"My name is Jason. I'm the squad leader of First Squad."
"Answer me—where did you come from? How many people are in the vehicle? Are there any other injured?"
"I didn't count the exact number. We just escaped from X High School. There are also two students in the back with wounds they can't explain, but they're not bite wounds. I tied their hands and feet with nylon rope and put them aside. Even if they transform, they won't be able to bite anyone."
Lux answered.
"Well done, kid. Drive another two hours ahead and you'll reach the Shelter we've established. Our team is heading back to the military district for supplies, so we won't escort you. There aren't many zombies along this route. As long as you stay inside your vehicles, you won't be attacked."
"If any of you are about to starve, I can give you some food, but inspections might take several more hours."
Jason patted Lux on the shoulder, praising him.
"They each ate a compressed ration three hours ago—"
"We're starving to death! soldier, give us something to eat!"
Before Lux could finish, the students leaning over the truck's side panel shouted loudly.
"How about this—I'll give you eight compressed rations. Let the kids eat a bit more."
Jason walked to the rear of the truck and soon returned with eight compressed rations, handing them to Lux.
"Thank you very much."
Lux accepted them with some resignation. Seeing that the rations were loose and already opened, he judged that they were part of Jason's own supplies.
He couldn't help but feel a sense of respect.
Even so, he wouldn't become someone like Jason. From the very beginning, he had chosen a selfish path—keeping the best things for his own team.
"Then we'll take our leave."
Jason didn't ask anything further and quickly returned to the military truck.
"Safe travels."
"Thanks for the good wishes."
Jason waved at Lux. The military truck roared to life and headed back toward the city.
Bob, still shaken, wrapped the bandage back around his head.
"Distribute these compressed rations evenly among yourselves."
With a quick flip, Lux handed the food to Catherine.
Before long, Bob started the heavy truck again.
---
At noon, the heavy truck thundered past a massive billboard reading Welcome to Hongi Commune.
Both sides of the road were completely covered by dense trees and vegetation. Zombies were rarely seen along the way, and the few wandering ones were simply crushed beneath the truck's wheels.
With his vision enhanced by the gene modification serum, Lux could faintly see roadblocks, barbed wire, and tall walls made of piled-up vehicle wreckage in the distance. Mountains of zombie corpses stacked like hills marked this as the first line of defense of the military-built shelter.
Two tanks Lux didn't recognize were stationed to block the road, and behind the barbed wire was a line of heavy machine-gun emplacements.
Lux sighed inwardly. No wonder the military had chosen this location. The population within Hongi Commune must have been small, and the zombified residents had already been completely eliminated.
Under normal circumstances, zombies would also find it difficult to migrate here in large numbers. Without a doubt, this place was like a paradise in the apocalypse.
Except for one fatal flaw—supplies were hard to replenish.
In theory, farming could sustain the population, but since this was a shelter, survivors from all directions would gather here. Production would never be able to keep up with consumption.
Once the military district's stored supplies were exhausted, this shelter would face serious problems.
Of course, this was a dilemma faced by every shelter. Compared to others, this Shelter at least had access to military stockpiles. Other gathering points could only risk their lives clearing out places like large supermarkets.
Lux then turned on the microphone of his tactical headset.
"HK, have Old Bob stop."
The heavy truck came to a halt once more.
"MDR, let's go. Get off."
"Roger~ understood!"
MDR hopped lightly down from the cargo area.
"Brother Lux… a-are you leaving already? I didn't even get the chance to thank you for saving me."
Catherine looked at Lux with reluctance.
"No need. It was just a matter of convenience. Live well in the shelter. There may be another chance for us to meet in the future."
Lux reached out and gently patted Catherine on the head. Suddenly, Catherine stood on tiptoe and kissed Lux on the cheek.
"Y-you have to survive! I want to see you again!"
Catherine covered her face, speaking shyly.
"Yeah. See you next time."
Lux touched the spot where she had kissed him, then jumped down from the cargo bed.
Come to think of it… this seemed to be the first time he had ever been kissed by a girl—and by such a cute one at that. He couldn't help feeling a little happy.
"Sir, you're really not going in with us?"
Bob looked at Lux with regret.
"No, I won't. Try to observe how the settlement is being built once you're inside. There may come a day when I'll need your help."
Lux nodded, smiling.
"You're the great benefactor of my family. If you ever say the word, even if I'm old, I, Bob, will follow you without hesitation! You can take the truck—we're already close to the shelter, probably just a few hundred meters away."
Bob jumped down from the driver's seat and handed the keys to Lux.
"No need. There's still a chance zombies could appear along the road, and if you're too far away, they won't dare open fire recklessly from over there."
"And this truck might be requisitioned in the future. You should get some compensation for it—it'll at least improve your life inside."
"I'll take the equipment with me. If fate allows, we'll meet again."
"Sir! Take care on the road!"
Bob hugged Lux tightly, bitter tears streaming down his face.
In times like these, whether they would ever meet again was completely uncertain.
HK416 also got out of the cab, bringing Anna with her.
"Brother Lux, thank you for saving me. This notebook—I wrote it while I was trapped at school, recording observations about the zombies outside. There are notes about some special zombies inside. I think it might help you."
Anna took out a small notebook and handed it to Lux gratefully.
"Mm. Thank you."
Lux was pleasantly surprised. He was currently in dire need of information about zombies.
If he had known about the Splithead beforehand, he definitely wouldn't have approached that mutated zombie so recklessly. He would have had MDR use gunfire to draw it in, then let HK416 deal with it directly using heavy firepower.
The notes in this notebook would be a huge help to him right now.
This was probably what people meant by giving someone roses and having their fragrance linger on your hand.