In a few minutes, the negotiation was completed and the group began to drive towards the Glass Tower at the center of the city. Leon and Anna drove in a Lexus Rx 360 while the others rode their armored truck to the tower.
Minutes later, they arrived at the building. Climbing out, Little Tiger let out a yelp of awe when he saw how outstanding the building was. It was so tall it seemed to be touching the clouds.
"Wow. It's... clean."
He sighed. Their camp, although teeming with humans, was gloomy and quite polluted from the reconstruction and all.
The gate closed behind them with a hiss. Leon and Anna stepped out of the car a heartbeat later, then began walking towards the building.
Inside, they climbed up the stairs to the seventh floor where they could sit and discuss further.
After ensuring Ye was tucked into bed gently, Old Pipe turned to Leon.
"My name is Professor Oliver Stark." He started, suddenly looking like a distinguished scholar.
"Leon. Leon White."
The white haired boy introduced himself, then nudged Anna gently. The girl stared at him briefly, then nodded.
"The name's Anna d'Grace."
Ice introduced herself next. "Amelia Rose."
"Please seat." Leon gestured to a couch while he sat on one.
"Now that you're here. I'll be straight to the point." Leon stated. "What I need you for is to build a shelter here. There are several survivors around the vicinity. You can save and recruit them.
Secondly, food provision. Although this building possess a large amount of food, it'd be gone when the population of humans increases. You'll coordinate a scavenger team.
Thirdly, Essence Crystals. You are expected to hunt zombies daily. At least ten First Level crystals per day. If you find anything resourceful, you can bring it too."
Leon paused.
"And lastly, The Reward Crucible. I'm sure you must have learnt of it right?"
Old Pipe nodded. He'd even seen it get used by the Camp Master.
"If you find one, you're to report to me immediately. If you can't find me, report to Anna instead. I won't tolerate a mistake."
Old Pipe and Ice nodded. They didn't find anything wrong with the things he had listed. Just regular job any normal evolved should do.
Yet, why did Ice feel like Leon was a little lazy? He definitely didn't mention joining them in any of the tasks.
Indignant, she allowed a pout. "And you? What would you be doing?"
Although her tone sounded offensive, Leon didn't take it to heart. "Nothing much. I plan on hunting down Second Level Zombies and mutated beasts. I'm getting closer to evolving."
The room instantly fell silent.
No one had expected this. Even Anna was surprised. Yet, they couldn't say a word. Among them, Leon was the only one who could face a Second Level creature head on without faltering. Although Anna might also be able to singlehandedly kill one, she would definitely sustain fatal injuries.
"You're... evolving?"
Old Pipe muttered, amazed. This confirmed it. Leon was definitely a zombie. According to the information gained through the Reward Crucible, humans needed evolution potions to evolve into beings of higher rank. And since Leon didn't mention anything about consuming a potion, he definitely didn't need one.
"Yes. So, I need nutrition. Although human evolved are nutritious, they aren't very rich in taste." Leon nodded.
The others deadpanned.
"Well then, I'll leave you for a while."
He stood up, Anna behind him, and went upstairs.
While on the stairs, Anna quietly asked.
"Are they trustworthy?"
Leon merely glanced back.
"If they aren't, dispose them."
...
A while later, they arrived at Leon's personal floor—the top floor.
Cassie was seated calmly on the mat, seemingly meditating.
Careful not to disturb her, Anna whispered to Leon.
"Why didn't you train her just like you trained me? She'd have been much stronger."
Leon sighed, rubbing his eyelids tiredly. "I can't bear to see my family in the face of danger. Also, while I want her to grow, I can't do it myself."
He turned to her. "You'll have to help her heart while I'm gone."
Quietly, Anna stepped closer to him, and pulled him into a gentle hug. Although surprised, he didn't resist. He calmly let her brush his hair while he rested his head on her shoulders.
She understood him to an extent. Although she didn't have a family and was only living on scholarship before the apocalypse, she understood the bond of a family. The way Leon had trained her; pushed her to her extreme limits, and watched her almost die several times was outright brutal. He definitely couldn't treat his sister that way—even if she was step-family. Yet, Anna didn't blame him for it. He could have eaten her, or even tossed her away for being useless, but he didn't. Instead he made her into a strong person.
'For that... I'm eternally grateful.'
"Uh, what are you guys doing?"
Cassie's voice broke them out of the quiet moment of peace.
"Your brother has headache." Anna outright lied.
And although Cassie didn't believe it, she didn't press the topic.
"Brother, I need to see you." She said seriously.
Leon narrowed his eyes, then nodded.
Without hesitation, Anna excused them.
"Brother..." Cassie started. "You've changed."
Leon frowned. "I have?"
"Hmn." Cassie nodded. "Not in the way you act or anything. But I can sense it now that I'm an evolved. You're not like us."
Immediately, Leon realized what she was talking about. The fact that he was a zombie while she was a human. Although he didn't look like those rotten grotesque monsters roaming the streets, his presence was cold and similar.
Sighing, Leon brushed aside his bangs for her to see the colorless crystal tinged with yellow on his forehead.
"You became a zombie..." Cassie gasped. Although she had her suspicions, she was still shocked.
"Yes I did. Does it change anything?" Leon tilted his head, staring intently.
"I don't think so." Cassie shook her head vigorously, then stepped forward to hug him. Leon rolled his eyes.
"Ever since your mom and my dad abandoned us, I've been used to being around you." She smiled, listening to his heart throb slowly. "So even if you became a monster, I wouldn't mind."
Leon gasped internally.
'Twisted obsession. Similar to Anna's twisted fondness and love. That's dangerous, though I find it amusing and savory.'
Raising his hands to embrace her, he whispered.
"I love you, Cassie."
.....
The next morning, work immediately started. Leon had disappeared in the middle of the night without alerting anyone.
Helpless but not vexed, the remaining members didn't say a word and began their work.
The first thing the group did was to go and rescue the neighboring humans in the community. When these people who had locked themselves in for weeks saw other people coming over to save them, they were jubilant. Having stayed indoors for a long time, their food was almost finished.
All in all, they were able to get up to twenty people while harvesting thirty five First Level crystals.
"Most of them are malnourished." Old Pipe commented, watching them devour food offered voraciously.
"Zombies in the area are getting agitated." Ice said with a frown.
"Well, let's kill more of them, then."
Old Pipe grinned, then slammed his hammer into the ground.
BOOM!!!