After dinner, the last rays of the setting sun dyed the sky orange-red, and the soldiers and survivors gathered downstairs one after another.
Nathan Cole stood at the front of the group and first looked over the three squads standing in neat formation.
After a full day of fighting, the soldiers could not hide their exhaustion, yet they still stood as straight as pines.
When his gaze fell on the survivors, who were loosely clustered together, his brows instantly knitted into a deep frown.
Unlike the soldiers, the survivors wore all kinds of expressions—numbness, fear, confusion. They moved sluggishly and without the slightest sense of order.
Nathan silently made a plan. Once they had secured a permanent foothold and established a shelter, he would put survivor military training on the agenda and find a way to strengthen their organization and discipline.
In the apocalypse, undisciplined, individualistic behavior was absolutely unacceptable.
Nathan cleared his throat and said in a resonant voice, "First Squad, everyone aboard Vehicle Two. All survivors, board Vehicles Three and Four. We will relocate to the town government compound according to plan. Second Squad and Third Squad will be responsible for moving the stored water supplies."
To ensure the operation was efficient and orderly, Nathan had temporarily numbered the available combat vehicles. The standard-wheelbase Tigr-M armored assault vehicle he rode in was Vehicle One, with the remaining vehicles numbered in sequence.
As soon as Nathan gave the order, Ethan Blake, First Squad’s leader, immediately led his soldiers into action and organized the survivors to board the vehicles.
The soldiers of Second Squad and Third Squad jogged into Unit One to carry out the stored water supplies.
This time, they would prioritize water stored in buckets and bottles. It was relatively clean and easy to transport. As for the water collected in pots, bowls, and other assorted containers, those vessels were too disorganized and inconvenient to move, so it could only be left behind for now.
It was already April, and the weather was gradually warming. The large number of zombie corpses could easily rot and breed disease.
If there had only been zombie corpses inside the building, Nathan would have been confident in cleaning them up. But after the reckless idiot in Apartment 702 had drawn in the zombies from outside, the inside and outside of the building had both become a complete mess. Severed limbs and dried bloodstains were everywhere. With their current manpower, combined with the power outage and water shortage, cleaning it up was simply impossible.
While the survivors were boarding, Nathan sent his guard Daniel Ward and the communications specialist, Li Ming, to retrieve his supply chest and weapons chest from the hotel and load them into Vehicle One.
Nathan opened the supply chest and took out his new insignia and uniform. After changing into them neatly, he checked his reflection in the vehicle’s rearview mirror.
Looking at himself in the mirror, Nathan thought smugly, A captain’s insignia really does look more imposing than a second lieutenant’s.
When he used to watch television dramas, he had not yet started working. He could not understand the mindset of characters pursuing power and status, much less the deep longing in Director Qi’s heart.
But now, he understood all too well the wonderful feeling that came with advancement.
It was not merely a change in status. It was the satisfaction of being able to control his own fate amid the whirlpool of the apocalypse.
Just as he was admiring himself, Ethan’s voice came through his earpiece. "Reporting, sir. First Squad and all survivors have boarded the vehicles. Awaiting your orders!"
Nathan instantly came back to his senses and said decisively, "Move out!"
With that, he boarded Vehicle One with Daniel and Li Ming.
The driver started the vehicle, and the engine gave off a deep rumble, like a sleeping beast awakening.
The vehicles set off, slowly leaving the residential compound along the route that had previously been cleared.
Thanks to the fellow in Apartment 702, all the zombies on the road outside the compound had been drawn there and wiped out.
At that moment, within a hundred meters or so on either side of the compound entrance, there were only a dozen or so zombies that had wandered over from elsewhere.
The powerful engines of the armored assault vehicles immediately drew their attention. One after another, they opened their bloodstained jaws and let out low growls as they charged stiffly toward the convoy.
At the sight, the First Squad soldiers swiftly opened the roof hatches of the assault vehicles, leaned their upper bodies out, raised their rifles, and unleashed a barrage on the zombies.
Bang! Bang! Bang! As the gunshots rang out, blood sprayed from the zombies’ bodies and foreheads. One after another, they staggered and collapsed, precisely killed by the soldiers before they could reach the vehicles.
The survivors in Vehicles Three and Four turned pale and trembled all over as they watched the zombies charge toward them.
Several female survivors even screamed and tightly clung to the people beside them.
Only after seeing the zombies fall dead one after another beneath the soldiers’ gunfire did their taut nerves gradually relax.
After the zombies had been eliminated, Vehicle One, guided by Nathan, went around the median and drove straight toward the town government compound across the road.
The convoy filed into the compound. The courtyard was silent, with none of the danger they had expected. Just as Nathan had anticipated, the place had not yet been overrun by zombies.
Even so, led by Ethan, the First Squad soldiers dismounted one after another, rifles in hand, and entered the government building to begin searching it.
Nathan and the survivors remained quietly inside the vehicles and waited.
Through the window, Nathan looked at the familiar government compound, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
Only two days had passed since the apocalypse began, but those two days had felt as long as two centuries. The entire world had undergone earth-shattering changes.
His once dull and ordinary life as a township official had become a distant memory.
Now he was about to take on the role of a leader in the apocalypse. The enormous contrast gave him the surreal feeling that a lifetime had passed.
More than half an hour later, Ethan’s voice came through the earpiece. "Reporting, sir. All buildings and rooms have been searched. No zombies found!"
Nathan breathed a slight sigh of relief. Only then did he slowly step out of the vehicle. He had Ethan assign two soldiers to stand guard at the gate, while the rest took the survivors to assign rooms, giving everyone a temporary place to stay.
