How Zombies Survive in the Apocalypse

“…Not good.”

Two days after leaving Memphis.

Aiden, who had entered the outskirts of North Little Rock about 200 km to the west, stopped the vehicle driving down the road.

It was due to the distant sounds of numerous gunshots.

“It’s not just one or two. Moreover… it doesn’t seem like just gunfire. There are also sounds of grenades and other bombs.”

Arian commented with her superior hearing, analyzing the sounds.

As she said, there wasn’t just one type of explosive sound.

Fortunately, it seemed like there was quite a distance to the origin, to the point where they didn’t have to worry about bullets flying their way.

However, it wasn’t good news for Aiden’s group.

In a city with gangs, the meaning of such diverse explosive sounds was one and only.

“It seems like they’re waging a war.”

Aiden said like a sigh.

North Little Rock, where they were, was as the name suggested, referring to the north of Little Rock, their destination.

The boundary between the two cities was a large river called the Arkansas River.

Judging by the distance and direction of the gunfire, the ongoing battle seemed to be happening right there, along the riverbank.

“What are we going to do?”

Arian asked.

Entering a city with gang warfare in progress was, needless to say, a dangerously precarious situation.

In a world without zombies, venturing into a country in the midst of a civil war was akin to an ordinary citizen.

However, for junk dealers like Aiden, gang wars were also opportunities.

Since wars consumed a considerable amount of resources and manpower.

Not only were there many requests for junk dealers, but they could also get a higher price for selling the same amount of goods.

“I’ll go in. But only I will enter the city.”

After a brief consideration, Aiden replied.

Even if they avoided this place, they didn’t know where there might be a survivor group.

Especially since the next destination, the coast, was worrisome due to the long gap.

It was necessary to risk danger and replenish supplies here.

Arian and Sadie, understanding this, expressed their agreement with his decision.

“This place should be good.”

Aiden hid the vehicle in a factory complex on the outskirts of the city.

There were hardly any traces of someone passing by, and zombies were scarce in this area.

Aiden picked up a rifle and a crowbar, put on a modified helmet like a bulletproof helmet with various attachments.

He already had a bulletproof vest under his clothes.

However, the white coat and doctor’s badge that he always wore on top were not visible.

He judged that expressing himself as a doctor in front of a gang during a war might lead to troublesome situations.

Finally, Aiden got off the vehicle with some trade goods.

“Are you okay going alone?”

“It’s safer for me alone here. There’s a possibility that those gang guys might try to snatch the vehicle or goods.”

Aiden didn’t know the nature of the gang currently at war.

They could be more malicious than common sense, and taking goods to such guys could be even more dangerous.

For now, it was urgent to assess the situation.

So, he entrusted the vehicle and goods to Arian and thought it was more advantageous to go in alone.

“Alright. Don’t overdo it.”

“Stay safe.”

Responding calmly to his colleagues’ farewells, Aiden left in the vehicle.

Highway 40 leading into the city.

He walked on foot along it, although the gunshots from inside were still echoing, Aiden focused more on the road beneath him.

Perhaps because it was a road near the gang, not only was it in good condition, but also the traces of vehicles passing by were clear.

It seemed like these traces were left by the gang guys, after all.

Aiden silently followed those traces.

Soon, those traces deviated from the highway and went off to the side.

“Here…”

Aiden checked the map.

The direction was towards a place where warehouses and vehicle repair shops gathered, opposite the river from where the sounds of gunfire were coming.

However, it was somewhat strange to say that this was the gang’s stronghold.

Nevertheless, Aiden proceeded to follow the traces, as it was critical to gather supplies in a world where a long period of inactivity could be feared until they reached the next destination on the coast.

As he did, not long after, those traces left the highway and went off to the side.

“Here…”

Aiden checked the map.

The direction was towards a place where warehouses and vehicle repair shops gathered, opposite the river from where the sounds of gunfire were coming.

However, it was somewhat strange to say that this was the gang’s stronghold.

Nevertheless, Aiden proceeded to follow the traces, as it was critical to gather supplies in a world where a long period of inactivity could be feared until they reached the next destination on the coast.

