While the survivors carried supplies into the bank’s vault, Alex and his robo-dog, GIR, inspected the building to determine where defenses needed to be strengthened and where barricades would be most effective. Alex noted an important detail: the bank was a standalone structure, not connected to any neighboring buildings. This significantly simplified their task. If the bank had been attached to other structures, fortification and defense would have been far more challenging.

Reaching the back of the bank, Alex discovered a fence and a parking area previously used for armored cars. Peering inside, he saw no vehicles but realized the space would be perfect for parking their bus. Particularly useful was the indoor loading area where armored cars had once driven in for loading and unloading.

“What do you think? If we completely barricade the front doors and use only the back exit, will it work?” Alex asked, turning to GIR.

The robo-dog tilted its head toward the parking lot, then looked back at Alex.

“It should work. If done right, this parking area could serve as an excellent evacuation point if necessary,” GIR replied after a brief pause.

Alex nodded and continued inspecting the building, asking GIR to record all his suggestions and analyze possible improvements. He was particularly concerned about the power and water supply systems. Electricity could go out at any moment, and the risk of contaminated corpses affecting the water supply was a serious threat that couldn’t be ignored.

“We need to gather data on the zombies and set up surveillance cameras,” Alex mused aloud. “It’s unclear how soon they’ll start mutating. Additionally, we need to organize autonomous power. We can install solar panels and wind turbines on the roof, but we’ll need to find the equipment first. Water’s easier—I’ll create a magical filter to prevent contamination.”

After circling the building, Alex encountered Kohta and a group of police officers finishing their patrol of the area.

“Anything unusual?” Alex asked as he approached them.

“A couple of stray undead, nothing serious. You?” one of the officers replied.

“I’m thinking we should completely barricade the front entrance and use the back parking lot for our operations. It’ll simplify things, especially if we need to send out teams to look for survivors,” Alex explained.

“Great idea,” Kohta agreed. “It’ll give us better control over the situation.”

“When the fortifications are done, start reaching out to your colleagues and families. Some of them might also be in tough situations. But remember, things could get much worse,” Alex added, looking at the officers.

“How much worse? It’s already practically the end of the world,” Matsuki said skeptically.

“Zombies could start mutating and become even more dangerous. Plus, we could lose access to electricity and water at any moment,” Kohta replied before Alex could. “For now, the stations are running autonomously, but that won’t last long.”

The officers fell into thoughtful silence. Alex understood that time was short. They needed to study the zombies, prepare for potential mutations, and, most importantly, evacuate the survivors to expand their group and make tasks easier.

On the way back, Alex spoke with Kohta, asking about his training in America. Kohta explained that he had been a firearms enthusiast and, while living with his parents in the U.S., had trained under a retired Navy SEAL. The police officers listening to the conversation were surprised; they had previously thought of Kohta as just a school kid who knew his way around weapons. Now they saw him in a new light.

“This ‘chubby guy’ clearly knows what he’s doing,” the officers thought.

Alex, Kohta, and the police officers returned to the bank’s main entrance, where the survivors were still carrying supplies into the vault. Rebecca sat atop the bus, keeping a sharp lookout for any threats. Brunhilde, Saeko, Rei, and Saya guarded the bus, ready for any surprises if zombies appeared.

Alex waved to the women, signaling that everything was fine, and headed toward the bus to help unload the remaining supplies and finally move the vehicle off the street.

While helping move boxes into the bank’s vault, Alex noticed Kyoko checking the inventory list.

“How long will our supplies last for the group?” Alex asked as he approached her.

“About two to three weeks if we ration carefully,” Kyoko replied, quickly estimating the amount of food and water available.

“Then tomorrow, we’ll start scouting nearby houses for more supplies. The group will grow, and we’ll need more food. We need to stock up before the evacuation,” Alex said thoughtfully, nodding in thanks.

Leaving the vault, Alex stepped into the courtyard and noticed Shizuka tending to the children, checking them for injuries or illnesses. She carefully treated any cuts or scrapes she found.

“Are the kids all right?” Alex asked, drawing her attention.

“Yes, aside from being a little shaken and having a few minor wounds. But we’ll need more medical supplies for potential illnesses or infections,” Shizuka replied, finishing her check-up.

“I’ll prioritize that,” Alex assured her with a faint smile.

When they reached the bus, Alex lit a cigarette and scanned the street, contemplating how to utilize the abandoned cars. An idea struck him: to salvage the car batteries for electricity and use the vehicles themselves as barricades against zombies. He began evaluating how best to organize the defense, planning to finalize his thoughts before implementing them.

Lost in thought, Alex paused in the middle of the road, massaging his temples. He needed to consider everything: the potential migration of zombie hordes from Tokyo and the time required to gather enough survivors.

