Chapter 25: Prelude to Scavenging Operation

The condominium’s garage spanned seven floors, with a majority of the space cluttered by the vehicles of residents. Richard and his team had already cleared out the zombie threat from this area and would be transformed into a garage for their military hardware.

Standing on the first floor, Richard accessed his system and navigated to the shop section. There, he began selecting the vehicles requested by the Chief of Staff of the Army and the Special Operations.

[Please confirm your purchase:

Buffalo Clearance Vehicle: 1 x 80,000 = 80,000 gold coins

Modification: V-shaped dozer.

M117 Guardian: 2 x 60,000 = 120,000 gold coins

LAV-25: 2 x 100,000 = 200,000 gold coins

Cougar 6×6: 6 x 40,000 = 240,000 gold coins

JLTV Oshkosh: 6 x 40,000 = 240,000 gold coins

Selected variants: 6x Heavy Guns Carrier

M939 truck: 20 x 25,000 = 500,000 gold coins

New troops, ammunition, fuel, and uniforms: 150,000 gold coins

Total: 1,330,000 gold coins

[Current Balance: 1,423,000]

The decision to confirm the purchase gave Richard pause, given the hefty cost involved. Going forward with this acquisition would leave him with just 93,000 gold coins.

However, he reminded himself that their mission was scavenging, and the hordes of zombies they’d encounter would likely translate into more gold coins. And there was another factor—the daily reward system. Swiftly switching tabs, he claimed the daily reward.

[Congratulations, you have received a gold capsule! Gold capsules can increase gold gains by about 100 percent.]

At present, taking down a zombie yielded 1,000 gold coins. But with the capsule activated, the gains would be doubled, much like the experience points when a capsule was in use—increasing from 80 experience points per kill to 160.

Assuming that there’d be five thousand zombies showing up during the scavenging operation, he would get 5,000,000 gold coins and 800,000 experience points. Not yet adding the possibility of rescuing survivors in the shopping malls.

All in all, he would get more in return.

Returning to the shop, he confirmed his purchase and a huge magic circle appeared.

Slowly, military vehicles that he bought were emerging from the magic circle, along with the troops, jerry cans, and supply crates containing ammunition and weapons.

The ground floor garage, once emptied of vehicles, was now brimming with the machinery and resources needed for their mission.

Seconds later, Richard let out an astonished gasp. Buffalo Clearance Vehicle, M117 Guardian, LAV-25 Bradley, Cougar 6×6, JLTV Oshkosh, and M939 truck were now before him. They appeared factory-fresh, untouched by wear, their olive green paint gleaming under the lighting.

The soldiers, on the other hand, one hundred of them, performed a salute to Richard.

“At ease, everyone,” Richard waved his hand down and the newly summoned troops lowered their hands and stood in attention.

He then approached one of the vehicles, the JLTV Oshkosh, he brushed his hand against the smooth surface.

“She’s smooth,” Richard remarked and glanced over his shoulder.

“Graves, Mark,” Richard called.

“Sir?” They intoned together.

“You have one hour to sort this new equipment and troops. I’ll be back on the twenty-fifth floor, to say goodbye to my little sister. When I return, everyone must be ready. Is that clear?”

“Yes sir!”

After hearing their acknowledgment, Richard returned to the lobby of Building A. He stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the twenty-fifth floor.

Finally, the elevator dinged, announcing his arrival on the twenty-fifth floor. The doors slid open, revealing a hallway lined with doors leading to individual apartments. Richard stepped out and made his way down the corridor, stopping in front of a door of his unit.

Taking a deep breath, he knocked on the door. After a few moments, it swung open to reveal Lisa.

“Richard!” Lisa’s face lit up with surprise and delight. “What are you doing here?”

“Just wanted to catch up before we head out,” Richard replied, embracing his sister in a warm hug. His gaze wandered into the apartment, where Lisa’s classmates and their parents seemed to have gathered.

“Looks like you’re hosting a party,” he observed.

Lisa chuckled. “Well, it’s more like a small gathering. Everyone wanted to spend time together before the mission.”

“Why don’t you come in and say hi?” Lisa suggested.

With a nod, Richard followed Lisa into the apartment. Inside, he was greeted by a mix of smiles and curious looks from Lisa’s friends and their parents.

“Sir Richard, you look quite dashing in your uniform,” Emily commented playfully, her gaze appraising.

“Thank you,” Richard replied with a modest smile. “We’re gearing up for a scavenging operation to stock up on supplies.”

Denise’s eyes widened. “You mean… you’ll be facing zombies?”

“That’s right,” Richard affirmed. “But don’t worry, we have a well-equipped force to handle the situation.”

Ella’s concern was evident. “Please be careful out there.”

Richard nodded. “I promise I’ll do my best.”

Angela’s curiosity got the best of her. “Where are you headed, Sir Richard?”

Richard walked over to the window, pointing toward the distant shopping malls. “We’re targeting those three shopping malls about a kilometer and a half from here. It’s where we expect to find the supplies we need.”

