"Since we're wagering lives, naturally the stakes are also 'life.'" Miles said calmly, "If you win, I'll give you enough food for half a year—you can stretch that out to last nearly a full year if you're careful."
Half a year's supply of food!
Lisa couldn't help but marvel at the sheer scale of Miles' stockpile. With that much, she and her grandfather could survive comfortably, maybe even thrive if they rationed well.
"And if I lose?" she asked, forcing herself to remain cautious despite the tempting offer.
"If you lose, then you belong to me. Whatever I command, you must obey, no questions asked. My word will be your law."
Lisa's face flushed with anger as she glared at him, recognizing the gleam of amusement in his eyes. She knew he was enjoying this little power play. Her first instinct was to walk away, but she found herself rooted to the spot. Half a year's worth of food—it could save them both. In a world where survival had lost much of its value, risking her freedom didn't seem so high a price to pay.
"Fine, I accept," she replied, her voice steady.
A faint smile played on Miles' lips, as though he had anticipated her response all along. He ended the call, heading up to the second floor. After carefully selecting the medical supplies Lisa had requested, he tossed them out the window.
"You…" Lisa shot him a disapproving look. "You're ridiculously cautious, aren't you?"
Miles shrugged, unbothered. "Can't afford not to be. Everyone out there wants me dead so they can take over this villa. And if I die, who'll be your master then?"
Shameless!
Her cheeks flushed a deep red, and, clutching the supplies tightly, Lisa hurried away without another word, not realizing she might be stepping into a trap.
Meanwhile, the "Zombie Extermination Squad" continued their search with little success. After two days with no results, Miles still rewarded them with thirty food rations, understanding that failing to find zombies wasn't entirely their fault.
Ryan arrived, lugging a large bag of cookies and instant noodles. Anthony, Sini, and the elderly squad leader quickly gathered around to take their portions, dividing the food into separate shares. This spectacle immediately attracted a frenzied crowd of residents, their hunger driving them into a near frenzy.
Although Ryan knew none of them dared to harm him—Miles would cut off their food supply if they did—their desperation made him uneasy.
Quickly, Anthony fired a shot into the air. "Everyone calm down! Try to take anything by force, and I'll deal with you myself!"
The crowd fell silent, cowed by his threat. Anthony then instructed his men to start distributing the food, but only in meager portions.
"One cookie each, and a quarter pack of noodles. Line up!"
But disgruntled voices rose from the crowd.
"This isn't fair! Why should you all get half, while we only get crumbs?"
"Fair?" Anthony sneered, pointing his gun at the man who had spoken, and without hesitation, shot him. "Anyone else want 'fairness'?"
The crowd fell silent, eyes wide with terror. Nearby, Sini, observing the scene, seized the moment.
"You've all seen what happens now. It's not easy for anyone," she spoke soothingly. "I'm not Anthony. I only took two rations from my share; the rest you all can divide among yourselves. After all, someone will need to negotiate with Miles eventually."
The crowd visibly relaxed. They knew Miles was unyielding, and in comparison, Sini's approach seemed fairer, even if she too had her own motives.
Meanwhile, the elderly squad leader took a different approach, distributing his entire share among his men. At the end, he kept only half a pack of cookies for himself. This show of camaraderie earned him their respect.
On the other side of the compound, where Sarah's group was left leaderless, chaos erupted. Without structure, the residents turned on each other, fighting viciously for whatever scraps they could claim.
Ryan observed this with a frown. "Enough! All of you, settle down!"
But his voice had little effect. By now, hunger had unhinged many, and all they could think about was securing another bite.
"Ryan, it's no use," Anthony remarked, half-laughing. "These people are beyond reason. Let them fight. The fewer of them there are, the less food we'll need."
Ryan scowled but couldn't deny the logic. Though he didn't care much for the residents' well-being, he worried that the infighting might hinder Miles' plans. Frustrated, he muttered, "Maybe we should just fold Sarah's group into the other teams."
Anthony forced a tight smile, saying nothing. Letting more people join his team would only mean sharing their food, and these people were already a volatile risk.
Just then, Sini approached, her hips swaying as she sidled up close to Ryan, nearly pressing against him.
"That's a great idea, Ryan," she purred. "It means we can spread the food out and maybe even claim a little extra ourselves. It's a win-win."
Ryan, who hadn't been near a woman in ages, felt a rush of blood in the wrong direction. He was one of the few who, thanks to Miles' protective gear, still had any use of his "manly" functions in this cold. Of course, his mind wasn't entirely immune to her charms.
"Damn flirt," Anthony muttered under his breath, scowling as he walked away.
Sini gave Ryan a final, alluring glance and continued, "We could use some extra help with those new recruits. Any chance we could secure a bit more food for them?"
Ryan, jolted by a gust of cold air, took a step back, recovering his composure. "No way. Thirty rations are all you're getting. How much you keep depends on you."
Sini scowled, realizing her gambit had failed, and withdrew. Her interest in Sarah's people was not just about the food. With a sly smile, she calculated her next move.
The day before, they'd spotted Andrew, a fully transformed zombie, prowling around Zone F. Swift and agile, he had evaded capture in mere seconds. Sini had ensured no one reported the sighting, intending to use Andrew as her secret weapon. If she could turn those unruly residents into zombies, she would have a fresh supply of resources to bargain with Miles.