As they got closer to their joint destination, the group's run-ins with the zombies became lesser and lesser.
The Empire had kept their word and managed to create a somewhat safe zone for the survivors.
The keyword here being 'somewhat' because there were still zombies around. They only became more scarce and they also couldn't gather to create a horde.
If zombies started to gather in a large group, empire would immediately send in armies to suppress them with artillery.
This was honestly a surprise to Glen. If they could use artillery to take down the zombies from the range like this and control their numbers, then why was it that USA was already collecting dust in the history books?
After all, USA also should have had their own cannons. So why did they go down so easily? What was the point of Glen's suffering all this time?
He was smelling some kind of conspiracy here. Maybe USA's downfall wasn't because of natural causes. Maybe there were some moles that accelerated the process... like the Church of Night?
The question was why?
Even if they were lunatics, Glen could understand the Church's thought process. They just wanted to ascend to heaven through this supposed rupture. At best, it was just some kind of skewed faith.
But destroying USA?
They couldn't have been the ones to do that... right?
I mean taking down a city by itself is easy so he could understand them being able to destroy cities one by one like some kind of cancer cell but a whole government?
It wasn't possible.
Then that begs the question; if the Church was not responsible for killing USA who was it? Who would benefit from that the most?
Dominez Empire?
Likely but unlikely.
They wouldn't help USA when it was in danger, sure, but they wouldn't encourage its downfall either. At the end of the day, they were all members of the same species. So even if they benefitted immensely, this zombie apocalypse wouldn't be their scheme.
I mean, even now, they are spending an enormous fortune to cleanse the continent. This situation was due to their pride rather than their monetary gains. At least in the short term, there weren't any benefits for them to conquer Albrecht.
Maybe there was also some other reasons he was not seeing but Glen trusted his instincts. And they were telling him that Dominez was not behind the USA's downfall.
Natives?
That might actually be possible. After all, this whole curse started from their catacombs. Now that he thought about it, Glen didn't remember seeing any natives since the apocalypse started. Where were they? There weren't even any native zombies around.
Also, did they have anything to do with the USA's collapse?
The more he thought about it, the likelier it seemed. I mean, we were the ones who kicked them out of their own land and some of us even dared to touch their sacred relics, not to mention their graveyards.
Glen thought they would be like the original natives and just suck it up and gradually assimilate with USA but these guys reversed the whole situation. If we can't kick you out, we are taking you down with us! That was the kind of message he got from their actions.
Maybe they really were the masterminds behind this apocalypse.
Glen nodded to himself but somewhere in his heart, he still felt like something was missing.
Meh, who cares? Everything was already over and he wasn't some kind of regressor, so it wouldn't do him any good even if he racked his brain to solve this equation.
"What are you thinking so deeply about old man?" Ezekiel asked as he rode beside him.
"About why this all happened and if there was some kind of a mastermind but who cares? What good would it do even if we knew?"
"You are right on that one. They might have even become zombies themselves"
"...Well, I doubt that. Anyway, what's with you and Miss Abigail?" Glen asked mischievously.
Ezekiel became flustered instantly. How did this old man see that with his single eye?
"Don't know, what's with her?" Ezekiel tried to deflect the situation. This was something Glen taught him. Deflect the situation until the other party comes up with a piece of irrefutable evidence. No one could make you admit anything.
"Oh? Is that how we are playing? Then what do you think would happen and tell Arno that you were flirting with her?"
Oh no! If that blabbermouth heard this everyone and their mother would hear of it. Play it cool EZ, play it cool.
"Nothing would happen since there is nothing going on between us. It would only sully Miss Abigail reputation which would make us offend her. In return, this whole conversation would become meaningless and completely unnecessary"
"Really now? But what if Miss Abigail is an advocate of such a situation and would use this opportunity to snare you and force a relationship? From my observation, she seems to be quite taken aback by your disposition and would want a proper relationship"
Did he really think that Glen wouldn't have any solutions to a trick he used? If you deflect everything and wait for evidence this was actually an opportunity for your opponent to strong-arm you with a threat. The results just depended on if you had the guts to keep going or not. The one who caves in first loses.
"But that is on the basis that... You know what fine. I don't want to play word games with you anymore. We just had a little adventure. Happy?"
"Well-"
*BANG*
As Glen was about to tease Ezekiel a bullet hit the coachman next to them.
RAVAGERS!
"INTO FORMATION!"
Glen shouted as he took the reins of the wagon stopping it and almost falling down in the process. It really was hard being one-armed. Thankfully, Gisebelle was a smart horse so she helped him stay balanced.
As the wagons took a triangle formation Glen tried to see the enemy from the corner of his eye.
*BANG* *WHIZZ*
Seeing the bullet that almost grazed him, that might not have been the smartest approach to his predicament.
*BANG*
Before hiding, Glen managed to take down one of the ravagers. The only problem was, there were at least twenty more to go.
"YEE-HAW!"
Ezekiel took the reins of his horse and charged out of the formation.
"GET BACK YOU IDIOT!"
*BANG* *BANG*
Glen took this opportunity to shoot down two more ravagers. Three bullets left.
Ezekiel didn't listen to anything Glen was saying and rode away while shooting at the ravagers.
His plan was to split the ravagers. If they followed him that was good, if they didn't he could just circle behind them and take them out!
***
"UGH!" Glen groaned while Samuel, a doctor, cauterized the wound on his shoulder.
F*CK!!
Glen hated everything about this. This wound was a result of his cockiness. After Ezekiel left Glen tried to follow after him on Gisebelle. He thought he could take down the ravagers before they could even draw their guns but he missed.
Ironic isn't it.
Glen was proud of his aim all his life but when it really mattered, he had botched it.
He hoped Ezekiel was alright but it had been more than fifteen minutes since they took down the ravagers.
"Mayor Rhodes! A new one is coming!"
Lillie shouted as she aimed her rifle but Glen stopped her.
This ravager had a white napkin in his hand, meaning he was a messenger.
After arriving he threw a letter tied to brick towards them and left.
Glen frowned and read the letter.
---
If you want the kid back, tomorrow, come to Kale's Peak alone at sundown.
- Boss of Red Viper's Gang ---
As he read the words over and over again Glen's pupils shook. How could it be?
Red Viper's Gang?
HIS Red Viper's Gang?