"! Do you know there's a rumor going around that your medicine is made from zombie blood? Ugh, and now everyone's cursing at you again!" Haikal exclaimed in panic, gasping for breath from running too much.
"What?! Who the hell started that ridiculous rumor?!" Eila snapped, her voice rising slightly.
Haikal ignored Eila's outburst and instead studied Karina's expression. However, Karina remained lying down calmly, a face mask on her face, making Haikal wonder if she had even heard him.
"Karina?" he called out cautiously.
Slowly, Karina sat up from her chair and poured tea from a floral-patterned teapot into a cup. Her movements were slow and elegant.
"You want a drink" she said simply.
Without hesitation, Haikal sat down and downed the tea in one gulp.
Eila, watching his unrefined way of drinking, made a face of disgust.
"I don't care about any rumors" Karina's words left Haikal looking even more confused.
"Huh? What?"
"If people actually believe that rumor, then the production of the medicine will get shut down. That's great. It just means I'll be the strongest one in this base"
"Oh! That makes sense!" Haikal nodded in agreement.
"But… you're not actually using zombie blood, are you?" he asked cautiously, lowering his voice as if afraid to offend her.
Smack!
A loud slap echoed through the room, Haikal, of course, was the victim.
"Ow!" he yelped, clutching the back of his head where Eila had hit him.
"Idiot!, I think we should kick him out" Eila huffed in frustration, her tone provocative. How could this guy actually entertain such a ridiculous rumor?
"Come on, I was just joking! Hahaha…" Haikal let out an awkward laugh, but the two women only stared at him with blank expressions.
"Shut up! Don't disturb my meditation," Karina ordered as she leaned back in her chair, placing tomato slices back over her eyes.
A small crack had formed in the mask on her forehead as she frowned slightly. She was deep in thought.
How the hell did the person spreading that rumor know she had just experimented with zombie blood?
This was going to mess up her plans.
o0o
The commotion in the base had no effect on the ten elite soldiers currently training in a vast open field.
"Do you believe that rumor?" one of the soldiers suddenly asked, breaking the silence during their drills.
"I don't care either way" another soldier replied, still holding his pistol and staying focused on his target.
"Even if they fed me human waste, I'd still stay here willingly."
But his expression revealed a deep sadness. Compared to life before, even in peacetime, he would still choose to be here, in this base.
"Why are you asking? Are you getting tired of being here?" a voice interrupted.
It was Desmon.
Immediately, every soldier in the field bowed in respect, it was their senior officer.
The soldier who had asked the question earlier suddenly tensed up and quickly saluted.
"Sir! I just wanted to criticize the one spreading the rumor, sir!"
Desmon only stared at him without responding, then shifted his gaze toward the other nine soldiers.
"Split into three teams. Keep an eye on the construction of the new base."
"YES, SIR!" the soldiers responded in unison before swiftly carrying out their orders.
After issuing his command, Desmon turned away, staring at his hand, where small sparks of fire crackled between his fingers.
He still couldn't believe he had this strange power.
But more than anything, he was grateful to have been accepted into the base. He would repay this debt with loyalty, even if it meant giving his life.
His mind drifted to the moment when he finally held his wife, pregnant and safe, in his arms again.
For so long, he had searched desperately for her, dark thoughts circling in his head.
But then, a miracle.
Not only was his wife safe, his child was alive too. And even more unbelievable, the child had a power just like his.
"Sir! The vehicle is ready!"
The voice snapped Desmon out of his thoughts. Without hesitation, he headed toward the soldier, ready to continue his duty, clearing out the slums and taking down the self-proclaimed gangsters ruling over them.
o0o
Karina stared at her reflection in the mirror.
The black gown fit her like a dream, accentuating her model-like figure. The makeup on her pale face only enhanced her striking beauty.
Ding dong!
The sound of the doorbell echoed through her room.
Without hesitation, she grabbed a pistol from the table and strapped it discreetly to her thigh. Then, with calm and measured steps, she made her way to the door.
A smile curved on her lips when she saw Jeffry standing on the other side.
"Are you ready?" Jeffry asked.
Karina simply nodded.
As they entered the grand hall, Karina's gaze flickered with admiration.
Elegant chandeliers hung from the ceiling, their lights shimmering over the room. Famous paintings adorned the golden walls.
But after a few moments, a smirk played at her lips.
All this luxury, it wouldn't last.
She turned to look at her lover, whose eyes burned with hatred.
Without hesitation, she slipped her arm around his.
Jeffry immediately grasped her hand in return, offering a soft smile to his little vixen.
Around them, people dressed in pristine white garments with intricate carvings lined the hall—a stark contrast to Karina's dark gown.
Then, Cores approached.
As he neared, Karina immediately adjusted her expression, offering a pleasant smile.
She subtly signaled Jeffry to do the same.
"Welcome, Lord Jeffry and Lady Katarina. Please, make yourselves at home, though I know this hall is nothing compared to HAVEN's base," Cores greeted them with a warm smile.
This time, the smile was real.
Of course, it was—he had obtained the medicine.
And now, he was stronger than ever.
Not just against zombies.
But against humans, too.
With just a wave of his hand, he could end them all.