Saya watched him from a distance, wondering what he was planning. Though she considered herself a genius, she admitted that she couldn’t have come up with anything as brilliant as Alex’s ideas, let alone his creation of two intelligent robo-dogs.

“What are you thinking about?” she asked, walking up to him.

“About how to use this street. If we set up barricades, they’ll slow the zombies. But if we do it wrong, we’ll have hordes gathering here every morning, and we’ll have to clear them out. I’m also considering booby-trapping the street for emergencies,” Alex explained, sharing part of his plan.

“Trapping the streets is a good idea. But what if it blows up prematurely? And where are you going to get explosives?” Saya countered, serving as the voice of reason.

“You’re right. What would you suggest?” Alex turned to her, curious about her opinion.

“We could reinforce the cars with spikes to slow the zombies. As a last resort, we could set up an electric fence,” Saya suggested, brushing her hair back with an air of sophistication.

Alex chuckled, considering her words. Her idea seemed promising and didn’t require many resources.

He nodded, deciding to add Saya’s suggestion to the to-do list. Smiling, he praised her idea, playfully ruffling her hair. Saya, clearly displeased, swatted his hand away.

“I’m not a child,” she huffed, crossing her arms.

“Got it, my bad,” Alex laughed, watching her walk away while muttering about how rude it was to touch a girl’s hair.

Returning to the bus, Alex saw that most of the supplies had been unloaded—only a few boxes remained. Once the last boxes were moved inside, he asked the girls to head into the bank while he and Rebecca moved the bus and motorcycle to the armored truck parking area. After completing the task, they rejoined the others in the building.

Inside, Alex immediately noticed the commotion as survivors worked to reinforce the entrance. Glancing around, he spotted a mix of guards and clerks among them. Approaching one of the guards, Alex asked to be taken to the surveillance room.

Once there, he began inspecting the equipment, assessing its condition.

“GIR, run diagnostics on the cameras and let me know what’s needed to get them operational. I’ll bring in some extra monitors,” he instructed the robo-dog.

GIR gave a short nod and began connecting to the system. Meanwhile, Alex went off to find Stitch, who was entertaining the children with MIMI. They were trying to keep the kids distracted so they could feel safe.

“Stitch, let’s go. I need your help,” Alex called.

“Alright, Dad!” Stitch replied cheerfully, quickly climbing onto Alex’s shoulder.

Alex glanced at the children, noticing their worried faces, and asked MIMI to play some cartoons to distract them. As he stepped into the main hall, everyone working there turned their attention to him.

“Those of you who aren’t occupied right now, form groups and search all the rooms in the bank. Look for anything we can use. You might find something useful,” he instructed.

After a brief discussion, people began organizing into groups. Alex, with Stitch on his shoulder, headed to the office area to search for additional monitors. They carefully disconnected them and piled them in one spot before beginning to transport them to the surveillance room.

Rebecca, noticing what Alex was doing, understood his plan and decided to help, bringing Brunhilde along. Alex also asked anyone who found monitors to bring them to the security station.

“Why do you need so many monitors?” Shizuka asked, walking alongside Alex and carrying a monitor herself.

“GIR is going to connect to the city’s surveillance system. We need more ‘eyes’ to monitor the streets. I also plan to install extra cameras to collect data on zombie behavior,” he explained as they descended the stairs.

“That all sounds so complicated,” Shizuka sighed, her voice slightly fatigued.

“Instead of complaining, why don’t you make a list of medical supplies?” Alex teased with a smirk. “Once we’re settled, we’ll start scavenging for supplies. We need to stock up before we leave the city. And don’t forget to contact your friend again to check on her and see if she needs help.”

“Rika can handle herself; she’s strong,” Shizuka said with a smile, “but you’re right, I’ll call her anyway.”

Alex nodded at her words. Entering the surveillance room, he saw Rebecca connecting monitors while MIMI helped with the setup. Stitch was busy mounting brackets on the walls, and GIR, already plugged into the system, was displaying feeds from hacked surveillance cameras on the screens.

After delivering the remaining monitors, Alex sat in a chair and began studying the screens intently, hoping to spot survivors who might be in trouble or potential shelters and dangers on the streets.

Shizuka, standing behind Alex, absentmindedly leaned over, resting her chest on his head. Feeling the softness on his head, Alex couldn’t help but think he could sleep on such a “pillow” forever. He even got distracted from his work until he heard a mental cough from Brunhilde, snapping him back to reality.

“Well, we’re almost done here. How’s it going on your end?” Rebecca asked, sitting on Alex’s lap.

“So far, so good, but we need more cameras. Data collection is crucial in our situation,” Alex replied, gently patting Rebecca on the head.

Brunhilde entered the room carrying a few additional monitors.

“Do you still need more screens, or is this enough?” she asked.

