But This Isn't Really My Fault (3)
The pedals spun under my feet.
Riding a bike didn't change the way I moved. I watched the surroundings carefully and only started when it looked safe. To prepare for sudden trouble I had to conserve my stamina so I didn't rush and instead crept along at a leisurely pace.
At the same time I kept sending and receiving messages.
8qawsed8
「The Langbert village is basically hell. Gangs armed to the teeth on motorcycles and zombies that came looking because of the noise are already tearing each other apart. I absolutely don't recommend it. Do you really have to go there?」
Of course I had to go.
First off there'd probably be almost no zombies there. The gang guys would just shoot anything that came close. And gangs were the type who cheated others out of what they could. They'd keep raiding regularly so the stuff around here would likely be cleaned out already.
Not many zombies and plenty of good items but plenty of bad guys you could kill for no reason so why wouldn't I go?
'Steal the gang area clean and grab the seed capital for independence.'
This wasn't the chaos phase yet. Even if everything was still shaky the groups had mostly solidified their positions. In a situation like this it was better to smash the heads of the sloppy assholes and take over rather than force your way in.
Was fighting a massive gang alone impossible?
Well if it was then I could just get someone else to do the fighting. Anyway the supplies inside couldn't be handled by me alone. I'd give them what they wanted and take only what I needed.
Especially the most urgent thing was in Langbert.
V
「I need something. There's no choice.」
I needed a car.
I wasn't dreaming of a camper. Hell even a tiny two-seater would do. With a car there'd be a warehouse and a bit of safe sleeping space. Even if the gas ran out I could still use it as a shelter.
Then where was there better than the cars the gangs had? Maintenance would be good and the gas would be plenty and if I was lucky there'd be weapons and ammo and food.
Just thinking about it made my mouth water and my stomach started rumbling.
8qawsed8
「...So right now to get that bag you have to come to the outskirts of Langbert or Hampton right? Is that correct?」
Correct.
8qawsed8
「I wish the deal could be made in a safe place but I don't think it would be good for all of us. For example if you go east from there you'll find a big reservoir.」
V
「I can't go that far. You're telling me to run through the wasteland dodging biker gang eyes right now?」
* * * * *
Information Section. Leticia bit her lip. If it had been her usual self she'd have stayed cold and professional. But after the earlier commotion with the new section chief there was no way she could back down now.
The latest report the controller had brought only made the chaos worse.
「While transporting medical supplies and personnel to Hampton the convoy was attacked by a biker gang. The defense force appears to have all been killed and the severely injured have been left behind and turned into zombies. Survival unknown.」
「Additional - Intelligence that a human auction market will open in Langbert village. The government has forbidden recovery of medical supplies and rescue of medical personnel in Langbert. Judging that the benefits outweigh the losses.」
Human auction market.
It was a big event that drew every local vicious criminal from the area. The armament level would probably be decent. Going to a place like that was something no sane human would do.
"...You're not suggesting we go somewhere else besides the Hampton outskirts right?」
One of the frustrated officers tried to voice his opinion but Leticia shook her head.
"You won't like the answer. He's aiming for the Elysium Protocol right now."
"If it's the Elysium Protocol then...」
"We want to crush the gangs in Langbert and if the terrorist Hans happened to be reading this conversation he'd leak information. He's trying to pull both sides in. He's subtly implying that if one side doesn't go then the other side will benefit."
* * * * *
At the same time the Elza Liberation Movement members reached the same conclusion.
"Hans. What the hell is going on here?」
"...Both sides are trying to get cheated again.」
Hans snarled.
"You show that lame nickname? Anyone can see it's advertising 'I'm an 8th Cavalry Regiment guy.' That guy is trying to drag both us Gendarmerie and our organization members to Langbert. He's rigged a situation where there's no way out. What kind of bastard is that guy?」
It didn't seem like a normal intelligence leak. Intelligence leaks couldn't come up with such dangerous scenarios or have the guts to pull it off.
It wasn't from another liberation unit either. After scouring the area yesterday and today all I'd gotten were complaints like 'Why are you telling us this when it's your jurisdiction?」
Was it possible it was an Elza puppet government or eastern dictator's spy?
That was an even more unbelievable story. If that's who it was they could have just handed over the bag without all this complicated procedure.
"For now let's keep watching.」
* * * * *
8qawsed8
「Understood. No choice. Then let's meet near Langbert. But how will I recognize you? And how should I tell you about myself?」
At last the words were coming through clearly. But he didn't answer right away. Smiling brightly he kept pedaling the bike. Take it easy from now on. Now I'd have to negotiate the price.
V
「I'll leave the bag on the top of the Langbert village office tower. You can take it. There's no need to show yourself right?」
Of course the real intent was 'Clean out all of Langbert and carve out a path for me.' If this 8qawsed8 guy couldn't do that and the deal fell through would I have to sell it to Hans instead?
