A new side quest

Soon, sunlight lit up the broken-down RV, the piles of supplies, and everyone's exhausted faces.

Dale hammered away beneath the RV, muttering the names of parts. The repairs were already in their final stages.

Carol held Sophia, curled up on a ragged blanket beside the Jeep, while Min-seon soothed them quietly.

The girl was frightened but unhurt.

Glenn and Andrea took stock of the last supplies: a few cans of food, half a case of water, a nearly empty first-aid kit, and a few tools.

Shane stood on the RV's roof, scanning both directions along the highway.

Daryl guarded the wooded side of the camp with his crossbow in his arms. Merle leaned against a motorcycle, whittling a stick with a razor and glancing at Lynn.

They had just found the motorcycle by the roadside. It was not completely wrecked and could still be ridden.

Lynn stood beside the Jeep's hood, tapping the metal with his fingers.

At the edge of his vision, a crimson countdown ticked on the system screen: 68:48:33... 68:48:32...

The main quest's deadline was pressing.

Sophia's return was good news, but the disabled RV and lost supplies made the journey to the zoo harder.

The system screen lit up, its blue glow filling his vision:

[High-value regional survival node detected...]

[Side quest triggered: Save Hershel's family]

[Quest objective: Ensure the survival of Hershel Greene, Maggie Greene, Beth Greene, and key members of their farm (Patricia, Jimmy, etc.)]

[Quest type: Optional]

[Quest failure penalty: No host elimination]

[Quest rewards: Survival points x 500, 9mm pistol ammunition x 500 rounds, 5.56mm rifle ammunition x 300 rounds, Character Creation Privilege x 1]

[Special rule: While this side quest is accepted, the main quest (Survivor Integration) time limit will be frozen until completion or abandonment]

Character Creation Privilege x 1!

The Jackal's figure flashed through Lynn's mind-a loyal, efficient subordinate was immensely valuable in the apocalypse.

The previous authorization had given him that blade in the shadows. This time...

Hershel's family? The farm?

Lynn recalled the old veterinarian's farm from the original story. It was a sanctuary, but its beliefs and secrets had also caused trouble.

Maggie, Beth, and the other members—saving them would earn system rewards, especially the "Character Creation Privilege." That reward was undeniably tempting.

It might also bring a doctor, labor, and a temporary outpost to the zoo base.

There were certainly risks. The time limit was a major problem.

Where was the farm? What condition was it in? Were there walkers? How much time?

But the system said the side quest had no time limit and the main quest's timer would freeze. It seemed to be encouraging him to accept the quest and buy some breathing room.

The lure of the rewards outweighed the risks.

The thought was clear: Accept the quest.

"Davis."

Lynn's voice cut through the camp's noises. It was not loud, but everyone looked over at once.

Davis stopped keeping watch and turned to face him.

"Take two people and scout both directions along the highway. Find somewhere we can stay-an abandoned building, a gas station, anything. It needs good visibility and to be easy to defend."

Lynn's gaze swept over their tense faces. "The RV won't be fixed anytime soon. We need to rest and regroup, then plan our route again."

Davis had no questions. "Yes, Boss." His gaze swept over Merle and Daryl. "You, and you. Come with me."

"Ha! Finally, a chance to move!"

Merle put away his razor, grabbed his machete, and looked excited.

Daryl nodded, slung his crossbow over his back, and followed Davis.

The three disappeared in the two directions along the highway.

Lynn looked back at the RV. Dale was crawling out from underneath, covered in grease, his face tired and dejected.

"Dale, how's it looking?" Lynn asked.

Dale sighed, taking off his greasy cap to wipe his sweat. "The front-left suspension arm is bent, and the bearing's shattered.

"The spare tire's the wrong size... worst of all, the driveshaft's universal joint might have been knocked out of alignment too... this needs a specialized jack, wrenches, maybe replacement parts... with just what we have on hand..."

He shook his head. This thing was an antique, and after all the repeated punishment, it was nearly at the end of its life.

"Understood." Lynn's voice was steady. "Do what you can to get the other parts working first. Slow is fine."

Dale opened his mouth to say something, but nodded instead and crawled back underneath.

About half an hour later, Davis and the other two returned.

