My 100th Rebirth a day before the Apocalypse - Chapter 331

Chapter 331: Chapter 331 Softer
Seeing their determined nods, Kisha let out a relieved sigh and gestured toward the supplies stacked around them. “These are the supplies designated for the team heading to the Port City with you. Make sure you use them wisely.”

Kisha continued, “With all five of you working together, you can use your ‘Space Type Abilities’ to store these supplies efficiently. Make sure to divide them evenly among yourselves so that you can be easily redistributed to the other teams if necessary. This way, everyone will be prepared and won’t have to worry about running out of supplies in critical situations.”

She added, “I may not be able to foresee every possible issue that might arise, but I trust Sparrow’s leadership and experience to guide you through any uncertainty.”

Especially since Sparrow has spent considerable time under Kisha’s leadership during their missions outside the base, he has likely become accustomed to her methods. Even if he doesn’t follow her exact approach, he has his own strategies that have consistently delivered outstanding results. This track record reassures Kisha, easing her concern about not accompanying them. Besides, the route to the port city is less challenging than Duke’s mission to the textile factory, as there are safer paths available.

Aston had already helped her map out the route, the same one he and his team used to retrieve cargo trailers that now form part of the base’s perimeter. It was either sheer luck or good timing that, during the apocalypse, they had a mission in Port City and were driving a few cargo trailers. These trailers became instrumental in kickstarting their plan. They managed to make several trips back and forth, allowing them to establish the base with enough space to accommodate everyone.

Kisha had also taken into account any potential changes along the route, which is why she emphasized the need for everyone to stay vigilant. After giving the five more reminders for when they were outside, she sent them back to the Supply Center. She remained at the rear for a few moments, then summoned Zeus, Bell, and Bell’s hundreds of Scarlet Bee warriors. Ensuring that all the bees shrunk to a manageable size so they could accompany Sparrow and his team, she sighed when she saw Zeus. Its size was still attention-grabbing, but there wasn’t much she could do about that.

Kisha was determined to ensure that Sparrow and his team’s mission would be a success. This was their first major mission since establishing HOPE BASE, and its outcome would set the tone for the future. If Sparrow and his team could complete it with minimal casualties, the survivors would gain confidence in Kisha’s leadership. However, if the mission ended in failure or, worse, a massacre, not only would she lose the people’s trust, but no one would want to follow her anymore. This could lead to chaos and rebellion within the base, jeopardizing her mission entirely.

In the end, it all came down to a political move she couldn’t avoid. The moment she became the City Lord of HOPE BASE, dealing with these issues became inevitable. Winning the people’s trust and loyalty was now part of her responsibility, and capturing their hearts was as crucial as any other task she faced.

With a heavy sigh, Kisha stepped out from the back of the supply center to rejoin the five ‘Space Type Ability Users.’ The moment they spotted the hulking, bear-like figure trailing behind her, they froze, a mix of shock and fear flashing across their faces. Zeus, despite its playful demeanor—tongue out and drooling—still cut an imposing and intimidating figure, looking scarily domineering even when simply standing there.

Kisha noticed their pale faces and could only offer a wry smile. “Haha, don’t worry, this is my pet, Zeus. I know it looks intimidating, but it’s very docile and an excellent protector. Zeus will serve as your personal bodyguard during the mission. However, if you need to split up depending on the situation, there will still be others to protect you, so stay calm, but don’t get complacent,” she said. Even though she didn’t want to sound nagging, she made sure to emphasize her point, knowing it might sound repetitive to them.

“Bell,” Kisha called out through their mind link.

“Yes, Master? Do you have instructions for Bell?” Bell’s sweet, melodic voice echoed in Kisha’s mind.

“Yes, since I won’t be there with you, I’m entrusting Zeus to your care. As the older sister, it’s your responsibility to ensure that Zeus stays out of trouble and assists Sparrow and the team as needed. Understood?”

“Master! Zeus, good boy!” Zeus interjected into their mind link, before letting out a thunderous bark. The force of the bark reverberated through the Supply Center, causing the ground to tremble slightly and the lights and decorations to shake. Even Kisha felt a resounding, echoing ‘buzz’ in her ears from Zeus’ powerful bark.

“Zeus!” Kisha exclaimed. Zeus immediately perked up, its tail wagging. “No barking that loudly when you’re outside, unless Bell gives you the signal. We don’t want to attract a horde of zombies like last time.” Kisha reprimanded Zeus, knowing that a loud bark could draw unwanted attention and create dangerous situations for Sparrow’s team.

After being reprimanded, Zeus’s tail and ears drooped, and it whimpered softly. “I’m not angry, Zeus, just trying to keep everyone safe,” Kisha said gently. “You can only bark softly unless Bell gives you permission to bark loudly. Let’s practice that now.” As she patted Zeus’s head, which was now taller than her, she encouraged it to try barking quietly.

“Arf…” Zeus tried to bark softly, but to Kisha, it still sounded like a normal, loud bark. It was clear that even this softer attempt could potentially attract nearby zombies.

“Softer,” Kisha said gently, her voice lowering as she coaxed Zeus. Meanwhile, everyone in the Supply Center paused their activities, watching in amusement. They thought Kisha was simply teaching the bear-like dog a new trick for their entertainment. Given the lack of diversion aside from occasional gossip, the scene with Kisha and Zeus became a welcome break.

“Arf.” Zeus’s bark came out as a soft squeak, which prompted everyone to burst into laughter. Seeing the reaction, Zeus thought it had done well and continued to bark softly, resembling the sound of a squeaky toy.

Kisha facepalmed as she watched Zeus. Despite her efforts, the bear-like dog had turned into a source of entertainment, eliciting laughter from everyone. She didn’t have the heart to reprimand Zeus further, especially since it was just following her instructions. The crowd, unfamiliar with Zeus’s origins and enchanted by the spectacle, was too amused to question where the dog had come from.

The once intimidating and fearsome Zeus had unexpectedly become the base’s mascot. Kisha, resigned to this new reality, shook her head in defeat. With no more to be done about it, she and the rest of the team returned to the square where Sparrow and the others were waiting. The briefing, led by Aston, was complete. Aston had ensured that they were all well-informed about the route, potential nearby shelters or bases, and places with useful supplies for any emergency supply runs.

Aston also made sure to cover nearby military offices, highlighting where they could find ammunition if needed, and identifying suitable locations for hiding or other critical needs.