"Tsukiyo, the team's headcount has reached over thirty people. If we continue like this, our food storage won't last long."
At night, Inaba Tsukiyo and her group gathered by candlelight to discuss their next steps, starting with the team's food reserves.
"According to our next objective, if more survivors join us at Shinkawa Third Elementary School, we'll have to find new supermarkets or convenience stores for food. However, the hummer's condition is not optimistic."
Despite their best efforts to protect the hummer, its durability had decreased to the point of nearly being scrapped from constantly ramming into Zombies.
If the hummer were destroyed, their stored food reserves would also decrease, and everyone would need to carry a bag with some food reserves.
"Regarding this, I think if we hold on for a few more days, we should get some relief. Our purpose in going to Shinkawa Third Elementary School this time is to investigate whether Miyamoto and Komuro's parents are still alive. Once that's confirmed, we can leave the city and go to small villages near the city, which are the best locations for us to establish a safe zone."
Shizuka Marikawa took out the map she found, laid it on the table, and pointed out a nearby village that was well-developed.
"I have some impression of this place. This village specializes in growing crops. To reach the city more easily, this village is not far from here. Once we get there, we can start building the safe zone."
Shizuka Marikawa marked the village's location. It wasn't far from their current position, but it would still take a few hours to walk there.
"Here... if there really are farmlands and greenhouses here, there must be rice and similar things stored."
Even without freezing, rice can be stored for a long time, and even without electricity, they can still cook and live.
Thinking of this, Takagi Saya's eyes lit up. Food supplies had always been taken from supermarkets and convenience stores, and she had never considered this most basic form of food supply.
As long as the farmlands and greenhouses hadn't been destroyed, they would be fully capable of planting there and continuously harvesting large amounts of food.
"A good method. Actually, I don't support all of you moving together. While it concentrates all your strength, constantly moving like this will eventually lead to an unmanageable predicament. If you had such a safe zone, at least you wouldn't have to worry about resting areas and food while searching for people."
Miyamoto Kiriko also joined the discussion. As a member of society, her advice often hit the nail on the head, directly addressing the core of the problem.
After Miyamoto Kiriko finished speaking, she found the surroundings had become quiet. She looked up and saw everyone staring at her in shock, as if looking at a stranger, even her own daughter.
"Hey, what are those expressions? Is there a problem with me giving some advice?"
"You... are you really Mom? Impossible, how could the Mom who likes to solve problems with violence say something like that?"
"Hey (#`O′)! Is that how you talk about your Mom? I admit I do like to handle problems in a rougher way, but I also know how to assess the situation, okay? You little girl, just wait until I teach you a good lesson."
"Takashi! Save me!"
Komuro Takashi glanced at Miyamoto Rei, who was being dragged away by Miyamoto Kiriko, scratched his head, and after two seconds of thought, ignored Miyamoto Rei's plea for help and turned his head away.
He hadn't forgotten the days when Miyamoto Kiriko had taught him a lesson. Ask him to help Miyamoto Rei? Please, he wasn't tired of living yet, okay?
And so, Miyamoto Rei witnessed the coldness of human nature. No one extended a helping hand to her. Everyone just watched as she was dragged by Miyamoto Kiriko to a room on the second floor.
"Alright, let's continue with the problem. The terrain around the safe zone must be secure. Those Corpse/Dead Bodies don't seem interested in Animals."
Takagi Saya pointed to Kiku in Shizuka Marikawa's hand. When Kiku had roared loudly, although it attracted a large number of Zombies, these Zombies had no interest in it. From this, it could be seen that Corpse/Dead Bodies had little interest in Animals.
"Since the Corpse/Dead Bodies aren't interested in Animals, then the livestock in the countryside might still be alive. We just don't know if they've died from not being fed for so many days."
"After we find this safe zone, the teams with weaker combat strength will stay behind to be responsible for building the base, while those with stronger combat strength will go out to fight and search for survivors."
"I have an objection to that. Even if we establish a safe zone, we can't just take in any survivor."
Inaba Tsukiyo raised her hand and said, she didn't want just any minor character to be able to enter the safe zone and make the environment chaotic.
"Everyone living in the safe zone must have their names recorded by designated personnel. Everyone must contribute to the safe zone, and any action that endangers the safe zone will result in expulsion."