If you go up the highway a little more, there is a downtown area where large marts and hospitals are gathered.

Considering that there are a lot of supplies and many tall buildings, it is much more defensible than this vast wasteland.

There was no reason for the gang to establish a stronghold in a place like this.

“…It might not be their stronghold.”

Aiden, who had been pondering for a moment, muttered so.

It was still a guess, but Aiden had a rough idea of what kind of place it was.

Although it was a place with quite a bit of traffic, it was not related to the stronghold.

Moreover, it was located safely in the opposite direction from the riverside where the battle was taking place.

Yet, subtly close to the downtown area… Because it was the perfect location for Aiden’s business associates to gather.

It worked out well.

To assess the situation, contacting the junk dealers who were trading with the gang, rather than directly seeking out the gang, was much safer.

Thinking like that, Aiden continued to follow the traces.

The first thing that came into view was a wide parking lot and an abandoned gas station.

The place, where only scrapped cars and miscellaneous items rolled around, had a lonely atmosphere.

But as he went a little further, a brown building next to the road came into view.

It was a not particularly large two-story brick building.

Although it was an ordinary office building with nothing special, Aiden had a gut feeling that this was the place he was looking for.

Decisively, further ahead, several rather well-maintained vehicles, not scrapped cars, came into view.

It couldn’t be anywhere else.

It was the moment Aiden was so sure.

From the windows on both sides of the second floor of the building, two muzzles suddenly appeared.

“Who the hell are you?”

The low and strong voice of a man asked Aiden.

Since Aiden didn’t come here to fight, he raised both hands quietly and opened his mouth.

“Aiden Lee. I’m a junk dealer.”

“A junk dealer? I haven’t heard that name.”

In response to the man’s words, Aiden revealed that he had recently come to this place.

Then the man sneered.

“Heh, sounds like something those guys across the river would say.”

Maybe because it was wartime.

The other side seemed to suspect that Aiden was sent by a hostile gang.

However, if these junk dealers were really trading with the gang, they had a familiar name.

“Do you know Owen?”

“What?”

“Owen Freeman. I came here at his request.”

“…Owen?”

Instead of the man, a woman in her thirties leaned out of the window.

“What about Owen?”

Aiden then explained to them how he met Owen, what conversations went back and forth.

In fact, the woman’s face slightly distorted at the news that he had died.

In the meantime, the man spoke.

“Is that word true?”

“Yeah. That guy said he was delivering a letter to Evansville. So, be careful…”

The woman seemed to know Owen, and she sighed as she spoke.

The man, sticking his nose out, also leaned his head out of the window.

He looked like a middle-aged man in his fifties.

“But to replace a dead man’s request? Not some volunteer service. Rather, it seems like you came to rip us off.”

“If that was the case, I wouldn’t have come alone.”

Aiden’s reply left the man speechless.

The response came from the rooftop.

“That’s right. He came alone.”

As this place was a flatland, the rooftop was wide enough to see quite a distance.

They had gone up there, and they were checking if Aiden had no other comrades.

It was quite a skillful response, as if they had not met guests here just once or twice before.

“Well… Then why did you come?”

“I want to trade with the gang here. So, instead of getting the information from Owen, I decided to handle his request.”

“Ah, so you’re Owen’s substitute?”

Although he hadn’t thought about it that way, Aiden didn’t deny it.

“It’s been a while since we had a newcomer. Well, then, come in.”

The muzzles disappeared from the second floor.

And the door on the first floor was opened by a man.

One on the rooftop, two on the second floor, and finally, one on the first floor.

Four guns.

Aiden entered the building.

Inside, there were only a few chairs and tables.

No significant furniture was visible.

They sat around a table, with four junk dealers.

Two men in their fifties and one man and woman in their thirties.

On the table they faced were playing cards.

In addition, there were some small game tools, like worn-out board games, scattered around the room.

Perhaps the junk dealers gathered like this to alleviate their boredom.

The middle-aged man who had aimed a gun at Aiden opened his mouth.

“We are junk dealers staying here. There were originally a few more, but they went out to work.”

“…It looks like that.”

Aiden looked around and said.

