Apocalypse: the Most Ruthless Person

Night had fallen, and smoke rose from the chimney atop Little Lucky building, signaling dinner time, as people gradually gathered in the dining room.

During the whole day, dinner was the most relaxing time. This atmosphere was reminiscent of the past, when everyone would gather cheerfully to eat and drink after a day’s work. Though there was no television, computer, or phone, they always had endless topics to discuss. People’s faces reflected not fear, but smiles. This camp atmosphere was rare not only in Qin City but also across the entire Great North China Plain.

"Brother Su, you’re here?"

"Brother Su, tonight we’re having fried shredded pork with pickled mustard, it’s delicious!"

Zhang Su, as always, appeared at the dining room punctually and many greeted him. Despite his somewhat elusive presence recently, everyone had become accustomed to it. Most were aware of what he was doing and hoped he could return quickly from his learning, to then teach them.

"Hmm, everyone enjoy the meal."

Zhang Su smiled in response to people.

"Brother Su, have you seen Yubo? He’s been missing all afternoon and skipped training."

Wang Xin asked curiously, as he was in charge of attendance these days.

With no external tasks, core members rarely missed training apart from those on sentry duty or surveillance. Even with minor ailments, they would show up, but today Lu Yubo was absent without leave.

"The Reserve Team had a special training today, I sent Bozai over there, forgot to inform you."

Zhang Su casually made up an excuse.

"Honey, come over here and sit!"

Zheng Xinyu waved to Zhang Su, from her favoured spot.

"You eat first, I need to discuss something."

With a smile, Zhang Su pointed before heading towards the corner where Yuwen, Yu Qing, and Zhuzi were seated.

"Hmm... this guy’s acting suspicious!"

Zheng Xinyu didn’t mind Zhang Su’s evasiveness but sensed something off. She didn’t possess Ju Mumio’s sensing ability, but living together every day, she was incredibly attuned to the subtleties of his behaviour.

"Ahem!"

As soon as Zhang Su entered, Yuwen spotted him and signaled his daughter and Zhuzi.

"Hey buddy, haha, come over... hey, hey, Qingqing, don’t pull me..."

Zhao Dezhu, oblivious to the situation, had no intention to leave but enthusiastically waved Zhang Su over to sit for dinner.

"Brother Su, you talk."

Yu Qing greeted Zhang Su smilingly, then dragged the oddly faced Zhao Dezhu away.

"Mr. Zhang, not having anything to eat?"

Yuwen asked, noticing Zhang Su’s empty hands.

Zhang Su shook his head, replied: "I’m not hungry, can wait till I’m done."

"Seems everything’s arranged?"

"Absolutely, twenty past six."

No one in the dining room understood the content of their conversation.

Yuwen, slightly tense, checked the time and said in a deep voice: "Hope people from both villages can learn from this."

"A small hit won’t cause a stir, real attention means a disaster level event, hardly with any intermediate, it’s easy for complacency to arise."

Zhang Su rubbed his temples and shook his head, not from tiredness but mental fatigue.

"That’s what I meant by establishing an external enemy, hopefully today’s lesson will teach them plenty."

"Mainly to make an example, some people are so clueless!"

Zhang Su furrowed his brows.

"Troublemakers need to be eliminated early."

Yuwen glanced at his time once more, nudged the plate in front of him, and said: "Eat something. I haven’t touched this bun."

"You eat, I can get my own."

Zhang Su waved his hand with a smile, but grabbed some food casually, eating absent-mindedly.

Ten minutes later, Ju Mumio and Yi Xiaoling arrived at the dining room, Ju Mumio eyed Zhang Su inquisitively, as if asking, "What’s up with you?"

Zhang Su feigned ignorance, munching on his meal.

At six o’clock, Zhang Su put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth, got up and left, exchanging a glance with Yuwen who nodded slightly.

"Hey, what are you and Teacher Yu up to?"

Zheng Xinyu caught up behind him just as he reached the dining room door.

"Are you taking food to the monitoring room?"

Zhang Su gestured at the lunchbox in Zheng Xinyu’s hands.