"We are a team. The reason why no one has fallen behind since this team was established is because each of you has worked hard. But not everyone is like you. I believe you must have met some people who could be called black sheep, right? Imagine those people joining us, and then, when we're not paying attention, destroying the base we painstakingly built. Would you really allow such a thing?"
Opening her eyes, Inaba Tsukiyo glared at Komuro Takashi, who was about to speak, with a look that said, 'If you dare to retort, I'll chop you up right now.' This made Komuro Takashi swallow his words.
Faced with this situation, Takagi Saya raised her eyes slightly and nodded.
She actually agreed with this arrangement. When the safe zone was established, they should enact as many laws as possible. Without laws, the safe zone would only become more chaotic.
No one knew how long this crisis would last. Even if they initially built a small base, through everyone's efforts, it would eventually become a large one. They had to look at the future with a long-term perspective.
"With this analysis, the next goal is indeed much clearer. Otherwise, acting without a plan will eventually lead to boredom."
"Yes. Although we all choose to fight, we can't fight forever. When we're not fighting, we can also help with the construction of the safe zone."
"The more I think about it, the more possible it seems. I think we can live on. Since this world has no hope, then we shall become the hope to save this world."
Discussions, big and small, ensued, with everyone debating the feasibility of Takagi Saya's plan.
Almost everyone affirmed the plan. Although it would be difficult at first, they would see the light after the most challenging period of their efforts.
Almost everyone had a smile on their face. Everyone began to look forward to a bright future and the construction of the safe zone.
After everyone went to sleep, Inaba Tsukiyo did not rest with them but instead found Takagi Saya and the others.
"There's something I haven't told you. Although it's just my guess, I think you might want to hear it."
After confirming that no one else was eavesdropping nearby, Inaba Tsukiyo revealed her conjecture.
"Remember the EMP? I suspect it was launched by the government, and its purpose was to hasten the arrival of the apocalypse."
This simple sentence made everyone's faces change. They had almost forgotten about the EMP, that thing that made the situation even more severe, and it was actually launched by the government?
"This isn't baseless speculation. We all saw the bright light in the sky explode near the ocean. Based on that light, it's very likely that the EMP was launched from the sea."
"So, the question is, what kind of facility is needed to launch such a large-scale EMP attack from the sea?"
If it was just a small boat, there would be no way to launch such a weapon. Moreover, to prevent themselves from being affected by the EMP, those who launched it would definitely have taken anti-EMP measures beforehand.
"...Warships. Only such steel behemoths would have enough equipment capacity to prevent EMP attacks while launching an EMP. Ordinary people simply cannot own warships. The only possibilities are the military and the government."
Takagi Saya said through gritted teeth. The government, which had been silent all this time, was actually the culprit behind the apocalypse. If others heard this news, they would surely fall into a panic.
Everyone finally understood why Inaba Tsukiyo had only told them this. Although they didn't want to believe it, it was very likely the truth.
"Why are you telling us this, Tsukiyo? Have you thought of something bad?"
"Something bad? Perhaps. Although it's just a guess, the government has been rescuing its more important members from the very beginning, such as certain scientists or high-ranking officials. The helicopters we saw in the sky back then were for this purpose."
"After all the important members are saved, what methods will be used against the other, less important people? Have you thought about it clearly?"
After saying that, Inaba Tsukiyo did not continue, turning and leaving, leaving behind Takagi Saya and the others with grim expressions.
After she left the room, a small Imaginary Space appeared beside her. A tiny Honkai Beast she had dispatched appeared by her ear, seemingly telling her something.
"I see… underground, not far from here? Because of the EMP, only underground places wouldn't be affected by the EMP?"
Inaba Tsukiyo nodded. Although it was only a preliminary discovery, once the location was confirmed, the subsequent matters to deal with would be much simpler.
She just didn't know how many such places there were. She had to find all of them at once and then annihilate them in one go to eliminate future troubles.
"The next target includes the nearby sea area. If any suspicious vessels are found, come back and tell me directly."
The Honkai Beast flapped its wings, seemingly agreeing with Inaba Tsukiyo's words. This command was also received by the other Honkai Beasts collecting information.
"If the source of this world's destruction lies with humanity, then if all those sick humans are eliminated, this world will be saved, right?"
Before that, let's go see what these people have been doing.
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