Amun Assa and his forces had set up camp on the mountains, about a hundred kilometers away from the city.Because of the distance, they hadn't been affected by the zombie outbreak when it first began.
Back when Lemo was still serving in the military, his unit had clashed with these raiders multiple times.The rugged terrain—endless hills and cavern-filled mountains—made it almost impossible to eradicate them, no matter how advanced the army's technology was.Lemo didn't know exactly how many of them remained, but based on the last bits of intel he received before retiring, he guessed they numbered in the hundreds, maybe close to a thousand.Their camps stretched all along the rugged Alama Valley from north to south.
In normal times, they preyed on transport convoys and kidnapped tourists for ransom.But ever since the zombie outbreak, the unprotected city had become an irresistible feast—a honey-dripping cake for the flies.
"The girl—how's she doing?"A voice crackled through the radio lying next to Gantzuke's plate of chicken bones.
Wiping his hands quickly with a napkin, Gantzuke picked up the device.
"Her name's Izzy. She's awake now."
"Thank God," came the relieved reply.
"I wish you could come have some chicken with us," Gantzuke added, glancing over at Mari, who blushed behind her apron and shorts at the compliment.
"Appreciate it, but coffee's enough for me this early," Lemo replied. "Anyway, never mind that. I've got some good news—and some bad."
"Let's hear the good news first," Gantzuke said, wiping his mouth.
"There are more survivors in the city," Lemo reported. "Just before sunrise, I flew a drone equipped with a thermal camera.People have started to band together and are taking refuge in scattered safe spots around the area."
The news sparked excitement from Mari and Molly.But Izzy, sitting silently, her eyes vacant, remained unmoved—still lost in the abyss of her pain.
"And the bad news?"
"Amun's men are on the move toward us.I picked up a distress signal from a fishing village over the radio.Sounds like they were attacked—and the villagers are being captured as slaves."
A heavy silence fell over the kitchen.
"The village is less than ten kilometers away from here.If we don't act, we might be next."
"I get it," Gantzuke said calmly."You want me to kill them."
"You're quick on the uptake," Lemo chuckled through the radio.
"How many of them?"
"Fifteen, last I counted.With your skills—Mr. IDPA runner-up—you shouldn't have much trouble.Assuming you weren't just bragging after a few beers," he teased.
"If I see them first," Gantzuke smirked, thinking back to last night's rooftop beers.He'd told Lemo about his IDPA competition days, where practical shooting skills were honed to deadly precision—much like the gun-fu style made famous by Keanu Reeves in John Wick.
"My drone will make sure you do.Oh, and after you're done—pick up some shrimp and squid while you're at it," Lemo added dryly.
The joke didn't get much of a laugh from Mari, Molly, or Izzy.But Gantzuke chuckled.
"Let me finish my chicken first, Lemo," he said, needing all the strength he could muster for what lay ahead.
"Take your time.See you at my place at three a.m. sharp," Lemo said before ending the transmission.
He tipped back the rest of his coffee, then went to check on the drones that were charging.A sly grin tugged at the corner of his mouth.
...Grilled lobster with seafood sauce and an ice-cold beer doesn't sound bad at all...he mused to himself as he flipped on the monitors linked to the city's hacked surveillance feeds.