“Put them in that corner,” Alex gestured toward an empty space.

Brunhilde nodded, placed the monitors in the corner, and sat beside Alex, leaning against him. Shizuka remained behind him, her chest still resting on his head, while Rebecca stayed on his lap, assisting with the setup. Brunhilde, not well-versed in technology, simply observed the proceedings.

Soon, Saeko, Rei, and Saya peeked into the room, curious about what Alex was up to. They were greeted by a transformed space: screens filled the walls and corners, displaying scenes from the city’s streets.

“This looks like a villain’s lair from old movies,” Rei remarked with a smile.

“Or like the room of some nerd or pervert too scared to step outside,” Saya added, examining the screens closely.

Alex felt his eye twitch at Saya’s comment but chose to ignore her. Instead, he continued adjusting the cameras, instructing GIR and MIMI to monitor any odd behaviors in the zombies and report on any survivors who might be in trouble.

Seeing how focused Alex was on his work, the girls decided to move their belongings into the surveillance room and set up camp there for the night. Before Alex could say anything, mattresses and pillows appeared on the floor.

“Wait, are you planning to stay here?” he asked, looking at the girls in surprise.

“It’s safest here with you. Plus, I don’t sleep well around strangers,” Shizuka explained as she sat on her mattress.

Alex just sighed but didn’t ask them to leave.

While the others reinforced the entrance door, Alex studied the map, planning where to install additional cameras. Evening came, and most of the work was done. The girls were particularly happy that they found a room with a hot shower in the bank.

All the women went to freshen up, and Alex headed to another part of the building to discuss their next steps.

“How do you even walk with those? Doesn’t your back hurt?” Rebecca asked, laughing as she grabbed Shizuka’s chest.

“I’m not responsible for them being this big! My mom’s were even bigger!” Shizuka huffed, trying to push Rebecca’s hands away.

The room filled with laughter, giving everyone a brief respite from the chaos around them.

The other girls took a good look at Shizuka’s chest, trying to imagine what she meant by “even bigger,” and exchanged doubtful glances. Rebecca merely grunted, dismissing the conversation, and continued washing her hair with shampoo.

Brunhilde, ever composed, ignored the talk and focused on finishing her shower quickly so she could return to Alex.

“How could they be bigger?” Rei asked in surprise, glancing at Shizuka. “Isn’t it hard to walk with them?” She reached out to touch them, but Shizuka quickly jumped back.

“Of course, it’s hard,” Shizuka muttered, fending off Rei’s persistent hands. “You have no idea how hard it is to find a cute bra my size! Not to mention, guys are always staring.”

“All guys?” Rebecca asked, thoroughly working shampoo into her hair.

“Well, not all…” Shizuka trailed off, thinking. “Take Alex, for example. From the start, he didn’t look at my chest. He’s like some knight from a fairy tale—so noble, strong, always saving and leading.”

Rebecca barely managed to hold back her laughter. Knowing how Alex felt about heroic comparisons, she imagined his reaction, and a mischievous smile spread across her face. Brunhilde smiled at Shizuka’s words, thinking exactly the same as Rebecca. When Brunhilde had been connected to Alex through Völundr, she learned what kind of person he was and how he preferred to behave in situations like this.

“You’d better not tell him that,” Rebecca warned, laughing to herself. “He can’t stand being compared to a hero or a knight.”

“Why is that?” Saeko asked, turning her head to Rebecca.

“Ask him yourself,” Rebecca replied evasively. “If I start explaining, it’ll take a long time.”

Rei, changing the subject, spoke about the past:

“You worked together, right? I mean, as mercenaries. And you said he’s your husband?”

“He’s my fiancé,” Rebecca corrected, glancing at Brunhilde. “And not just mine. He’s also Brunhilde’s. As for the mercenary work… that’s a long story.”

Everyone turned their attention to Brunhilde, who silently nodded, not wanting to get into details.

“So, how do you share him?” Saya asked, crossing her arms over her chest. “Aren’t you jealous of each other?”

Brunhilde calmly replied:

“We don’t need to be jealous. Alex gives attention to each of us when it’s needed. He supports us in our endeavors, doesn’t get in the way of what’s important to us, and is always ready to help. But if you want to know what it’s like to be with him and get his attention, it’s better to see it for yourself than hear someone else’s stories.”

The girls exchanged glances, astonished by her words. Their curiosity piqued, and they bombarded Rebecca and Brunhilde with questions about their relationship with Alex. Meanwhile, Alex was with the men, discussing plans for reinforcing the building, gathering resources, and rescuing survivors.

“First, make a list of the necessary materials,” he said to Tadashi, the construction worker. “We need to know exactly what to bring back to base during our raids.”

