Chapter 11: Formulating a Plan

"Who exactly are you? I refuse to believe an ordinary student could know so many classified secrets." Takashi Komuro stared intently at Lin Yi, feeling that his entire demeanor was different from that of a typical student.

"I am an Interpol agent, Lin Yi."

He explained the purpose of his visit nonchalantly: "I was ordered by my superiors to come here and investigate some important leads, but I didn't expect the situation to deteriorate so rapidly."

Lin Yi casually fabricated an identity for himself. When you're out in the world, you define your own identity; besides, there was no one around who could verify his claims at the moment. There wasn't a hint of panic on Lin Yi's face.

Rei Miyamoto’s expression grew increasingly grave. She asked in a low voice, "Does the international community already have news about this virus?"

If the international community had known about it for a while, yet Japan was completely in the dark, then the government's negligence and culpability would be obvious.

The rapid spread of the virus was directly linked to the government's inaction.

"Of course." Lin Yi nodded. He hadn't forgotten the nuclear war mentioned in the original story.

Although the zombie virus had broken out globally, it was clear that its rate of spread abroad was far slower than in Japan.

Suddenly, Saya Takagi lost control of her emotions and rushed toward Lin Yi, grabbing him by the collar, her eyes burning with confusion and anger.

"Why! You clearly possessed so much information, so why didn't you issue any public warnings!" She couldn't understand why, if Lin Yi and his people had so much intelligence, they hadn't warned the public in advance.

Lin Yi responded with a rhetorical question: "Even if I had said something, would you have believed me?"

This simple, direct question struck Saya Takagi’s heart like a sharp sword. She weakly released her grip on Lin Yi and slumped to the ground in despair.

She knew deep down that Lin Yi was telling the truth. In the vast, complex ocean of information, the truth is often ignored, while rumors easily take hold of people's minds.

Even if they had known the truth beforehand, it likely wouldn't have been taken seriously or believed, which left her feeling utterly hopeless.

Upon learning the cruel truth that they had been abandoned by their country, the group's morale plummeted to rock bottom, shrouded in deep helplessness and frustration.

Rei Miyamoto leaned silently against Lin Yi. After a day of fighting together, her trust in him had increased significantly.

She asked softly, "Lin Yi, what is your mission here?"

Lin Yi pondered for a moment and replied, "My mission is to investigate the source of the virus. According to the information I’ve received, the origin of the virus is right here in Japan."

His answer wasn't just talk; it was based on his own careful, logical deductions.

Various signs indicated that Japan was highly likely the birthplace of this viral catastrophe.

Saya Takagi was a smart person; Lin Yi’s words were like a pebble, stirring ripples in the calm lake of her mind.

His words echoed in her head, simultaneously triggering memories of her father, Soichiro Takagi’s, unusual behavior from before.

During that time, Saya had been confused by her father’s sudden decision to move out of the city and build a villa in the suburbs.

In her understanding at the time, the move seemed incomprehensible, even somewhat out of place.

However, looking back now, she realized that her father might have already sensed something unusual, which was why he had taken precautions and made extensive preparations in advance.

Regrettably, Saya Takagi had been in her rebellious teenage years back then; she hadn't truly understood her father’s worries and foresight, choosing instead to follow Takashi Komuro to Fujimi Academy.

If she had been patient enough to listen and understand her father’s concerns, if she had chosen to stay by his side, would things be different now? These thoughts swirled in Saya Takagi’s mind, making her mood heavy and complex.

Saya Takagi calmed her agitated emotions, straightened her messy clothes, and gently brushed off the dust.

She took a deep breath to settle the turmoil within.

Then, Saya Takagi apologized to Lin Yi with a sincere tone: "I'm sorry, I lost my composure just now. My emotions got the better of me; please forgive me."

After the apology, Saya Takagi regained her usual calm and wisdom—this was her true nature as a top student.

Lin Yi didn't speak, continuing to focus on wiping his blade.

Takashi Komuro and Kohta Hirano went to the school building to scavenge for supplies.

Before long, they returned to the rooftop with a pile of lunch boxes. The original owners of these meals were either zombies now or wandering the campus, never to enjoy them again.

"Everyone, please take the time to eat. Replenishing your strength is key," Shizuka Marikawa urged the group gently.

As the school nurse, Shizuka Marikawa knew that the greatest help she could provide right now was psychological support.

After all, aside from Lin Yi, everyone else was just a young high school student; facing such a desperate situation, the psychological pressure was unimaginable.

Lin Yi didn't stand on ceremony. He carefully selected a few dishes from the pile of lunch boxes and began to eat heartily.

Seeing Lin Yi eating with such relish, the others, despite feeling nauseated, forced themselves to swallow.

They understood that this wasn't the time to be picky; recovering their strength was the key to their survival.

After a necessary rest, the group sat together to discuss their next plan of action.

"Lin Yi, do you have any plans for what we should do next?" Rei Miyamoto turned her gaze toward Lin Yi.

Ever since Lin Yi had demonstrated his immense strength and calm mind, she had grown accustomed to relying on his decisions.

Lin Yi pondered briefly before speaking slowly: "We should find a relatively secluded place to settle down for a while. Just like in those zombie movies, big cities usually fall completely very quickly. Conversely, small, sparsely populated villages might be spared because they are less likely to be noticed."

The group nodded in agreement with the suggestion.

"As for the specific location, I won't choose," Lin Yi added. "I'm not a local, so I'm not very familiar with the geography here."

Having said that, Lin Yi fell silent. He had provided enough hints and direction; now, he expected Saya Takagi to play her part.

"Go to my house," Saya Takagi suggested. "My family moved to the countryside a while ago. It’s sparsely populated there, which fits our needs perfectly." As she spoke, she pushed up her glasses, clearly ready to contribute her value to the team.

"Good suggestion, but how are we supposed to get there?" Takashi Komuro frowned. "If I remember correctly, your house is about fifty kilometers away from the school. At that distance, if we go on foot, it will probably take at least two or three days." He had visited Saya Takagi’s large villa a while back and had a clear sense of the distance.

In the apocalypse, a fifty-kilometer journey was indeed a daunting challenge.

At this point, Shizuka Marikawa offered a suggestion: "If possible, we could go to my friend's house first. I remember she has a military jeep, and it's amphibious, too. That would significantly shorten our travel time."

Shizuka Marikawa’s friend, Rika Minami, was a sharpshooter ranked in the top five of the national police shooting competition, so her home indeed contained special supplies that were difficult for ordinary civilians to obtain.

With the target and route determined, the group began to discuss the specific details of the operation.

Lin Yi, meanwhile, chose to rest on the side.

The previous intense battle had consumed a great deal of his energy, and he needed to recover his strength to prepare for the long journey ahead.

(End of chapter)