It didn't matter. I'd just grab my phone and ditch the bag. If the phone turned into a brick what then? I'd sell a cheap phone somewhere. Anyway I had no intention of meeting Hans.
If that bag was really that important to Hans he'd have come himself no matter what. But he didn't. Instead he told me to move it.
It was something he valued very much but he didn't want to touch it with his own hands and it contained a bomb that could blow me to kingdom come within fifty meters and there was a satellite tracking device and remote detonator on the bag so he wanted me to move it to a populated area?
It couldn't be a normal item.
What Hans really wanted was for me to become a suicide bomber. If I moved it to the Hampton outskirts and he pressed the remote switch it would be over. Obvious.
It was much better to sell it cheap and go looking for another way.
Actually I felt like throwing it away right now. It was heavy as hell and useless.
* * * * *
Only after a long wait did the information officers who saw the reply get excited.
"Langbert village office? That's the absolute center! The defense lines are rock solid! Isn't this too ambitious?」
Leticia sent the reply.
8qawsed8
「Sorry. Going that far is too difficult. Instead of the village how about the factory area? There's a place where three chimneys line up. The chimneys are higher and oddly shaped so it's easy to find. The access is also better than the village center.」
The reply came earlier than expected.
V
「That sounds good. But only if you answer my questions. Right now how does the zombie virus spread? What level do people know about the virus and how are they handling the disease? If you answer these I'll place the bag on the factory chimney. I already know about zoonotic transmission.」
"...How the virus spreads? What are you even asking about?」
It was absurd. Suddenly asking about virus information out of nowhere. What kind of nonsense was this? Leticia racked her brains and gave a reasonable answer.
8qawsed8
「I don't know much about medicine but I'll answer. The infection route is exactly as you know.
First things first. Zoonotic transmission is real. It can spread through body fluid exchange and skin contact. Especially if there's a wound on the skin the risk increases. No biting or scratching.
The virus doesn't seem to spread through air or water and transmission through insects hasn't been confirmed.
It seems to spread through droplets like sneezing or talking but more case studies are needed. Transmission through objects is still being studied but the possibility seems low. Don't just wear zombies' clothes anyway.
The Elza government has therefore set up Human Non-Protected Zones to isolate the infected and protect the healthy. Wash hands three times a day avoid unnecessary contact always listen to the news and follow orders.」
V
「Thirst?」
8qawsed8
「What?」
V
「What do you mean unnatural thirst? Isn't it abnormal for your stomach to feel emptier right after eating something? Is there something related to this?」
"...Thirst?」
Everyone tilted their heads. Leticia did the same. When she was in the unit she wasn't usually hungry but the moment she went on a mission she got starving. Even more so in the Human Non-Protected Zones.
But the government had answered this question perfectly too. 'Trust the government and you will be saved.'
8qawsed8
「The official government policy is that it's psychological influence. Like urban legends. The more you think about it the more you become aware of it. Nothing wrong with your health.」
V
「Understood. That's enough. Last question. Are you really buying the bag?」
There was no choice.
8qawsed8
「Yes. When should I come after?」
V
「Let's say in three days. If anything happens send a message. I don't know if I'll be able to reply though.」
8qawsed8
「Confirmed」
The conversation ended there.
She leaned back in her chair but not for long. Leticia looked at her officers. The team tracking the signal reported first.
「Abnormal signal detected near the Transmission Tower Forest. But the pattern changes too abruptly to track. Still the overall trend matches Elza independent terrorist activity. Not mobile phone signal either.」
「According to Hoot the bag contained a satellite tracking device and a mobile phone relay. He didn't even explain the exact principle to us. It's encrypted and we don't know how to decrypt it yet.」
The information officer added.
「Does that mean Hans can accurately locate the person?」
「No. The encryption is too complex and the signal sensitivity too weak so there are large errors. He can only get rough locations not precise ones.」
That was at least fortunate but she couldn't relax. Hans had read this conversation so he would definitely do something. He'd either attack the gangs as fast as possible or commit some terrorist act... The possible scenarios made her head spin.
No. She didn't have time to think about that now. First she had to file the report. First she had to focus on V. What was the purpose of that person? How did that person know the village situation and why did he want to draw both her and Hans in? And why was he asking about the virus again...
"Eh?」
A single cry. Everyone looked at Leticia. As if her legs had given out she slumped into the chair and started scribbling on paper and pencils.
"Chief?」
The sight of Leticia drawing O and X repeatedly like a madman was bizarre. But no one dared speak to her. The overwhelming focus she was in was felt by everyone.
"I think I get it.」
Leticia lifted her head with dazed eyes. 'Finally the chief has cracked.' The information officer tried to say something but she spoke first.
"Information officer. Write up a detailed report on the current progress as soon as possible. I'm going to deliver the verbal report. Make sure the report is the top priority."
"Eh? Where are you going?」
"To the Special Mission Team chief.」
A smile filled Leticia's face.
"...I think I now know which unit that person belongs to."