The first apartment building became rowdy as the soldiers escorted the three survivors into safety. Kenji opened the door and was surprised about the additional people.
"These are...?"
"Survivors. We're taking them in." Dmitri replied, "Where is the Commander?"
"Upstairs. He said you should knock three times if you want to talk." Kenji shrugged, "Don't forget it."
"Okay." Dmitri nodded then turned around, "Everyone should rest first. Alexei, Selene, take everyone's loot first, then come with me."
He shifted into the trembling Evan, "You, young guy. Stay here. As for them..."
Then, he looked at Caleb and Walter on the sides.
Caleb was too shaken to be brought up, and Walter needed to rest after walking around for so long.
"Connor, Malek. Take these two to the sixth floor. Find a room for them."
"Roger." Connor and Malex moved over, assisting the unwell maintenance workers on the way up.
"Rex, stay here. I'll be back for you."
Rex barked and turned around, strolling the first floor with intense curiousity. Dmitri and his team followed after Connor and Malek. Soon, they arrived at the seventh floor.
Hans was scribbling on his notes when his unit's door was knocked three times.
"Who is it?" Hans raised his head.
"Dmitri, reporting to the Commander." The voice on the other side replied.
Oh? They're already finished? Hans was surprised. He put down his pen and closed his blue book. "Come in."
The door was opened. Dmitri came in first, followed by Alexei, Selene, and Evan.
"Hmm?" Hans surveyed them and stopped at the shaking young man wearing a fit-sized white maintenance coat.
"This is Evan, a survivor from the second apartment building, Commander." Dmitri introduced, "There are three of them maintenance workers who survived."
"Oh, is that so? I remember there were just two of them." Hans recalled. To him, one of the two was quite smart, and the older one was very experienced.
Though he had encountered them several times, their interaction was too short to form any sort of friendship.
He shook his head, turned to Evan and gestured, extending his hand, "Step forward. Tell me who you are, and what happened here."
Evan took a deep breath and went closer, eyeing the black-haired man seated behind the table. Hans's dark eyes were sharp, but not unkind. The kind of gaze that weighed people carefully but offered safety once judgment was passed.
For some reason, Evan felt his knees weaken, not out of fear but in relief.
He introduced himself and the crew of three, recollecting all the events that has happened before the apocalypse, and after it had struck.
Hans listened attentively, taking notes during the conversation. He would ocassionally have Evan pause, inquiring specific details about the topic.
Their talk lasted for half an hour before it stopped.
Evan rubbed his dry throat, taking the glass of water that Dmitri handed over and downed it in one go. A long breath of relief escaped his mouth, calming down his nerves that has been tensed for too long.
On the other hand, Hans's notebook was filled with text, circles, and arrows, connecting Evan's recollection and his own thoughts.
An idea flashed on his mind, remembering the rooftop access at the second apartment building.
"Dmitri, how about the rooftop? Did you check it when you were there?"
Dmitri stepped forward and saluted, "Reporting to the Commander. The situation is similar to what he said. Security guards swarm the manager's office. Clearing it will be difficult."
Hans agreed. The security guards were wearing vests, and their metallic caps could deflect bullets or even protect them from the usual knife attacks aimed at the head.
He was also worried whether the guards could physically brawl against his soldiers and tackle them down.
If that happens, then... he glanced at Dmitri. Backing down wasn't an option either. Delaying their progress further would allow that mysterious meteorite shard to do whatever it wanted to do. Hans might not be able to do anything when things become worse in the long run.
To him, the manager's office held possibilities that could help in clearing the apartments and securing the complex even faster.
CCTV feedbacks.
Keys.
Building layouts through blueprints.
Hidden stash.
The possibilities were endless, and even if only of them existed, Hans could formulate new strategies based on it alone.
My soldiers are better. I have to trust in them.
He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and spoke.
"Dmitri, I understand what you worry about it. However, can it be done? Can the manager's office be secured within today?"
"Yes, but I need three troops." Dmitri replied. "Rex and I shall deal against the security guards. The rest will act as backup and support."
