The air in the classroom thickened with a mixture of disbelief and simmering defiance. The survivors, momentarily stunned by the sudden, authoritative takeover, were beginning to regain their footing. They were a flock of traumatized teenagers, yet they carried a spark of resistance, a survival instinct that bordered on rebellion.
I watched as Saya Takagi bristled, her glasses-framed eyes flashing with analytical frustration. Her status as the intellectual leader of the group was clearly threatened.
"Logistical planning?" she scoffed, crossing her arms. "With all due respect, Doctor Xenon, you just walked in here and started issuing orders. You haven't demonstrated any competence beyond having a private army."
"Competence is defined by results, Miss Takagi," I countered, my voice maintaining its cool, professional cadence. "In the last ten minutes, my 'private army' has eliminated over thirty infected and secured your immediate corridor. Your group, while resourceful, was minutes away from being overwhelmed or forced into a desperate, chaotic retreat."
I turned to the wooden sword girl, Rei Miyamoto, and the boy, Takashi Komuro, who stood defensively near her. "Your concern for trust is understandable, Miss Miyamoto. However, trust is a luxury we cannot afford. Compliance is mandatory."
As if on cue, a Ranger appeared in the doorway, his M16 slung across his chest.
"Doctor, we've secured the ground floor. Two more groups of survivors located: one in the gymnasium office, another in the art room. Minor injuries only. They've been instructed to remain in place until an extraction team is organized."
"Excellent, send them to the gymnasium. " i said.
"Understood." the ranger replied.
"This is how my 'private army' operates," I stated, gesturing vaguely toward the returning Ranger, who stood silently, an unnervingly perfect soldier. "Efficiently, rapidly, and without debate. You can choose to be a valuable asset to this operation, Miss Takagi, or you can be a liability that my soldiers will need to manage. The choice is yours."
The tension in the room snapped, replaced by the grating sound of desks being pushed. Hirano, the short, heavier boy who was surprisingly good with weapons, immediately started helping to reinforce the door with the returned Ranger. Even the fierce pink-haired girl, Rei, lowered her guard slightly, watching the Ranger's movements with wary awe.
"Komuro," I called out, addressing the leader of the students. "You mentioned a group on the roof. Describe their exact location and access points. Miss Miyamoto, you will lead a detail to gather all non-perishable food, water, and medical supplies from the home economics and faculty rooms. A Ranger will accompany you."
I wasn't asking; I was delegating.
Takashi hesitated, then nodded sharply. "The roof access is on the third floor. There's only one main staircase up, near the chemistry labs."
"Understood." I pulled my system invisible to them.
[ Gold: 9,200 ]
The number was stagnant, a reminder that the real work the extraction of high-value assets hadn't begun. Survivors were just logistical burdens until they could be assessed and utilized.
"Miss Takagi," I said, finally turning back to her. "Show me what you know about the school's layout and its resource caches. We are turning this high school into an impenetrable fortress. I need your knowledge of its weak points and internal infrastructure."
Saya stared at me for a long moment, a battle raging behind her eyes her pride. Then, with a frustrated sigh, she marched over to the blackboard, grabbed a piece of chalk, and began to sketch a rough, but detailed, map of the school.
"The roof is the most defensible position," she began, her tone all business. "But the first-floor windows are a serious vulnerability, especially the cafeteria."
A small, genuine smile touched my lips, one that felt more like a predator's expression of satisfaction. Cooperation achieved.
My focus broadened, moving beyond the immediate panic and logistics of the school. Securing the school was Phase One.
I leaned over Saya's hastily drawn map, my mind already running complex simulation algorithms through the System. The fifteen units I currently possessed were barely enough for a full perimeter defense.
I need more units. I need more Gold.
"The immediate school campus will be designated Site one," I declared to the room, my voice carrying the weight of finality.
"Once secured, we will establish external perimeter defenses. My long-term goal is to secure a path to the municipal government building. That is where the local power grid, emergency communication systems, and most importantly, heavy-duty construction equipment will be found."
I looked at the assembled survivors, who were now observing me not with simple fear, but a dawning realization of the scale of my ambition.
"You have been granted temporary reprieve," I concluded, retrieving my satellite phone. "Do not squander it. I am now in charge."
[ Assimilation Progress: 40% ]