The parents joined the conversation, expressing their well wishes and concerns for Richard’s safety.

“Take care, young man,” Denise’s father said, his voice filled with genuine concern.

“Thank you all for your kind words,” Richard replied, a sense of gratitude in his tone. “I’ll do everything I can to ensure our success and safety.”

As Richard glanced at his watch, a reminder of his imminent departure, he knew he had to leave soon.

“I’m afraid I have to go now,” he said, his gaze shifting between Lisa and the gathering.

“Stay safe, Richard,” Lisa said, giving him a reassuring smile. ．

“I will,” he replied, returning the smile with determination. With a final nod to Lisa and the others, he turned and headed outside.

As he was making his way towards the elevator, a voice called him.

“Brother,” Lisa’s voice called out, causing Richard to turn on his heel, his attention drawn to her.

“Yes?” he responded, meeting her gaze with an expectant look.

With a fluid grace, Lisa closed the distance between them. In a swift movement, she rose onto her tiptoes, her proximity allowing her to reach his cheek effortlessly. A tender warmth brushed against his skin as she pressed a soft, affectionate kiss upon it.

Richard’s cheeks warmed as he felt the gentle touch of Lisa’s lips on his skin. It was a fleeting moment, yet it held a depth of sentiment that was hard to put into words. Lisa, now standing back on her feet, appeared slightly flustered, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush.

“I… um,” Lisa stammered, her embarrassment evident in her demeanor. She cleared her throat, regaining her composure. “Sorry about that. Just… wanted to wish you luck.”

A small, understanding smile curved Richard’s lips. He appreciated the gesture, recognizing the emotions behind it. “Thank you, Lisa.”

Her voice took on a smooth, composed tone as she met his gaze.

“Be safe out there, Richard. Take care of yourself and come back for me or I’ll be angry. I mean it.”

Richard chuckled softly and nodded.

***

After an hour had passed, the scene in the ground-floor garage had transformed. The summoned military vehicles stood in impeccable formation, meticulously aligned to create a formidable display of readiness. The arrangement adhered to a deliberate pattern: the Buffalo Clearance Vehicle, with its powerful front-end equipment, took its position at the forefront. Behind it, the two M117 Guardian vehicles were placed, flanking the convoy. Nestled behind the leading M117 Guardian and ahead of the trailing one were the LAV-25 Bradley units, mirroring the formation’s design.

This calculated structure carried through, resonating along the line of vehicles. The Cougar 6×6, JLTV Oshkosh, and M939 Truck followed in succession, each maintaining the same meticulous alignment. The convoy’s composition stretched along the ground floor, extending its presence upwards, with some of the larger vehicles even spilling onto the second floor due to their substantial dimensions.

Within this organized hubbub, soldiers moved with a sense of camaraderie, assisting one another as they geared up for the impending operation. The clinks of helmets being secured and the rustle of body armor settling into place punctuated the air.

A sense of unity prevailed as they worked together, ensuring that each soldier was properly armed and protected. Some soldiers huddled around M939 Trucks and Cougars, heaving crates of ammunition and weaponry into their storage compartments.

And while they were all busy performing their task, Richard clapped, getting their attention.

The soldiers halted what they were doing and faced their commander.

“Listen up, everyone,” Richard’s voice held a firm yet encouraging tone, his gaze sweeping across the assembled soldiers. “I want to make something crystal clear—this mission is make-or-break for us. Our survival depends on how we handle this. I won’t sugarcoat it: it’s going to be tough. We’re stepping into the heart of danger, facing potentially massive zombie hordes, possibly hundreds, maybe even thousands. But remember, with great risk comes the potential for great reward. I have absolute trust in each and every one of you. We’re not just a group of individuals; we’re a unified force. Our aim is straightforward: we go in together, we face whatever comes our way, and we all make it out in one piece.

What we bring back matters, sure. But what matters more is that every single one of us returns. This is our time to shine, to show the world what we’re capable of. Keep your guard up, stay strong, and stand by your fellow soldiers. We’ve been preparing for this, and we’re ready. I believe in each of you. Let’s make this mission a success. Now are we good to get some?!”

“Yes, sir!” The soldiers burst forth in a unified cheer.

“I said, are we good to get some?!”

“Yes, sir!” The response echoed even stronger, reverberating through the air.

“Alright! Let’s get locked and loaded.”

With that, soldiers moved swiftly to their assigned vehicles. Richard swung open the door of the JLTV Oshkosh’s driver’s seat and settled in behind the wheel.

Taking the passenger seat was Graves.

“That speech got everyone fired up, sir,” Graves commended.

“I wanted to boost our troops’ morale,” Richard replied, a grin tugging at his lips. He reached over and retrieved an earpiece, fitting it snugly into his right ear. “Blackwatch, this is Eagle Actual. Garage position is set. Proceed with Phase One, over.”

Blackwatch is the codename for the command center.

“Copy that, Blackwatch,” Mark’s voice came through in response. “Initiating Phase One.”