Davis pointed to a junction a kilometer up the highway. "Boss, there's an abandoned gas station over there. Half the main building has collapsed, but the convenience store beside it is still structurally sound. The doors and windows are broken, but the roof's mostly fine.

"There's a small repair shed out back with tools scattered around. The place is on a slope, with good visibility. No sign of any large groups of walkers so far."

"A repair shed?"

Dale poked his head out from beneath the RV, his eyes brightening briefly.

"Good." Lynn gave the order. "Everyone, pack up. We're moving to the abandoned gas station ahead.

"Davis, lead the way in the Jeep.

"Glenn, T-Dog, move the usable supplies from the RV into the Jeep. Pile whatever you can't move beside the RV."

The orders were clear.

No one questioned Lynn's authority anymore.

Shane curled his lip, then jumped down from the roof to help move boxes.

The group set off.

The Jeep led, carrying supplies and the injured-Rick, Lori, Carl, Carol, and Sophia-with Davis driving.

Everyone else walked around the disabled RV, pushing it along.

Dale steered from inside. Merle and Daryl pushed at either side of the rear, while Glenn, T-Dog, and Andrea kept watch all around.

Shane walked along the outside with his shotgun ready.

That kilometer was tense and exhausting.

On top of that, the rising sun left everyone's clothes soaked with sweat.

Davis's route avoided obstacles. They encountered only two or three scattered walkers, which Daryl's crossbow bolts and Andrea's single shots took care of.

The abandoned gas station came into view. Half the main pump canopy had collapsed, and the fuel nozzles were rusted.

The convenience store beside it had shattered doors and windows, and its interior was a mess.

The door to the sheet-metal repair shed out back stood ajar.

"Davis, clear the convenience store," Lynn ordered. "Glenn, T-Dog, help him! Andrea, take the high ground by the store entrance and keep watch.

"Everyone else, push the RV beside the repair shed. Dale, check the tools inside."

Everyone immediately got to work.

Davis shoved open the convenience store's shattered glass door, his shotgun pointed inside. Glenn and T-Dog followed him in.

Andrea climbed onto an abandoned sign frame by the entrance and scanned the surroundings with her rifle.

Merle, Daryl, Shane, and the others pushed together, bringing the RV beside the repair shed's entrance.

Dale ducked inside. "There's a jack! A big one! And a set of wrenches! Rusty... there's half a bucket of oil..."

Lynn did not enter the convenience store. He stood in the open space outside the repair shed, looking west of the gas station.

Beyond sparse woods and fields, on a hillside several kilometers away, stood fences, a barn, and the outlines of farmhouses.

That was Hershel's farm.

The side quest's targets were right there, already very close.

The screen at the edge of his vision displayed: [Frozen].

"Davis." Lynn turned toward the burly man emerging from the convenience store. "Inside?"

"Clear, Boss! Two badly rotted walkers. Not much room, but we can stay here and keep out of the rain."

Davis came out and reported.

"Good."

Lynn nodded, looking at the busy group-Dale clanged away inside the repair shed; Merle passed him tools while swearing; Daryl leaned against the RV, wiping his crossbow bolts; Glenn and T-Dog cleared trash from the convenience store; Andrea kept watch from above; Min-seon checked Rick's injured leg; Lori held Carl; Carol sat to one side with Sophia in her arms.

They had a place to rest, and the side quest's targets were within sight.

"Everyone, listen up," Lynn said clearly. "We'll rest here for half a day. Dale, assess whether the RV can be repaired and how long it'll take as soon as possible.

"Everyone else, clear the inside of the convenience store and set up a watch.

"Glenn, take stock of the remaining food and water. Ration it at the minimum."

He paused, his gaze sweeping toward the farm. "This afternoon, I'll take a small team to scout nearby for supplies... or... other survivors.

"Davis, Min-seon, Daryl, Merle, get ready."

Those he named paused.

Davis said, "Yes!"

Merle stuck his head out of the shed and grinned. "Ha! Some fun at last, Boss!"

Shane stood on the perimeter holding his gun. Not hearing his name, he frowned but said nothing.

Lynn said nothing more. He walked over to the Jeep, picked up a canteen, and drank.