Marry, on his back, watched with shining eyes, "Did you learn Eastern martial arts?"
"What does that have to do with you? If it weren't for your grandfather being an old soldier, I wouldn't bother with you," Eddie snorted.
"I'll pay you back. I can run on my own," Marry got down. She had just been a little dizzy, but now she was much better. She picked up a baseball bat as a weapon and knocked down a zombie with one swing.
Claire also quickly grabbed an iron rod and delivered another blow, "Eddie, I see a helicopter."
The building's main doors were closed, and inside, over a dozen zombies roamed, all dressed in suits, indicating they were likely elite individuals before, but now they had turned into zombies.
The sturdy main doors were also locked from the inside. The security guard must have closed them, fearing a zombie rush, but he didn't expect the mutation to occur inside, leaving him unable to escape and eventually bitten to death by zombies.
"Damn, the doors are locked! We can't get to the rooftop parking lot!" Bill frowned.
"I think we can break this door. I used to be a biker gang member, and I have a lot of experience with these kinds of doors," said a Black man with a buzz cut and tattoos.
"It doesn't matter what it is, just don't cause trouble. You all stand back a bit. I'm going to finish what I started and get you up there. If I don't, Claire will blame me," Eddie quipped, then performed a spinning back kick.
The immense force sent the entire door flying outward, hitting three or four wandering zombies.
"When did I ever blame you!" Claire was speechless, but she truly admired Eddie's style: doing his best, as long as he could live up to his own conscience.
"Dude, you're so cool! I remember you. You were a member of the S.T.A.R.S. that was disbanded, right? You guys survived the dangerous Arklay Mountains and even eliminated those monsters. You're awesome!" The Black brother gave a thumbs-up. If these brothers weren't lazy, they'd be good friends to have, and even better if they had a beautiful, plump mother.
"Just so-so. We only eliminated one stronghold, not the source. Theoretically, we succeeded tactically but failed strategically. What's your name? Francis? You can come to me if you need to buy a car in the future; I'll give you a 90% discount!" The Black man flashed his two rows of big white teeth.
"Thanks, but I don't need to buy a car," Eddie walked forward, crushing the zombies below through the tempered glass.
"I think we should hurry up and leave. It's too dangerous here; I don't want to stay," another bald Black man, a bit timid, quickly ran to the freight elevator. This elevator was large enough to transport vehicles. If you didn't want to wander around, you could take the elevator, provided you paid.
As soon as the elevator door opened, several zombies surged out, dragging the bald Black man inside, and screams quickly followed.
"Don't take elevators during special times. That's common sense. Don't you even know that?" Eddie shook his head.
Claire, beside him, picked up her pistol and fired as she moved forward, each shot accurately hitting a zombie's head. She might not be a sharpshooter, but her aim was at least better than that of an average police officer. He really wondered how Chris had trained such a sister, comparable to an elite agent.
By the time everyone walked past, the bald Black man had already been bitten to death, in a gruesome state. He had lived so long, crossed the streets, only to be bitten to death by zombies in the end.
Eddie walked into the elevator, kicking several zombies out, "Let's go. Since the elevator can still be used, let's use it. The zombies have already shown us that the elevator is still intact."
That statement was a bit speechless. Weren't the zombies just coincidentally trapped inside? Only careless unlucky people would fall for it!
Just then, footsteps sounded nearby. A white-haired white man peered around, looking somewhat fierce.
"Sir, we're going to the evacuation point on the rooftop. Do you want to come with us?" Claire, being kind, asked.
"No, get lost! I don't need your pity. You killed my daughter. I won't go with murderers like you. I'd rather starve to death than go with you!" The white-haired man suddenly shrieked, quickly scurrying into a nearby shipping container and locking himself in, apparently determined to hide there.
Eddie patted Claire's shoulder, "Let's go. Don't worry about these people. This is why I rarely save people. I'd rather save fewer people than save those who aren't worth saving. Maybe that sounds a bit… it's just that my abilities are limited. Sorry."
"It's not your fault, Eddie. You did the right thing," Claire shook her head, comforting the man in return.
Chapter 213: Please Save My Mother
Svetlana found it rather amusing. Her experiences meant she wasn't a young girl; mature women rarely get deceived like college students, not that it never happens, but the probability is very low.
"Let's go. We don't have time to delay. First, we'll send them off, and then we'll go to the precinct," Eddie said, pressing the elevator button.
The elevator arrived at the top floor, where many vehicles were abandoned. There weren't many zombies here, and a few police officers were using shotguns to kill them.
