Due to the previous event, Zayn couldn't go to New York to test his potent formula again. Because it has yet to be tested, he still needs to get the data he wants.
However, he also couldn't force himself to go to another dangerous place today either. Not to mention, a helpless little girl needed help and protection.
Zayn and everyone rested near a vacant lot by the river that afternoon. A few people decided to have lunch, and a few others stood guard.
Zayn cleaned Grisella's wound with an antiseptic and then gave the wound ointment. The last touch was giving her a band-aid. "Your wound is fine."
"Thank you." Grisella puckered her lips and thanked her in a low voice.
"Haha, worry not. I'm also a doctor. You might be able to walk now, but don't push yourself, okay?" Zayn raised his hand and smiled. He gave a lunch package to Grisella, then went to gather with his squad members.
"Yo, boss. We're not going to meet another giant super dangerous monster today, are we?"
"Ugh, I don't believe we'll have as good luck as before if we encounter another monster of that class."
"Hey, I'm more surprised because you can still eat your lunch peacefully as if nothing happened before."
"What do you mean, my friend? Have you lost your appetite because those zombies and mutated animals killed each other sadistically and brutally?"
"Weak mentality. You need to temper yourself for more terrible battles. You never know when you will be involved in one."
"Yeah, you just need to prepare yourself and make sure you don't die."
"Damn you. This daddy is a mighty soldier!"
"Well, puny suits you better."
The soldiers exchanged words with their own opinions. They then laughed and threw a few taunts at the joke.
"Hm, we won't be going into the danger zone anymore. Let's call it a day. My field test ends today. We'll have another trial run another day. We already have enough minimum data to submit to the higher ups. I'd like my new inventions will soon be mass produced." Zayn heaved a subtle sigh.
"Yes, we have high hopes for you, boss. Those old things will definitely give their approval without beating around the bush. We need to push the threats out of our safe zone immediately." Rico looked at the blue sky and sighed.
"The zombies and mutated animals have evolved a lot. I'm afraid we humans will lose our right to exist." Tom felt depressed when he saw firsthand the rapid development of the monsters in the danger zone.
"Why did those monsters evolve and get stronger so fast? We humans don't have that luxury and haven't progressed much. If it's like this, it's only a matter of time." Steven crumples a rock and makes it shatter into pieces. He felt highly irritated as he recalled the fear and terror when they were being chased by that giant snake dragon.
"Perhaps, this is God's punishment to us? We will return to the prehistoric era where dinosaurs and monsters ruled the Earth." Rick muttered under his breath, but he got scared himself by it.
"Haha, maybe it looks like the end of the world, but we are still alive here. We still have a chance to turn things around. Don't be so pessimistic and hopeless. Do you still want to live or have you given up already?" Zayn laughed dryly, but his question had weight and meaning between the lines.
"Yeah, it's like our boss said. If they get stronger, then we just need to make more advanced weapons. That would be painful because we don't mutate except to become zombies, but we are humans and live like people, not monsters." Rico supports the aspirations and motivations behind Zayn's words.
"Haha, good to know. If you're done with lunch, we should head southwest immediately and finish our business before dusk. I hope we can return to New Jersey base before nightfall." Zayn raised his hand and returned to his car.
"What are we going to do in the southwest?" Steven still needed to understand their final objective in this mission.
"We're going to get some materials and good stuff. We have to move quickly there because it's a dangerous zone." Zayn answered without needing to turn around.
He sat in the driver's seat and handed some bread and a bottle of mineral water to Angie. She just received it and ate it a bit as she was still waiting for her cheese.
"Thank you for the food." Grisella put her hands together, having finished her lunch.
She then blushed slightly and pressed her legs together as nature again invited her to relieve herself.
"Ah, uhm... Mr. Boss Zayn, why won't the pretty big sister talk to me? I spoke to her several times, but she ignored me. Did Grisella do something wrong?" Grisella asked pitifully.
"Hmm, Angie can't respond to you with words. She can't speak and doesn't know how to communicate well. Is there anything you need?" Zayn ate his bread and looked back.
"Ah, uhm, I need to pee." Grisella tried her best to withstand nature's call. She was afraid to pee alone, but everyone around her was primarily male. The only girl other than her ignored her request, so she was at her wit's end now.
"You want to pee? Oh, okay. Please go into the bushes over there and feel free to relieve yourself before we leak out. Take this with you so no one will peek." Zayn took a steel ring four feet in diameter and a cloth.
"Eh?" Grisella had no idea why it was given to her, and she didn't know how to use it. She felt worried she was spied on by other people but was more afraid if she was ambushed by monsters.
She then looked at Zayn, almost crying as she nearly peed on the spot. "Grisella is scared."
"Well, I can guard you and teach you how to use this." Zayn gestured to Angie, and she gave the nod.
"..." Angie ate her toast while watching Zayn and that little girl go to the bush next to the car. That little girl was indeed a pain.
Zayn stuck the ring to the tree and then put the cloth around the ring. An emergency changing room is ready for use.
Grisella then went in there and relieved herself. Yet, she felt uneasy. "Mr Boss Zayn, are you still there?"
"I would appreciate you if you would call me by my name. Boss isn't a name either." Zayn looked around. He had repeatedly confirmed that there was no danger, but he was still clueless about why Grisella was scared.
This little girl survived alone in that monster-infested place for several days. So, she should have extra courage. Or maybe, she had a bad feeling, and something terrible was going to happen?
Zayn was overthinking things, but it made him raise his alertness.
"Then, Mr. Zayn. Thanks for accompanying me." Grisella finished with her business and immediately returned to the car.
"..." Zayn scratched his head in confusion and headed back to his car.
A few minutes later, the soldiers finished their lunch. After checking all the vehicles, they headed southwest to follow Zayn's instructions.
After about two hours of traveling by detour, they arrived in the area south of Flemington. They avoided significant encounters with zombies or mutated animals and got lost. However, they had already arrived close to the destination city, where the delicious cheese cellar was stored.
However, the entire squad suddenly stopped as they were passing through the hilly region. They could see a faint glimpse of City X in the distance. The place where the original city of the zombie virus spread was turned into a vast tropical forest with many giant trees.
The city is no longer visible, only the giant trees. However, Zayn remembers very well that City X should be there.
"Insane change. Everyone, follow me and prepare your weapons to clear the way. Our destination is a warehouse over there on the outskirts of town." Zayn gave his instruction and pointed in a direction. He then drove his car away.
"Holy molly... We are very close to the restricted zone, forbidden city. Hope we don't run into any super zombies or apocalypse monsters." Rick was a little creeped out and shaking, but he still drove his tank-like SUV to follow Zayn.
The soldiers then prepared their advanced rifles, ready to fire with extra silencers as they didn't wish to invite danger to their location.