"Uncle! Why are they rushing me toward danger! Are they nuts! And you also promised me a vacation without interruption, and now... graahh! They are always pumping my blood pressure! I can't take this anymore!"
"I only want a one-month vacation to normalcy! Do they really want to fight me?! Huh?!"
"It's an emergency," Uncle explained with a heavy tone, trying to keep his composure.
"What kind of emergency do they need me to send to death?!" Christopher exclaimed, voice trembling with anger and desperation.
Marco, Edwin, and Christopher were seated closely together in the living room, their privacy shielded from the household by the heavy drapes, as the maids served refreshments nearby. Some maids were carefully pouring drinks into glasses, their movements practiced and unobtrusive, while others stood by the wall, waiting silently for their next orders. Christopher, however, was still unable to calm down after what he had just heard from his uncle, and his frustration boiled over as he continued to rant.
"Hah~... Marco, you really need to calm him down," Edwin said calmly toward his brother, who was sitting relaxed on the sofa with his arms folded and a barely contained chuckle on his lips.
"Heh heh... Let him release some steam, he has a valid reason to blow off some frustration," Marco replied, still chuckling at his son's upset state.
"... you know, you've been calling a stereotype father because of this,."
Hearing this, Marco's chuckle faded instantly. He turned to look at Edwin with a piercing stare.
"... whose those people, I'll crush their skulls."
"Hah~... never mind that," Edwin quickly dismissed, waving off the comment.
"Christopher, it's not that complicated. The Taiwanese government is desperately urging the US to reinforce its defenses because it wants to protect its only remaining official safe zone. That's why they're rushing everything."
"What? They already only have one safety zone left? Only a few months after the outbreak? What happened?" Christopher asked, confusion evident in his voice as he tried to grasp the scale of what was happening.
"It's not as simple as that. Due to the scattered safe zones and widely dispersed survivor settlements, supplies either fail to arrive on time or are stolen before they reach their destination. So, the Taiwanese government wants to concentrate all citizens into the official city bunker for safety."
"In some reports, when supplies fail to arrive, some desperate citizens resort to cannibalism."
There was a tense silence as everyone absorbed the gravity of the situation.
"So, they're essentially pushing for the US to get involved at all costs," Marco concluded seriously.
"We're already heavily involved," Edwin said with equal seriousness.
"The government has dispatched personnel to other countries for reinforcement, and specifically, Christopher was sent to Taiwan for additional support."
Christopher's eyes narrowed, suspicion flickering in his gaze.
"Let me guess… It's that asshole Senator Vincent Valentine targeting me, isn't it?" he said, the rage barely contained in his voice.
Edwin looked away awkwardly before nodding in confirmation.
"Mo********er... again?! Why isn't he tired? That stick bug! Graahh!"
Christopher suddenly flipped a small, expensive table, knocking over glasses and shouting profanity as he vented his fury. The maid swiftly and professionally cleaned up the mess without a word.
Vincent Valentine was a prominent politician, renowned for his youthful success and his controversial belief that the future of the world depended on children. He constantly clashed with older politicians, especially within the military departments, particularly with the Reignius family, whom he saw as a threat. These clashes rarely went in his favor, so he prioritized young family members to prevent them from rising to power in any field.
His reasons? He considered the Reignius family to be tyrannical and self-proclaimed nobility, controlling and stagnating the military for years without genuine reform. They aimed to conquer the USA by slowly infiltrating and assimilating its military forces, asserting their dominance silently.
"Hehehe~..." Marco chuckled again, laughing at his son's berserking.
"... You're so laid-back about your son's life," Edwin said seriously, eyeing his brother with concern, as if he didn't care about Christopher's situation.
"Hehehe, what can I say? My time in the Marines was pretty relaxed. I just need my ship closer to my enemies before I get any real thrill," Marco said proudly, and then he pointed at his son.
"And him? They throw him into hell every time, but he always comes back more resentful of the higher-ups."
"You know I'm one of those higher-ups," Edwin asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Your point?" Marco shot back, confused, as if it was already obvious.
"Shut up, you deredevil," Edwin snapped, annoyance creeping into his tone as he realized his point.
"Hehehe."
"Yeah, shut up now, old man! You're not helping lower my rage!" Christopher said aggressively to his father, who was still laughing, and while he himself was not calming down.
"What did you fucking call me, kid?!" Marco snarled.
Marco stood suddenly and, without warning, punched Christopher squarely in the face. Instantly, they erupted into a fierce brawl, fists flying and shouts echoing through the mansion. The maid, displaying remarkable grace and composure, smoothly weaved her way through the chaos as if this were a routine occurrence in this household.
"Hah~... this father-and-son duo," Edwin muttered, rubbing his forehead with a pained expression, visibly overwhelmed by the ongoing turmoil.
After several tense minutes filled with shouting and scuffling, both Marco and Christopher gradually calmed down. They returned to their seats, faces serious and minds clearer, though some redness and bruising hinted at their recent altercation.
"Okay, we're calm now," Marco said, stretching his arms and shoulders to loosen stiff muscles.
"Hah~... we're good now," Christopher replied exhaustedly, touching his cheek where a purple bruise was already forming.
"...do you two really need to punch each other to find peace of mind?" Edwin questioned, raising a brow as he observed their exhausted expressions.
The father and son exchanged glances, understanding the unspoken message. They looked at Edwin, then nodded in agreement.
"Hah~... how many times have I sighed today..." Edwin murmured tiredly, rubbing his temples as he tried to collect his thoughts.
