The scout team wasn't supposed to include Miku, originally.
Tysone had everyone eventually gathered to discuss the next course of action.
"Not happening." Saya said flatly.
"I'm evolved now." Miku countered, whining slightly. "Which means I'm useful in situations where things go wrong."
"Things always go wrong."
"Exactly. So you need me."
Saeko, leaning against the study wall with a cup of tea, made a small sound that could have been a laugh. "She's not wrong."
Tysone hummed. An evolved was an evolved regardless of skill, but Miku wasn't exactly the most reliable out there. "And what's your argument?"
"I'm fast. And I'm small. I can get into places you big lugs can't." She said, puffing out her chest slightly. "And I've been practicing with my new bat."
"Her speed has increased significantly." Saeko conceded, which did some hold some argumental weight as she was the instructor. "She's a decent scout."
"She's quite strong too." Takashi added.
"Stay out of this." Saya said, not looking at him.
"I'm simply observing. As an evolved member of the team who has—"
"Stay out of this."
She rolled her eyes.
Takashi deflated. "Alright."
The problem with this discussion was that to take Miku, they'd have to leave someone behind as well. They couldn't simply bring every core user. Their group was already pushing the limits of the Mule's capacity. If they went for a quick mission, they'd be better off taking only a select group.
It had to be balanced on both sides. A strong core croup capable of carrying out the expedition, and a strong core group capable of protecting their home.
He had to weigh the pros and cons.
They eventually compromised by taking Miku but leaving Kohta, who'd lobbied hard to come and then sulked about it. Asami told him to stop making faces and come help her with the east-side reinforcements instead, which he did, which was how the compromise actually worked.
Leaving Kohta behind would be a massive handicap. His marksmanship was exceptional, and he'd become their go-to for overwatch and long-distance engagement. But Saeko was more valuable, and he couldn't have all the strongest members in one group. Tysone and Saeko would've been enough as the main carriers of firepower, and the others, while still weaker, would provide good enough cover. So it was an acceptable trade-off.
Kohta would be the one to protect the mansion alongside Shizuka and Haruto. They had enough firepower for defensive purposes.
He also planned to have Kenji on the expedition team, as they'd need more than one vehicle if they were to explore the port. A second car would be useful, as it'd carry additional supplies and people, and more importantly, an escape route if something happened to the Mule.
He decided to have Daichi, the old civil engineer, help with the defenses along with Kohta. The old man knew a thing or two about building fortifications. That would be useful if they were ever attacked. Both of them were clever enough to hold their ground.
This left him with a team of six.
Tysone, Saeko, Takashi, Rei, Miku, and Kenji.
A good team. A balanced team.
They spent the next two days preparing.
They acquired a new vehicle—a sturdy, boxy delivery van they found abandoned a few blocks away. Kenji and Daichi, in a surprising display of mechanical synergy, got its engine running and reinforced its frame with steel plating salvaged from a construction site. It wasn't the Mule, but it was reliable, and it could carry a lot of gear.
Kenji named it "The Tortoise".
Tysone had to stop Kohta from painting a ridiculous turtle shell on the back.
The cores from Hayashi's stash were distributed with the same pragmatism as before. The remaining four Rank 1 cores went to the next logical candidates. Takashi and Rei got one, pushing them beyond average Rank 1, though still far from Rank 2. For the sake of ensuring Kenji's survival in the expedition, he also got one.
Takashi and Rei tested out their new strength under Tysone, Saeko and Saya's careful watch. It turns out that absorbing the same rank cores, increased the already enhanced baseline stats. It was not comparable to someone absorbing it for the first time, but it could still make a difference.
...
The expedition planning took one more day, where everyone gathered one last time.
Kohta spread a hand-drawn map across the workshop table, marking routes to the city and back. Possible obstacles. Likelihood of big hordes based on population density maps Saya had pulled from a forgotten planning office data drive. His handwriting was atrocious—Asami kept asking him to clarify which lines were actual roads and which were just angry scribbles
"I don't like the main bridge." Kohta said, pointing at a thick red line. "It's a natural chokepoint. If you get blocked there, you're trapped."
Tysone nodded. Bridges were death traps in the apocalypse. Funnel points. Any smart group would set up an ambush there, or a large horde could bottle them up indefinitely.
"There's a secondary crossing downriver." Kenji offered. "Old railway bridge. Not for cars, but it's wide enough for the Mule and the Tortoise."
Daichi examined the map. "That bridge is old. Its structural integrity was questionable before all this. We need to assume it's worse now."
"We scout it on foot before we cross." Tysone decided. "If it's compromised, we find another way."
The plan was simple, a philosophy Tysone preferred. Simple plans had fewer breaking points. Go in. Observe. Gather information. Get whatever you needed. Get out. No direct engagement unless absolutely necessary. Avoid conflict. Their firepower was a last resort, not the primary tool.
Of course, their objective was also to set up a potential forward operating base.
The port was too big to clear in one trip. The goal for this expedition was to locate a defensible building, a warehouse or a small office with a good vantage point, and secure it, which meant that someone would have to stay there to protect it. Tysone naturally had already made that choice for himself.
They had to spread their influence in the city at all costs. Being stuck in one place would get them nowhere.
Saya gave Tysone a look, a quiet, complicated thing he couldn't quite read. She knew he'd be on the front lines. She was worried, but she didn't try to stop him. That wasn't their dynamic.
...
The morning of their departure felt different.
There was a new kind of stillness in the mansion, a tension that came from knowing a significant portion of their strength would be gone.
It was always like this; they'd always been victorious so far, but there was a very real possibility that some of them wouldn't come back. They all knew that.
The morning sun cast long shadows across the courtyard as the final preparations were made.
The Mule was loaded with fuel, spare parts, and the team's personal gear. The Tortoise was packed with more food, water, medical supplies, and a cache of ammunition. They were traveling heavy, which made them slower, but Tysone wasn't taking chances.
Kohta was supervising the final checks on the Mule's gun mount. Asami stood beside him, holding a clipboard and looking every bit the diligent second-in-command. He'd gotten over his pouting about being left behind, channeling that energy into ensuring the vehicles were as close to invincible as he could make them.
"Boss..."
Kohta eventually walked up to Tysone. Everyone else was softly chattering amongst themselves. They were trying to keep the mood light.
"Kohta. Or shall I say King of Destruction?" Tysone laughed.
The chubby boy rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment. "Hehe... I'll protect this place with my life. And Shizuka-sensei too. You can count on me, you hear?"
"I know I can. That's why I'm leaving you and Saya in charge." He pat the boy on the shoulder, a rare gesture that made Kohta stand straighter. "Don't let anything happen to our home."
"You got it."
His hands balled up into fists, glasses flashing resolutely. He was a different person from the timid boy who'd been bullied at Fujimi High. He had found his place.
With a final look around the courtyard, Tysone climbed into the driver's seat of the Mule.
Saeko was already in the passenger seat, her katana resting between her knees, the new one sheathed at her hip. She gave him a small, confident nod.
Takashi and Rei were in the back, along with Miku, who was practically vibrating with excitement, her new aluminum bat propped up next to her. Kenji was behind the wheel of the Tortoise, ready to follow.
The massive gates of the mansion swung open, revealing the quiet, desolate street beyond.
As they pulled out, Tysone looked back one last time.
Author's Note:
If you're enjoying the story and want to read ahead or support my work, you can check out my P@treon at [email protected]/LordCampione. But don't worry—all chapters will eventually be public. Just being here and reading means the world to me. Thank you for your time and support.