My 100th Rebirth a day before the Apocalypse - Chapter 101

Chapter 101: Chapter 101 The Decision
Following their satisfying dinner, Sparrow chose to voice about his concerns in front of the entire team, inviting everyone to contribute their opinions and concerns. This collective discussion was crucial, particularly in light of the uncertainty surrounding potential pursuit by their enemies, given the recent incident that had endangered Mrs. Winter’s life.

Everyone listened attentively as Sparrow recounted the events on the 7th floor and voiced his concerns about their next steps. Nods of agreement rippled through the group as he emphasized the dangers of moving while both their master and Young Madam remained unconscious, highlighting the recent accident involving Mrs. Winters as a stark example. However, Sparrow also acknowledged the peril of remaining stationary, particularly with the enemy’s advanced technology potentially pinpointing their location. There was a shared understanding that if the enemies noticed their forces’ disappearance, they might infer the Winters had neutralized their threat, leading to the termination of communication from their end.

The group faced a difficult decision: whether to forge ahead or remain where they were. Moving forward seemed daunting, as they lacked a clear destination. Returning to the shelter was equally unfeasible; it could now be filled with their enemies, and could potentially endanger innocent lives that manage to get to the shelter after experiencing the apocalypse. The risk of inadvertently leading danger to their sanctuary weighed heavily on their minds, complicating their choice.

Returning to their base in their current state was out of the question, especially with their enemies in close pursuit. The journey back could expose them to ambushes, putting the individual they needed to safeguard at risk. Their defenses would inevitably be compromised, leaving them vulnerable to unforeseen threats.

They couldn’t afford to solely depend on Vulture and Sparrow’s awakened abilities. Moreover, they remained uncertain about Mrs. Winters’ fate and the condition of their Master and Young Madam until the following morning. While Vulture and Sparrow had some insights into Mrs. Winters’ situation, they couldn’t be certain yet.

A heavy silence enveloped them as they pondered their options, each eager to reach a consensus. Yet, they faced the reality that it was the dead of night, and waiting for Kisha and Duke to awaken would consume at least another five hours. Within that span, numerous unforeseen events could unfold, posing risks to everyone under their protection, including the entire Winters household and Kisha in particular.

They grappled with the realization that whatever decision they made would pose challenges. Breaking the silence, Tristan spoke up. “I suggest we hold our ground for the time being,” he said, moving closer to the coffee table and crouching down to examine the heat detector drone. “We have acquired some of their equipment, so we might as well make use of it. We can navigate between buildings as we did before from here. I don’t believe we’ll lose any options before Master and Young Madam awaken.”

Unbeknownst to Tristan, he had also begun referring to Kisha as “Young Madam,” mirroring Vulture and Sparrow’s lead. In doing so, he unwittingly acknowledged her imminent role within their group and the authority she would wield. Moreover, he couldn’t shake the feeling that circumstances would shift once she and their Master awakened. With this in mind, he and the others resolved to persevere until that moment arrived.

Sharing Tristan’s sentiment, Vulture swiftly voiced his support for the suggestion. However, a pressing concern lingered: he and Sparrow now possessed only a solitary vial of the black liquid, which they must conserve for critical moments. Consequently, they realized the necessity of restraining their movements to preserve this invaluable resource.

This vial now stood as their sole remaining lifeline as they maintained their vigilance. Following the Winters’ departure to rest, Tristan, Sparrow, and Vulture organized themselves into three separate groups, each taking turns to keep watch throughout the night. Their shared goal was to ensure nothing went amiss during the night, although they acknowledged the enormity of the task, they remained resolute in their determination to give their all to safeguard their charges.

A member of their team, who possessed greater knowledge of technology than the three combined, meticulously inspected the equipment confiscated from their enemies. Their objective: was to ascertain whether any hidden locators were embedded within the items, potentially enabling their enemies to track their location once they realized their operatives had been neutralized.

They deemed it wiser to err on the side of caution rather than risk being caught off guard by an ambush or sneak attack during the night, potentially leading to catastrophic consequences. Fortunately, one member of the group foresaw this potential threat and discovered hidden locators within their communicators and heat detector drones, meticulously concealed by their enemies.

It became clear how their enemies had effortlessly tracked them and discovered their relocation from the basement. It appeared that the communicators obtained by Tristan and Vulture from the assassin and the mole had been tampered with. Consequently, Sparrow decided to have the radio he acquired from the southeast region examined to determine if it had undergone similar manipulation.

Luckily, the radio from the southeast region showed no signs of tampering. It seemed that the enemies had yet to realize the developments in that area, focusing instead on their current location. With the communicators from the assassin, mole, and others now rendered useless, the group strategically scattered them in various locations throughout the building. Meanwhile, they removed the locators from the heat detector drones to maintain the illusion that their pursuers were still hot on their trail even if they successfully relocated to another building, all while maintaining a safe distance.

Removing the heat detector drone was only going to be thought of as noticed by the Winters’s men and was taken care of that’s why it was now lost. However, this move could only buy them a limited amount of time before their enemies noticed the discrepancy. Aware of this, Sparrow took precautions by dispersing the locator far and wide around the building. Additionally, they meticulously cleared the balcony of any remnants, including ropes and zombie corpses, that could arouse suspicion among their enemies.

After completing their preparations, the trio and their companions allowed their exhausted bodies a brief respite, indulging in a power nap to replenish their energy reserves before resuming their vigilance. Throughout this brief rest period, they maintained a dark and quiet atmosphere within the apartment, mirroring the appearance of any other vacant unit. Despite resting, they remained vigilant, their senses keenly attuned to detect any signs of movement in their surroundings.