"Good, you can start after lunch." Hans closed his notebook and shifted his eyes towards Evan, "As for you... Evan was it? How about you take a rest first? I can't let you work in your current... state, but my patience is limited."
"I... understand, sir." Evan bowed, his hands still trembling. He knew that Hans had given him time, but taking it too long wouldn't be good either.
He had to show his worth as soon as possible, or else he would be kicked out by this boss in front.
"You can find a room for yourself..." Hans paused, and lightly coughed, "Dmitri, where did you station the other two?"
"In the sixth floor, Commander."
Hans sighed internally and then continued, "You can find a room for yourself in the sixth floor, understood?"
"Yes, sir. I... can I go now?" Evan wanted to leave as quickly as he could. The tense atmosphere in this room was too much for him to bear.
"Yes, go ahead." Hans gestured for Evan to leave.
He watched the door close and the footsteps fade away. Once he was sure that Evan was far away, Hans straightened his posture and asked.
"Dmitri, how goes the second apartment building?"
"Everything is being secured, Commander. Four conscripts has been assigned to block the entrances and openings at the first floor, but I doubt they may be enough."
"Indeed, you can send four more troops to help them. It doesn't matter if they are army soldiers or conscripts." Hans ordered, "Also, when you clear the manager's office later, make sure to not damage the equipment of those security guards. They might prove useful for the survivors to wear, and their weapons too."
"As you command, sir."
"Also, Ethan still has his axe, yes?" Hans remembered this troop who had gained a trait that increased their physical strength.
He hadn't been integrating them much into his plans, but it seems that a few changes must be made.
"I believe so, Commander."
"Then let him accompany you and have him chop down heads. You shall act as cover with your silenced submachine gun. Do not fire unless the situation is very dangerous. As for the others, have them use those weapons at the maintenance room."
Hans added. He always felt he was stupid after forgetting to equip his soldiers with slightly better equipment. Although the combat knife was indestructible and had incredible lethality agaisnt the zombies, the reach was too short.
The crowbars were great, having the sufficient damage and durability. Banging solid metal into a human would result to severe injuries, what more if it was aimed at a rotting zombie's head.
The axes weren't to be underestimated as well. Its sharp edge and longer was nothing short of lethal. Ethan's use of such weapon had shown its effects, and never had it let Hans down.
Beheading those zombies is a must. No equipment damaged, and all the experience to him... Hans thought.
"I shall follow your arrangement, Commander."
"You can go now if you don't have any other questions." Hans yawned, fanning himself with his hands.
"We shall leave these loot for you to take, Commander." Dmitri signaled to Alexei and Selene.
The two carefully put down two large bags filled with clanging. Hans could already imagine the amount of jewelries and valuable materials stored in there.
"Did you loot the food as well?" Hans added.
"We shall get back to them, Commander. We prioritized these first." Dmitri scratched his jaw, "Also, we were afraid to contaminate any food source after dealing with the infected. I hope that the Commander forgives us."
"There's no need to punish you. I have not considered that part as well." Hans smiled and stood up, ready to convert all loot into precious Gold resources.
"Then we shall take our leave, Commander." Dmitri, Alexei, and Selene saluted before stepping out of the room.
Hans knuckled his fists, stretched his body, and rubbed his hands.
"Now, time to take care of this!"
...
Dmitri walked down the stairwell with Alexei and Selene behind him.
"An hour from now, gather the squad at the first floor except Malek and Connor." Dmitri ordered. "I shall be briefing everyone of our new task."
"Understood, sir." Alexei and Selene looked at each other, then sprinted downstairs. Time was of the essence as they still had to rest for a bit and also eat their lunch.
"Pretty girl, once this is over, how about a nice date at the cafeteria?" Alexei invited.
"Thank you, but I still have duties to follow." Selene harrumphed and left Alexei in the dust. The latter scratched his head and wondered what went wrong.
"Ah, I guess I should be eating my ration as well."
Dmitri looked at the couple with amusement, wondering if he should let the Commander know about this interesting romantic development.
"Let's talk about it another day. I should devise a plan for the manager's office first."