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At the other end of the warehouse, Manager Gendo Sugawara and the security guard Takeshi huddled together.
"Old Takeshi, you've seen the news on your phone these past couple days."
"The whole world's gone completely insane."
"If you're waiting for rescue, forget it. No one's coming."
Sugawara glanced around at the towering stacks of supplies and smiled, his cheeks bunching up.
"This place is packed with goods. With what we've got here, we could survive ten years easy."
"But we need to set some rules."
"Otherwise people will keep showing up begging for help, and we won't have enough to feed everyone. Right?"
Takeshi was no fool. He caught on immediately.
"Manager Sugawara, I get what you're saying."
"As long as you don't screw me over, I'm with you."
"Good. Then it's settled."
Sugawara's smile turned ugly.
"From now on, anyone we take in—men do the hard labor. As for the women…"
He let out a low chuckle.
"They can keep us entertained."
"If they don't cooperate, beat them until they do. In times like this, nobody's going to care if someone dies."
"Manager Sugawara, you've had your eye on that tall, long-legged beauty who just arrived, haven't you?" Takeshi said, grinning.
"You bet I have."
"Have you seen those legs? Damn…"
"I could play with her for a whole year."
Just imagining it made Sugawara's blood heat up.
"Fine. The long-legged one's yours," Takeshi said eagerly. "But Uzaki Hana… let me have her."
Sugawara frowned slightly. In his mind, every attractive woman here belonged to him.
"Weren't you messing around with Sister Sae already?" he asked.
"And now you're after Hana too?"
"Sister Sae? She's forty!"
"Before the apocalypse, sure, I could have some fun. But now? I've got to aim higher."
"I only have this one request. Uzaki Hana is mine."
"Otherwise, I'm out."
Sugawara hesitated, then waved a hand.
"Alright, alright. Don't get worked up."
"Besides, we're the ones in charge here."
"Even if we share, take turns… what's the problem?"
He raised his eyebrows suggestively.
Takeshi laughed. "Manager Sugawara, you really know how to live."
The two men quickly came to an understanding.
—
After getting Sugawara's approval, Takeshi wasted no time heading to the cosmetics section.
"Uzaki Hana, come with me for a second," he called out casually. "There's something we need to discuss."
He looked her up and down with open greed, like a hunter sizing up prey.
"Ah… okay."
Hana had no idea what he was thinking. Innocent as ever, she followed him to the side.
"Uzaki Hana," Takeshi began, lowering his voice. "You know what the world's become."
"This warehouse doesn't feed freeloaders."
"Everyone has to provide value."
"You too. You understand what I mean, right?"
His eyes roamed over her body.
"Captain Takeshi, don't worry!" she said quickly. "I'll work hard—cleaning, inventory, whatever you need!"
She was just an intern. Having shelter and food was already more than she could have hoped for.
She didn't mind hard work.
If they threw her out, she wouldn't survive out there.
Takeshi clicked his tongue.
"I think you misunderstood."
"What I mean is… you should make use of your greatest advantage."
He licked his lips, not even bothering to hide the lust in his eyes.
Hana froze.
She understood.
He wanted her to trade her body for the right to stay.
"Captain Takeshi! That's too much!"
"We're colleagues…"
"How can you…"
She backed away as she spoke.
"You think this is still the old world?" he sneered.
"Let me tell you something."
"Right now, women are like merchandise."
"They exist to be used."
He began unbuckling his belt as he stepped toward her.
Hana trembled, but she forced herself to act. Grabbing a bottle of shampoo from a nearby shelf, she flung it at him, splashing the contents all over his face.
While he cursed and wiped his eyes, she bolted for the main entrance.
"Damn it! You dare fight back?"
"Just wait until I make you beg!"
Takeshi wiped his face and chased after her.
"Don't come any closer!"
"If you do, I'll… I'll…"
"I'll run outside!"
Hana clutched the door handle, her whole body shaking.
To her, being violated by Takeshi was worse than dying at the hands of zombies.
"What's going on?"
"Takeshi, how did it turn into this?"
Manager Sugawara rushed over after hearing the commotion. When he saw Hana gripping the door handle, his heart skipped.
If she opened the door and let zombies in, they'd all be dead.
"Manager, I didn't expect her to be this fierce," Takeshi said irritably.
If he'd known she'd be so troublesome, he could've just gotten her drunk first. That would've been easier.
If she died now, what a waste.
Where else would he find a figure like that?
"Uzaki Hana!" Sugawara called out in a soothing voice. "Listen to Manager Sugawara. Don't be impulsive."
"You know what kind of world this is now."
"You're a weak woman. You need a strong man to rely on if you want to survive."
"Come back. Let's talk."
"I won't!" Hana shouted, eyes red. "Even if I die, I won't let you have your way!"
In her mind, her body would only ever belong to someone she loved.
Selling herself to survive?
She couldn't do it.
"Alright, alright. We won't force you," Sugawara said quickly.
"Just come back first."
If they could just trick her into stepping away from the door, two grown men together could easily overpower her.
After a few times, even the fiercest woman would give in.
Hearing his words, Hana's guard lowered slightly. Her hand loosened on the handle.
"Now!" Sugawara barked.
Both men lunged toward her.
Startled, Hana reacted on instinct and shoved the handle down with all her strength.
The door swung open.
Sugawara and Takeshi froze mid-stride.
Several pale, rotting arms suddenly thrust through the crack.
Before Hana could even turn her head, the zombies' hands grabbed her and dragged her out in one brutal yank.
"....."