May Peace Grace Us

Chapter 74: Return home

Their trip out was considered a big gain after they returned to their nest. The crystals of the earthen zombie that turned out to be crystal level four were already the biggest profit they had. The other level two was also a good thing. And the fact that there were simply too many gains harvested there was just too satisfying that Aila could boost it towards other bases for having to do a job well-done. From the little she knew of base businesses in her past lives, she knew that there were only a few records of getting a good harvest as they just did.

Still, they did not completely empty the place. It wasn’t about the space to store them, in fact, Travis’ space was plenty spacious to bring everything that could be brought. It was rather to maintain some influence over the area while thinking about using that space for something later. Something that will be a great bargaining chip for them to use in the future.

It came to Aila that there are some things that they cannot do with the current parameters of their base and the compound of the Ferrers was more than enough for said activities. Not to mention the area does have a much more advanced planning and infrastructure than theirs, much to Aila’s distaste, it was really a waste to just let it sit there and be useless by nature's moodiness and time’s merciless spinning. She thought of using the area as a diversion if they were forced to reveal their location or a transit point some time should they need to move from place to place. The population might get stretched thin because of it, but she thinks that everyone will be okay with it one way or another in the future though.

Currently, they are at a makeshift outpost for the patrol team for a little catching up. Most hyenas were there along with Cindy, who was coincidentally in the area when they arrived. A formal meeting will be held much later to discuss what will be done to the supplies they have gotten and what has happened during their time away. But currently they just want to spend some time talking with familiar people.

“...while I have no problem with that, I am sure as hell our population is not ready for something as grand as this.” Harry was first to say this, as he pointed out that they are severely understaffed and there are variables too unstable over there.

“Well, it could be postponed for a year at most." Aila was optimistic about it. "If worse comes to worse, we could use the place as a rehabilitation camp for our infected population. They have more or less regained a little of their sanity recently. We can assure you that they will not do harm to our population. But it does not make things look good to the eventual people who might come here. They might do something impulsive and do something irreversable.”

“For sure my uncle will come here in the near future,” Felix piped out.

“Right there’s that overprotective uncle of yours.” Eugene was the one who said this. “Give it a year or so, that guy will be popping out here. I won’t believe him not hacking into the system to know where exactly our base is located.”

"Although I admit to being in such a f****d up household, I sure don't want to have an uncle such as yours with Felix." Alexa said as she mocked a shudder. "I don't understand the obsession of your dearest uncle with you and with your brother. Was there a particular reason why he was like that you haven't shared it with us?"

"As far as I know , he made a promise to grandpa. The family was not keen on sharing the matters of the old generation, and we really had no idea what made him so obsessed with us one way or another." Felix only shrugged. "Either way, ever since we left home, we have not cared about those matters. My brother has established himself well enough and I also had my chosen career. There is no need to entangle with them."

"Your uncle begged to differ though," Liza said as she distributed the cold drinks and snacks she and Cindy had made for everyone. "If I remember it well, he was like a lingering ghost. He has his traces everywhere. I am sure he will also have his ghost on us, as Eugene has said."

".... let's just deal with it when the time comes." Felix shifted on his seat as he said that. "My brother is now in his hands. He will satisfy our uncle’s desire to control for now. Anyway, what about our transformed friends?"

"Right." Aila switched the topic again to the plan she had. Ignoring the Eureka moment of Jerome, who figured out why Felix did not drag his beloved brother to escape together with them and had instead arranged a place and appropriate arrangement for his safety in the initial outbreak. "The place was isolated enough for them to stay on. Although there is a small population of survivors there, they have yet to be proven to be a threat to any of us."

"There are actually people who survived the winter nearby?" Harry was a little surprised. "Where and how did they live in those long months of cold? Without us being sufficiently prepared, we still have some hiccups here and there. How did they survive all that?”

"In times of danger, humanity always shows their potential to survive." Bella indifferently said, no doubt drowning in the memories of the life of her past life. And before they could question her weird tone, she swiftly forwarded another sentence. " Us having supernatural abilities was a huge advantage and having much stronger bodies. If they have people like us or at least a fire supernaturalist with them, they could survive the cold quite well if they are smart enough."

There hums of agreement with her words. Then theories after theories of what that particular group of people has done apparently to survive. From the bits Jerome had given them of what they saw and what they had concluded during their trip, they got a rough idea of what was up.

“At the moment we have yet to make contact with them due to the nature of our mission this time around. But sooner or later we are returning there for the rest of the things we found there.” Aila said.

“We could have gotten those extra things, but due to Aila’s plan of making a relationship with those people, we also left a few things outside the compound for the survivors. Some simple food that could last a few months depending on their numbers.” Travis added.

