Scouts and scavengers are still a relevant part of a stronghold's main workforce since it was still the early days of the outbreak. With the world's transition to a post-apocalyptic world, the need for more information, as well as a decent influx of supplies, is the main priority. Sustainability and stability are just as important, but as of the moment, these things couldn't be achieved without prior knowledge of the changes in the current world.
That's why scouts and scavengers are still held in high regard when it comes to strongholds. It may not be the same after a couple of months (once information is easily accessible and the amount of supplies outside dwindles, jobs like agriculture and poultry would be more relevant).
A nearby stronghold called the Ironlock Stronghold had been capitalizing on the area for the past week, driving away other strongholds who tried to gather supplies therein. While they don't have the right to claim the territory as their own, no one tried to pick a fight with them since that would be counterproductive.
In a world where zombies roam the face of the earth, it would only cause more problems if other strongholds fought against each other. That's why the other strongholds nearby couldn't be bothered to pick a fight with Ironlock Stronghold— it's not because they were strong, but because the other strongholds just couldn't care less.
Besides, there are other nearby cities with supplies. Instead of fighting over one territory, it would be beneficial for both parties just to steer clear of each other's 'hunting grounds,' so to speak. Thus the Ironlock Stronghold took over this city and called it their own, monopolizing the supplies and available resources of the place.
However, with the lack of scouts from other places, the city had become a ghost town. Scouts and scavengers from the Ironlock Stronghold had a certain schedule when it came to going outside. And well, the Hybrids became aware of it. It's not like they're stupid enough not to know when the scouts and scavengers would come, and this gave them a clear advantage over them.
Not only did this particular city become the self-proclaimed territory of the Ironlock Stronghold, but it also became a nest to a lot of Hybrids and Aberrants who wanted to steer clear away from people. At the same time, they tried to build their forces. In short, the city had also become some sort of 'stronghold' for the infected, and they grew in size and power.
It was only recently that they started targeting scouts and scavengers. With their groups gaining a decent foothold in the midst of the city, their confidence grew, causing them to go out of their way to target those who would cross their territory.
Every week, scouts and scavengers are sent to the city to get more supplies. No matter what happened to the previous party, this schedule never changed. Even when the previous party died and never returned, the Ironlock Stronghold continued to send people over to the outside. There were no breaks. Every week, scouts and scavengers would be sent outside.
At first, the Hybrids behind the riddance of these people thought that the Ironlock Stronghold were quite desperate to restock their supplies. They assumed that the Ironlock was actually a decent stronghold that overlooked a couple of shelters, and that's why the supplies needed are quite monumental.
But no, such wasn't the case at all.
The reason why the Ironlock Stronghold never failed to send scouts and scavengers on those specific days was to keep the population of the stronghold in check. It was an inhumane way of stabilizing the stronghold, but it was effective. Not only does the stronghold's sustainability stabilizes, but it also helps with managing the people under them.
Of course, if a certain party managed to return to the Ironlock Stronghold with the supplies, they would then be rescheduled and given better equipment. With this, the procurement of supplies would be more consistent, and they could sacrifice people without getting rid of the talented scouts and scavengers.
Some parties managed to return without getting any supplies. If this were to happen, the stronghold wouldn't let them in. Either they bring supplies, or they die outside.
The elephant in the room is, what happens to those who never come back?
For one, most of them became infected. With the number of people being sent out from strongholds, the Hybrids and the infected grew in number. Most of them turned, but there were a couple of them who were intentionally infected by Hybrids. By now, it was common knowledge that being bitten by a Hybrid increases your chance of becoming one.
(Furthermore, Hybrids possess the knowledge that if one were to not take a bite of an uninfected after being infected, they wouldn't turn into a mindless infected. Of course, the uninfected had no idea about this phenomenon, and not a lot of Hybrids would disclose such sensitive information about the secret of their power.)
The time has come for another party to get supplies outside, and with this came the time for Hybrids to hunt down these people and turn them over to their side, quite literally.
"And we're just going to watch here?" Kazuichi asked as he and Tris crouched down behind a pile of wooden crates. Thanks to the damp smell of wood, their scent didn't reach the Hybrids and infected who were closing in on the party of scouts and scavengers.
"I mean, if you can take care of a dozen Hybrids at once, then I'm not stopping you," Tris called out the obvious as she shrugged. No matter how strong Kazuichi was, there was no way he could take care of a dozen Hybrids simultaneously.
"We're just going to leave them to die, huh," Kazuichi scratched his head. He knew that these types of occurrences were normal, but the scouts and scavengers didn't deserve to die.
Then again, it's not like he could do anything about it.
"So, what are you going to do? Walk out there and—" Tris smirked as she tried to tease Kazuichi. She was fairly certain that Kazuichi wasn't stupid enough to walk out of there and confront the group of Hybrids whose main goal was to infect the party.
However, when she turned around, she noticed that Kazuichi wasn't beside her anymore. Somehow, he disappeared without the slightest noise. Confused, her mouth gaped open as she slowly turned her head towards the open street.
And there was Kazuichi, sauntering in the middle of the street as if he was taking a walk in the park. He was still scratching his head while calmly facing the group of Hybrids on the other side of the street.
"Kazuichi, you stupid— what are you doing?! Get back here!" Tris hissed, waving her hand at Kazuichi like a crazed monkey asking for attention.