Vehicles Three and Four started their engines again and returned to Golden Fortune Gardens to pick up Second Squad and Third Squad.
By the time night was nearly falling, Second Squad, Third Squad, and the high-mobility cargo truck loaded with water finally returned.
When they saw the vehicles arrive, everyone immediately got to work together, transferring the water from the truck into the government cafeteria.
Because the power had only just gone out, the meat and vegetables stored in the cafeteria had not yet spoiled. Together with the rice and flour, they had enough food to last them several days.
Though night had already fallen, everyone continued working by the light of the vehicle headlights. No one complained, because they all knew how precious water was in the apocalypse.
By the time they finished, it was already after ten o’clock at night.
Several candles burned on the conference table in the government’s small meeting room. Their flickering flames left the room somewhat dim.
Nathan sat at the head of the table, with the leaders and deputy leaders of the three squads seated opposite him.
In formal settings before, only the town Party secretary had been qualified to sit in that seat. Back then, Nathan had occasionally imagined what it would be like if he ever became secretary himself and sat there.
But he knew it was only a fantasy. As an outsider with no local connections or backing, being promoted at all had already been extraordinarily fortunate. Taking the top position would have been as difficult as climbing to the heavens.
Yet the gears of fate had spun madly in the apocalypse, and today, he had successfully taken that seat.
Nathan leaned back in his chair, briefly relaxing his strained nerves. Then he straightened up and said solemnly, "Everyone, I’m taking up some of your rest time for a brief meeting. Our main purpose is to discuss the next phase of operations."
As soon as Nathan began speaking, the squad leaders and deputy leaders seemed to produce pens and notebooks by magic, their expressions focused as they prepared to take notes.
Nathan’s gaze swept over the group, and he inadvertently noticed the notebook in Second Squad Leader Ryan Foster’s hand. His heart stirred slightly.
The notebook’s distinctive color and refined design made him recognize it at once as belonging to one of the town officials.
That official had bought the notebook himself, and Nathan had once asked about its price, which was why he remembered it so clearly.
Seeing how conscientious and responsible the squad leaders were, he gave a slight nod, approval showing in his eyes, then continued. "The first phase of the clearing operation has been successfully completed. Throughout the operation, the soldiers demonstrated an exceptionally high level of tactical proficiency and fearless courage. I would like to formally commend them for it.
We have now accumulated a certain degree of strength. It is time to put the recapture of the power plant and water plant on the agenda.
I intend to divide this operation into three parts. The first phase will be to rescue Director Martin Hale of the local judicial office at Jinxiu Gardens.
He is a local official who has served here for more than twenty years and is very familiar with Heping Town and even Yuzhong County. With him joining us, our subsequent operations will proceed much more smoothly.
After rescuing Director Hale, we will immediately begin the second phase and head straight to Jinya Town in Yuzhong County to reclaim the power plant there."
As he said this, Nathan silently prayed that some power plant workers had survived. Otherwise, they would need to find the operating manuals and attempt to restore the power supply themselves.
"Once the electricity is restored, we will continue on to Nanpowan Village in Yuzhong County and reclaim the water plant. That is the general outline of my plan. If anyone has any good ideas or suggestions, don’t hold back. Bring them up now, and we can discuss them together and improve the operational plan."
Jinya Town was only a little over ten kilometers from Heping Town, while Yuzhong County was just over thirty kilometers away. Neither was far, but they still needed a proper plan.
After the squad leaders and deputy leaders exchanged glances, Ethan sat up straighter and said, "Sir, according to the plan, both the town government and the power plant will require troops to guard them. Our current strength seems somewhat insufficient, and I’m afraid we may not be able to cover both."
Hearing Ethan’s question, Nathan replied directly, "Yes, First Squad Leader, you have considered this very thoroughly. When we go to Jinxiu Gardens to rescue people tomorrow, we can clear out another wave of zombies along the way. Together with our remaining reinforcement points, I will deploy new troops to supplement our strength."
After Nathan explained, Ethan said he had no further questions.
Then Ryan Foster, Second Squad’s leader, took over. He opened a map on his personal terminal and pointed to an area on it. "Sir, during both the second and third phases, we will pass through the Yuzhong Park district of Dingyuan Town in the Lanzhou High-Tech Zone. There are many businesses and institutions there, residential compounds are relatively dense, and the population is large. The situation will be extremely complicated, so we must be exceptionally cautious when planning our route."
Nathan’s gaze settled on the map as he fell into thought.
Heping Town and Dingyuan Town were adjacent. Both had once been towns under Yuzhong County’s jurisdiction, but Dingyuan Town had later been placed under the administration of the Lanzhou High-Tech Zone.
Still, the two towns were close together, and Nathan was familiar with the area.
After a moment, he raised his head and said, "I know the roads over there fairly well. Besides, by then we will have Director Hale, a living map. If we avoid the densely populated town center as much as possible and choose relatively safe, concealed routes, we can minimize the risks."
After that, everyone discussed the map in turn, conducting an in-depth analysis of every detail of the operational plan and refining it.
Following a lively discussion, they ultimately settled on a relatively comprehensive plan.
After the meeting, everyone left to get some rest.
Nathan left the meeting room and, out of habit, walked to the door of his own office.
He had Daniel remain outside, then pushed open the door and entered alone.
The office was pitch-black. He switched on his high-powered flashlight and sat down behind the desk.
When he shone the flashlight over the desktop, he saw the document previously issued by the county People’s Armed Forces Department regarding the new year’s militia reorganization.
He stared at the document and silently drifted into thought, countless ideas swirling through his mind.
The night grew deeper, and the entire compound fell quiet. Only a faint light shone from Nathan’s office, like a small flame of hope in the darkness.
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