Normally, junk dealers don’t get along well, pretending not to know each other.

However, occasionally, junk dealers who have been trading with a gang for a long time become friendly like this.

“Rather, take off the helmet. I want to see what you look like.”

The woman said, looking at Aiden.

Aiden stiffened his head.

“Decline.”

“Hey, there’s nothing good about keeping it on.”

The woman opened her mouth, seemingly uncomfortable with Aiden’s attitude.

Then, the man next to her chuckled and intervened.

“Why, did you get bitten by a zombie?”

“And now that I think about it, it’s suspicious. Hey, you, you’re covering your whole body.”

The middle-aged man confirmed, mentioning not only the helmet but also the long pants, the top covering the neck, and even gloves.

When it came to that, the atmosphere became slightly tense.

In response, Aiden took a short breath and put his hand into the bag.

“…!”

Then the junk dealers all tensed up.

However, when they saw what came out of it, the atmosphere changed completely.

What Aiden pulled out was… rum.

A smile appeared on the faces of the junk dealers.

“I want to understand the situation here first. Will you explain?”

Aiden said, placing the rum on the table.

Before answering, the junk dealers picked up the rum.

After confirming its scent and that it was in good condition, they nodded in satisfaction.

“That’s enough. Well, it’s simple.”

“Okay. There’s no need for a disguise here. Are you going to take off your panties to check for bite marks on your buttocks?”

“Why, are you always walking around without panties?”

The junk dealers chatted and laughed among themselves.

One man quickly brought a cup, and the junk dealers poured and drank the liquor.

Naturally, the woman shuffled the playing cards.

Aiden looked at the middle-aged man who seemed to be their leader.

Having given them something, it meant that he wanted an explanation.

“The gang here is in the midst of a war right now.”

After taking a sip of rum, the man slowly opened his mouth.

He turned over the card in front of him, and it didn’t seem like a good hand.

“As for the gang here, are they the ones who were originally in Little Rock?”

“Yeah, they’re the ‘Rock Boys.’ But recently, they lost their original base due to some guys who came in from the west. So now, they are risking their lives to reclaim it.”

It wasn’t a particularly surprising story.

Gangs running out of supplies often resort to either disbanding or taking over the territory of others.

“So, are you guys allies of the Rock Boys?”

“Hey, did you see any junk dealer taking sides? We’re just scavenging leftovers next to them.”

“Considering that, you seem quite cautious about rival gangs.”

“Well, those gang guys are trying to kill us. Since we’re handling tasks for the Rock Boys, they might not be happy about it.”

After a round of card games, the conversation resumed.

When the man checked his hand and spoke again.

“So, if you’re going to trade with the Rock Boys, be careful.”

Aiden nodded.

“So, how do we go about the trade?”

“If you go a bit northwest from here, there’s a big post office. It’s a designated location where gangs contact junk dealers separately. Whether you’re trading or taking a request, you should go there.”

“…”

“Oh, by the way, don’t go into the city center. It’s the gang’s territory, and it’s sharp in the war. If you make a mistake, they’ll kill you, whether you’re a junk dealer or whatever.”

For a while, along with card games, Aiden’s questions continued.

When Aiden finally collected the necessary information.

“Hmm… it seems we’re out of alcohol.”

As the card game ended, the rum Aiden had offered slipped from his hands.

Then the gaze of the junk dealers gathered on Aiden.

The intention was clear: they wanted alcohol.

It was a perfect opportunity for Aiden.

The supplies he needed weren’t only held by the gang.

“Do you happen to have any intention to trade with me?”

“What do we have to trade?”

“You know we’re fellow junk dealers, right? We make a living day by day.”

The junk dealers said so, clapping their hands.

It wasn’t that they had no intention to trade alcohol.

Those who had dealt with many people many times were already trying to lower the price of alcohol.

But from the beginning, Aiden had no intention of asking for ordinary items from them.

“The payment is blood. If you four give blood, I’ll just give you a bottle of alcohol.”

Aiden said, taking out a syringe.

In response to the proposal for their first-ever blood donation, the heads of the junk dealers all simultaneously tilted to the side with surprise.