“We’ve already surveyed the interior and the main hall,” Tadashi replied. “We have an idea of what needs to be done, but we can’t manage without extra hands.”

“Gather a group of the available people,” Alex suggested. “Explain what needs to be done and organize the work.”

After a brief discussion, the men began assigning tasks. Alex listened carefully to their suggestions, mentally calculating every step.

Tadashi nodded and started discussing the list of materials with his colleagues. While the builders worked on the list, Alex turned to the police officers and the bank’s security staff:

“Guys, I think we should split into groups and scout the nearby areas for food and useful items. We might even encounter survivors. The more people join our group, the better, but that also increases resource consumption. So, tomorrow morning, we’ll begin raids on the nearby houses.”

“You’re right,” Kohta agreed, thinking aloud. “If we find survivors, it’ll increase our workforce, but supplies aren’t unlimited.”

Alex nodded and continued:

“Therefore, I recommend splitting into groups now so we can start our raids tomorrow morning. The most important thing is that everyone has contacted their families, friends, or colleagues?”

“Some have already managed, but there are still those who haven’t been able to reach anyone due to being busy,” one of the officers replied. “Once everyone has made contact, I suggest we make a list of people to evacuate. It will help us act more efficiently.”

“Great idea,” Alex agreed. “Such a list will make the rescue operations easier. But first, we need a vehicle to move quickly and safely.”

“We can use minibuses. They’re spacious and suitable for transporting people and supplies,” one of the security guards suggested.

Alex agreed and repeated important information for everyone:

“Don’t forget to warn everyone you’re contacting to be extra cautious during the night. Zombies become more active after dark. And you, officers, contact your colleagues to find out what’s happening in other areas. Explain our situation and gather as much information as possible.”

The discussion continued, and Alex asked for the map. He began marking locations where supplies could be gathered for raids. In these conditions, it was important to act quickly, before other groups beat them to it.

Alex understood that more weapons would be needed for protection, not just from zombies, but also from aggressive survivor groups. In apocalypse-like situations, people lose their humanity and discard social norms.

During the discussion, Alex suggested that the police train civilians on how to handle weapons. Some of them objected, thinking it was dangerous. Alex responded firmly:

“In these conditions, there’s no such thing as ‘civilian’ or ‘officer.’ The survival of the group depends on every member. If we don’t work together, everything will collapse before we have a chance to leave the city.”

Despite the objections, most of the officers agreed with Alex’s reasoning, understanding that civilians had to know how to defend themselves if none of the officers were around.

Before they all went their separate ways, Alex reminded them:

“Don’t forget to make lists of necessary items and people who need to be evacuated. This will make future raids easier.”

Then he turned to the only electrician in the group:

“Sakumo, you have a task too. Take a couple of people and check the electrical panels in the basement to prevent any power surges. Also, teach the guys what to do and how to do it. This will come in handy in the future.”

“No problem, you can count on me,” Sakumo replied with a smile and went off to find assistants. “I’ve already trained interns at my previous job, so I’ll manage.”

Alex nodded and told everyone to get a good rest before tomorrow—it would be an even more intense day than today. People began to scatter to spend time with their loved ones or friends. Alex headed for the observation room.

Entering the room, he found three local “gamers” still engrossed in playing video games, as if nothing unusual was happening. The day’s commotion clearly hadn’t affected them. Smiling to himself, Alex sat in the chair and began reviewing the footage from the cameras. Until the sun disappeared over the horizon, the zombies continued following their usual patterns, with no significant changes.

A few minutes later, Rebecca entered the room, drying her damp hair with a towel.

“What’s up, handsome?” she asked with a grin, sitting right on Alex’s lap.

“Reviewing footage from the cameras. How about you? Feeling refreshed? Alive again?” Alex smiled, briefly glancing away from the monitors.

“Not sure about ‘alive,’ but a hot shower is definitely the best thing that could happen,” Rebecca replied, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and leaning into him.

Alex softly kissed the top of her head and returned to watching the screens.

A couple of minutes later, Brunhilda entered the room with two mugs of coffee. She placed one in front of Alex, kept the other for herself, and took a sip with obvious enjoyment. Gradually, the other girls began to join, bringing plates of dinner with them.

“Thanks, girls,” Alex said, starting to eat while keeping his eyes on the monitors.

At the same time, he was considering where to install new cameras to expand their coverage and gather more data. Information about the world they were in was critically important. The virus that turned people into zombies clearly couldn’t have appeared for no reason, especially considering the mutations Alex had observed during experiments.

Two identical zombies could mutate completely differently, pointing to the virus’s extraordinary adaptability. This meant that even more dangerous strains of the infected would appear soon.

“Tonight, I’ll need to install additional cameras,” Alex thought. “Maybe I’ll even stumble upon something interesting or save some survivors.”

To be continued…

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep