My 100th Rebirth a day before the Apocalypse - Chapter 335

Chapter 335: Chapter 335 Hard To Eat
No one could even detect the enticing aroma of the lunch Aston brought; instead, the sight of the food made them feel nauseous. After witnessing the gruesome scenes outside the wall, particularly the aftermath of Kisha’s actions against the zombies when Sparrow’s team departed, their stomachs were in turmoil. The contrast between the horrifying reality they faced and the appealing lunch only served to heighten their discomfort.

Even the seasoned veteran soldiers, who believed they had witnessed every conceivable horror, found themselves unable to eat outside the wall. They feared that even if they returned to the cleanest environment inside, the vivid memories of the gruesome scenes they had witnessed would linger. They imagined that the lingering stench of rotting flesh and the unsettling sensation of squishy brain matter, encountered while extracting crystal cores from zombies’ heads, would haunt them and make it impossible to enjoy their meal.

Vulture and Kisha, having spent considerable time traveling outside, had grown accustomed to this routine. In the harsh conditions beyond the walls, space and protection were limited, so they had learned to eat wherever and whenever they could. Whether it was sitting next to a zombie corpse or after extracting hundreds of crystal cores from zombie heads, they had developed a toughened resilience, finding solace in any opportunity to eat amidst the chaos.

Kisha and Vulture stepped forward and eagerly accepted their trays of food, their hunger evident as they disregarded any other concerns. Despite Kisha’s passive skill consuming only 10 SP per second, which was partially offset by her simultaneous 5 SP recovery due to her titles and items, she still felt the pangs of hunger. After six hours of walking, she wasn’t physically tired, but the extended period without a proper meal had left her craving sustenance.

At that moment, Kisha noticed Duke emerging from the wall alone. He appeared refreshed, holding his new spear with a casual ease. The spear’s tip pointed downward, the body rested against his arm, and the tail angled upward. Duke walked with a nonchalant air, as if he were taking a leisurely stroll in the park. Despite several soldiers’ attempts to stop or escort him, his intimidating glare made it clear that he was not to be trifled with and needed no escort going out, leaving no one willing to challenge his authority.

As Duke approached Kisha, he leaned in to give her a brief, affectionate peck on the forehead. “Thank you for the breakfast, my dear,” he said warmly. He then pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to her. “I’ve sketched a bird’s-eye view map of the base and the new wall we’re planning based on your description. It appears that some buildings will obstruct the planned route. How would you like to handle that?” Duke inquired, all the while signaling for Aston to bring him his lunch.

Soon, Aston arrived with a tray of lunch, approaching Kisha and Duke as he noticed Duke handing Kisha a piece of paper. After carefully placing the tray in front of Duke, Duke set down his spear with meticulous care, as if afraid it might get damaged if not handled gently. Kisha observed his actions with a raised eyebrow but chose to remain silent, instead focusing on studying the map Duke had drawn.

She anticipated that some buildings would be in the way, so they had two options: either demolish them to clear the path or incorporate them into their property, using them as outer apartments for the survivors. They were fortunate that City B wasn’t a mega-city with skyscrapers everywhere. Located near the port city, City B had become a merchant hub. As a result, the central part of the city featured mostly ostentatious buildings with a maximum of 10 to 20 floors, concentrated in the West District. This district was primarily residential, while the rest of the city consisted mainly of low-rise buildings, up to three floors, housing shops and the villas of merchants and prominent families like Dukes.

Their base was situated in the former City Hall of City B, now transformed into the Central Hall of their operations. This historic building, once the epicenter of city administration, had been repurposed to house the mission bulletin board and other critical operational elements.

The expansive layout of the government property provided them with considerable freedom to move around and adapt the space as needed. The open areas within the huge property offered ample opportunity for future development, allowing them to construct additional facilities if required. This strategic location not only gave them a central command point but also ensured they had the space to accommodate their growing needs and integrate new structures to support their mission.

Not far from the Central Hall were the villas of prominent families, enclosed within its own fortress-like wall. Aston and the team decided to incorporate these villas into the cleared space, not only because the Coltons’ Young Master and the former Minister of Defense desired to use them as living quarters but also due to the robust defensive walls that surrounded them. The addition of these villas not only provided valuable residential space but also enhanced the security of the area, making it a practical and strategic choice for their expanded base.

That’s why, even if they expanded their base by an additional 100 meters, they wouldn’t be sandwiched between large buildings. They would still have an open space in front of them, with a clear view and minimal obstruction from other structures.

This setup would enable them to spot any approaching zombies or humans from a distance. Given Duke’s query, Kisha’s decision was clear: she would utilize the existing buildings as apartments for the survivors. This approach not only addressed the housing shortage for their growing population but also reduced the need to gather building materials, which had become as scarce as other supplies. With the ability to no longer produce these materials as freely as before, repurposing the buildings was a practical solution.

After making her decision, she looked up at Duke and said, “Thank you for your help.” She then handed the map to Vulture, instructing him to show it to everyone so that everyone could follow the plan, forming the barricade and clearing the path as outlined.

“No need for formalities between husband and wife,” Duke said with a smile before returning to his lunch and encouraging Kisha to do the same. While Kisha, Duke, and Vulture enjoyed a pleasant meal, the others struggled to eat the food in front of them. Despite their difficulty, they couldn’t afford to waste any of it, especially considering how scarce and valuable food had become, particularly in times of the apocalypse.

With considerable effort, the warriors managed to force the food down their throats, though not without gagging. The pervasive smell of rotting flesh made the experience even more unpleasant. Observing the first group struggling to eat, those on guard duty lost any enthusiasm for the meal. Instead, they dreaded the thought of eating and could barely bring themselves to look at their comrades who seemed to be enduring a form of torture.

Soon, Kisha, Duke, and Vulture finished their meal and began walking around the perimeter to assess the area. They discussed how to reinforce the barricade in certain places, taking into account the terrain and surrounding structures. With Duke’s extensive experience in construction, gained from running his own construction firm before the apocalypse, he had a keen understanding of various building techniques. He actively shared his insights on how to fortify the wall around the buildings, emphasizing safety and effectiveness.