CHAPTER 05

The border walls were over 100 feet tall and fifteen feet wide, and they helped shield from the threat of the sea monsters to an extent. The walls also had missile launchers installed in them.

Justin and Myles had to pass through another gate of inspection before being allowed entrance into the city.

With almost half-million square miles in area, Cobra city boasted as being one of the largest cities in the world.

The first thing Justin saw after stepping into the city streets were the buildings and felt good to be back inside the walls.

Myles was watching toward where dead bodies were being burned to crisp. Not far from there, rotten beef was being sold with the poor and the wretched waiting in queue.

“This is the eastern border, where the monsters attack the most, so this is where the waste of the city lies,” Justin explained, rubbing his forehead as he felt an itch. “In case the monsters breach, they first have to go through these poor folks.”

Myles stayed silent.

“How is it in your city?” Justin asked, though he believed things couldn’t be much better there either. If there was anything he realized after falling prey to a deadly disease while fighting for the city, it was that people were selfish and opportunistic. Well, most of them were. And then there were a few like the guy that had saved him.

Myles was watching the bulky men in red uniforms walking around with chests puffed-out, and looking ready to bang their heads with anyone who so much as looked at them. “Who are they?”

“Those guys? They are part of the frontline fighters known as Confronters because they’re always in the mood to confront,” Justin said in a low voice. “They are probably here to buy some drugs or something, illegally, of course. All of them are at least top Gammas and are extremely aggressive. I’m sure your city also has its own Confronters since it’s also a big one.”

The main job of the Confronters was to fight for their land and its people, but because of their aggressive nature, they would launch an attack even if they so much as get a sniff of a possible threat. As a result, it was natural for the Confronters of opposing cities to fight each other frequently over the limited resources while also fighting the threat of monsters.

As Myles and Justin walked, some starved men begged them for food or money, but neither of them had anything to offer.

Justin didn’t even have the money to use a taxi, so they had to walk all the way to his house. Along the way, many people kept looking at them both because their clothes were dirty and full of holes. Myles’ clothes were so torn his entire abdomen was visible. Though Justin felt embarrassed because part of his butt was visible, he was surprised to see Myles maintaining a calm face throughout.

After reaching the house, Justin knocked on the door twice. It had been about six months since he had fallen sick, and though his wife hadn’t come to visit him even once, he was willing to forgive her.

A few more knocks, and the door opened, but it was a stranger who was standing before him.

“Excuse me, is Casey inside?” Justin asked politely.

“Yes, what do you need my wife for?” asked the man, licking the ice cream.

Justin’s expression froze, but something in his chest sank down into his stomach and swam in the gastric juices virulently.