from somewhere and started roaming the interior of the city. Moving in groups of six, when they found zombies, instead of killing them, they started restraining them. "They¡¯re really restraining the zombies, right?" Arian asked Aiden as if she might have seen wrong. "That is indeed restraining. We should carefully note the direction they¡¯re heading." Aiden focused on observing where the fanatics dragging zombies were heading. "It¡¯s north." Arian looked at the map. "If it¡¯s north from here, a place where they might stay is Golden Valley High School." "How far is it?" "About 5km." "Then in a little while, let¡¯s move. We need to set up a reconnaissance point." Arian and Aiden checked their equipment while scouting the surroundings during the remaining time. Aiden checked for tall buildings around the high school to set up a reconnaissance position, while Arian replenished her blood with the transfusion packs received from the military. They came down from the rooftop and headed towards the high school, being as vigilant as possible of their surroundings. Thanks to Arian, they were able to move quickly without being spotted by the fanatics loitering around. Aiden and Arian climbed to the rooftop of an apartment right across from the high school. From the rooftop, the entire view of the high school was visible. They could see clumsily made barricades, barbed wires, and fanatics standing guard. It was difficult to confirm the zombies they had brought earlier. The two immediately started devising a plan. "It¡¯s not difficult for me to infiltrate, but it doesn¡¯t look easy for you to infiltrate, Aiden?" Aiden pointed to one area among the low barbed wires surrounding the high school. "If there are guards in that area, please take care of them. Then I¡¯ll cut the barbed wire and infiltrate." "Alright. Then let¡¯s move in different directions. Anyway, Aiden can¡¯t keep up with my speed." Aiden looked at his watch. "Let¡¯s move when night falls, three hours from now." "Okay, then after infiltration, let¡¯s set a one-hour limit for movement, and rendezvous back here." "One hour, back here. Got it." Aiden and Arian quietly waited for time to pass and started observing the actions of the fanatics. * * * The Enterprise camp was left with only small embers, ashes, and horrible corpses. Randy, who had been watching this entire situation from the rooftop of a building, knelt down and prayed. Then, shedding tears, he raised both arms to the sky. "Ah... How beautiful! How holy! What a magnificent flame this was!" "All of this was possible because of the Bishop¡¯s will. We praise you, Bishop!!" Twenty believers kneeling behind Randy praised him. "Even the council of elders cannot deny the achievements of Bishop Randy, who has fulfilled the grand plan of a year!" The one approaching Randy¡¯s side and praising him was none other than Marvin. "Marvin! Your efforts were excellent too. All who have seen that flame will now know the great will of Eternal Fire! Let¡¯s return, to our holy land!" "Oh Bishop!! Bishop Randy!!" * * * Evening came. The darkness in the city began to deepen as many clouds obscured the moonlight. From inside the high school, the boisterous sounds of fanatics could be heard, as if something had excited them greatly. There was almost no electricity, so they started lighting torches and fires in drums here and there. Aiden and Arian were quietly watching this scene. "It¡¯s fortunate there¡¯s no electricity. The shadows created by the flames are enough for me to hide." As Arian said this, Aiden took off the helmet he was wearing and put on night vision goggles. Then, hiding his rifle and sniper rifle in a corner of the rooftop, he tucked a handgun and a well-sharpened dagger into his waist. "I¡¯m ready." "Good, shall we start moving?" Arian leapt from the rooftop directly towards the high school at an incredible speed. Aiden went down to the first floor and carefully moved towards the area he had spotted, taking cover as much as possible. As he hid his body near the barbed wire, Arian¡¯s figure could be seen beyond. When Arian, who had checked the entire surroundings, signaled to Aiden, he cut the barbed wire without hesitation and entered. The two exchanged signals wishing each other good luck and began exploring the interior of the high school.