Mission

Day 2, June 13.

Glenn and Aji completed the mission excellently. Although there were a few minor scares along the way, they successfully marked the locations and routes of thirteen trucks within a two-kilometer radius.

Leon called for Merle and Aji, then had them take members of five Combat Teams with them to carry out the truck theft mission.

Before they left, Leon specifically kept Merle and Aji behind and gave them detailed instructions:

"This truck theft mission isn't complicated. You can split into pairs, cooperate with each other, use the Flesh Camouflage I taught you yesterday, quietly enter the trucks, and drive them away."

"You can also use radios, players, car horns, and other items to make noise and lure away the Zombies around the trucks."

"There are seven of you in total. You have enough manpower and enough firepower. Even in the worst-case scenario, a forceful assault shouldn't be a problem."

"So, I have only one requirement for this mission. Every combat member is a precious asset of the company. Even if the mission suffers setbacks or supplies are damaged, that's fine. But I don't want to hear news of anyone dying. That will affect my evaluation of the two of you and your future promotions. Understood?"

"Yes, boss. I understand."

"Don't worry, boss. Old Merle will absolutely follow your orders."

Merle and Aji nodded in agreement. At the same time, they carefully considered how they should proceed. Both had their own ambitions and hoped to climb to higher positions in the apocalypse.

Power was like poison. No one could refuse it.

Leon nodded. After thinking for a few seconds, he added:

"For the truck keys and the details of stealing the trucks, you can ask Jim or Alevin. They're both professional auto mechanics and can answer your questions."

"As for the firearms, Ammunition, and other supplies, you can go to Miss Amy. She'll make proper arrangements for you."

"Go. Start the mission after eight. I look forward to your performance."

After sending Merle, Aji, and the others away, only four people remained on Leon's side: himself, Glenn, T-Dog, and Daryl.

Although there seemed to be fewer people, their combat power was actually greater—especially with Leon himself, a humanoid cheat.

In Leon's temporary office, the four of them gathered around a red square table. A hand-drawn map of southern Atlanta lay spread across it.

They enjoyed the delicate pastries Miss Amy had brought while listening to Leon explain the mission.

"At present, the resources the Umbrella Corporation base lacks most urgently are gasoline and diesel."

"Based on the intelligence provided by Mr. Glenn, I discussed it with him in detail and settled on this block."

Leon pointed out a long, narrow commercial district near the edge of the city on the hand-drawn map.

"From No. 107 to No. 168 Rongguang Avenue, it's more than 150 meters long and eight meters wide. It has three intersections and connects to the Interstate Highway."

"All the buildings are three-story stone shops, and there are almost no alleys between them wide enough for passage."

"According to Mr. Glenn's intelligence, this 150-meter commercial street was built to provide daily necessities for the White-Collar Apartment Complex half a kilometer away. It has a medium-sized Walmart Department Store, two competing gas stations, an International Chain Pharmacy, a Car Dealership, and fifty various shops of different types."

"As long as we find a way to block both ends of the street and prevent the Zombies from entering and leaving freely, this commercial district will become an enclosed space."

"Once we eliminate the Zombies inside, all the supplies here will become our spoils."

"Our vehicles can enter the district directly from the Interstate Highway and transport everything away with ease."

T-Dog scratched his head and asked somewhat awkwardly:

"But, boss, what method can we use to seal off the street?"

Leon wore a confident smile and said:

"That's the key. If we use ordinary methods, it'll be difficult to build obstacles and seal off an eight-meter-wide street in a short time."

"But among the trucks we found, there are several heavy trucks measuring nine, ten, or even eleven meters long."

"As long as we modify the barriers beneath the trucks, drive them into the commercial district, and turn them sideways at the very end of the street, with their rear ends pressed tightly against the stone walls of the shops on both sides, they'll form a metal wall more than four meters high."

"This is the fastest and most effective method."

After hearing Leon's plan and thinking it over, the others couldn't help admiring their boss's wisdom.

Actually, the plan wasn't particularly difficult to imagine. Their imagination had simply been limited by their habitual peacetime thinking and lack of creativity.

"I've already handed the truck modification plan to Jim."

"Our mission this morning is to inspect the actual conditions of Rongguang Avenue Commercial Street and determine exactly how many Zombies are inside."

"Glenn, T-Dog, go ask Miss Amy for two cars. We're leaving now."

When they arrived at Rongguang Avenue Commercial Street, the situation was slightly worse than Leon had imagined. Around three to four hundred Zombies wandered the main street. Including the Zombies inside the various shops and the Walmart mall, the total number was estimated to exceed five hundred.

Even if the entire Combat Team took the field, each person would have to deal with more than fifty Zombies.

That wasn't realistic, and they didn't have enough Ammunition to waste on that many targets.

However, Leon showed no sign of worry. He already had a plan.

Around two in the afternoon, Aji arrived with a member of the Logistics Department, driving two heavy trucks, and met up with Leon there.

A foul odor still lingered inside the cabs. In inconspicuous places, they could also see dark red traces of flesh and blood. Leon guessed that they had used the Flesh Camouflage method.

"Aji, how did your mission go?"

Aji rubbed his head and answered somewhat sheepishly:

"Sorry, boss. For safety's sake, we acted very cautiously. Including these two trucks, we only managed to bring back six in total."

"However, we paid close attention to safety, and not a single person was injured."

Leon nodded approvingly, quietly letting out a sigh of relief.

Every combat member was precious to him now. Losing even one would pain him for half a day.

"That's good enough."

"Your mission isn't urgent. Even if you finish tomorrow, it won't matter."

"How about this? Drive a small car back and continue helping Merle. Dodgela will stay here. His truck-driving skills are the best among us."

"Remember to pass my words on to Merle."

After Aji left, only four people remained beside Leon once again.

Glenn, Daryl, T-Dog, and Adoki.

Two SSR Cards, one three-star card, and one two-star card.

He thought for a few seconds before finally deciding not to take his rare Heroes, who hadn't been leveled up properly, into danger.

I'll handle these dangerous early-game missions myself. It doesn't matter if I get bitten anyway.

Leon climbed into the small car and said to his subordinates:

"I'll carry out the bait mission. You protect Adoki and assist him in sealing off the district."

"Clear out the remaining Zombies on the road."

"If anything unexpected happens, prioritize your own safety. Wait for me by the Interstate Highway."