Carol's Awakening

Basement Level 2, Private Apartment.

Ed had Carol bring him hot water. This hot-tempered man soaked his feet and drank liquor, grumbling loudly: "Shit, I've been hauling bodies outside all day, stinking and exhausted, and my pay isn't even a third of what those guys who just loaf around with guns make. That Castor guy is a bastard too—I was the best machine operator at the factory, but here, all I can do is sell my labor. We never should've listened to his sweet talk; we should've looked for another Shelter. Maybe then we'd have a better life."

Ed's voice was loud. Carol, afraid his complaints would reach others, walked over and gently urged him: "Ed, at least we're safe here. I'll work harder to make things better."

That seemed to hit a nerve. He swung his palm and slapped Carol hard across the face, sending her stumbling. "Bastard, you looking down on me?" Still unsatisfied, he pulled off his belt and lashed his wife again and again. Sofia, studying in the room, heard the commotion and rushed to her father to stop him, but the furious man shoved her down. Her forehead caught the corner of the table, leaving a gash, and she collapsed to the floor.

That evening, Leon was reading in his office when Amy walked in with a grim expression. "Boss, there's been a homicide in the Basement Level 2 apartment."

Leon's face darkened. "Who died? What happened?"

"Ed, a Logistics Department employee. According to the neighbors, Ed was drunk and beating his wife Carol. Their daughter Sofia got involved too. Carol fought back and accidentally killed her husband."

Hearing it was that couple, Leon nodded thoughtfully and asked his little secretary: "How are Carol and Sofia? Are their injuries serious?"

"They're not too bad. Carol has minor fractures and multiple bruises. Sofia hit her head—mild concussion."

Leon took a sip of hot coffee and continued: "Since Ed started the domestic violence, it's understandable. We'll decide on the punishment after Carol and Sofia recover. By the way, has Ed's body been handled?"

Amy nodded, walked behind Leon, and began massaging his shoulders. "Someone's already taken care of it. All Umbrella Corporation employees know that we turn into Zombies after death. No one forgets."

Meanwhile, in the base's Medical Room.

Carol was in tears, enduring both physical and emotional pain as she looked at her unconscious daughter in the other bed. Her heart was a mess of emotions. Killing her own husband—even in self-defense, even in a moment of impulse, even out of rage that he'd hurt her child—had felt like some lock inside her had broken. She realized she wasn't someone who lacked courage; she'd just been too submissive, too used to taking things lying down.

Now, it was just her and her young daughter, relying on each other. No matter what, for her child and for herself, she had to take responsibility. Maybe I should live more bravely.

The next afternoon, Leon was leisurely playing games as usual when Professor Amrin approached with a grave look. "Mr. Castor, our Radio System has detected a Suspicious Signal. About 30 kilometers south of our base, on Interstate Highway 85—probably a vehicle's internal communication system. I suspect it's a group of well-equipped Survivors. They might have seen our Recruitment Information and are heading toward the base."

Leon's expression turned serious. "What's their speed? How long until they reach us?"

"They're not fast. At their current pace, they'll arrive in about two hours."

Leon nodded. "Alright, I understand. Keep working, Professor."

Time was tight. As soon as Amrin left, Leon grabbed the radio and switched to the Security Department channel. "Merle, Daryl, stop work on the wall. Bring all Logistics Department staff back. We've got an important mission."

The two team leaders were puzzled but replied immediately: "Got it, Boss. We'll be right back."

Knowing it would take them a while to pack up, Leon didn't wait. He changed into his Combat Suit, hopped into a Modified Jeep, and set off first. Calculating the distance, he drove to a hillside about 20 kilometers from the base, pulled out his Binoculars, and began observing.

A few minutes later, a convoy appeared in the lenses. Two military trucks led the way, followed by two tanks and several military jeeps, with a few ordinary vans and sedans at the rear. Through the windows, Leon could see survivors in military uniforms and civilian clothes, including some elderly and children. Seeing that, he breathed a quiet sigh of relief. Any group that still took in the old and young in this world had at least some basic moral standards. Such a group probably wasn't a raider band.

He took out the radio, adjusted the channel, and said:

"Merle, Daryl, set up an ambush at the intersection of Interstate Highway 85, five kilometers from our base. I'm coming to meet you now."

"Move fast—we don't have much time."

A reply came through the radio immediately.

"Yes, Boss, we're already on our way. Estimated arrival at the ambush point in ten minutes."

Setting down the radio, Leon took the fastest alternate route to the ambush point.

Seeing that Merle and the others were already in position, he instructed the warriors to hide along the roadside or behind buildings, in spots that couldn't be clearly seen from a distance.

He and the two squad leaders then parked three modified military trucks sideways across the road, aiming three heavy machine guns toward the direction from which the convoy would come.

About ten minutes later, a convoy led by a military truck gradually came into view. They spotted the modified trucks blocking the road and slowed down, but still approached cautiously.

When the distance between them was roughly a hundred meters, the convoy stopped. A middle-aged officer in a military cap with a stubbly face stepped down from the truck.

He walked alone to face Leon and shouted loudly:

"I am Colonel William Hank, former Defense Commander of the Atlanta CDC."

"May I ask, are you from the Umbrella Corporation?"

Leon stepped out of the military truck, walked up to the middle-aged colonel, sized him up for a moment, and said:

"I am the manager of the Umbrella Corporation, Leon Castor. May I ask, Colonel William, what brings you here?"

Colonel William studied Leon carefully for over ten seconds, then extended his right hand and shook Leon's. His expression was stern as he said:

"We've lost contact with our superiors and gathered some survivors along the way. After hearing that the CDC is still operational, I decided to bring my soldiers back here to guard the last hope of humanity defeating the virus."

Leon spoke with a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth, but his tone was serious:

"Colonel William, you and your soldiers possess noble virtues. However, the Atlanta CDC is territory belonging to the Umbrella Corporation, and we cannot allow personnel from other organizations to station nearby."

"Are you and your soldiers willing to join us?"