"Guys, these three need to evacuate," Eddie called out to the officers.
"No problem. They haven't been bitten, have they? We'll send them to the quarantine point outside the city, where the Federal Guard is defending," a responsible sergeant said.
"They won't be euthanized, will they?" Francis, the biker gang member, joked.
"No, you're thinking too much. There are many reporters there, and even a Senator. Our mission is to rescue more survivors and prevent the crisis from spreading further. I know you, Francis, you used to be a hooligan, but I hope you live like a human being at this time and don't cause trouble!" The sergeant said righteously.
"Of course, I'll abide by the law, sir," Francis wasn't embarrassed. In the many cities of the Federation, there would always be people from all walks of life.
"Alright, you're safe now. We still have things to do. Be careful, the city isn't safe. If you encounter those four-limbed crawling monsters, don't make a sound and don't think about it. This is a survival skill learned at the cost of countless colleagues' lives," Eddie waved his hand.
"Thanks, Eddie, you're a good man. Please be careful," the sergeant suddenly saluted.
"I'm just an ordinary person. I'm not a good man. I want to live a long life!" Eddie laughed heartily.
"Haha, alright, you're just a big bad guy. Be careful with everything," the sergeant also laughed.
Suddenly, Francis turned around and knelt on the ground, "Officer Eddie, I know you're very capable. I want to ask you for a favor."
"What is it? Robbing a bank at a time like this? You don't need to rob; whatever you can take from a bank now is your own skill," Eddie quipped.
This was a fact; the current bank defenses were practically useless, and no amount of money could compare to life. In a crisis, money was useless except for toilet paper.
"No, it's my mother. She's a very good mother. My father was a bastard; I never saw him since I was little. My mother raised me; she's a great mother. I want to save her, but there are too many zombies. If you go to Crescent Street, my mother opened a fruit burger shop there. Her name is Flora. Please, I'll repay you," Francis said, kneeling on the ground.
"Alright, if I pass by, I'll go take a look. If your mother is still alive, I'll rescue her. There will definitely be a reward; maybe I'll have you treat me to a proper South American barbecue," Eddie waved his hand and left.
Taking Claire, he returned to the ground floor of the building. Eddie wouldn't refuse the request of a biker gang leader. These low-level figures always had their uses, and such people were very loyal, making them suitable pawns.
"Eddie, I think you're very mysterious," Claire suddenly asked in the elevator.
"Why do you say that?" Eddie was unfazed.
"Your strength is very high; your physique has surpassed ordinary people, which most people can't do. And you're not a heartless person; sometimes you even have some kindness, so I'm very curious," Claire smiled, her smile carrying a hint of innocence.
"Of course, everything in this world requires compensation. I won't help people for free. My creed is equivalent exchange. There are no so-called good people and bad people in the world; as long as you can face your conscience, you can do anything," Eddie laughed heartily.
"So I think you're very sincere, not hypocritical, more sincere than any man I've ever met," Claire also smiled sweetly, her beautiful eyes curving like crescent moons.
Sincere? That word hardly suited Eddie! At least in Svetlana's eyes, the man before her was merely a symbol of baseness and shamelessness. His only virtue was being family-oriented; at least his girlfriend wouldn't have to worry about being betrayed and would be well-protected. Just this point alone was very attractive to women.
"Just so-so. You've witnessed these events and now understand the disaster of biochemical incidents, haven't you? This is caused by the spread of some substance, which can also create more strange biochemical weapons. The zombies and Lickers we've seen, and even more terrifying things that bullets can't kill," Eddie pondered, head down.
Claire also looked very serious and suddenly thought of a question, "You've seen those terrifying creatures?"
"Of course, I've seen them and even fought them, luckily coming back alive. Alright, no more talk. Striving to survive is what we need to do now," Eddie smiled.
Claire gave him a hug, "Everything will be alright."
Arriving on the first floor of the building, the nearby container had been opened, and several zombies were gnawing on a corpse. It seemed to be the old man who had refused to evacuate earlier. This guy really had no foresight, not even checking if the helicopter had a vehicle killer, Leon!
"That man from earlier was eaten by zombies," Claire frowned.
"Hmm, don't worry about it. Let's do our own thing. Let's go. That kind of person isn't worth saving. Claire, having a kind heart is good, but don't be a pushover. There's not much benefit, and it only implicates your friends and family, with no advantages whatsoever," Eddie reminded her.
Claire was pondering the meaning of these words. She seemed to be getting it: who should be saved and who shouldn't be saved, was that it?