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Julian's mind raced.
The computer mall had been attacked by an Awakened squad.All the zombie corpses were gone.There were way too many Awakened here.
Put it all together…
"Holy shit…"
A possibility hit him.
The Bloodfang Camp was probably the same group that raided the mall. They'd hauled all the zombie bodies back with them.
And as for what those bodies were used for…
Julian glanced at the half-cooked meat on his plate.
These people really had some twisted imagination.
Who the hell came up with this first?
Zombies eat people… so you eat zombies in return?
Not afraid of dying at all, huh…
It clicked quickly after that.
The first guy who tried it must've eaten zombie meat and somehow didn't get infected. So he kept eating. Eventually, he awakened.
After that, he gathered people, built a group…
That's probably how Bloodfang Camp came to be.
As for why they kept recruiting survivors…
There was only one explanation.
Normal people eating zombie meat could go three ways: get infected, stay fine, or awaken.
So the camp just kept bringing in new people, feeding them zombie meat, and filtering out the Awakened.
Zombies were everywhere anyway. Meat wasn't exactly in short supply.
As for the unlucky ones who got infected…
They became the next batch of "food."
And the ones who neither got infected nor awakened? Cheap labor wasn't bad either.
Who knows—maybe if they kept eating, they'd awaken eventually.
Damn. What a system.
Nothing goes to waste.
Everyone who came here got squeezed for maximum value.
If this kept going…
Bloodfang Camp might actually take over N City.
That wouldn't do.
Julian had his own base in N City. If Bloodfang kept growing, it would mess with his nice, laid-back life.
Better wipe them out before they got too strong.
"Hey, Kento, why aren't you eating?"
"Not to your taste?"
The fat guy, Katsuo, had already finished all his meat.
"Here, you can have mine."
"I'm Buddhist. I eat vegetarian."
Julian made something up on the spot.
"Ah, what a shame."
Katsuo didn't hesitate. He grabbed the meat straight off Julian's plate and stuffed it into his mouth.
Didn't even care if it was undercooked. Probably used to rare steaks or something.
Across the table, the young couple were eating like wolves. Looked like they'd been starving for days.
Julian scanned the hall. Everyone had their heads down, devouring meat.
"Kento~ not used to it?"
Liza noticed he hadn't taken a bite and walked over.
"I'm vegetarian. All meat… not really my thing," Julian said with a smile.
"I see…"
"Wait a moment."
Liza turned and left.
She came back shortly after, carrying something.
"These are usually only for Awakened," she said. "But since you just got here and can't handle the food, I'll make an exception."
She placed a cucumber and two tomatoes in front of him.
Then she shot him a look loaded with meaning.
Julian paused.
Yeah… that wasn't even subtle.
This woman was definitely planning to sleep with him.
This place was dangerous. More dangerous than a nest of zombies. He couldn't stay long.
Still, he had things to do first.
He sniffed the tomatoes. They seemed normal, so he started eating.
Then he picked up the cucumber.
One sniff—
Something felt off.
It smelled… used.
Julian glanced at Liza in the distance.
You've got to be kidding me… was this your personal stash?
That's crossing the line.
"I'm full. Anyone want the cucumber?" he asked.
"Ah, Kento, you've got a small appetite," the husband from the young couple said. "I've had too much meat anyway. I'll take it."
He grabbed the cucumber and crunched into it, loud and satisfied.
Then suddenly—
Someone at another table stood up.
A strange sound came from his throat.
He staggered back, bent over, and started vomiting violently.
Everyone froze.
What… didn't like the food?
Soon, more than a dozen people started throwing up.
The Awakened guards nearby didn't even flinch. They calmly pulled out daggers and stabbed each vomiting person in the back of the neck, severing their spinal nerves.
That way, when they turned into zombies, all they could do was babble and twitch.
Then the guards dragged the paralyzed bodies off toward another hall.
The remaining twenty-something people slowly set down their food.
They were all stunned.
What the hell was going on?
You could die just from eating?
Why were those people vomiting?
Was there something wrong with the food?
Confusion spread across every face.
"Everyone, don't panic!"
Liza stepped forward, back in her role as guide.
"The food is perfectly fine. Otherwise, wouldn't you all be the same?"
"Those people were probably already infected before they joined."
"Eating caused blood flow to spike in their stomachs, which triggered the virus."
"Our Awakened acted quickly and dealt with them before they could turn."
"So don't worry. Stay here, and you'll have the safety and food you want!"
Liza delivered the explanation smoothly, like she'd said it a hundred times before.
The newcomers glanced at the food in their hands.
Doubt faded quickly.
They went right back to eating.
Whatever. I'm fine, aren't I?
Even if something happens… at least I'll die with a full stomach.
Julian smiled faintly.
They had a whole system of excuses here.
Good enough to fool newcomers.
The ones who couldn't handle half-raw zombie meat got infected and eliminated.
The rest kept getting fed.
Eventually, some would awaken.
That was the secret behind their mass production of Awakened.
Disgusting method… but undeniably efficient.
He wondered what these people would think if they learned the truth.
Of course, there would always be some sick individuals who'd keep eating even if they knew.
For people like that, Julian had nothing but contempt.
Wasn't it better to rely on your own strength?
Why depend on zombies to get stronger?
Seriously…
For now, he'd figured out part of the camp's secret.
Next, he needed a chance to get close to the higher-ups.
Charging upstairs blindly wasn't an option. He might not even recognize who was in charge.
Letting a few lackeys escape didn't matter.
But if the leadership got away, another Bloodfang Camp could pop up anytime.
That would make everything pointless.
Better to keep laying low for now.
Soon, their group's mealtime ended.
Everyone except Julian looked satisfied.
Seems like they'd all been successfully brainwashed.
"....."