"Yes, for Xiaoshan and Xiaoxue. Now tell me, don’t change the subject!"

Together they walked out of the dining room, as Zheng Xinyu pressed for answers.

"Really, am I that obvious? Even you can tell I’m distracted?"

Zhang Su lit a cigarette, looking at Zheng Xinyu with surprise.

"You snore beside my pillow every night, of course, I notice. If you’re unable to tell me, I won’t ask any more."

Zheng Xinyu just needed confirmation something was up, the specifics were a lesser concern.

"Good girl, go deliver the food, take a break afterwards."

Zhang Su patted Zheng Xinyu’s head and headed to the gate, saying cheerfully, "All fueled up, time for a stroll."

"So mysterious, hmph hmph."

Zheng Xinyu made a face at Zhang Su’s retreating back, then sprinted off towards the monitoring room.

"Younger Brother Zhang? Done eating?"

On duty at the mountain entrance, Jia Shiqin noticed a figure approaching and on closer inspection recognized Zhang Su, greeting him with a smile.

"Yeah, full now, on a walk to digest, when’s the shift change?"

Speaking, Zhang Su took out a cigarette, tossing one to Jia Shiqin.

"Soon, six-thirty, what’s for dinner tonight?"

Jia Shiqin lit a cigarette, given his age, he didn’t have much common ground for conversations, fishing for topics.

"Buns, shredded pork with pickled mustard, seaweed soup, rice, canned vegetables..."

To Jia Shiqin’s surprise, Zhang Su listed everything, replying earnestly. It left Jia Shiqin embarrassed, turning what should be a casual query into an unexpected detailed answer; now he was unsure what to say.

Before the awkwardness escalated, Zhang Su exhaled smoke and waved, saying, "I’ll head off, thanks for your hard work."

"Hey, not at all, take care, Younger Brother Zhang."

Jia Shiqin sighed in relief, checking the time, past six-eighth.

Zhang Su strolled towards the compound, pausing in the parking lot to observe a group of zombies circling the generator, then briefly chatting with the lab team, after which when he returned to his quarters, it was already six-fifteen!

Humming a tune, Zhang Su sorted weapons, suited up with a tactical belt, equipping essential items, clearly gearing up for action but showing no trace of nerves.

Click.

As Zhang Su donned the tactical belt, the walkie-talkie suddenly buzzed.

"Village No.2 reporting, Village No.2 reporting, a zombie horde attacking, zombie horde attacking, approaching from the south, approaching from the south!"

The voice, urgent and panicked, belonged to a woman.

Just a minute ago...

The sentry sister from Village No.2, Xu Yingfen, laden with a full thermos, left the dining hall and returned to her post, eating dinner slowly. Braving the cold, she savoured warm porridge and radish with sauce, feeling content.

Unexpectedly, as she munched on pickles, picking up binoculars to survey the distance, she froze instantly, seeing shadows unexpectedly appear on the southern wasteland.

How long does it take to fetch a meal?

Barely five minutes. Initially, it was calm, double-checked for safety before fetching food, within five minutes everything changed!

The situation was dire, but her recent training prevented her from succumbing to panic, promptly grabbing the walkie-talkie to report.

Zhang Su calmly picked up his walkie-talkie, asking: "How far, roughly how many are they?"

"Less than a kilometer now, less than a kilometer now, the count... unclear, oh my, a dense group, at least several hundred, maybe a thousand!"

Xu Yingfen, holding binoculars in one hand and walkie-talkie in the other, dropped her spoon with rice grains onto the ground, her voice trembling, baffled at how suddenly a swarm of zombies appeared.

"Why didn’t you spot them sooner!"

Soon Zhang Su’s stern voice rang out, continuing: "Reserve Team assemble immediately, captain organize personnel for resistance, leverage terrain advantages and fortifications, report the horde size immediately! Hurry, hurry, hurry!"

"Acknowledged, acknowledged."

"Understood... hurry hurry."

Three consecutive urgent "hurry" commands, each more pressing, alerted not only Village No.2 but also Village No.1, both villages acting promptly at the orders. The three captains were under immense stress, the situation unfolding too suddenly.