"Getting back to topic, it's not only Vincent who's specifically calling you out. Many officials are urging that someone with experience dealing with zombie outbreaks go to the most critical and dangerous zones."
"If the situation is truly reasonable, I'll consider it," Christopher replied, his tone more serious now.
"But first, how are the crises in Taiwan and elsewhere?"
"Taiwan is nearing its breaking point," Edwin explained, his voice grim.
"Looters and raiders have severely reduced their personnel and supplies. While they fight off a growing zombie horde, they're also embroiled in a civil war between warlords and military factions."
"The Taiwanese are already suffering from dire circumstances, and yet they still battle giant zombies capable of destroying entire buildings, they're pressing the US government for reinforcements."
"Wow, so Christopher, it sounds like there are legitimate reasons for concern." Marco sneered sarcastically.
Christopher looked annoyed at Marco's smug expression, sensing that his father's remark was intentional taunting. However, Edwin paid no attention and pressed on.
"Japan has managed to contain the contamination quite well. They set up a buffer zone in Kumamoto city, which is heavily affected by the virus."
"They currently don't need reinforcements because they control the situation, but the zombies here are unusually intelligent, moving with terrorist-like precision, targeting key locations with bio-terrorism using the virus."
"Wait, zombies as terrorists?" Marco asked, eyes wide with shock.
"Yes, and that contamination is still under their control," Edwin confirmed with amazement.
"Why aren't they exterminating the zombies while they can?" Christopher questioned, puzzled over Japan's cautious approach. "Why not conduct a full cleanup operation?"
"Do you think they're letting their military kill civilians? No. Some families outside the contamination zone still cling to hope for a cure. Citizens gather in the streets, urging the government to accelerate vaccine development. The Japanese government must maintain the current fragile stability."
"... And then there's Australia, it's become a literal living hell."
"What?" Marco and Christopher exclaimed together.
"Three zombie lords have already been identified, and there are more unaccounted for. The zombies are fighting each other fiercely for territory to establish nests," Edwin explained swiftly.
"Most residents are abandoning the country, while soldiers are helping with evacuations. All US forces, except for special operations units, are stationed there to assist and create a buffer zone to contain the spread."
"So, why was I sent to Taiwan if the most dangerous outbreak is supposedly in Australia?" Christopher asked, bewildered.
"Because the most immediate threat is in Taiwan, a 300-foot zombie lord, rather than Australia's large-scale zombie apocalypse, you're not needed there as most US Forces are there," Edwin replied sharply.
"... Alright, I understood, but why am I commanding the Special Forces in Taiwan's mission? I'm just a major general," Christopher pressed.
???
"Ohh, I totally forgot to give you this," Edwin said with a sarcastic smile, pulling out an envelope.
"Here's your assignment letter and your promotion... you're now a general."
"They only just issued these this morning because they couldn't give you a medal of honor yet due to the 'global threat.'"
"They've always found ways to disrespect us," Christopher muttered, a mix of awe and frustration in his voice.
"It's like they don't appreciate us at all."
"Hee, did this situation seem new?" Marco commented sarcastically, crossing his arms.
"That's not the only reason I came here. I've heard from Marco about your plan to form a private army, and he also suggested creating a city bunker to separate from the government. I plan to join this effort." Edwin said, concealing his rage with serious face.
"Do you really think you'll be the only one upset about how you've been treated? I've already petitioned for your leave, but they refuse to listen. Meanwhile, they even dare to question our patriotism as they pocket government funds."
"I've had enough of their arrogance. We are now separate from them, and our goal is to dismantle the military entirely, leaving nothing behind."
Marco, impressed, said, "Wow, brother, you sound like a pirate."
Edwin cut him off curtly, "Shut up."
"Uncle, I apologize for doubting you earlier. I thought you had forgotten your promise." Christopher said, feeling guilty.
Edwin responded with a gentle nod, reassuring him.
"Now, where is Rafael? So, we can to start now the planning," he asked.
Christopher turned to the maid on the wall and asked.
"Kate, can you call my father-in-law here?"
"Right away, sir," she replied.
Edwin then explained, "I want to make it clear that we can't build a city bunker on our own islands or properties, as they are constantly monitored by Vincent. If they find anything suspicious, they will use that as further proof to undermine us."
"How is he so motivated to ruin us?" Christopher asked, puzzled by his motivation
"I don't know what that young man is thinking. Just suggest a land or city that has been abandoned so we can start constructing."
"What about the pirate territories? Some are abandoned due to outbreaks. We can use my ship to raid them." Marco suggested
"Now you're sounding like a pirate." Edwin responded sarcastically
"At least I have an idea." Marco shot back, proud by his plan
"And it's a bad one. Don't you know ocean waters are hazardous due to contamination? That's probably why they abandoned those areas, you fool."
"Ah, I forgot."
Edwin shook his head with a sigh.
"You never change."
Bang
Suddenly, Kate hurried back, panting and face full of panic and anxiety, bringing urgent news.
"Kate, why are you rushing, and where is my father-in-law?" Christopher asked, confused.
"Sir, it's an emergency! Little Arthur is turning!" she gasped.
"What?!" Christopher, Marco, and Edwin exclaimed in unison.
Edwin quickly grabbed his radio, shouting commands to soldiers at the mansion.
"Soldiers, secure the perimeter! Do not let anything enter or leave the land, make it quick!"
"I Repeat, soldiers, secure the perimeter! Do not let anything enter or leave the land!"
"Kate, how did this happen?!" Christopher asked frantically.
"Sir, becaus—" she started.
"No time for explanations! Kate, give us the direction!" Marco interrupted.