After hearing the story, Richard couldn’t help but show a bitter smile.Could the leader of Hope Town really be this foolish? Charging into a zombie horde at dusk and getting all the vehicles stuck—ha, even a three-year-old wouldn’t make such a reckless move.Richard suspected that the vehicles had probably already been retrieved and were safely stored in some hidden warehouse by now, being maintained in perfect condition.It was clear that Leader Jackman was stalling, unwilling to hand over the military equipment.If Richard knew that Memphis still had more than 400,000 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, 8,000 rounds of 12.7mm bullets, over 500 RPG-2 anti-tank rounds, a fully intact BMP-1, two BTR-152s, two M-113 armored vehicles, nearly 100 shells for the 2a28 Grom cannon, and almost 5 tons of black powder, who knows how he’d react.As if on cue, just ten minutes after Memphis’s convoy returned, Jarred also strolled back, showing no signs of stress or exhaustion. Was this really the behav
A silent exchange of glances confirmed that the essential information was genuine. Of course, they would revisit these details to ensure no misunderstandings later.With no other choice, Richard finally nodded."Commander Jackman, I’ll confirm this with my superiors.""Good. After dinner, let’s go over everything again."Once the Lakeside delegation departed, only the squad leaders from Hope Town remained. Memphis casually signaled them to begin the meeting.This was their formal strategy session. Present were six new combat squad leaders and four prospective “civil officers” designated to assist with post-apocalyptic recovery and development.The topics were addressed one by one: battle strategies, resource collection, clearing zombies, rescuing survivors, cleaning the battlefield, training personnel, vehicle upgrades, forging weapons and armor, constructing mobile fortifications for combat, and more. They also discussed rebuilding the town walls, reopening schools for children, secu
Dealing with external threats was hard, but internal affairs were just as challenging. Building a faction wasn’t as simple as defeating zombies and expecting everyone inside to follow orders and prosper. In a family of four, there were already hundreds of issues to manage. In a company with over a dozen people, thousands of problems arose. In a faction with over 900 members, the issues multiplied. If left unchecked, within days, it would become chaotic, and within a week, it would completely collapse.Memphis had no time to personally manage all of this. His job was to lead and wait for results. If the results were good, great. If not, well…Lionel, writing down all these tasks, silently cried inside. His face seemed to age by 10 years in an in
Memphis shifted gears, asking: "How’s the formation of the special operations team coming along?"He intended to build an elite squad of about 30 top-tier Superhumans, individuals with exceptional strength, skill, and loyalty. This unit would consist of specialists from various fields, capable of operating with agility, trust, and cohesion, prepared to tackle any mission.These members would receive exclusive training, and the selection process would be rigorous and continuous. They would also enjoy the highest privileges, including access to premium skills, equipment, and resources.With the zombies growing stronger by the day, relying solely on military-grade weapons was no longer sustainable—ammo could run out, and enemies could adapt. But humans, given rest and training, could evolve and overcome. That’s why building this team was crucial.Jarred’s spirits lifted slightly at the mention of the special team. He cracked his knuckles and said with determination,"We’ve shortlisted ov
After traveling some distance, the Reflection clone barked curiously:"Woof woof...""Big Black Dog, aren’t you worried those rats will destroy your treasure while you’re gone? Woof!"In the darkness, the Big Black Dog’s eyes glowed an eerie green. It bared its teeth and let out a long, proud howl:"Awooooo...""I’ve already marked my territory all around. Any of those little rats who catch even a whiff of my scent will be scared to death. They wouldn’t dare come close. Woof!"Back in Hope Town, after instructing his team to step up patrols, Memphis returned to the joint meeting room to meet Richard.As Memphis had predicted, Lakeside’s forces were tied up on the main battlefield in Vienna. Despite their frustration with Hope Town, they had no choice but to grudgingly accept the proposal to temporarily let Memphis retain his military assets.Moreover, Hope Town had offered to send a "representative.” Jarred, to comply with the second of the three conditions previously set, leaving Lak
Half an hour later, after Sarah’s face had flushed slightly and her breathing had quickened a bit, all the work was finally done.Memphis, satisfied, stuffed the last spoonful of rice into his mouth and casually said:“Sort it out and send it to the relevant people. Then you should get some rest.”Sarah bit her lip before nodding obediently:“Yes...”Memphis had planned to get another bowl of rice, but after thinking for a moment, he lazily asked:“How many lawyers, judges, and legal experts are in Hope Town?”The residents' survey was almost complete. Before the apocalypse, people had disclosed their previous professions, hoping to secure a better position. But in the post-apocalyptic world, jobs like farmers, workers, and drivers were more valuable because of their physical strength and usefulness in the field. Professions like office workers, teachers, and lawyers were less in demand, as their roles had lost significance in this new society.Those with weaker physical abilities, as
Every contact required a different frequency—caution was paramount. One careless move could jeopardize everything. He aimed to create a new legal structure, drawing from the most effective system available—the one at Lakeside.The task he entrusted to Sarah involved crafting a legal code reflecting Hope Town’s identity, but it would also adhere to guidelines he provided. Memphis knew he had to present himself as knowledgeable and grounded in all matters, even without formal expertise. A leader with visible flaws would inevitably be exploited by those under him.And, of course, he couldn't entirely trust the economic law expert Sarah and her team. They were merely part of the judiciary, lacking the loyalty and contributions required to build an entire system. Lakeside’s government remained the legitimate legislative body, a source from which Hope Town could draw strength. Learning from one’s adversaries to grow stronger—this was the essence of leadership.Memphis's initial "humane" req
"Damn it..." Mumbling under his breath, Memphis threw off the blanket and dashed into the bathroom. Ten minutes later, he'd finished his morning routine, fully dressed in his combat gear, and was seated at the kitchen table with an eager expression.As one's level increases, the need for sustenance after expending potential points in battle also rises. Even though Memphis hadn’t fought last night, he was still ravenous, and all he wanted now was to satisfy his rumbling stomach.And that was where Shaina came in. She carefully placed the dishes on the table—three in total, each one generously portioned and looking delicious."What’s this?" Memphis asked, pointing to a dish of buns while swallowing a mouthful of saliva. Across from him, Shaina, who exuded her usual melancholy aura, softly replied:"It’s a... mysterious bao bun.""Mysterious bao bun... Ugh..." Memphis cursed silently to himself. He picked up the massive bun from the plate. It felt soft and moist to the touch, with a del