My 100th Rebirth a day before the Apocalypse - Chapter 146

Chapter 146: Chapter 146 Mission’s Reward for Completion
Although Kisha never told Duke everything she did behind the scenes to protect his interests, Duke was acutely aware of her silent guardianship and unique way of caring for him. He felt a deep happiness and cherished the chance to enjoy this kind of protection from the woman he now called his wife. Despite never believing in deities or gods, he found himself grateful for the chance to meet Kisha in this lifetime and to spend time together. Even in the midst of the bleak future brought by the apocalypse, he felt that these moments were the most fulfilling and happiest of his once dull life.

Right now, he was staring at Kisha’s slightly scrunched-up face as she silently planned their next course of action. He didn’t even know how many steps ahead she had prepared to ensure that he and his family would be safe and sound the moment they stepped foot in the shelter—the lion’s den. But he knew she was ready to spearhead the entire operation to make sure he wouldn’t lose anyone important to him.

Only now did he experience the feeling of being protected, and it was an amazing sensation he could easily become addicted to. He hadn’t realized that being under someone’s protective wing could be this blissful. Or perhaps it was because it was Kisha who was doing it?

Duke’s eyes crinkled with warmth as he gazed at Kisha, his expression shifting to one of affectionate possession. He couldn’t resist reaching out to gently rub Kisha’s head. “What would you like to eat later?” he inquired softly as they made their way back to the bulletin board to report the completion of their mission.

Kisha had meticulously mapped out the western district they scouted for the mission they accepted from the bulletin board, exchanging their findings for vital supplies. As they returned with their backpacks laden with resources, they were obligated to pay half to the shelter as tax. With Clyde’s group included, there were now 31 individuals comprising their party. Upon entering the shelter, they dutifully handed over their share of supplies, enough to sustain many mouths. However, Kisha harbored reservations, knowing that these provisions would likely only reach those in charge.

This arrangement allowed them to acquire supplies without risking their people in dangerous scavenging missions outside. It was the standard procedure – they provided protection for the survivors, and in return, the tax ensured the soldiers had the energy to continue their duties. While it sounded reasonable, the survivors were burdened with taxes on almost everything, leaving them with scant supplies for themselves afterward.

After a period, the shelter ceased distributing supplies to survivors who weren’t contributing. This reflects the principles of societal cooperation, which Kisha understood without objection. However, the issue arose from the disproportion between the taxes levied by those in authority and the rewards granted for completed missions.

While the mission’s anticipated reward suggested generosity, Kisha realized it fell short considering the danger they faced. Self-reliance proved more fruitful; their own efforts yielded greater supplies than missions did. Kisha’s hidden inventory was a stroke of luck, allowing her to keep it concealed from the shelter. She was cautious not to share her hard-won supplies with potential enemies, fearing it might empower them to turn against her and her allies once they regained strength.

Once awakened superhumans were discovered, certain individuals known as irregulars who has gained the ability to sense the type of awakened ability a person possessed. These abilities primarily focused on providing mental support rather than defense or combat skills, yet they played a crucial role in society. In Kisha’s past, bases and shelters felt secure in covertly storing supplies, unconcerned about spatial-type superhumans secretly storing away resources without disclosure. However, individuals like the one who awakened this sensory-type mental ability, akin to Kisha’s ‘Eye of Truth,’ introduced a new dynamic. They not only discerned the type and strength of superhuman abilities but also scrutinized spatial-type users to ensure no unregistered or concealed items remained in their possession, in accordance with recorded inventories.

Despite their formidable sensory abilities, they remained unable to detect Kisha’s unique ability. This was a fact she had repeatedly tested and confirmed across her past lives. Thus, even though they recognized Kisha as a typical awakened superhuman with mental abilities, they remained unaware of her status as an irregular with a system. Perhaps her system’s nature, being neither an entity nor originally part of their world, rendered it undetectable to their senses.

Regardless, this situation only played into Kisha’s favor, and she harbored no qualms about reserving supplies for herself and her allies. After all, these were resources they had collected through their own efforts, and they were more than capable of defending themselves. Kisha had long shed any feelings of nervousness or guilt about keeping her supplies concealed; her experiences across past lives had shown her the workings of bases and shelters, eroding her trust in the higher-ups operating in the shadows.

When Kisha, Duke, Vulture, and Sparrow arrived at the Central Hall where they registered their group, they sought out the woman who had assisted them in forming their team. Without hesitation, they handed her the mission flyer and the map they had meticulously mapped out during their reconnaissance mission. The woman was visibly stunned to see Kisha and her comrades alive and well. Her gaze lingered on the flyer and the map, disbelief evident in her expression. It was hard for her to fathom how they survived, not only due to the zombie raid but also because they had ventured into one of the city’s most dangerous areas. The concentration of zombies there made it a mission most people avoided.

Shortly after regaining her composure, the woman swiftly contacted a military representative to examine the map. Soon after, Kisha and her companions were ushered into a room at the rear while the man scrutinized the map. This man happened to be the same individual they encountered at the gate upon their first arrival at the shelter with Fred and the rest. Likely holding a position of authority, perhaps even a team captain, he studied the map with great concentration. It was only when he glanced up momentarily that he recognized the familiar faces standing before him, prompting him to take a second look.