“Well, hopefully your actions have made a good impression on us," Harry sighed. “ Other than that, did you guys encounter some beast on the way back? Last night the mountain was noisy.”

“Well, Billy and the others mentioned a coyote or something on the way back,” Jerome replied as he placed his head on his hand, “We were out cold back then, the three of us to truly notice anything on the way back. Billy was the one who was driving back then and he and the other were the ones who had a clear understanding of what was encountered back then.”

“Then I’ll have to have a talk with them later.” Harry only nodded at Jerome. “Can you allow them to have a day off, Felix?”

“No problem,” Felix replied. “I don’t have a plan to let them join the training for a day anyway. Take the chance to do as you like.”

“By the way, what happened here while we were gone?” Travis asked as he made a follow-up with the beasts Harry had mentioned.

“Well, the mountains were very noisy last night. If they did not convince me to stay, I would have charged over there and killed that bastard for ruining my sleep.” Bella smiled coldly. Her eyes have a dangerous glint that even those you are not familiar with could sense her undisguised bloodlust. “I finally had a natural sleep last night and they ruined it by having that animal equivalent party in their home.”

“Take a deep breath and calm yourself, Ms. Livestone.” Cindy reminded Bella. “The destruction you made in your temper last night can still be seen on the gate you were assigned.”

Bella only gave Cindy a glance, staring at the other with the arrogance of an arrogant and vain noble towards a lower class. Cindy, who was the subject of the glance, did not show any adverse reaction to the other’s contempt and only calmly returned the favor. Really a fascinating sight for the hyenas who oftentimes dare not to challenge their de facto leader.

Bella was first to back down and stayed silent during the course of them talking. Aila could see that Bella did so because she weighed the pros and cons and not because of Cindy standing up against her. Although she had grown very impulsive and hot-bloodied after her memories came to her, she was more rational than anyone else at the moment. Her recklessness was only a disguise and inside of her was a cold entity who could care less about any life unless they somehow provoked her in the wrong way or had truly touched his bottom line.

With stiffness, they ignored the elephant in the room and talked about what was asked. It was a nerve-wrecking moment of their lives with Bella being a silent beast in their midst. But still the trio, who were curious, had the answers they had asked for.

Turns out there was a huge number of activities in the mountains in the days they were gone. It did not have much impact on their base other than making the supernaturalists uncomfortable due to their much more sensitive senses. Which made the trio sigh in relief that they indeed did not miss much action during the time they were gone.

After their conversations, everyone returned to their tasks, with the returning trio heading to the villa for a rest. When tomorrow comes, they are sure to return to their normal tasks while filling up the paperwork they were unable to do in their absence. A hellish thing that they just wish not to do at all. But they had to keep track of what they had been doing to have a clear understanding of what was happening inside the base. To suffer temporarily or lose the paradise they made, the choice was obvious enough.

Stephen and Judith welcomed the trio before they left for their specific work area. There is no idle person in their base and the trio and their team were given an exception due to the fact that they were away for a while, but really they are only planning to rest for a while before joining the workforce again. There is an uncomfortable feeling inside of them whenever they see people moving around and busy with their things and they are not doing anything at all. They don’t want to feel guilty for being lazy although not helping was something everyone has consented with.

Aila could only lament that she had transformed into a workaholic somehow. Logic of hers says that this will make sure their chances of survival will be better than others if they work together for a common goal. But the humanitarian side of her inside was protesting that this is not how a human should live. That work and rest should go hand and hand and not burn the candles way too fast for a temporary brightness.

“I really hope you can finish your research on making a barrier-like thing for our base.” Aila said out of the blue to Jerome, who flinched at the sudden hand on his shoulder. “The faster it will be complete, the less everyone has to work against the clock.”

“Dearest friend of mine, must you rush me?” Jerome was wary as he said this. “Research is something not to be rushed. You know this too, as you, yourself, have at least once written a research thesis on your own.”

“I’m not rushing you.” Aila removed her hands. “I am just saying that it would be good if you got to finish it fast. The faster you get it done, the less we have to worry about most external forces. For example, summer is much more torturous than winter for various reasons. The temperature can bake us alongside the ‘tourist period’ that can kill us. Believe it or not, zombies and mutated animals are the least of our concerns by the time the peak of the season arrives.”

“You’re giving him unnecessary pressure, Aila.” Travis said with a grin, though deep down he sympathized with Jerome with Aila’s wishful words. “Remember we are severely lacking in manpower, most of all for us to fully concentrate on the research projects.”

Sighing at the reality, Aila only shook her head and said some ominous words about their summer for this year. It has greatly disturbed the two men and has them thinking of making this project a priority somehow. But even if they pour everything into it, it is still impossible to finish it by summer.

A week later, the two men only fully understood why Aila was rushing to strengthen their security.