The Hearts of Men in the Apocalypse

Though it was called a conference room, it was really just the large living room in Old Morris's house.

There was no helping it. Time was tight, manpower was needed everywhere, and over the past half month, even stockpiling supplies had to be done in secret for fear of drawing Umbrella Corporation's attention. They were desperately short on hands...

Soon, everyone had arrived—James, head of settlement security. Aside from his original team members, Carlos and Jill had also been assigned to him. Carlos served as his deputy, responsible for internal security.

Dr. Ashford, head of research. A commander with no troops—no equipment, no personnel.

Old Morris, head of logistics.

Ren Ze and Alice were not responsible for specific affairs, but they had clearly become the group's backbone. Whenever something important came up, everyone sought Ren Ze's opinion.

"Everyone should already know that several cities near Raccoon City have seen large-scale violent incidents over the past two days. Umbrella Corporation can no longer contain the spread of the T-Virus. I called everyone here because our previous strategy needs to change completely. Let's first talk about what we've gained during this time. James, you go first."

Once he saw that everyone was present, Ren Ze began speaking.

"Through private channels, we purchased fifty M4 automatic rifles, ten Colt pistols, five thousand rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, and five hundred rounds of .45 ammunition from the black market. Just these things have nearly drained our squad's savings from the past five years..."

"Far from enough... Uncle Morris, what about your side? How are the food reserves?"

"With the supplies we've recently purchased and the food I already had stored, we have roughly enough for one hundred people to eat for two years. We still have some money, but we don't dare buy too much at once, in case it attracts unnecessary attention."

"Still not enough... We may have fewer than fifty people in total right now, including men, women, old people, and children, but once the T-Virus outbreak begins, we'll need to take in young, able-bodied workers. As for everyone else, we should save as many as we can. After all, with people, we have everything! Carlos, how are the farm's defenses coming along?"

"We've set up a simple wall and checkpoint at the valley entrance, but we still lack manpower and time. Give me twenty more people and half a month, and I'm confident I can turn our farm into an impregnable fortress!"

"Now for the main point! Since the crisis is about to erupt, there's no need for us to keep hiding. James, Carlos, contact any trustworthy comrades you have and get them over here. And stop buying from the black market. We'll drive straight to those cities around Raccoon City where chaos has broken out. Alice and I will lead the team to raid the local police stations and gun stores."

"Uncle Morris, hurry things along on your end too. If we don't spend the money now, it'll become worthless paper. Gather as many supplies as possible, especially food!"

"Jill, go to Salt Lake City and hire more people. Don't be afraid to spend money. Choose honest, dependable young people with strong bodies whenever possible, and get our defensive line completed as soon as you can."

"Carlos, starting today, whether they're old members, newly accepted refugees, or friends and relatives, anyone coming in from outside must undergo a strict inspection. Your task is the most important one! If someone bitten by a Zombie sneaks into the farm, you know what the consequences will be!"

"That's it! Get to your posts! James, pick a few people to come search for supplies with Alice and me tomorrow. Meeting adjourned!"

One SUV and two heavy trucks drove down the highway.

All three vehicles had been simply modified. Their fronts had been reinforced, and wire mesh had been added over the windows. They did not even need to slow down for the scattered Zombies—they simply rammed straight through them.

"Looks like Umbrella Corporation and the White House have completely abandoned the Midwest. We haven't even seen a proper checkpoint the entire way here."

Ren Ze shook his head. He had originally been worried that inspections would be troublesome, but they had made it all the way into Colorado without any obstruction.

"I figured it out a long time ago. People like us are nothing more than tools Umbrella can discard whenever they want, let alone ordinary people."

James sighed with feeling. If he had not abandoned the darkness and joined the right side in Raccoon City in time, all he had to do was look at what had happened to Carlos's squad.

"I didn't expect that after only two days, the city where chaos had just erupted would already be completely overrun..."

Rain, who was driving, looked at the abandoned vehicles along the roadside. The city in the distance was as silent as a ghost realm. They had only seen news reports of the unrest here two days ago, yet now it already resembled a dead city.

"Alice, clear the Zombies directly ahead. There are too many—we can't ram through them."

As the three vehicles roared onward, the entire slumbering city seemed to awaken. Zombies surged in from every direction like a tidal wave. As soon as Ren Ze finished speaking, a flash of silver shot from Alice's waist, passed through a gap in the wire mesh, and darted back and forth in front of the vehicle several times. A huge patch of the horde ahead was instantly cleared away. If one were to get out and inspect the fallen Zombies, they would find that every one of their heads had been pierced through with a large hole!

James and Rain both knew that Alice was extremely capable, and they knew Ren Ze had been putting her through special training over the past few days. But seeing such an unbelievable sight with their own eyes, their expressions were no different from Carlos's. They stared at Alice as though they had seen God, unable to utter a word.

But they were all on the same side, so there was no need to hide anything. After Ren Ze explained it to them, they learned that Alice's ability was the result of her special physique merging with the T-Virus. Everyone shuddered in unison, left with nothing but envy and helplessness.

The search for supplies went quite smoothly along the way. With Ren Ze and Alice present, the Zombie hordes gave the team little trouble. After clearing out the Zombies drawn in by the sound of the engines, they could calmly begin moving supplies.

Before long, fuel and some scarce supplies filled a truck and a half. Leaving half a truck empty, the group prepared to search for weapons, but after visiting several gun stores, they were stunned to find them all completely stripped clean.

"Let's go. We'll try our luck at the police station. If there's nothing there either, we'll have to fill up with other supplies and head back."

Ren Ze looked at the gun store that had been picked bare and spoke to the others helplessly.

They soon found the local police station. When they drove up to the entrance, they found the gate shut. Rain got out and was about to open the iron gate when someone pointed a gun at her. Two young men who looked like thugs walked out of the guardhouse.

"Boss, people are here. What do we do with them?"

One of the thugs shouted toward the police station behind him.

"Are you trying to get us killed?! Keep your voice down! You'll draw in Zombies and waste ammunition!"

Soon, six people emerged from the building. The leader had a face full of flesh, and he lowered his voice as he cursed at the little thug who had shouted earlier.

Rain had a gun pointed at her, but she showed no panic. Instead, she asked helplessly, "What do you want?"

"Everyone get out of the vehicles! Be good and have your companions come down too, or I'll blow you away! Heh, this chick's got some flavor to her! Hahaha!"

As the leader finished speaking, the others aiming their weapons at Rain all let out lewd, low laughter.

"Friends, I advise you to calm down. Since you've already taken over the police station, we'll just leave."

Seeing this, Ren Ze signaled for everyone to get out first, then offered the fleshy-faced man a word of advice.

"Friends? Who the hell are your friends? Since you've come to my territory, you follow my rules. There are only six of you, and we have eight guns. You want to leave? Did you ask me first?"

The fleshy-faced man was full of swagger, confident that he had the situation under control. Then he spotted Alice in the back and his eyes lit up. "You can leave if you want. Leave behind the two trucks and the two beauties, and I'll generously give you the SUV. Now get lost!"

"So there's no room for negotiation?"

Ren Ze asked.

"Get lost. Since I'm in a good mood today, I'll let you live. I only want the trucks and the women. If you keep being uncooperative, all of you can stay here!"

Hearing the fleshy-faced man's words, Alice immediately grew furious. She had not expected that at a time like this, survivors would not band together for warmth, but that people like these still existed.

"Oh? The little chick's mad. Hahaha!"

Seeing Alice's ugly expression, the fleshy-faced man and his lackeys burst into arrogant laughter.